Physoderes esakii Cao et al., 2011

Hwang, Wei Song & Weirauch, Christiane, 2017, Uncovering hidden diversity: phylogeny and taxonomy of Physoderinae (Reduviidae, Heteroptera), with emphasis on Physoderes Westwood in the Oriental and Australasian regions, European Journal of Taxonomy 341, pp. 1-118 : 82

Physoderes esakii Cao et al., 2011

Figs 13–14 , 17

Physoderes esakii Cao, Tomokuni & Cai, 2011: 23 , figs 1–12.

Epirodera latithorax Esaki, 1931: 212 (nomen nudum).

Physoderes latithorax – Maldonado 1990: 380.

Re-diagnosis

This species is recognized among species of Physoderes by its short hemelytra, not reaching the abdominal apex, the slender scutellar spine, the round parascutellar lobe and the simple phallosoma without lateral prolongations as illustrated in the original description and color images provided by Cao et al. (2011). This species is most similar to P. fuliginosa but can be differentiated on these characters.

Description

Male

Refer to Cao et al. (2011) for full description.

Distribution

This species is only recorded from Botel Tobago (Orchid Island [Lanyu], Taiwan).

Remarks

A re-diagnosis is provided here, as the original diagnosis (under Remarks in Cao et al. 2011) refers to the sexually dimorphic enlargement of the anterior pronotal lobe also present in other species of Physoderes . Two female specimens likely to be conspecifics collected by J.F. Tsai on Botel Tobago island share the same short hemelytron not reaching the abdominal apex, but without an enlarged anterior pronotal lobe and with a rounder abdomen (J.F. Tsai and D. Rédei, pers. comm.; images examined here).

Figures

Fig. 13. Distribution map for species of Nanophysoderes gen. nov., Paraphysoderes Villiers, 1962 and Physoderes Westwood, 1845 (in part).

Fig. 14. Dorsal habitus images for species of Paraphysoderes Villiers, 1962 and Physoderes Westwood, 1845 (partial). For an explanation of the colored arrows, see keys on page 63 and 66. Scale bars = 2 mm.

Fig. 17. Ventral habitus images for species of Physoderes Westwood, 1845 (partial). Scale bars = 2 mm.