Which family is distinguished by having trichobothria on the meso- and metafemora?

Which family is distinguished by having trichobothria on the meso- and metafemora?

• A. Reduviidae
• B. Coreidae
• C. Miridae
• D. Tingidae

Answer: (C)

Trichobothria are tiny mechanosensory hairs on insect legs that detect air movement and contact. In true bugs, the arrangement of these hairs on the leg segments is often used to tell families apart. For Miridae, the meso- and metafemora typically bear trichobothria, a pattern that helps distinguish plant bugs from the other families listed. The other groups have different leg sensilla patterns or different leg specializations, so this particular placement on the middle and hind femora serves as a reliable cue for identifying Miridae.

Trichobothria are tiny mechanosensory hairs on insect legs that detect air movement and contact. In true bugs, the arrangement of these hairs on the leg segments is often used to tell families apart. For Miridae, the meso- and metafemora typically bear trichobothria, a pattern that helps distinguish plant bugs from the other families listed. The other groups have different leg sensilla patterns or different leg specializations, so this particular placement on the middle and hind femora serves as a reliable cue for identifying Miridae.