Spanagonicus argentinus (Berg)

Menard, Katrina L., 2015, A review of the genus Spanagonicus Berg (Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Nasocorini) with the description of novel antennal characters, the description of a new species from Central America, and a key to currently known taxa, Zootaxa 3973 (1), pp. 139-158 : 144

Spanagonicus argentinus (Berg)

Figures 1–2

Agalliastes argentinus Berg 1883: 77 (n. sp.)

Spanagonicus provincialis Berg 1883: 79 (n. sp.; syn. by Carvalho and Carpintero, 1992:39); Carvalho 1958: 143 (cat.) Leucopoecila inornata Knight and Carvalho 1943: 141 (n. sp., syn. by Carvalho 1954: 425) Chlamydatus argentinus Carvalho 1958: 31 (cat.); Carvalho and Ferriera 1972: 177 (list: lapsus) Spanagonicus argentinus Carvalho and Carpintero 1992: 89 (n. syn.)

Diagnosis. Identified by the light yellow coloration of the first antennal segment, which occasionally extends to the basal margin of the second antennal segment, and traces of pale yellow coloration on the clavus only if present on hemelytron.

Redescription. Males: ( Fig. 1 D–E) Small, generally ovoid in shape, length 2.1–2.5. COLORATION: Body dark brown; Median of clavus golden brown, remainder of hemelytron and cuneus dark brown; head dark brown; first antennal segment golden, basal portion of second segment, up to half of basal area golden, remaining area dark brown, remaining antennal segments brown; thorax brown; evaporatory area of scent gland beige; abdomen dark brown; coxae brown, pro- and mesofemora brown with apical lightening to golden, metafemora completely brown; pro- and mesotibiae golden, metatibiae basally dark brown, distally golden; tarsal segments brown. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: As in generic redescription. STRUCTURE: Second antennal segment in males moderately inflated medially, first antennal segment weakly cup-like in shape; remaining structures as in generic redescription. MALE GENITALIA: ( Fig 2 D–F) As in generic redescription.

Female: ( Fig. 1 E) Small, ovoid in shape, macropterous but shorter wings than males, length 2.3–2.35. COLORATION: As in males. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: As in generic redescription. STRUCTURE: As in generic redescription. FEMALE GENITALIA: As in generic redescription.

Hosts. Unknown

Distribution. Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Material examined. ARGENTINA: Jujuy: 12km. NE of Iturbe, 3670m, 15 Feb 1993, R. T. Schuh, J. T. Polhemus & E Dominquez, 1 ♂ ( AMNH _IZC 00139753); Misiones: [sic] 18 Jul 1942, H. L. Parker, 1 ♂ ( USNM). BRAZIL: Chapada, April, 2 ♂ ( AMNH _IZC 00139683–4); April, Paratype Leucophoecila inornata , 1 ♂ ( USNM); Federal District: Galero, Oct 1956, M. Alvarenga, 1 ♂ ( USNM); Mato Grosso: Porto Esperidiao MT, Dec 1984, Mango & Alvarenga, 2 ♂ ( USNM); Rio Grande do Sul: Pelotas, 18 Feb 1953, C. Biezanko, 1 ♂ ( AMNH _IZC 00139751); Sao Paulo: Capinas, 20 Apr 1936, E. J. Hamleton, Paratype Leucopoecila inornata , 1 ♂ ( USNM); Sao Paolo, 5 May 1944, R.D. Araujo, ex Sida rhombifolia , 1 ♀ ( USNM); Piracicaba, 15 Mar 1966, C. A. Triplehorn, black light, 27 ♂ ( AMNH _ICZ 00139724–50) Santa Catarina: Videira, 12 Sep 1991, E. R. Hickel, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( USNM). PARAGUAY: Gran Chaco, 260 km West Paraguay Riv., 13 Jul 1935, A. Schulze, 1 ♂ ( AMNH _IZC 00139685), 3 ♂ ( USNM). URUAGUAY: Cerro Largo: Sierra de Vaz, Rio Tacuari, 20km SE Melo, 23–26 Mar 1963, J.K. Bouseman, 1 ♂ ( AMNH _IZC 00139752); Montevideo: Sweeping from Montevideo to Salto, 6–14 Mar 1940, H. L. Parker, 8 ♂ ( USNM).

Discussion. This species shares the same relatively large inflation of the second antennal segment, and similar size and shape as S. albofasciatus , but the golden rather than brown coloration of the first and base of the second antennal segments clearly sets S. argentinus apart. It also lacks the distinctive hemelytral patterning of S. albofasciatus .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal habitus photos Spanagonicus Berg species. A. male S. albofasciatus (Reuter) B. female S. albofasciatus, macropterous C. female S. albofasciatus, brachypterous D. male S. argentinus E. female S. argentinus F. male S. aricanus G. female S. aricanus H. male S. schusterus I. female S. schusterus. J. female S. tiquensis (Image from the Museo de La Plata online holotype database). Images not to scale; see Table 2 for measurements.

FIGURE 2. Male genitalia of Spanagonicus Berg species. Spanagonicus albofasciatus: A. endosoma, B. left paramere, C. phallotheca; S. argentinus: D. endosoma, E. left paramere, F. phallotheca; S. aricanus: G. endosoma, H. left paramere, I. phallotheca; S. schusterus n. sp.: J. endosoma, K. left paramere, L. phallotheca.