Rhysostethus glabellus Hsiao, 1973

Rédei, Dávid, Ren, Shuzhi & Bu, Wenjun, 2012, A new synonymy in the genus Rhysostethus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 52 (2), pp. 341-348 : 342-344

Rhysostethus glabellus Hsiao, 1973

Rhysostethus glabellus Hsiao, 1973: 64 . HOLOTYPE (!): ♁, China: Sichuan, Emeishan [Mt.], Hongchuping (NKUM).

Parascadra breuningi Kerzhner & Günther, 2004:227 . HOLOTYPE (!): ♀, China: Sichuan, “Ta-tsien-lu” [= Kangding] (ZMAS). New synonymy.

References (all under the name Rh. glabellus ). HSIAO & REN (1981): 430 (redescription, photo of holotype, figures, distribution); MALDONADO CAPRILES (1990): 71 (catalogue); PUTSHKOV & PUTSHKOV (1996): 154 (catalogue); HUA (2000): 210 (listed); LIN (2003): 128 (listed, distribution); CUI et al. (2007): 173 (type material).

Type material examined. Rhysostethus glabellus . HOLOTYPE: ♁ (macropterous): “[‘ Sichuan Emeishan’, in Chinese script, printed] \ [‘ Hongchunping’ , in Chinese script] 1500m. [printed] \ 57. 6. 13. [handwritten] \ [‘Zheng Le-Yi · Cheng Han-Hua’, in Chinese script, printed]” [square with black frame], “ Rhysostethus [handwritten] \ glabellus [handwritten] \ Hsiao [handwritten] \ ‘ Holotype Hsiao Tsai-Yu identified 19’ [in Chinese script, printed]” [red square with frame]; pinned, left antenna distad of segment IIIa, right antenna distad of segment IIIb and right hind tarsus missing ( NKUM) ( Figs. 1–3 ).

Parascadra breuningi . HOLOTYPE: ♀ (micropterous):“Ta-tsien-lu \ Sztschwan, China \ St. Breuning ded.” [printed], “ Holotypus \ Parascadra breuningi n. sp. \ Kerzhner & Günther det. 2003” [red square, printed], “Zoological Institute \ Russian Academy of Sciences \ St. Petersburg \ Russia ” [printed]; mounted on card, antennae and left fore tarsus missing ( ZMAS) ( Figs. 4–5 ).

Additional specimens examined. CHINA: SICHUAN: Emeishan, Jiulaodong, 1800–1900 m, 13.vi.1957, Y.C.Lu leg., 2 macropterous ♁♁ labelled as paratypes of Rh. glabellus (one of them used for preparing Figs. 13–19 ) ( NKUM). Although these two males have been labelled as paratypes, they were not included in the original description, therefore they have no type status.

Diagnosis. As the single member of the genus Rhysostethus it can be readily recognized by the characters defining the genus. The original description ( Hsiao 1973), subsequent redescription and illustrations ( Hsiao & Ren 1981), and the present photos ( Figs. 1–2 ) and drawings ( Figs. 6–8 ) based on the holotype of Rh. glabellus allow recognition of the macropterous male. The external genitalia of a non-type male are described and illustrated ( Figs. 13–19 ). The original description and illustrations together with the present photo ( Fig. 4 ) and drawings ( Figs. 9–12 ) based on the holotype of P. breuningi (Ker zhner & Günt her 2004) allow recognition of the micropterous female.

Description of external male genitalia. Genital capsule ( Figs. 13–14 ) short; anterior and posterior apertures separated by narrow transverse bridge-like portion; cuplike sclerite immovably fused with genital capsule, provided with a broad, apically truncate and weakly emarginate posteromedian process ( Fig. 15 ); with a protuberance above paramere socket. Paramere ( Figs. 16–17 ) curved, terminating in a blunt tubercle. Phallus ( Figs. 18–19 ) with articulatory apparatus short and thick, arms of basal plate strongly curved posteriad; dorsal sclerotized plate posteriorly narrowed and apically broadly truncate; with 1+1 broad, posterolaterally protruded, membranous lobes below dorsal sclerotized plate; struts parallel and fused in their basal two thirds, separated in their apical thirds, but fused at extreme apex; endosoma with a broad, elongate, laterally reflexed (U-shaped in cross-section) and apically excised sclerite.

Biology. Unknown, perhaps preys on diplopods (see below).

Distribution. China: Sichuan: Mt. Emei; “Ta-Tsien-Lu” [= Kangding].

Note on type depository. The holotype of R. glabellus is deposited at the Tianjin Museum of Natural History according to the original description ( HSIAO 1973), and at the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences according to PUTSHKOV & PUTSHKOV (1996). The labels of the male ( Fig. 3 ) located at NKUM leave no doubt about its status as holotype.

Figures

Figs. 1–5. Holotypes (1–2, 4) and their labels (3, 5). 1–3 – Rhysostethus glabellus Hsiao, 1973; 4–5 – Parascadra breuningi Kerzhner & Günther, 2004. Scale bar in mm; labels not to scale. (Figs. 4–5: © ZMAS, photographed by D. A. Gapon, published with permission.)

Figs.13–19. External male genitalia of Rhysostethus glabellus Hsiao,1973.13 – genital capsule, dorsal view, proctiger omitted; 14 – genital capsule with proctiger, lateral view; 15 – process of cuplike sclerite, posterior view; 16–17 – left paramere, two different views; 18 – phallus, dorsal view; 19 – same, lateral view. Scale bars in mm.

Figs. 6–12. Diagnostic characters of Rhysostethus glabellus Hsiao, 1973 (6–8 – macropterous male, 9–12 – micropterous female). 6, 9 – head and thorax, dorsal view; 7, 10 – head, lateral view; 8, 11 – left fore leg, posterior view; 12 – detail of ventral margin of fore femur.Figs. 6–8 drawn after holotype of Rh.glabellus, Figs.9–12 after holotype of P. breuningi. Scale bars in mm.