Kempol bug (Mictis farinulenta)

Kempol bug (Mictis farinulenta) is a species belonging to the family Coreidae. It is an arboreal insect; adults measure 20–25 mm in length and 7–10 mm in width, possessing a stout body that ranges in color from gray to brown and is covered in a white, powdery substance. The insect has long legs, and its pronotum features spine-like projections.

M. farinulenta has a tubular-shaped head. It bears a pair of long, thick, cylindrical, and segmented antennae, with the terminal segment appearing white, transitioning into black. The "shoulder" area forms a distinct segment with edges that taper upward.



The abdomen is oval-shaped. The legs are long, rod-like, and composed of several segments. The hind legs have the largest, cylindrical-shaped femora (thighs), while the tibiae (shins) are thickened in the middle and feature spine-like projections.

This species inhabits shrubs and trees within karst ecosystems and areas with clay-textured soil in regions characterized by two distinct seasons. It feeds on various types of plants—including eucalyptus, acacia, and mahogany—by extracting sap from their leaves and stems.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Infraorder: Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily: Coreoidea
Family: Coreidae
Subfamily: Coreinae
Tribe: Mictini
Genus: Mictis Leach (1814)
Species: Mictis farinulenta Breddin (1899)

SYNONYMS

Mictis farinosa Breddin (1899)

PUBLICATIONS

Breddin, G. (1899) Hemiptera insulae Lombok in museo Hamburgensi asservata adiectis speciebus nonnullis, quas continet collectio auctoris. Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum Hamburg, 16, 155–194. Available from http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/33330#page/175/mode/1up

VERNACULAR NAME

English: Kempol bug
Indonesia: Kumbang kempol
Java: Wangwung kempol

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