Alydidae, Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843

Jansen, M. Andrew & Halbert, Susan E., 2016, Key to Florida Alydidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) and selected exotic pest species, Insecta Mundi 2016 (476), pp. 1-14 : 3-4

Key to Florida Alydidae and Selected Exotic Pest Species

A list of the Florida fauna (Appendix 1) and of the seven exotic pest species (Appendix 2) are presented at the end. A key to these species is included below.

Not all exotic species are included in the key, and thus, it is possible that some potential minor pests may key to the wrong species. All species-level identifications, especially of pests, should be doublechecked against the appropriate literature and an identified reference specimen, whenever possible. This key was designed for use by agricultural inspectors, so some of the couplets may lead to other exotic species that are similar in appearance. In some instances, species can be confirmed only by genitalic dissection. Those noted as “(Exotic Pest)” currently are not known in Florida, but could arrive at any time ( Frank and McCoy 1992). Specimens identified as potential exotic species should be submitted to a specialist for confirmation.

1.

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Hind femur bearing spines ( Fig. 1a ); trichobothria of abdominal sternum five (visible sternum 3) arranged in a row lateral or anterior to spiracle ............................... Subfamily Alydinae , 9

Hind femur without spines ( Fig. 1b ); trichobothria of abdominal sternum five arranged in a triangle posterior to spiracle ...................................................... Subfamily Micrelytrinae , 2

2(1).

Second rostral segment shorter than third and fourth combined; third rostral segment more than half as long as fourth; evaporative area of metathoracic scent gland smooth ( Fig.1c ) .... ............................................................................................................... Tribe Leptocorisini , 4 —

Second rostral segment longer than or subequal to third and fourth combined; third rostral segment less than half as long as fourth; evaporative area of metathoracic scent gland coarsely punctate ( Fig. 1d ) ................................................................................... Tribe Micrelytrini , 3

3(2).

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Scutellum with vertical spine at apex ( Fig. 2a ); paraclypei simple in lateral view ....................... ........................................................................................................ Esperanza texana Barber

Scutellum without vertical spine at apex ( Fig. 2b ); paraclypei bifid in lateral view ..................... ........................................................................................................ Protenor australis Hussey

4(2).

— Brown, ventro-lateral spots present on abdomen ( Fig. 3a ) (exotic pest) .......................................

........................................................................................... Leptocorisa oratorius (Fabricius) Without brown spots on abdomen ( Fig. 3b ) ................................................................................. 5 5(4).

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Humeral angles with darkened spots ( Fig. 3c ); collar with a pair of black, dorso-lateral spots, dark brown spot behind compound eye absent (exotic pest) ....................................................... ................................................................................................ Leptocorisa acuta (Thunberg)

Humeral spots absent ( Fig. 3d ); or, if present, with black spots present on the collar and behind eye ................................................................................................................................................ 6

6(5).

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Lateral black line present from genae to at least the lateral side of the collar; humeral angles with black spots ( Fig. 7c ) (exotic pest) ................................. Stenocoris southwoodi Ahmad

Lateral black line from genae to the collar absent or incomplete, humeral angles without black spots; or with a black line from antenniferous tubercles to collar and humeral angles with black spots .................................................................................................................................. 7

7(6).

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Figures

Figure 1. Images of diagnostic characters for couplets 1 and 2. (a) Hyalymenus sp., hind femur; (b) Stenocoris tipuloides, hind femur; (c) Stenocoris tipuloides, scent gland evaporative area; (d) Esperanza texana, scent gland evaporative area.

Figure 2. Images of diagnostic characters for couplet 3. (a) Esperanza texana, arrow indicates vertical spine on apex of scutellum; (b) Protenor australis, head and thorax, lateral view; arrows indicate bifid paraclypei.

Figure 3. Images of diagnostic characters for couplets 4, 5 and 7. (a) Leptocorisa oratorius, abdomen, lateral view; (b) Leptocorisa acuta, abdomen, lateral view; (c) Leptocorisa acuta, arrows indicate markings on collar and humeri; (d) Stenocoris tipuloides, arrows indicate presence of markings behind the eye and on the collar, and absence of markings on the humeri; (e) Stenocoris tipuloides, hemelytra dorsal view; (f) Stenocoris filiformis, hemelytra, dorsal view.

Figure 7. Habitus images of three exotic alydid pests. (a) Riptortus clavatus, dorsal view; (b) Riptortus dentipes, dorsal view; (c) Stenocoris southwoodi, dorsal view. Images courtesy of Samuel Z. Howard, Smithsonian Institution.