Spanagonicus aricanus Carvalho

Menard, Katrina L., 2015, A review of the genus Spanagonicus Berg (Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Nasocorini) with the description of novel antennal characters, the description of a new species from Central America, and a key to currently known taxa, Zootaxa 3973 (1), pp. 139-158 : 144-145

Spanagonicus aricanus Carvalho

Figures 1–2

Spanagonicus aricanus Carvaho 1984: 198 , figs. 108–112 (n.sp, descr., DV, fig. head-antenna, MG) Diagnosis. Separated from other species of Spanagonicus by nearly transparent light brown coloration of the anterior portion hemelytron, brown median area of corium, relatively narrow second antennal segment in males, and only brachypterous females.

Redescription. Males: ( Fig. 1 F) Small, ovoid, length 2.35–2.7. COLORATION: Body brown to dark brown; anterior of hemelytron transparent light brown, median of hemelytron and cuneus darker brown; head brown to dark brown; all antennal segments brown; thorax brown; evaporatory area of scent gland beige, first four segments of abdomen light brown, remaining apical segments brown to abdomen being completely dark brown; coxae brown, pro- and mesofemora apically golden and distally dark brown, metafemora completely brown; pro- and mesotibiae golden, metatibiae completely golden to basally dark brown at joint with femora, remainder of structure golden; tarsal segments brown. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: As in generic redescription. STRUCTURE: First antennal segment weakly cup-like and inflated, second antennal segment relatively narrow, nearly parallel-sided; remaining structures as in generic redescription. GENITALIA: As in generic redescription.

Female: ( Fig. 1 G) Small, relatively ovoid, brachypterous, length 2.1–2.5. COLORATION: Anterior to cuneal fracture and cuneus light brown in most specimens, and unlike males some females may have lighter brown coloration on the anterior portion of hemelytron; rest of coloration as in males. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: As in males. STRUCTURE: As in generic redescription. FEMALE GENITALIA: As in generic redescription.

Hosts. Unknown

Distribution. Chile, Ecuador, and Peru

Material examined. Paratypes: CHILE: Arica: Arica, Jun 1963, Carvalho, 1 ♂ 3 ♀ ( USNM). ECUADOR: San Antonio: Mitad del Mundo, 10km N of Quito, 14 Mar 1973, M & N. Deyrup, 4 ♂ 1 ♀ ( AMNH _IZC_ 00139758–62); San Rafael: 10 km SE of Quito, 4 Feb 1973, M. A. Deyrup, 3 ♂ ( AMNH _ICZ 00139755–7). PERU: Cañete: 12 Oct 1989, R. Biengolea, 1 ♂ ( USNM); 27 Apr 1991, G. Sanchez 1 ♂ 1 ♀ ( USNM); Lima: km 46 Carretera Central E of Lima, 14 Nov 1971, R. T. & J. C. Schuh, 1 ♂ ( AMNH _IZC 00139754); Piura: Piura, 10 Jul 1981, F. Alvarez, 1 ♂ ( USNM).

Discussion. The original description of S. aricanus describes it as having light brown hemelytra. Viewing male and female paratypes, the specimens also have areas of paler coloration on the anterior portion of the corium and adjacent to the cuneus. Recently collected specimens from Peru show this same pattern of a lighter coloration, but the patterning is more pronounced. There is an almost transparent area on the anterior portion of the hemelytron and part of the cuneus, but the median area is a more pronounced dark brown, suggesting that the paratypes may have faded. Despite this variation, the hemelytra of S. aricanus in all specimens are visibly more transparent compared to all other species of Spanagonicus , and they do not have the patterning of S. albofasciatus . Lastly, the inflation of the second antennal segment in males is also relatively minor compared to the other species of this genus.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal habitus photos Spanagonicus Berg species. A. male S. albofasciatus (Reuter) B. female S. albofasciatus, macropterous C. female S. albofasciatus, brachypterous D. male S. argentinus E. female S. argentinus F. male S. aricanus G. female S. aricanus H. male S. schusterus I. female S. schusterus. J. female S. tiquensis (Image from the Museo de La Plata online holotype database). Images not to scale; see Table 2 for measurements.

FIGURE 2. Male genitalia of Spanagonicus Berg species. Spanagonicus albofasciatus: A. endosoma, B. left paramere, C. phallotheca; S. argentinus: D. endosoma, E. left paramere, F. phallotheca; S. aricanus: G. endosoma, H. left paramere, I. phallotheca; S. schusterus n. sp.: J. endosoma, K. left paramere, L. phallotheca.