Eusolenophora Poppius, 1909

Carpintero, Diego Leonardo, 2014, Western Hemisphere Lasiochilinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) with comments on some extralimital species and some considerations on suprageneric relationships, Zootaxa 3871 (1), pp. 1-87 : 46

Eusolenophora Poppius, 1909

Eusolenophora Poppius, 1909: 24 . Type-species by monotypy: Eusolenophora testacea Poppius, 1909 .

DESCRIPTION.— Male: Medium-sized species, oblong-oval, flattened dorso-ventrally. Head: Antennal segment II nearly 2.5x the length of I; labium extending slightly beyond forecoxae; segment I very short, not reaching base of antennal segment I. Thorax: Pronotum always laterally carinate, calli flattened, posterior lobe slightly rugose, collar present, lateral margins not sinuate; midfovea absent, longitudinal deep median sulcus on anterior and posterior lobes. Hemelytra with straigth sides, more densely punctured on clavus than on corion and cuneus. Membrane pruinose. Scutellum rugose; forefemora thickened; foretibiae armed with row of medium-sized spines on their inner margins, pads medium-sized; base of ostiolar peritreme rounded, apex narrower and strongly curved posteriorly ( Figs. 3–5 ). Meso- and metasternum not sulcate medially, the last elongate apically and slightly enlarged at apex. Abdomen: Genitalia with left paramere short and thick, slightly curved inward apically. Grouping of copulatory teeth on apical left margin of sixth and seventh sternites, spiniform, sometimes absent (in brachypterous forms). Female: Similar to male in measurements and coloration excepting anterior legs that are slender and unarmed. Genitalia: Parietovaginal gland always present with apparent double external membrane. Seventh sternite not centrally punctured.

DISTRIBUTION: From southern United States to central Argentina (Buenos Aires) ( Fig. 37 ).

DISCUSSION: This New World genus has two known macropterous species and two undescribed species with brachypterous males and females. Macropterous forms have a straight left paramere ( Lasiochilus - type) while brachypterous have the left paramere curving noticeably inward. Apart from different wing lengths, both northern species are similar from a dorsal aspect, as well as both southern species are similar. Distribution of the species is also very interesting: one macropterous ( E. divisa ) and one brachypterous ( E. divisoides ) forms are distributed in the northern hemisphere; the other two species, one macropterous ( E. testacea ) and one brachypterous ( E. testaceoides ), are distributed in the southern hemisphere. Northern macropterous species lives in continental North and Central America and in Caribbean islands: the brachypterous species were found only in these islands. Southern macropterous species lives in central South America. Brachypterous species are to be found in the southern limits of the genus. Probably brachyptery is an adaptation to more extreme climatic conditions. They are easily recognizable from Dilasia by having a longitudinal deep median sulcus on pronotum, being always flattened dorso-ventrally, hemelytra with deep punctures, males and females with brachypterous forms, a shorter labium, left paramere curved inward, and ostiolar peritreme apically strongly curved posteriorly ( Fig. 3 ).

Key to species of Eusolenophora

1. Brachypterous forms ( Fig. 178 ). Left paramere curved inward ( Figs. 182 , 193,194)................................. 2

- Macropterous forms ( Fig. 174 ). Left paramere nearly straight.................................................. 3

2. Yellowish, with head slighty darker, pale brown. Smaller species (2.22–2.44 mm). Caribbean islands....... divisoides n. sp.

- Testaceous with head blackish. Larger species (2.72–2.90 mm). Central Argentina.................... testaceoides n. sp.

3. Yellowish. Head with reddish areas, especially next to eyes. North and Central America......... divisa ( Champion, 1900)

- Pale testaceous. Head homogeneously dark brown. Central and South America................... testacea Poppius, 1909

Species of Eusolenophora :

Figures

FIGURE 37. Distribution of Anaelia and Eusolenophora.

FIGURES 1–16. Left metapleura of different genera of Lasiochilinae showing the ostiolar peritreme and metapleural microsculpture. 1–2, Plochiocoris (350X and 1000X respectively); 3–5, Eusolenophora (350X, 1000X and 2000X); 6–9, two species of Lasiocolpus showing the small specific differences following a generic pattern: 6–7, L. minor (200X and 1000X) and 8–9, L. sinuaticollis (200X and 1000X); 10–12, Anaelia (200X, 1000X and 2000X); 13–14, Dilasia (200X, and 2000X); 15–16, Lasiochilus (200X, and 2000X).

FIGURES 174–178. Species of genus Eusolenophora. 174, E. divisa Male (2.63 mm); 175, Idem. Female, lectotype (2.73 mm); 176, E. divisoides Male, holotype (2.36 mm); 177, E. testacea Female (2.80 mm); 178, E. testaceoides Male, holotype (2.76 mm).

FIGURES 181–182. E. divisoides. Male. Fig. 181, Pygophore showing left paramere (LP); Fig. 182, Detail of left paramere.