Ventocoris falcatus (Cyrillus, 1791)

Dursun, Ahmet & Fent, Meral, 2013, Overview of the subgenus Ventocoris s. str. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) with new records and a revised key to the Ventocoris species of Turkey, Zootaxa 3681 (1), pp. 151-177 : 168-169

Ventocoris falcatus (Cyrillus, 1791)

Cimex falcatus Cyrillus 1791 : pl. 6 fig. 9 and legend.

Cimex desfontainii Fabricius, 1794: 89 . Synonymized by Gorski (1852: 46). Trigonosoma bohemanni Dohrn, 1860: 100 . Synonymized by Horváth (1889: 42). Trigonosoma (Selenodera) falcatum var. reflexum Horváth, 1889: 43 .

Trigonosoma (Selenodera) falcatum var. orthoceras Horváth, 1889: 43 . References. Horváth (1889), Josifov (1969), Rider (2006), Péricart (2010).

Redescription. Body generally yellowish brown and with punctures. Body and head wrinkled ( Figure 13 ). Head, pronotum, antennae, venter, dorsum and legs yellowish brown. Lateral part of mandibular plates concave, head longer than its width. Head with punctures, antennal segment 1st does not extend to apex of head ( Figure 14 . a, b). Antennae without conspicuous setae ( Figure 14 . c). Thoracic pleuron of same colour with punctures, rostrum yellowish brown, apical two segments black, extends to hind coxae. Middle of pronotum with transverse creased. Distal portion of humeral process of pronotum sharp, black or yellowish brown, pass prothorax, middle of pronotum with tubercles ( Figure 13 ; Figure 14 . a). Proximal part of scutellum with punctures and middle gibbous. Connexival yellow tubercles developed, spiracles surrounded by black. Scent gland ostiole provided with ear-like peritreme as in other species of Ventocoris ( Figure 14 . k).

Male genitalia: Ventral part of pygophore yellowish brown ( Figure 14 . d). medial region of ventral rim flat, inside emarginate, superior process emarginate medially, lateral part black ( Figures 14 . e, f). Proximal part of paramere with a little punctures and distal part taper( Figures 14 . g, h, i).

Female genitalia: Gonocoxites gibbous and yellowish brown. 8th gonapophysis with transverse line and with two tubercles ( Figure 14 . j).

Measurements in millimetres of 3 and (Ƥ): Male (n=2) females (n=4). Length of head 1.90 (2.00), width 2.00 (2.10), interocular distance 1.40 (1.50), lengths of antennal segments I, II, III, IV and V, 0.50 (0.53), 0.70 (0.75), 0.40 (0.45), 0.70 (0.80) and 0,80 (0.90), width of pronotum with distal part of humeral process 7.60 (8.40); width of abdomen 5.50 (6.00); total length of body 7.40 (8.20).

Material examined. Algeria: Ain Sefra ( Oran), 1913, 13 (leg. L. Bleuse), ( ZSMC); Hauts Plai, East Algeria, 13 (leg. A. Thery), ( ZSMC); Italy: Mta. Gargano Man. Fredonia, Mattinata- Viesto, 22.V.1975, 2Ƥ; Apulien, Manfredonia, 18.V.1976, 1Ƥ (leg. G. Seidenstücker) ( ZSMC); Calabria, Paola, 26.V.1973, 13; Malta: (?), 1Ƥ (leg. Ruhmer, det. Dursun) (MNB); Spain: Alcantarilla, Murcia, 08.IV.1971 (leg. Ribes); Morocco: Tizl n Tichka, H. Atlas, 2150 m, 05.V.1962, 1Ƥ (leg. Frey); Tunisia: Sidi Gaber, Novomber, 1952, 1Ƥ, 23 (leg. Müller); 1Ƥ (leg. Metilla Pardo); Tunisia mer., (?), 13 ( ZSMC).

Distribution. Europe: France, Italy, Portugal, Spain. North Africa: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia ( Rider 2006; Pẻricart 2010); Malta (This study).

New record to Malta.

Comments. A Holomediterranean species recorded first in Malta in the present paper. The only record from Egypt is that provided by Horváth (1889). This species is of restricted distribution, it was only reported in a few localities in southwest Europe and North Africa ( Josifov 1969; Riger 2006; Pẻricart 2010). Geographic variations are sometimes distinct: the humeral process of the pronotum of specimens from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Mallorca ( Spain) are sharper than that of specimens from Italy ( Figure. 13 ).

Figures

FIGURE 13. Ventocoris falcatus (Cyrillus, 1791, body (dorsal view): a) 3 from Algeria, b) Ƥ from Spain (Mallorca), c) Ƥ from Malta, d, e, f) Ƥ from Tunisia, g) 3 from Italy.

FIGURE 14. Ventocoris falcatus (Cyrillus, 1791: a, b) 3 Head (dorsal view) from Algeria, c) 3 antennae from Algeria, d) Pygophore (Ventral view) from Algeria, e, f) Pygophore (top view) from Algeria, g, h, i) paramera (from Algeria), j) Ƥ genitalia (ventral view), k) 3 orifice (from Algeria).