Sphaeridops

Gil-Santana, Hélcio R., 2021, A revision of Sphaeridops (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae), Zootaxa 5020 (3), pp. 521-549 : 547

Key to the identification of the species of Sphaeridops

1. General coloration reddish to pale reddish or orange reddish with blackish markings or portions ( Figs. 1–2 , 4–6 , 8–24 , 44–49 ); sternites III–VI with transverse black stripes, sometimes almost completely blackish ( Figs. 2 , 6 , 9, 11, 13 , 15, 17, 19 , 21, 23 , 45, 47, 49 )................................................... Sphaeridops amoenus ( Lepeletier & Serville, 1825)

- General coloration pale whitish, pale yellowish or pale orange with blackish markings generally less extensive than in the preceding species ( Figs. 50–52 , 54–55, 59–60 , 73–74 , 76–79 ); sternites III–VI mostly pale, with lateral rounded to irregular dark to blackish markings that do not form transverse stripes ( Figs. 51 , 55, 58, 60 , 74 , 77, 79 )......................... 2

2. Dark lateral markings of hind lobe of pronotum larger, elongated; connexivum completely pale, without dark markings ( Figs. 50 , 54, 57, 59 )........................................... Sphaeridops aurantius Gil-Santana, Costa & Zeraik, 2000

- Dark lateral markings of hind lobe of pronotum smaller, rounded; connexivum with distal blackish markings on segments II–VI ( Figs. 73 , 76, 78 )....................................................... Sphaeridops pallescens (Walker, 1873)

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Reduvius amoenus Lepeletier & Serville, 1825, female, potential syntype belonging to the collection of NHMW. l, dorsal view; 2, lateral view; 3, labels.

FIGURES 4–7. Sphaeridops eulus Maldonado & Santiago-Blay, 1992, syn. nov., male holotype deposited in USNM. 4, dorsal view; 5–6, lateral view, 5, head and thorax, 6, abdomen; 7, pygophore and left paramere, dorsal view.

FIGURES 8–13. Sphaeridops amoenus (Lepeletier & Serville, 1825), males, scale bars 5.0 mm. 8–9, 10–11, 12–13, same specimens from Maranhão, Brazil; 8, 10, 12, dorsal view; 9, abdomen, lateral view; 11, 13 ventral view, 13, metathorax and abdomen.

FIGURES 14–19. Sphaeridops amoenus (Lepeletier & Serville, 1825), males, scale bars 5.0 mm. 14–15, 16–17, 18–19, same specimens from Minas Gerais, Brazil; 14, 16, 18, dorsal view; 15, 17, 19, abdomen, 15, 17, ventrolateral view, 19, ventral view.

FIGURES 20–23. Sphaeridops amoenus (Lepeletier & Serville, 1825), males, scale bars 5.0 mm. 20–21, 22–23, same specimens from Bahia and Mato Grosso, Brazil, respectively; 20, 22, dorsal view; 21, 23, ventral view.

FIGURES 24–30. Sphaeridops amoenus (Lepeletier & Serville, 1825), male. 24–27, scale bars 1.0 mm; 25–26, setae omitted; 24–25, abdominal segment VIII and pygophore, 24, ventral view, 25, dorsolateral view; 26, pygophore, schematic outline, ventral view; 27, pygophore, dorsal view; 28–30, scale bars 0.5 mm; 28–29, posterior margin of pygophore and medial process of pygophore, schematic outline, anterior view, 28, specimen from Minas Gerais, Brazil, 29, specimen from Bahia, Brazil; 30, paramere, lateral view, br, transverse bridge, dpp, distal portion of pygophore, lpp, lateral posterior elevated portions of pygophore, mpp, medial process of pygophore, pa, paramere, pct, proctiger, so, socket of insertion of paramere.

FIGURES 44–49. Sphaeridops amoenus (Lepeletier & Serville, 1825), females, scale bars 5.0 mm. 44–45, 46–47, 48–49, same specimens from Maranhão, Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso, Brazil, respectively; 44, 46, 48, dorsal view; 45, 47, 49, abdomen, 45, 49, ventral view, 47, lateral view.

FIGURES 50–53. Sphaeridops aurantius Gil-Santana, Costa & Zeraik, 2000, male holotype previously deposited in MNRJ. 50–52, scale bars 5.0 mm; 50, dorsal view, 51, ventral view, 52, lateral view; 53, labels.

FIGURES 54–60. Sphaeridops aurantius Gil-Santana, Costa & Zeraik, 2000, males. 54–55, 57–60, scale bars 5.0 mm; 54–56, paratype (MNRJ), 54, dorsal view, 55, ventral view, 56, labels, a vial with the male genitalia and a card with two tarsi glued, both pinned to the specimen; 57–58, 59–60, same specimens from Mato Grosso, Brazil, 57, 59, dorsal view, 58, 60, ventral view.

FIGURES 73–75. Reduvius pallescens Walker, 1873, male holotype. 73, dorsal view, scale bar 5.0 mm, 74, ventral view, 75, labels.

FIGURES 76–79. Sphaeridops pallescens (Walker, 1873), sp. reinst., male from Rondônia, Brazil, scale bars 5.0 mm. 76–77, specimen before drying; 78–79, specimen already dried; 76, 78, dorsal view, 77, 79, ventral view.