Fromundus biimpressus (Horváth)

Matsunaga, Janis N., Howarth, Francis G. & Kumashiro, Bernarr R., 2019, New State Records and Additions to the Alien Terrestrial Arthropod Fauna in the Hawaiian Islands, Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 51 (1), pp. 1-71 : 8-9

Fromundus biimpressus (Horváth)

NEW STATE RECORD

Thousands of burrowing bugs at a Keaukaha school and surrounding areas on Hawaii island were reported by the public to HDOA in 2015. The burrowing bugs were attracted to the bright lights of the athletic field and gym at night and could be found in masses around the school on sidewalks, along buildings, in the baseball dugouts, and on landscaping in following days. In addition, swarming in masses at various beach parks (Onekahakaha and Richardson’s Beach Park) in the Keaukaha area were also reported around the same week.

It first appeared that this was a new unrecorded species of Cydnidae , however, a review of the HDOA collection found unidentified specimens collected from Oahu in the 1980’s which were identical to the Keaukaha individuals. Shortly after the Keaukaha swarms, a single specimen was submitted from Kauai. Further, a review of a cydnid first reported as “Genus? sp. A” in Howarth and Preston 2002 was also the same species. Specimens were forwarded to USDA-ARS-SEL for identification in 2015 but remained pending. With the assistance of Joe Eger, an identification was provided and confirmed by James N. Zahniser USDA-ARS-SEL after re-submitting additional specimens.

Fromundus biimpressus is known from South East Asia ( China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam). In 2004 it was discovered on Guam under similar circumstances, at lights during the night ( Lis and Zack 2010).

Collection records: OAHU, Honolulu International Airport , 16.XII.1982, ex. light trap, coll: D. Preston, det. J.M. Matsunaga, IX.2017. HAWAII, Keaukaha, 12.X.2015, 19.X.2015, ex. swarming at school athletic field at night, coll. S. Chun ,

det. J.N. Zahniser, 14.IX.2017. KAUAI, Kapaa, 22.X.2015, ex. at large, in home fumigated for termites, submitted by Aloha Termite, det. J.N. Matsunaga, IX.2017. Vouchers at HDOA .