The family is characterised by the absence of
trichobothria on the antennae; the presence of mostly symmetrical, unsegmented chitinous hooks at tip of abdomen; a maximum of four placoid sensilla on terminal article of antennae; thorax with two pairs of spiracles on sternites II and III; abdominal sternite 1 with a pair of styles and a pair of lateral subcoxal organs.
Dorsal face of all tarsi and cymbium with two irregular longitudinal rows of very short claviform
trichobothria. Paired tarsal claws with teeth (0-8), third claw absent in all tarsi.
A grasshopper nymph produces vibrations while walking and flies produce noise and vibrations, which might be detected more easily by scorpion
trichobothria (Brownell, 2001).
Spiracles on abdominal segments 2-7; a pair of
trichobothria on abdominal segments 3-6, mesad of spiracular line (Fig.
Carapace with shallow constriction, slightly higher in cephalic part; surface with punctured sculpture; carapace dark brown with black eye field; covered in thin long colourless hairs, with scattered white scales among them and long bristles near eyes; two long
trichobothria in constriction.
Representatives of the genus Ischnocolus can be distinguished from all other Ischnocolinae genera by the clavate (club-shaped) tarsal
trichobothria, with small barbs on the surface, that are arranged in a short median apical row and by the maxillae having a lighter colour on the prolateral edge on the ventral surface than on the retrolateral edge, in both live and preserved specimens.
The
trichobothria are capitates, partly or not covered by lateral margins of the prodorsal shield.
Paraprocts of two pieces, the proximal one joining the clunium, sensory fields with 14
trichobothria on basal rosettes, and one marginal trichobothrium without basal rosette; distal piece with a small sclerotized prong, distally truncate (Figs.
The structure, distribution and taxonomic importance of
trichobothria in the Miridae (Hemiptera).