Pseudobargylia leai Wygodzinsky 1956

Tatarnic, Nikolai J. & Cassis, Gerasimos, 2011, The thread-legged bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) of Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, Zootaxa 2967, pp. 21-43 : 31

Pseudobargylia leai Wygodzinsky 1956

Figure 4 A–H

Pseudobargylea leai Wygodzinsky 1956: 202 (new species); Wygodzinsky 1966: 543 (description); Cassis & Gross 1995: 299 (catalogue).

Diagnosis. This species can be recognised from other Pseudobargylia species by the distinctive external female genitalia, with the posterior margin of the eighth tergite deeply incised dorsally, the ninth tergite forming two paddle-shaped lobes, and the syngonapophysis downwardly directed and armed with small lateroapical spines ( Fig. 4 C–E). Additionally, the first labial segment is relatively long in P. l e a i, reaching to level of eyes ( Fig. 4 B). P. l e a i can be readily distinguished from other Lord Howe emesines by the forefemoral armature ( Fig. 4 G–H).

Habitat. Wygodzinsky (1956) described this species from specimens collected on Kentia palms ( Howea species). This species has not been re-collected on any of the Lord Howe Island palm species, despite extensive collections on these plants.

P. l e a i was collected in Stevens Reserve on the web of a golden orb-weaving spider, Nephila plumipes (Latreille) (Tetragnathidae) . The female specimen was actively feeding on a captured leafhopper. This is the first record of such behaviour amongst Pseudobargylia species, supporting the hypothesis that kleptoparasitism is common across various emesines.

Distribution. Endemic to Lord Howe Island.

Specimens examined. AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Lord Howe Island: Capella South, Boat Harbour Track, 0 508027 6508911, ca 100 metres W of Goat House junction, on grass, newly moulted skin, 10 December 2000, H. M. Smith, 1Ƥ (AM). Kings Beach, Walking track to Erskine Valley, Dune vegetation, 6508210 507090, sea level, LHI/GC/L1/H2, 1Ƥ, 1 4th instar larva (AM). Stevens Reserve, 31.526o S 159.064o E, 15 December 2000, H. M. Smith, at night, on Nephila sp. spider web, preying on trapped leafhopper, 1Ƥ (AM). Stevens Reserve, 31.526o S 159.064o E, 15 December 2000, H. M. Smith, at night, 1Ƥ (AM). Stevens Reserve, 31.526o S 159.064o E, 25 February 2001, G. Milledge, fogging, Banyan fig trees, 33 1Ƥ (AM). Stevens Reserve, 31.526o S 159.064o E, 25 February 2001, G. Milledge, tree trunk, thatch palm, 2Ƥ (AM). Stevens Reserve, 31.526o S 159.064o E, 25 February 2001, G. Milledge, fogging, dead tree trunks, vines, 13 (AM).

Remarks. Wygodzinsky (1956) described P. le ai from two males, three females and one larval specimen, and distinguished it from mainland Australian Pseudobargylia species by the distinctive female genitalia, which are readily recognised by the conspicuous, downwardly directed spinelike processes of the syngonapophysis ( Fig. 4 C– E). Wygodzinsky (1966) proposed that P. l e a i belongs to a species-group also containing P. brewarrina , P. marsupalis and P. revoluta , and that its endosoma was most like the latter species.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Pseudobargylia leai, female: A, Head, dorsal view; B, head, lateral view. C – E Female external genitalia: C, Ventral view; D, dorsal view; E, ventral view, detail. F, Male pygophore, lateral view; G, forelegs, lateral view; H, foretarsus. GN = anterior gonapophysis; SN = syngonapophysis; ST VIII = gonocoxite; TG IX = ninth tergite; TG VIII eighth tergite.