Sarju nigricollis ( Westwood, 1837 )

Salini, S., Rabbani, M. K. & Singh, Sudhir, 2021, Taxonomic notes on Sarju Ghauri, 1977 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) with description of a new species from India, Zootaxa 4951 (2), pp. 283-303 : 296-300

Sarju nigricollis ( Westwood, 1837)

( Figs 39–54 , 61–63 )

Halys obscura Westwood, 1837: 6 , 22, synonymized by Dallas, 1851

Halys nigricollis Westwood, 1837: 6 , 22, synonymized by Dallas, 1851, confirmed by Ghauri, 1977 Dalpada nigricollis Dallas, 1851:184 , synonymized by Distant, 1902

Dalpada obscura Kirkaldy, 1909: 193 , synonymized by Ghauri, 1977

Sarju obscura Ghauri, 1977: 12–13 , 21, 24; figs.1–10 (Lectotype designation for obscura and nigricollis ) Sarju nigricollis ( Westwood, 1837) , synonymized by Rider, 2006

Type material: Halys obscura Westwood, 1837 : Syntype series, Bengal , deposited in deposited in Oxford University Museum of Natural History ( OXUM); Ghauri (1977) designated a female specimen from Bengal as lectotype . Halys nigricollis Westwood, 1837 : Syntype series, ‘ Nepa’ ( Nepal), deposited in OXUM; Ghauri (1977) designated a male specimen from Nepal as lectotype .

Colouration. Dorsal body ( Fig. 20 ) colour similar to S. farida except the moderately large 1+1 spots at each basal angles of scutellum, pale yellow. Humeri black with apex of nodule, bright yellow. Connexival segment with median 1/2, orange yellow and anterior and posterior 1/4 th, black. Antennae black except one longitudinal stripe each at inner and outer region of antennal segment I, basal 1/4 th of antennal segment III and IV, pale yellow. Hemelytra similar to S. farida .

Ventral side ( Fig. 21 ) including head medially orange yellow except the lateral margins including spiracular outline and minute tooth on posteriolateral angles of abdominal segments III –VII, black (sometimes with greenish reflexions especially on propleura). Labium ochraceous except apex, black. Legs ochraceous except tarsi III and apical half of claws, black. Tooth on posterolateral angles of ventrites III to VII and apical half of tarsal claws, black.

Integument and vestiture. Similar to S. farida except in the case of female genitalia.

Female genitalia with main body of valvifers VIII possesses sparse and short light brown setae; the finger-like posterior extension of valvifers VIII with moderately elongate dark brown setae. Valvifers IX medially with brownish patch possessing tuft of dense dark brown moderately elongate setae; posterior half of laterotergite IX with sparse, moderately elongate golden setae; laterotergite VIII with sparse, short light brown setae.

Redescription. Structure. Head ( Fig. 39 ) nearly as long as wide, dorsal surface of head more or less flattened except apex slightly depressed; lateral margins with two pairs of tooth, first pair subapical to mandibular plates, quadrangular and the second pair in front of compound eyes with a slight projection, but indistinct; lateral margins of head slightly concave. Mandibular plates straight basally and apically partly overlapping over clypeus, but not quite meeting each other, apex of mandibular plates broadly rounded, slightly longer than clypeus; clypeus partly closed apically. Compound eyes moderate size, rounded, slightly drooped. Antenniferous tubercles small and well visible from above. Antennae five segmented, slender, first segment slightly swollen, second segment geniculate and thickened apically. Antennal segments from shortest to longest: I<II<III<IV≥V. Buculae low, quadrangular anteriorly or sometimes with minute tooth like structure, partly covering the labial segment I from beneath. Labial segment I slightly surpassing bucculae; apex of labium reaching middle or posterior margin of third abdominal segment.

Pronotum ( Fig. 40 ). Anterolateral margins deeply concave, with indistinct serrations approaching humeri. Posterolateral margin obliquely straight, posterior margin nearly straight. Humeri broad, short and nodulose. Pronotal disc moreorless flat.

Scutellum ( Fig. 20 ) Disc of scutellum more or less flat, sometimes basal half slightly gibbous.

Hemelytra. Clavus elongate and narrowly triangular; corium much surpassing apex of scutellum. Membrane with parallel veins and exceeds apex of abdomen.

Thoracic pleurites and sternum. Mesosternum with narrow, median, longitudinal carina. Peritreme elongate spout-shaped (crescent-shaped) reaching middle of metapleuron with well developed evaporatorium ( Fig. 41 ).

Legs. As in genus description.

Pregenital abdomen. Narrower than pronotum across humeri. Connexivum broad and almost completely exposed. Posterolateral angles of each ventrite with minute, but distinct tooth-like process. Abdominal venter convex medially, median longitudinal groove on abdominal ventor not distinct, but slightly on abdominal ventor III.

Male genitalia ( Figs 42–50 , 61–63 ). Genital capsule ( Figs 42–44 ) roughly quadrangular with caudal lobes moderately developed. Ventral rim deeply excavated into median concavity; lateral extremities of median concavity angulate and directed mesad; a clamp-like sclerite immovably fused with ventral wall of genital capsule, visible as inverted U-shaped sclerite projecting from inner side of ventral wall of genital capsule in caudal view; infoldings of ventral rim strongly produced posteriad and covering 1/3 rd each from lateral sides of caudal opening; Dorsal rim shallowly concave than ventral rim, the dorsolateral margins of dorsal rim arcuately concave and oblique to straight median region of dorsal rim; infoldings of dorsal rim with small, transverse median extension merged with straight median margin of dorsal rim from innerside. Paramere ( Figs 45–46 ). Crown broad with apical margin formed as scaly, sclerotized ridge terminate in an elongate acuminate apex; outer margin of main axis of paramere convex; parameral crown gradually narrowing towards short stem; stem on innerside with a short, apically rounded triangular process, possessing elongate setae; basal apodeme developed into a laminate oblong disc-like structure. Articulatory apparatus ( Fig. 47 ). Basal plate and support bridge complex fused to form cup-like structure with saddle-shaped capitate process (cp) attached through dorsal connectives. Phallus similar to S. farida .

Female genitalia ( Figs 51–54 ). Terminalia ( Figs 51, 53 ) Valvifers VIII quadrangular with posterior region extended into an elongate, inwardly curved, narrow finger-like process ( Figs 51, 54 ); inner lateral margins (mesial margins) straight, inner posterior angles angular (or sometimes rounded). Valvifers IX semioval with concave anterior margin. Laterotergite IX elongate finger-like with posterior apex narrowly rounded; ventrally both laterotergite IX connected by a transverse ridge, posterior margin of transverse connecting ridge concave and sclerotized black; caudal apex of laterotergite IX reaching caudal margin of laterotergite VIII, but not extending beyond it. Laterotergite VIII, subtriangular with caudal margin arcuately convex. Gynatrium with a horse-shoe shaped sclerite surrounding spermathecal opening (sso) ( Fig. 53 ), ring sclerites (rs) developed into small, roughly subtriangular sclerites (medially transparent) connected to a sclerotised base. Spermatheca ( Fig. 52 ) with distal invagination of spermathecal duct (=sclerotized rod) nearly of uniform width throughout except the slightly broader distal end; intermediate part of spermtheca (=spermthecal pump) short; apical receptacle globose with three finger-like processes.

Material Examined. INDIA: Himachal Pradesh: 1♀, Nauni, Solan , 17.viii.2019 , Ex. Apple, Salini, S.; 1♀, Nauni, Solan, 19.viii.2019, Mahendiran, G.; Manipur: 1♀, Pallel, Saibom, 24°23.50’N 94°05.20’E, 1987m, 21.viii.2014 , Ex. Sweep net, Yeshwanth, H. M.; Sikkim: 2♀, Gangtok, Tadong, 22.x.2018 , Salini, S.; 1♀, Gangtok, Tadong, 23.x.2018, Salini, S.; Uttarakhand: 1♂, Almora, 15.ix.2012 , Umesh Kumar, S.; Uttar Pradesh: 1♀, Aligarh, 30.vi.2014 , Veenakumari, K.; West Bengal: 1♀, Lebong, 5000ft. vi.2009 , H.M.L.; 3♀, without label.

Measurements (mm). Males (n=1); median (minimum–maximum). Body length 13.48; head: length 2.77, width (including eyes) 2.97, interocular width 1.80; lengths of antennal segments: I–0.79, II–2.03, III–2.09, IV– 2.59, V–2.41; lengths of labial segments: I–1.19, II—2.08, III–1.97, IV–1.06; pronotum: length 2.97, width (including humeri) 6.52; scutellum: length 4.47, width (at basal angles) 3.68.

Females (n=5); median (minimum–maximum). Body length 16.60 (14.79–18.49); head: length 3.16 (2.89– 3.50), width (including eyes) 3.11 (2.85–3.47), interocular width 1.82 (1.69–1.95); lengths of antennal segments: I–0.87 (0.75–0.92), II–1.98 (1.78–2.33), III–2.11 (1.95–2.22), IV–2.48 (2.11–2.79), V–2.12 (2.01–2.22); length of labial segments: I–1.32 (1.24–1.39), II–2.30 (2.16–2.59), III–2.10 (1.97–2.24), IV–1.19 (1.08–1.43); pronotum: length 3.59 (3.14–4.14), width (including humeri) 7.73 (6.94–8.40); scutellum: length 5.71 (5.08–6.56), width (at basal angles) 4.55 (3.86–5.14).

Bionomics. Apple is reported as a host of this species by Azim and Bhat (2010) and on citrus (as per the collection details of a male specimen examined by Ghauri, 1977)

Distribution. Assam ( Ghauri 1977); Bengal (comprises of India and Bangladesh, Wikipedia contributers 2020) ( Distant 1902); Himachal Pradesh (Kaur et al. 2010); Jammu and Kashmir: Srinagar ( Distant 1902); Manipur: Pallel, Saibom (new state record); Punjab ( Distant 1902); Sikkim ( Ghauri 1977): Tadong, Gangtok (new location record); Uttarakhand: Almora ( Ghauri 1977), Dehradun (new location record), Kumaon ( Ghauri 1977); West Bengal (Kaur et al. 2010): Darjeeling, Rungbong, Nurbong, Lebong ( Ghauri 1977); Uttar Pradesh: Aligarh (new state record)

Remarks. This species resembles other included species of Sarju in external coloration and morphology and therefore, difficult to differentiate using external morphology. However this species possess drooping compound eyes as compared to other Sarju species where the compound eyes are usually rounded and protruded out. Moreover, the narrow, elongate finger-like process at the posterior end of valvifers VIII reaching nearly 2/3 rd of laterotergite IX of female genitalia, is distinct to this species and in this respect, it resembles members of Cahara .

Figures

FIGURES 39–44. Sarju nigricollis (Westwood). 39, head (dorsal); 40, pronotum; 41, external scent efferent system; 42, Genital capsule (dorsal); 43, Genital capsule (ventral); 44, Genital capsule (caudal). Scale: 0.5 mm. Lettering: p—peritreme.

FIGURES 45–50. Sarju nigricollis (Westwood). 45–46, paramere (different planes); 47, articulatory apparatus; 48, phallus (ventral); 49, phallus (dorsal); 50, phallus (lateral). Scale: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 51–54. Sarju nigricollis (Westwood). 51, terminalia (dorsal); 52, spermatheca; 53, terminalia (ventral); 54, valvifers VIII. 51–52: Scale: 0.5 mm; 53–54: Scale: 0.25 mm. Lettering: lt IX—laterotergite IX; lt VIII—laterotergite VIII; rs—ring sclerite; sso—sclerite guarding spermathecal opening; vlf VIII—valvifers VIII.

FIGURES 61–63. Sarju nigricollis (Westwood). 61, phallus (ventral); 62, phallus (dorsal); 63, phallus (lateral). Scale: 0.25 mm. Lettering: dcp—dorsal conjunctival processes; mcp—median conjunctival processes; vcp—ventral conjunctival processes; pa—processes of aedeagus; vt—ventral tubercle.

FIGURES 18–21. 18–19. Sarju farida Ghauri—Habitus. 18, dorsal; 19, ventral. 20–21. Sarju nigricollis (Westwood)—Habitus. 20, dorsal; 21, ventral. Scale: 1 mm.