Podisus thomasi Lemaître, Roell & Brugnera, 2021

Roell, Talita, Brugnera, Ricardo & Lemaître, Valérie A., 2021, Lost and found-Discovery of the presumed lost type of Arma pallipes Dallas new synonymy and description of two new species of Podisus Herrich-Schäffer (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae), Zootaxa 4958 (1), pp. 570-584 : 578-582

Podisus thomasi Lemaître, Roell & Brugnera , sp. nov.

( Figs 13–15 , 22–24 , 31–33 , 38–39 , 46–48 , 53–54 , 58–60 )

Podisus pallipes (Dallas) : Thomas 1992: 101; Weiler et al. 2012: 188; Dellapé et al. 2015: 170 (misapplication).

Holotype. Male. Labels: “ VENEZUELA: Mérida Las Cruces 9 July 1986 R.S. Miller colr.”; “B.M. 1991-55”; “ J. E. Eger Collection ”; “ NEOTYPE ARMA PALLIPES ( DALLAS 1851) Desig. D. B. Thomas ”; “NHMUK 010592332” ( Figs 13–15 ). ( NHMUK)

Paratypes. PANAMA: Veraguas, Cerro Tute , 4 Km W Santa Fé, 680m, 2-XIII-1995, C.W. & L. B. O’Brien col., ♀ ( JEE) ; VENEZUELA: Lara, Humocaro Bajo , 10-V-1951, F. Fernandes, ♀ ( MIZA) . Carabobo, Barbula , 17-IX-1963, C. Gonzalez col., ♀ ( MHNLS) . Aragua, Guamitas (probably current La Guamita in the Henri Pittier National Park ), 750m, 24-VIII-62, F. Fernandes col., ♀ ( MIZA) ; Rancho Grande (currently Henri Pittier National Park ), 29-VII-1958, ♀ ( MHNLS) ; 1100m, 02-I-1966, F. Romero col., ♀ ( MIZA) ; 1100m, 6-XII-56, F. Fernandes & C.J. Rosales col., ♀ ( MIZA) ; 1100m, 12-III-1952, J.R. Reguena col., ♂ ( MIZA) ; 1100m, 25-IV-1966, J. & B. Bechine col., ♂ ( MIZA) ; I-1954, G.u. Helga Frey col., ♀ ( EMG) ; El Limón , 450m, 25-V-1996, F. Fernandes col., ♂ ( MIZA) ; Barinas , El Junco, 1500m, 9-I-1982, R.T. Schuh and B.M. Massie col., ♂ ( AMNH) . COLOMBIA: Boyacá, Santa Maria , sector La Almenara, 1123m, 4.87, -73.25, P. Erazo, C. Lesmes, L. López col., ♂ ( MPUJ) . Cundinamarca, Quipile, Vereda Arabia , Finca el Paraiso nº 12, 2026m, 4.74, -74.56, 15-IX-2012, A. Garcia col., ♂ ( UNAB) . Tolima, Roncesvalles , Vereda El Diamante, 05-VI-97, M.A. & D.R. col., ♀ ( UNAB) . ECUADOR: Imbabura, Paramba , 3500m, IV-1997, Rosenberg col., ♂ ( NHMUK) ; Pichincha, Maquipucuna Biol. Reserve , 1350m, 2/ 3-VIII-1998, W. Optiz col., ♂ ( JEE) .

Etymology. We are pleased to dedicate this species to Dr Donald B. Thomas (USDA-ARS) in recognition of his remarkable work on the World Asopinae . The publication of his catalogues (1992, 1994) has allowed further research on the group, including this paper in which we thank him for donating to NHMUK the male specimen we are designating above as holotype of this species.

Type locality. Venezuela

Diagnosis. Pronotum without spots, anterolateral pronotal margins not calloused, crenulated, paler than pronotal disc; humeral angles angular elongated, without a posterior tooth, laterally directed. Apex of scutellum paler than disc ( Figs 13 , 22 , 58 ). Parameres divided into two arms, each apex acute ( Fig. 38 ). Posterior margins of valvifers VIII slightly sinuous, posterior angles obtuse, lateral angles over laterotergites IX ( Fig. 53 ).

Description. Body length. 10.30–11.08 mm (♀) and 8.50–9.40 mm (♂).

Body castaneous to brown, anterior half of lateral margins of pronotum lighter than rest of pronotum, humeral angles slightly darker than disc, apex of scutellum pale, lighter than disc. A thin central line mostly without punctures or lighter than rest of dorsum extends from anterior margin of pronotum to posterior margin of scutellum ( Figs. 13 , 22 ).

Head subrectangular, mandibular plates uniformly punctured, clypeus as long as or slightly surpassing apex of mandibular plates; ocelli lying behind an imaginary line through posterior margins of compound eyes; antennal tubercles partially visible from above, proportion of antennomeres: I<II>III<IV>V ( Figs. 13 , 22 ); bucculae evanescent posteriorly, apex rounded; labium extending to posterior margin of metasternum, proportion of labiomeres: I<II>III>IV ( Figs. 14 , 23 ).

Pronotum hexagonal, uniformly punctured; cicatrices flat; anterior and lateral margins concave in dorsal view, lateral margins crenulated and lighter than disc on anterior half; humeral angles angular, slightly produced, darker than disc. Scutellum longer than wide, reaching an imaginary line connecting fifth connexives medially, apex pale, lighter than disc; frenal margins longer than post frenal margins. Coria longer than scutellum, each attaining abdominal segment IV, uniformly punctured; hemelytral membranes well surpassing apex of abdomen, with apex spotted in brown ( Figs 13 , 22, 24 ). Pro-, meso- and metasterna covered by small thin setae; prosternum with a weak median carina; mesosternum carinated longitudinally; metasternum flat. Pro-, meso-, and metapleura densely punctured, evaporatoria on posterior margin of each mesopleura; metapleural evaporatoria surrounding each ostiolar peritreme; each ostiolar peritreme discal-type, elongated, with a darker spot on apical angle; each ostiolar opening directed laterally ( Fig. 14 ).

Abdomen sparsely punctured, posterolateral angles of each connexivum projected as small spines, longer on seventh segment. Mesial tubercle projecting from sternite III not surpassing metacoxae ( Figs. 14 , 23 ).

Male. Without glandular patches on ventral surface of abdomen.

Genitalia. Pygophore bowl-shaped, opened posteriorly, setose, setae denser on ventral rim ( Figs 31–33 ); dorsal rim concave, with 1+1 dorsal projections near segment X ( Fig. 31 , dr, dp); ventral rim concave, with 1+1 inconspicuous ventral projections near posterolateral angles ( Figs 32–33 , vr, vp, pa), surface between inferior and superior layers of ventral rim excavated ( Figs 32–33 , il, sl, vr). Posterolateral angles acute ( Figs 31–33 , pa), surpassing seventh tergite ( Fig. 14 ). Segment X tubular, ventrally directed. Head of parameres divided into two distinct arms, each apex acute, well visible posteriorly ( Figs. 31–33 , 38 , par). Pseudoclasper with transversal elevations, placed dorsolaterally to parameres ( Figs. 31–33 , 39 , pc). Phallus. Basal theca and thecal shield subequal in length, thecal shield slightly wider than basal theca ( Figs. 46–48 , bt, ts); vesica with two elongated arms, golf club-shaped in lateral view ( Fig. 47 , v); apices of conjunctival lobes slightly sculptured ( Fig. 46–48 , cl).

Female. Genitalia. Genital plates positioned ventroposteriorly ( Fig. 23 ); valvifers VIII oval, posterior margins sinuous, posterior angles obtuse, sutural margins straight, juxtaposed, lateral angles over laterotergites IX ( Fig. 53 , vf 8). Laterotergites VIII triangular with spiracles on proximal angle ( Fig. 53 , la 8). Exposed portion of valvifers IX rectangular, wider than long ( Fig. 53 , vf 9). Exposed portion of laterotergites IX tongue-like ( Fig. 53 , la 9), surpassing segment X, and almost attaining mediotergite VIII. Segment X subrectangular ( Fig. 53 , X). Inner portion of valvifers IX projected in 1+1 straight elongated arms with acute apices ( Fig. 54 , vf 9). Valvulae IX with 1+1 small circular secondary thickenings. Ring sclerites inconspicuous, small, circular, placed posteriorly to thickening of vaginal intima; thickening of vaginal intima short, obtuse ( Fig. 54 , tvi); arcus placed right anteriorly of thickening of vaginal intima ( Fig. 54 , ar). Vesicular area almost three times the length of pars intermedialis plus capsula seminalis ( Fig. 54 ); Inner and median ducts of vesicular areas of uniform diameter ( Fig. 54 , id, md), outer duct constricted basally ( Fig. 54 , od). Pars intermedialis tubular, shorter and narrower than capsula seminalis; capsula seminalis oval, elongated, smooth ( Fig. 54 , pi, cs). Proximal and distal annular crests of similar width ( Fig. 54 , pa, da).

Distribution: Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador.

Remarks. Thomas (1992) examined the syntype of A. ventralis but was unable to find any type for A. pallipes and donated to NHMUK a male specimen that he designated as the neotype of this species. While cataloguing typespecimens of Asopinae , Roell et al. (in prep.) found an actual syntype of A. pallipes ( Figs 4–6 ), the assessment of that specimen as a type is detailed in their catalogue; Thomas’s neotype is therefore hereby set aside ( ICZN 1999: Art. 75.8) and we have described, in this work, a new species for this specimen, based also on the study of several other conspecific specimens.

Podisus thomasi sp. n. can be differentiated from Podisus ventralis and Podisus graziae sp. n. by the following characteristics: apex of scutellum yellowish spotted ( Figs. 13 , 22 , 58–60 ) [concolourous with the disc in P. ventralis and P. graziae ], apices of parameres acute ( Fig. 38 ) [obtuse in P. ventralis and P. graziae ], and pseudoclasper subrectangular ( Fig. 38 ) [suboval in P. ventralis and P. graziae ]. P. thomasi is sympatric with P. ventralis . Both are distributed in the northern regions of South America.

Figures

FIGURES 1–15. Type specimens examined, in ventral and dorsal views, with their respective labels. 1–3, Arma ventralis (NH- MUK); 4–6, Arma pallipes (NHMUK); 7–9, Podisus neniator (SDEI); 10–12; Podisus graziae sp. n. (MZSP); 13–15, Podisus thomasi sp. n. (NHMUK). 7–9, photographed by Angelika Weirauch (Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut); original photos cropped, light levels and contrast adjusted. Scale bars = 4 mm.

FIGURES 16–24. Podisus ventralis (16–18), Podisus graziae sp. n. (19–21), and Podisus thomasi sp. n. (22–24) in dorsal and ventral views, and detail of head and pronotum. Scale bars = 2 mm.

FIGURES 25–33. Male pygophore of Podisus ventralis (25–27), Podisus graziae sp. n. (28–30), and Podisus thomasi sp. n. (31–33) in dorsal (25, 28, 31), posterior (26, 29, 32) and ventral (27, 30, 33) views. Abbreviations: dp, dorsal projection; dr, dorsal rim; pa, posterolateral angle; il, inferior layer of ventral rim; par, paramere; pc, pseudoclasper; sl, superior layer of ventral rim; vp, ventral projection; vr, ventral rim. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 34–39. Male right parameres (34, 36, 38) and right pseudoclaspers (35, 37, 39) of Podisus ventralis (34–35), Podisus graziae sp. n. (36–37), and Podisus thomasi sp. n. (38–39). Abbreviations: im, inner margin; om, outer margin. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 40–48. Phallus of Podisus ventralis (40–42), Podisus graziae sp. n. (43–45), and Podisus thomasi sp. n. (46–48) in posterior (40, 43, 46), lateral (41, 44, 47) and anterior (42, 45, 48) views. Abbreviations: bt, basal theca; cl, conjunctival lobes; ts, thecal shield; v, vesica. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 49–54. External (49, 51, 53) and internal (50, 52, 54) female genitalia of Podisus ventralis (49–50), Podisus graziae sp. n. (51–52), and Podisus thomasi sp. n. (53–54). Abbreviations: ar, arcus; cs, capsula seminalis; da, distal annular crest; id, inner duct; la9, laterotergites IX; md, median duct; od, outer duct; pa, proximal annular crest; pi, pars intermedialis; rs, ring sclerites; tvi, thickening of vaginal intima; tva 9, thickening of valvulae IX; va, vesicular area; vf8, valvifers VIII; vf9, valvifers IX; X, segment X. Scale bars: 49, 51, 53 = 0.5 mm; 50, 52, 54 = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 55–60. Live specimens of Podisus graziae sp. n. (55–57), and Podisus thomasi sp. n. (58–60). 55–57, photos by Ricardo Brugnera, Porto Alegre, Brazil. 58–60, photos by Erika Schulz, Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.