# Salicarus

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***Salicarus*** is a genus of [true bugs](/source/Hemiptera) belonging to the family [Miridae](/source/Miridae), named by Izyaslav Moiseyevich Kerzhner in 1962. Their most notable feature is their scale like [setae](/source/Seta). This genus comprises nine species with a wide distribution range, ranging from the Mediterranean to Central Asia. They usually can be found near [sallow](/source/Willow) and [willow](/source/Willow) trees, in wetland habitats.[1]

## Taxonomy

*Salicarus* belongs to the Miridae family.[2] It is placed in the tribe [Nasocorini](/source/Nasocorini) along with other genera such as *[Phoenicocoris](/source/Phoenicocoris)* and *[Chinacapsus](/source/Chinacapus)*.[3] In the past, authors have placed *Salicarus* in this tribe because of a common row of species on the dorsal distal margin of the hind femur that it shared with many other Miridae.[4][5] Most recently, the justification for their placement into *Nasocorini* is their small size, scalelike setae, and rudimentary endosoma.[3]

The genus is known for its complicated and elaborate taxonomic history. It was first created by Kerzhner in 1962 as a [monotypic](/source/Monotypic_taxon) genus for *S*. *roseri*, in an attempt to more clearly delimit the genus. There has been a lot of back and forth between multiple authors throughout many decades about the true extent of members within the *Salicarus* genus.[1]

For example, researchers were looking into putting an insect named *[Sthenarus](/source/Sthenarus) fuscicornis* into *Salicarus* because of features such as its second antennal segment and [tarsus](/source/Tarsus_(skeleton)). However, they ultimately decided against it because it lacked the scale like hairs that the rest of the *Salicarus* genus had, instead using its head structure to transfer this species into the genus *[Campylomma](/source/Campylomma)*.[6]

Another point of interest for researchers is the relationship between *Salicarus* and the genus *Phoenicocoris*. The species placed in *Salicarus* are known to have a similar vesical (eversible sheaths in the genitalia) structure compared to *Phoenicocoris* but the main difference is that the vesicae of *Salicarus* species is slightly larger and not as tightly coiled. However, there still have been instances where *Phoenicocoris* species have been moved to the genus *Salicarus*, like the example of *Phoenicocoris flagellatus*. Because of the similarities in head structure, most notably the elevated transverse basal [carina](https://bugswithmike.com/glossary/carina), researchers consider *flagellatus* a junior synonym of *Salicarus fulvicornis.*[7]

The most recent update to the *Salicarus* genus is a phylogenetic study done on the genus *Heterocapillus* which led to four species getting transferred to *Salicarus*. There are currently 9 species placed in *Salicarus*.[1]

Within *Salicarus*, species groups have been created to further group the species within the genus together, based on a variety of morphological traits. The *Salicarus nitidus* group includes: *S*. *cavinotum* (Wagner, 1973), *S*. *genistae* (Lindberg, 1948), *S*. *nitidus* (Horváth, 1905), and *S*. *perpusillus* (Wagner, 1960). The *Salicarus roseri* group includes: *S.* *concinnus* V. G. Putshkov, 1977 , *S*. *roseriI* (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1838), and *S. urnammu* Linnavuori, 1984*.* Lastly, the *Salicarus fulviornis* group includes: *S. halimodendri* V. G. Putshkov, 1977 and *S*. *fulviornis* (Jakovlev, 1889).[1]

## Description

*Salicarus* are small insects generally ranging from 2 to 4 mm in length. Their body can range from broadly oval to elongate oval, but they usually have short appendages. Their bodies are covered in a mixture of simple and scale-like setae. They have flattened heads and the posterior margin of the [vertex](https://genent.cals.ncsu.edu/bug-bytes/head/) covers the anterior part of the [pronotum](/source/Prothorax). Species of *Salicarus* may exhibit strong intraspecific variation, ranging from dark brown to pale yellow. For males, their vesica is large and strongly coiled around the middle area, and it features two long, thin, fused apical blades. For females, their vestibulum is characteristically long, thin, and S-shaped. Members of the *S*. *nitidus* group are most easily identified by its antennal segments. The first and second segments are strongly swollen, and the second [antennomere](/source/Antenna_(zoology)) is spindle shaped. Members of the *S*. *roseri* group can be identified by their distinctive knife-shaped vesica apical blades on their genitalia. Members of the *S. fulvicornis* species group is recognized by simple, dense setae, about 1.5x the length of the scale-like setae.[1]

## Life cycle and behavior

*Salicarus* insects are [univoltine](/source/Voltinism), with overwintering eggs. In Britain, adults can be found from mid-June to August. *Salicarus* lay eggs in the wood of sallow and willow. Most *Salicarus are* [oligophagous](/source/Oligophagous), but the species within the *S*. *fulvicornis* group are [monophagous](/source/Monophagous).[8] Interestingly, some *Salicarus*, like *S*. *roseri*, are known to be predators of aphids.[9] When there was a study conducted on [heteroptera](/source/Heteroptera) light attraction, *Salicarus* was included and it was observed that they are attracted to the white light in a trap, and interestingly, they did not respond to the ultraviolet light trap where white light was absent.[10]

## Habitat

*Salicarus* species are known as mesophiles, usually thriving in moderate temperatures that’s not too cold or hot.[8] There are records of them being found in river valleys, and they can generally be found in wetland habitats.[8] *Salicarus* species also utilize a wide range of host plants, depending on their classified species group. Species in the *S*. *nitidus* group use legumes of the tribe *[Genisteae](/source/Genisteae)* as hosts, which includes the plant genuses *[Genista](/source/Genista)*, *[Calicotome](/source/Calicotome)*, and *[Echinospartum](/source/Echinospartum)*. Species in the *S*. *roseri* group feed on *[Salix](/source/Willow)* plants. Lastly, species in the *S*. *fulvicornis* group only eat *[Caragana](/source/Caragana)* plants.[1]

## Historic and current distribution

Each species group of *Salicarus* has different geographic distributions associated with them. Members of the *roseri* species group has a [Palearctic](/source/Palearctic_realm) distribution. [1][8] An example of an area where *S*. *concinnus* can be found in Central Asia is the Uygur district in [Kazakhstan](/source/Kazakhstan).[8] Members of the *nitidus* group have a Mediterranean distribution. [1] Members of the *fulvicornis* group are mainly found in Central Asia and Mongolia.[1]

## Species list

According to the most recent genus review, there are currently 9 species in the *Salicarus* genus.[1]

- [*S*. *cavinotum*](/source/S._cavinotum) (Wagner, 1973)
- [*S.* *concinnus*](/source/S._concinnus) V. G. Putshkov, 1977
- [*S*. *fulviornis*](/source/S._fulviornis) (Jakovlev, 1889).
- [*S*. *genistae*](/source/S._genistae) (Lindberg, 1948)
- *[S. halimodendri](/source/S._halimodendri)* V. G. Putshkov, 1977
- [*S*. *nitidus*](/source/S._nitidus) (Horváth, 1905)
- [*S*. *perpusillus*](/source/S._perpusillus) (Wagner, 1960)
- [*S*. *roseriI*](/source/S._roseriI) (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1838*)*
- *[S. urnammu](/source/S._urnammu)* Linnavuori, 1984

## References

1. Konstantinov FV, Hosseini R. 2024. Review of the genus Salicarus (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae). ZK. 1211:57–100. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1211.129660

1. Cassis G, Wall M, Schuh R (2007) Insect biodiversity and industrializing the taxonomic process: a case study with the Miridae (Heteroptera). In: Hodkinson T, Parnell J (Eds) Towards the Tree of Life: taxonomy and systematics of large and species rich clades. Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 193–212. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420009538.ch13

1. Schuh RT, Menard KL. 2013. A Revised Classification of the Phylinae (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae): Arguments for the Placement of Genera. American Museum Novitates. 3785(3785):1–72. https://doi.org/10.1206/3785.2

1. G.M. Stonedahl 1990. Revision and cladistic analysis of the Holarctic genus *Atractotomus* Fieber (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 198: 1–88.

1. R.T. Schuh, M.D. Schwartz (1985) Revision of the plant bug genus *Rhinacloa* Reuter with a phylogenetic analysis (Hemiptera: Miridae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 179 (4): 379–470.

1. Kerzhner IM. Matocq A. 1997. On some Mediterranean Miridae (Heteroptera). Zoosystemica Rossica 6 (½): 191-192

1. Schwartz MD, Stonedahl GM. 2004. Revision of Phoenicocoris Reuter with Descriptions of Three New Species from North America and a New Genus from Japan (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae). Am Museum Novitates. 3464(1):1. https://doi.org/10.1206/0003-0082(2004)464%253C0001:ROPRWD%253E2.0.CO;2

1. Ж., Б. М., М., К. А., А., Е. П., & Д., А. Г. (2021). Биология и экология древесных растительноядных полужесткокрылых (Heteroptera) Чарынского ГНПП (Юго-Восточный Казахстан). *Eurasian Journal of Ecology*, *65*(4), 62–69. https://doi.org/10.26577/EJE.2020.v65.i4.06

1. Southwood T.R.E, Leston D. 1959. Land and Water Bugs of the British Isles. 1st ed. London and New York: Frederick Warne & Co., Ltd. 233

1. Valeriu D. 2021. The Flight Peculiarities of Heteroptera (Hemiptera) Towards Two Types of Light Traps In The Republic of Moldova. Oltenia - studii si comunicari stiintele naturii 37(1): 71-75. https://ibn.idsi.md/vizualizare_articol/172264

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