Belostoma noualhieri Montandon, 1903

Ribeiro, Josė Ricardo Inacio, 2007, A review of the species of Belostoma Latreille, 1807 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) from the four southeastern Brazilian states, Zootaxa 1477 (1), pp. 1-70 : 38

Belostoma noualhieri Montandon, 1903

( Figs 10H ; 20A )

Belostoma noualhieri Montandon, 1903a: 21 .

Types.— Belostoma noualhieri was described based on the female holotype (Rio Grande do Sul) deposited in MNHN .

Material examined.— BRAZIL. Rio Grande do Sul — 1 f ( MNHN): 1898, (“Noualhier, 1898”), A. L. Montandon det. 1920 [“ 20.XII.1920 ”], [labelled as Z. oxyura ], holotype. Santa Catarina — 1 f ( MACN): Nova Teutônia [27 º 11’ S, 52 º 23’ W, 300–500 m], XI.1934, (F. Plaumann), J. A. de Carlo det. as B. horvathi .

Distribution.— BRAZIL: Rio Grande do Sul ( De Carlo 1938), Santa Catarina (new record), São Paulo ( De Carlo 1950).

Description.—Measurements (f). Total length (from apex of head to apex of hemelytra at rest) 21.2; largest width of body 9.0; median length of pronotum 3.70; greatest pronotal width 6.50.

General coloration dark brown. Anterior portion of pronotum usually with two brown marks, each near eyes.

Body elliptical. Length of anteoculus 1.19 times length of interoculus; length of rostral segment I 0.92 times length of segment II; anterior frontogenal suture longer than posterior frontogenal suture; clypeus reaching ocular line; vertex without longitudinal median carina; posterior interocular width 1.58 times length of anteoculus, 1.63 times width of eye; eyes rounded. Pronotum without longitudinal median carina; greatest pronotal width 1.76 times its length; scutellum reaching nodal line, without longitudinal median carina; prosternal keel prominent, smoothly acute at apex ( Fig. 10H ). Pilosity extending along genital operculum, covering entire margin of connexivum and part of sternites.

Comparative notes.—The specimen studied here agrees with the specimens studied by De Carlo (1950). Unfortunately, De Carlo did not describe its phallus.

I suggest, based on my observations, a close relationship between this species and the species of the B. oxyurum group sensu Lauck, 1962. Moreover, according to Lauck (1962) and Nieser (1975), the presence in B. noualhieri of the anterior interocular width: width of an eye ratio of about 1.5 and the circular ventral diverticulum of the phallus, corroborate my opinion; however, a definitive conclusion must await study of male specimens of B. noualhieri .

Figures

FIGURE 10. Belostoma discretum Montandon, 1903 and B. noualhieri Montandon, 1899. B. discretum. 10A, Prosternal keel (lateral view): specimen from State of Amazonas (SEMC). 10B–G, Phallus: 10B–D, Specimen from State of Amazonas (SEMC). 10E–G, Specimen from Corrientes, Argentina (MACN). B. noualhieri. Prosternal keel (lateral view): specimen from State of Rio Grande do Sul (MNHN). 10B and 10E, Dorsal views. 10C and 10F, Ventral views. 10D and 10G, Lateral views. Scale: 1.00 mm.

FIGURE 20. Dorsal habitus. 20A, Belostoma noualhieri Montandon, 1903: specimen from State of Rio Grande do Sul (MNHN, holotype). 20B, B. plebejum (Stål, 1860): specimen from State of Espírito Santo (MNRJ 170). 20C, B. ribeiroi De Carlo, 1933: specimen from State of Rio de Janeiro (MACN 3680). 20D, B. sanctulum Montandon, 1903: specimen from State of Espírito Santo (HNHM). Scale bar: 5.00 mm.