Aradus debilis UHLER, 1876

Heiss, Ernst & Barr, Cheryl, 2017, Seining watercourses, a new method for collecting flat bugs? (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Aradidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 49 (1), pp. 131-145 : 134-135

Aradus debilis UHLER, 1876 (teneral specimen, not figured)

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: 1♀ 30.IV.2016 (1 specimen)

Aradus debilis is known from California, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Oregon and Washington in the western USA, British Columbia in Canada, and from the eastern states of Massachusetts and New York.

Aradus linsleyi USINGER, 1936 ( Photo 2 , Figs 1, 3; Photo 5 , Fig. 19; Table II, Figs 16- 20)

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d 1♀ 30.IV.2015; 2♀♀ 2.V.2016; 13, 3♀♀ 12.V.2016 (7 specimens).

Aradus linsleyi was described from a single female from Yosemite National Park in California, collected 6 VI 1931 by E.G. Linsley. Another female was reported later from Old Station, Shasta Co. (LINSLEY & USINGER 1942). This species is among the largest Nearctic Aradidae species measuring about 10 mm, and its habitus, antennal structure and coloration are very close to that of Aradus crenatus SAY, 1831, which occurs only in the eastern states. Aradus crenatus was described from Missouri, but because the types are lost ( PARSHLEY 1921), its true identity cannot be verified. A male specimen from Cincinnati, Ohio, 13 VI 1902, which is cited by PARSHLEY 1921, supposedly represents the eastern taxon; the genitalic structures of this specimen are figured (Table II, Figs 11- 15).

HEISS 1980, has shown that A. crenatus, reported to occur in Europe, is a distinct Nearctic species; the valid name of the European taxon is A. conspicuus HERRICH- SCHAEFFER, 1835.

In A. linsleyi the genitalic structures of the male, particularly segment IX of the pygophore, are very different from those of A. crenatus and resemble more those of A. ampliatus of similar habitus, but the latter has antennal segment III bicolored.

This is the second published record of this obviously rare species and the first male reported ( Photo 5 , Fig. 19).

Figures

Photo 2: Figs 1-4. (1) Holotype female of Aradus linsleyi USINGER, 1936; (2) Holotype female of Aradus patibulus VAN DUZEE, 1927; (3, 4) labels attached to holotypes, deposited in the CAS. Photos courtesy of the CAS.

Photo 5: Figs 17-21. (17) Aradus patibulus, female (7.4mm); (18) Aradus crenatus, male (9.9mm) (Ontario, Prince Edward Co., CEHI); (19) Aradus linsleyi, male (8.6mm); (20) Mezira pacifica, male (6.1mm); (21) Mezira pacifica, female (7.6mm).