Heraeus pulchellus, Barber, 1954

Pablo M. Dellapé, María C. Melo & Thomas J. Henry, 2016, A phylogenetic revision of the true bug genus Heraeus (Hemiptera: Rhyparochromidae: Myodochini), with the description of two new genera and 30 new species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 177 (177), pp. 29-134 : 109-110

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1111/zoj.12362
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8A961A76-E33C-4171-B401-0B516B62FA6D
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5611191
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6F64DB1B-5E10-FFFE-FC39-FBE5FC60FE67
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Heraeus pulchellus
status

Treatment

HERAEUS PULCHELLUS BARBER, 1954 View in CoL

( FIGS 36 View Figure 36 I, 39F, 41E–H, 42)

Heraeus pulchellus Barber, 1954b: 342 View in CoL –343; Slater, 1964: 1084; Harrington, 1980: 109; Slater, 1988: 50, 59; Baranowski View in CoL & Slater, 1998: 79, 87; Baranowski View in CoL & Slater, 2005: 143.

Diagnosis

Small species, total length less than 5 mm. Labium extending to mesocoxae or metacoxae. Antennae pale brown to brown, with the apex of basiflagellomere and distiflagellomere darker. Distiflagellomere without a pale band. Membrane with an apical pale spot. Metafemur with a subapical dark band. Anterior margin of dorsal aperture of pygophore straight. Pygophore apex pointed dorsally in lateral view. Aedeagus unspined.

Heraeus pulchellus , together with H. plebejus and H. pacificus , are the only species in the group that lack a pale band on distiflagellomere (although in some specimens of H. pulchellus a band is vaguely apparent). In H. plebejus and H. pulchellus , the antenna is pale brown to brown, with the apex of basiflagellomere and distiflagellomere darker, and the ocelli are placed at the level of an imaginary line passing the posterior border of the eyes, whereas in Heraeus pacificus the antenna is uniformly dark brown and the ocelli are placed posterior of an imaginary line passing the posterior border of the eyes. Heraeus pulchellus can be distinguished from H. plebejus based mainly on body size ( H. plebejus over 5.25 mm long and H. pulchellus less than 5 mm long) and the male genitalia.

Redescription ( Fig. 36 View Figure 36 I)

Head: Eyes not surpassing the dorsal margin of head in lateral view. Ocelli at level of an imaginary line passing the posterior border of eyes. Labium extending to mesocoxae or metacoxae. Antennae pale brown to brown, with the apex of basiflagellomere and distiflagellomere darker. Distiflagellomere without a pale band.

Thorax: Posterior pronotal lobe with pale spots and a pale spot on each humeral angle. Anterior pronotal lobe with long erect setae. Evaporative area extend- ed. Scutellum with erect setae. Hemelytra: inner corial spot diffuse and with a subapical corial spot; costal margin pale on proximal three-quarters. Membrane brown, with veins paler and an apical pale spot. Legs: Profemur dark, at most with apices paler, metafemur with a subapical dark band ( Fig. 39 View Figure 39 F). Profemur with long erect setae. Protibiae and mesofemur without spines.

Abdomen: Brown, with abundant short recumbent setae. Male genitalia: Pygophore ( Fig. 41 View Figure 41 E, F) rounded, apex with a protuberance pointed dorsally; anterior margin of dorsal aperture rounded, inner projections quadrangular, more pronounced posteriorly. Parameres: Figure 41 View Figure 41 (G, H). Aedeagus with minute spines on conjunctiva and sclerotized vesical lobes; processus gonopori long and slender.

Distribution

Bahamas, Cayman Island, Cuba, and Saba Island ( Fig. 42 View Figure 42 ).

Type material examined

Holotype: ♂, CUBA, ‘Capitolio’, Rio Yara, May 15–19 [19]48, Elev. 1150 ft appr., J. Ferrás, type #61922 (USNM).

Additional material studied

BAHAMAS: 1♂, Mayaguana Isl., 28-VIII-[19]63,

blacklight trap, C. Murvosh (AMNH); 1♀, 26-VIII-

[19]63, blacklight trap, C. Murvosh (USNM).

CUBA: 1♀, Soledad, Santa Clara Prov., 24/30-V- 1939, C.T. Parsons (AMNH); 1♀, Central Soledad, 1-VII-1932, B.B. Leavitt (AMNH); 1♂, Guantanamo, Imias, 10 m.s.n.m., 16-VII-[19]90, a la luz, L.F. Armas & V. Becker (USNM).

GRAND CAYMAN ISLAND: 1♂, 1-XI-[19]92, BLT, P. Fitzgerald (USNM); 1♂, South Sound, 23-VIII- 1987, BL trap, P. Fitzgerald (USNM); 1♀, 2-VIII-1987, BL trap, P. Fitzgerald (USNM); 1♀, 30- XI-1987, BL trap, P. Fitzgerald (USNM); 1♀, Grand Cayman, 17-V-[19]92, B.L.T., P. Fitzgerald (USNM); 1♀, 8-V-[19]92, B.L.T., P. Fitzgerald (USNM); 1♂, 1♀, VI-[19]86, R.M. Baranowski (USNM); 1♀, Savannah, 12/13-XI[19]85, R.M. Baranowski (USNM).

CAYMAN BRAC ISLAND: One without abdomen, The Creek, 5-VI-[19]96, blacklight trap, E.A. Dilbert (USNM); 1♀, 8-V-[19]97, blacklight trap, E.A. Dilbert (USNM).