Lodosocoris Ahmad & Afzal, 1986

S, Salini, K, Rabbani M., U, Amala & G, Mahendiran, 2021, First record of the genus Lodosocoris Ahmad & Afzal (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Pentatomidae: Halyini) from India with description of a new species, Zootaxa 5072 (1), pp. 53-62 : 54

Lodosocoris Ahmad & Afzal, 1986

Lodosocoris Ahmad & Afzal, 1986: 200 . Type species by original description: Lodosocoris azhari Ahmad & Afzal, 1986: 200–201 , fig. 1–6.

References. MEMON Et Al. (2011): 1149–1169 ( Lodosocoris , phylogeny, key).

Redescription. Dark brown to black bugs mottled with irregular, yellowish markings. Head flat dorsally, not declivous, lateral margins of head concave medially. Mandibular plates straight, length with respect to clypeus variable, each of them gradually narrowing towards apex, not meeting in front of clypeus, lateral margins of mandibular plates with distinct tooth subapically nearly right angle to mandibular apex; apex of clypeus slightly broader than mandibular plates. Antennae with basiflagellum ( III) longest. Anterolateral margins of pronotum concave at middle and serrated, humeri slightly elevated and knob-like. Scutellum subtriangular with posterior 1/3rd abruptly narrowed. Connexivum broad and completely exposed. Hemelytra with membrane extending slightly beyond apex of abdomen. Length of labium variable; extending beyond middle to reaching posterior margin of ventrite IV. Mesosternum with narrow, central, longitudinal carina. Peritreme typical of Halyini type ( Salini 2019, Fig. 91); peritreme (p) spout-shaped (crescent-shaped) reaching middle of metapleuron with well-developed evaporatorium ( Fig.7 ). Evaporatorium extending to posterior border of mesopleuron. Metathoracic spiracle long, narrow and distinctly visible in ventral view.Abdomen on ventral side with central, longitudinal groove reaching posterior margin of ventrite V. Legs without spines, outer surface of tibiae with central longitudinal groove .

Discussion. Ahmad and Afzal (1986) gave more emphasis on the characters such as clypeus longer than mandibular plates and fore tibiae undilated especially for differentiating the genera Lodosocoris as well as Neolodosocoris from members of Dalpada . But we noticed that the specimens examined, for this paper, have either clypeus as long as ( Fig. 4 ) or slightly longer than mandibular plates ( Fig. 3 ). Hence this character is quite variable and cannot be used as reliable diagnostic to distinguish this genus from other members of Dalpada . Length of labium (reaching or slightly extending beyond middle of ventrite IV) and presence of a minute tooth in front of compound eyes ( Fig. 4 ) (sometimes absent) are other characters which are variable, though the latter was not mentioned in the original description. Both L. azhari and L. santhae sp. nov. have broad clypeus at apex of head. Parameral crown broad, with a beak-like projection is characteristic of this genus. Apart from this, the short, stout finger-like process laterally on infoldings of ventral rim is another diagnostic for the genus.

Figures

FIGURES 3–7. Lodosocoris santhae Salini sp. nov. 3–4, head (dorsal), arrow showing the tooth in front of compound eyes; 5, female terminalia (before dissection); 6, male genitalia (before dissection); 7, external scent efferent system. Lettering: p—peritreme.