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Research Article
Malleusocoris, a new South American genus of Myodochini (Hemiptera, Rhyparochromidae) with modified antennae, along with some new synonymies and new combinations for misplaced taxa
expand article infoPablo M. Dellap釧, María C. Melo§‡
‡ Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
§ Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina

Corresponding author: Pablo M. Dellapé ( pdellape@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar )

Academic editor: Martin Husemann
© 2023 Pablo M. Dellapé, María C. Melo.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Dellapé PM, Melo MC (2023) Malleusocoris, a new South American genus of Myodochini (Hemiptera, Rhyparochromidae) with modified antennae, along with some new synonymies and new combinations for misplaced taxa. Evolutionary Systematics 7(1): 117-122. https://doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.7.100968
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:704B4BBC-F927-4DDB-AAC4-96D7CED95318
Open Access

Abstract

The new monotypic genus Malleusocoris is described to accommodate the new species M. minimus sp. nov. from Argentina and Brazil. Its relationship with other genera of the tribe Myodochini (Hemiptera: Rhyparochromidae) is discussed. Moreover, the taxonomic allocation of Ptochiomera chilensis Spinola, 1852 and Plociomera annulicollis Berg, 1894 are discussed. Ptochiomera chilensis Spinola, 1852 is considered a junior synonym of Bergidia polychroma (Spinola, 1852) (Ozophorini); and Plociomera annulicollis Berg, 1894 is transferred to the genus Neopamera Harrington, 1980.

Key Words

Lectotype, Neotropical, new species, M. minimus, Spinola

Introduction

Myodochini is the most diverse tribe of Rhyparochromidae in the Neotropical Region with many taxa still to be described (Dellapé and Coscarón 2005; Dellapé 2012; Dellapé et al. 2016). Most of the members of the tribe are found on the ground, living in litter below plants, although some species climb vegetation to feed on mature seeds, others live above ground on weedy vegetation and a few species are known to be arboreal (Cervantes and Pacheco 2003, 2006; Dellapé and Henry 2010).

Henry et al. (2015) noted the need to re-evaluate the placement of three species assigned to the genera Pseudocnemodus Barber, Ptochiomera Say, and Sisamnes Distant. Dellapé and Melo (2019) transferred Pseudocnemodus martinezi Brailovsky to Bergicoris Dellapé, leaving Pseudocnemodus Barber as a monotypic Nearctic genus. The remaining two misplaced species are treated here: Ptochiomera chilensis Spinola, 1852 is considered a junior synonym of Bergidia polychroma (Spinola, 1852) (Ozophorini), and Plociomera annulicollis Berg, 1894, is transferred to the genus Neopamera Harrington, 1980.

Furthermore, a new myodochini genus is described to accommodate a new species from Argentina and Brazil. Its relationship with other genera of the tribe is discussed.

Materials and methods

The acronyms used are NMPC for the National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic, and MLP for the Museo de la Plata, La Plata, Argentina.

Spinola’s type specimens of species described in Gay’s work “Historia Física y Política de Chile” (1844–1871) were examined by images taken and sent to us by the curator of the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino (Italy). The labeling of the species and specimens is poor and there is no indication of type specimens. We followed the ICZN rules to select lectotypes and to identify holotypes.

Label data are cited verbatim. Lines on labels are separated with ‘/’, contents of different labels are separated with ‘//’.

Color images of new taxa were captured with a Canon EOS Rebel T7i with a Professional Grade Raynox DCR 150 DSLR Objective Tube Lens and an Objective PLAN Achromatic LWD infinity 5×, mounted on a WeMacro’s automatic focus stacking rail. Multiple focal planes were taken with HELICON REMOTE software and merged using HELICON FOCUS software. Plates were created and numbered in COREL DRAW 2020.

Measurements were taken using a millimetric ocular and are given in millimeters.

Lsid links to the world catalog Lygaeoidea Species File http://lygaeoidea.speciesfile.org/ (Dellapé and Henry 2023) are provided.

Results

Taxonomy

Family Rhyparochromidae

Subfamily Rhyparochrominae

Tribe Myodochini

Malleusocoris gen. nov.

https://zoobank.org/C03B9167-FEFB-4FAD-9397-F65757310862
Figs 1, 2–5, Table 1

World catalog Lygaeoidea Species File link

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid:Lygaeoidea.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:519162.

Type species

Malleusocoris minimus Dellapé & Melo, sp. nov.

Diagnosis

Small. Antenna capitate, basiflagellomere shortest, distiflagellomere conspicuously enlarged; forefemur with a single inner row of spines.

Description

Body length less than 3.5 mm. Dorsum shiny. Antenna capitate, basiflagellomere shorter than scape, distiflagellomere conspicuously enlarged. Juga rounded. Eyes relatively small, not surpassing dorsal margin of head in lateral view; vertex rounded; postocular region of head shorter than interocellar distance. Ocelli closer to posterior margin of head than to eyes, located before an imaginary line passing across the posterior border of eyes. Ventral surface of head with a median groove; buccular juncture U-shaped, placed in a groove close to labial insertion. Pronotum coarsely punctate, punctures larger on posterior pronotal lobe. Lateral margins of anterior pronotal lobe rounded; lateral margins of posterior lobe carinate, carina broader on posterior half; a distinct anterior collar present but not demarked posteriorly by a linelike groove. Claval punctures arranged in three regular rows. Mesepimeron enclosed. Evaporative area reduced. Forecoxa with a small spine. Forefemur with a few tiny spines restricted to inner row; male foretibia mutic. Posterior margin of dorsal aperture of pygophore broadly rounded. Aedeagus unspined.

Table 1.
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Distribution and summary of material examined of the species of Malleusocoris gen. nov. Abbreviations: ARG – Argentina, BR – Brazil.

Type species Type locality Distribution Material examined
M. minimus Dellapé & Melo sp. nov. Mato Grosso, Pantanal, 25 km S of Poconé, Pousada Farm São Cristovão (BR) ARG, BR 5 males, 8 females

Etymology

The genus name is the combination of the Latin malleus (= hammer or mallet) by the incrassate distiflagellomere, and the Greek koris (= bug). The gender is masculine.

Malleusocoris minimus sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/AABC95F6-3347-4B66-A7B6-E4F684F59C47
Figs 1, 2–5

World catalog Lygaeoidea Species File link

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid:Lygaeoidea.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:519163.

Type material

Holotype ♂ (Fig. 1), Brazil, Mato Grosso / State Pantanal / 25 km. S of Poconé // Pousada form / SAO Cristovao / 29.8.2000 lgt J. Růžička // MLP / HE-10661 (MLP); paratypes 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀, same data as for holotype // MLP / HE-10662-10664 (MLP); 1 ♂ 5 ♀♀, same data as for holotype (NMPC); 1 ♀, 29.8.2000 lgt J. Růžička / Pousada form / SAO Cristovao (NMPC); 1 ♂, Brazil, Mato Grosso state, / Pantanal, 20 km. S of Poconé, / Pousada [farm] POUSO ALEGRE, / 30.viii.2000, Jan Růžička leg., B9 // ca. 100 m a.s.l., on light at / evening and night (20.00–23.00 of / local time-GMT/UTC +04.00), / light bulbs near the farm, end of / dry season (NMPC); 1 ♂, Argentina – Misiones / PN Iguazú / X-1980 T. Luz / D.J. Carpintero // MLP / HE-10665 (MLP).

Figure 1.

Malleusocoris minimus gen. nov., sp. nov. Habitus of male holotype. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Description

Holotype male (Fig. 1). Total length 2.84. Head length 0.48, head width 0.58, interocular space 0.32, interocellar space 0.18; antennal segments length: scape 0.22, pedicel 0.32, basiflagellomere 0.20, distiflagellomere 0.50, scape width 0.08, distiflagellomere width 0.12. Anterior pronotal lobe length 0.32, width 0.60, posterior pronotal lobe length 0.24, width 0.92.

Head brown, with abundant short, whitish, decumbent setae. Antenniferous tubercles subparallel. Antennae: Scape surpassing apex of head by about half its length; pedicel and basiflagellomere widened distally; scape, pedicel and basiflagellomere light brown, distiflagellomere fusiform and enlarged; much darker and slightly paler apically; with abundant short whitish decumbent setae. Labium attaining mesosternum, segment I extending to half the length of eyes, remote from prosternum. Thorax. Pronotum with a faint median carina, more evident on transverse impression. Anterior pronotal lobe brown, posterior lobe paler with five longitudinal darker stripes, median macula reaching transverse impression; with abundant short whitish decumbent setae. Scutellum with a median carina on posterior half; coarsely punctate; brown with apex whitish; with same setae as on pronotum. Hemelytra irregularly pale brown, with paler margins interrupted by a pale brown spot at level of apex of claval commissure, apex of corium pale brown; with whitish setae on punctures, shorter than those of head, pronotum and scutellum. Legs light brown, with short whitish setae. Forefemur with a few minute spines in inner row. Abdomen. Male genitalia: Pygophore (Figs 2, 3) broadly rounded in dorsal view, aperture quadrangular anterior to the sub-quadrangular inner projections; declivent posteriorly in lateral view. Parameres (Figs 4, 5) with long and curved blade. Aedeagus weakly sclerotized, conjunctiva and vesica unspined, ejaculatory reservoir well developed, wings well projected laterally.

Figures 2–5.

Malleusocoris minimus sp. nov. Male genitalia, of male holotype. 2. Pygophore, dorsal view; 3. Pygophore, lateral view; 4. Right paramere, outer view; 5. Right paramere, inner view. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

Paratypes similar to holotype.

Paratypes’ measurements

(min–max, mean). Males (n = 3): Total length 2.76–2.84, 2.80. Head length 0.46–0.50, 0.49, head width 0.56–0.60, 0.58, interocular width 0.30–0.32, 0.31, interocellar width 0.18–0.20, 0.19. Antennal segments length: scape 0.20–0.22, 0.21, pedicel 0.30–0.34, 0.32, basiflagellomere 0.18–0.20, 0.19, distiflagellomere 0.42–0.48, 0.46; scape width 0.06–0.08, 0.07, distiflagellomere width 0.12. Anterior pronotal lobe length 0.30–0.34, 0.31, width 0.60–0.66, 0.63; posterior pronotal lobe length, 0.26–0.28, 0.27; width 0.90–0.96, 0.93.

Females (n = 5): Total length 2.92–3.32, 3.11. Head length 0.48–0.56, 0.54, head width 0.62–0.64, 0.64, interocular width 0.34–0.36, 0.34, interocellar width 0.20–0.24, 0.21. Antennal segments length: scape 0.22–0.26, 0.24, pedicel 0.32–0.38, 0.34, basiflagellomere 0.18–0.20, 0.19, distiflagellomere 0.48–0.50, 0.49; scape width 0.08, distiflagellomere width 0.12–0.14, 0.13. Anterior pronotal lobe length 0.30–0.38, 0.34, width 0.66–0.72, 0.69; posterior pronotal lobe length, 0.28–0.30, 0.29; width 1.00–1.08, 1.03.

Etymology

The specific epithet minimus is an adjective and refers to the small size of this new species.

Distribution

Brazil, Mato Grosso, Pantanal; and Argentina, Misiones, PN Iguazú.

Synonymic notes and lectotype selection

Henry et al. (2015) noted the need to study the identity and taxonomic placement of the Neotropical Ptochiomera chilensis Spinola, 1852 and Plociomera annulicollis Berg, 1894, currently Sisamnes annulicollis.

We examined photographs of the type specimens of Ptochiomera chilensis (Spinola, 1852) deposited in the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino (Figs 6–8). All the specimens are brachypterous and have the typical spines on ozophorine profemora. Among the six syntypes, four males and two females, the male specimen of Ptochiomera chilensis indicated with an arrow in figure 6 is selected as the lectotype, leaving the other five specimens as paralectotypes. The following red label will be required to be attached to the specimen: “Pachymerus chilensis Spinola, 1852, Lectotype designated by Dellapé & Melo 2023” (Figs 7, 8); paralectotypes should also be labeled according to their new condition.

Figures 6–8.

Pachymerus chilensis Spinola, 1852. 6. Male syntype specimens. Arrow indicates de specimen selected as lectotype; 7, 8. Male lectotype, here designated; 7. Dorsal view; 8. Lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Additionally, we were able to examine photographs of the female holotype of Pachymerus polychromus Spinola, 1852, also deposited in the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino (current combination Bergidia polychroma (Ozophorini) http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid:Lygaeoidea.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:481821). Although the specimen is macropterous and lacks the abdomen and antennae, the general morphology and coloration of the pronotum and hemelytra agree with specimens of P. chilensis. Microptery is the most common condition in the species, whereas macropterous forms are rare, as noted by Ashlock (1985), who found only two fully winged individuals among 165 specimens. After examining photographs of the type specimens of both names and studying the additional specimens of B. polychroma deposited at the MLP, we consider P. chilensis a junior synonym (syn. nov.) of Bergidia polychroma (Spinola, 1852) (Ozophorini). This specimen should be labeled as Pachymerus polychromus Spinola, 1852, Holotype.

Casale (1981) catalogued Spinola’s Hemiptera collection, and according to his records, the specimens we examined correspond to the type material of both species. We noted that all specimens described by Spinola under the genus Pachymerus are labeled in the genus Aphanus.

According to Ashlock and Slater (1982) Bergidia polychroma is among the most common rhyparochromids (as Lygaeidae) in Chile. But it is also known from the Argentinean Patagonia, from the provinces of Neuquén, Rio Negro and Tierra del Fuego (Ashlock 1985; Dellapé 2014; Dellapé et al. 2023 [https://biodar.unlp.edu.ar/pentatomomorpha/en/info/20217.html]).

We also studied the female holotype of Plociomera annulicollis Berg, 1894 deposited in MLP and found that it belongs in the genus Neopamera Harrington 1980, establishing the new combination Neopamera annulicollis (Berg) comb. nov. The poorly conserved specimen has the right pedicel, the protarsi, the left mesofemur, and the right metatibia missing; it shows a flat vertex, a postocular region of head shorter than the interocellar distance, with the ocelli located closer to posterior margin of head than to the eyes, both pronotal lobes rounded laterally, a collar demarked posteriorly, claval punctation in four or more rows, the buccular juncture V-shaped, the mesepimeron emergent, and an extensive evaporative area, which indicates that the best placement for this species is in the genus Neopamera. The whitish subbasal annulus on the distiflagellomere relates this species with Neopamera albocincta (Barber, 1952).

Thereby, the genus Ptochiomera with only one included species, P. nodosa Say, 1832, is restricted to the Nearctic, and Sisamnes Distant, 1893, with two species, S. claviger (Uhler, 1895) and S. contractus Distant, 1893, are mostly Nearctic species, with S. contractus also known from Guatemala.

Discussion

The placement of abdominal spiracles II–IV dorsally on the laterotergites, with the rest located sternally, and the absence of inner laterotergites, indicate that Malleusocoris minimus gen. nov. and sp. nov. belongs to the tribe Myodochini.

The monotypic myodochine genus Ptochiomera Say, 1832, Carpilis Stål, 1874 with three species, and the genus Sisamnes with two species, exhibit different conditions of thickened antennae. These taxa are restricted to the Nearctic Region, except S. contractus also known from Guatemala (see “Synonymic notes and lectotype selection”). Harrington (1980) mentioned that according to field observations Carpilis and Sisamnes specimens used their antennae for righting the insect when it had been turned its back. Malleusocoris gen. nov. is the first myodochine genus with an enlarged distiflagellomere among the South American fauna. Most specimens were collected in the Pantanal, Brazil, one of the largest wetlands in the world located in Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states in Brazil and a small portion in Bolivia and Paraguay (Heckman 1998), and a single male in the Iguazú National Park in Misiones Province, Argentina; the park protects a large area of the Paraná Forest that constitutes a significant remnant of the Atlantic Forest, one of the largest and most threatened tropical rainforests in the world (Dellapé et al. 2015; Melo et al. 2017). The capitate antennae together with its small size are striking characters of this new species. Their total length among 2.92–3.32 mm in females and among 2.76–2.84 mm inmales, makes Malleusocoris minimus sp. nov. one of the smallest known myodochines.

Nothing is known about the biology or host plants of this new species. Regarding the other myodochine taxa with which it shares similarities, Scudder (1993) has found Sisamnes claviger to be abundant in the Purshia sp. (Rosaceae) and Artemisia tridentata Nutt. (Asteraceae) communities in the south Okanagan of British Columbia. Wheeler (2017) collected Ptochiomera nodosa, Carpilis barberi (Blatchley, 1924) and both Sisamnes species on Eragrostis curvula [Schrad.] Nees. “weeping lovegrass” (Poaceae), an African bunchgrass planted extensively in the southern United States, growing in open, disturbed, dry habitats; with mostly sandy soils. He also collected these species (excepting S. claviger) from crowns of native grasses of bunched growth habit; and Carpilis barberi was additionally collected from crowns of other graminoid families: Cyperaceae (sedges) and Juncaceae (rushes) (Wheeler 2017).

Author contribution

MCM and PMD contributed equally to the preparation and writing of the manuscript.

Acknowledgements

We thank Petr Kment (National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic) who kindly brought to La Plata IHS Meeting in 2018 a series of specimens of this new genus as part of the Neotropical material of his institution. We are also grateful to Fulvio Giachino (Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino) for kindly providing the photographs of the types of Pachymerus chilensis Spinola 1852 and Pachymerus polychromus Spinola 1852. This work was partially funded by Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCYT) PICT 2018-0771, and the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) PIP 1505.

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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