Pleciogonus tuberculatus, Esaki, Esaki

Raruanysong, Sajeemat, Vitheepradit, Akekawat & Sites, Robert W., 2014, Key to the species of Ptilomerinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae) of Thailand and review of the fauna of the Tennaserim Mountain Range, Zootaxa 3852 (1), pp. 101-117 : 114-115

Pleciobates tuberculatus Esaki

Figs. 41 , 45, 46

Pleciobates tuberculatus Esaki 1930 : J. Fed. Malay St. Mus. 14–15.

Diagnosis. Males of this species can be distinguished by the paramere being of even thickness throughout, except at the base ( Fig. 41 ), whereas in P. pacholatkoi the paramere is noticeably wider near the middle ( Fig. 40 ). Females can be distinguished by abdominal sternite VII with a distinctly concave posterior margin and the connexival spines are convergent and slightly depressed or directed straight caudad ( Figs. 45, 46 ), whereas P. pacholatkoi has sternite VII with a straight to slightly concave posterior margin and the connexival spines curved outward and are slightly decurved ( Figs. 43, 44 ).

Discussion. This species has been recorded previously only from Malaysia ( Cheng et al. 2001). Therefore, this is the first record of this species in Thailand. More specifically, we collected it from Kanchanaburi Province and in similar mesohabitats to that of its congener. However, numerous adults also were found striding rapidly in an upstream direction in streams associated waterfalls in southern Thailand.

Material examined. THAILAND: Kanchanaburi Province: Amphur Sai Yok, Mae Nam Luok, 14º26.63'N 98º48.019'E, 78 m, 24-XI-2010, KU team, C-3 (1 male); Thong Pha Phum NP, Heuy Pak Khok, 14º38.738'N 98º31.374'E, 187 m, 25-XI-2006, KU team, C-6 (3 males, 2 females).

Extralimital material examined. THAILAND: Nakhon Si Thammarat Province: Nopphitam, Tumbon Krung Ching, Klong Pod, 0 8°48'N 99°35'E, 130 m, 26-V-2003, Vitheepradit and Ferro, L-571 (11 males, 1 female); stream fm Yong Waterfall, 0 8°10'N 99°44'E, 112 m, 31-V-2003, Vitheepradit and Ferro, L-581 (9 males, 7 females); Namtok Yong NP, Yong WF, 0 8°10'N 99°44'E, 117 m, 5-VI-2004, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-743 (1 male); Khao Luang NP, Ka Rome WF, 0 8°22'N 99°44'E, 157 m, 6-VI-2004, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-747 (9 males, 13 females); Tumbon Krung Ching, Klong Krai, 0 8°47.387'N 99°38.695'E, 80 m, 18-VI-2004, Sites, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-779 (9 males, 15 females); Phatthalung Province: Khao Kram WF, 0 7°30'N 99°52'E, 101 m, 1-VI- 2003, Vitheepradit and Ferro, L-585 (3 males, 2 females); Nok Rum WF, 0 7°23'N 99°55'E, 37 m, 5-VI-2003, AV, Prommi and Ferro, L-593 (12 males, 6 females); Khao Ban Tad WS, Mohm Jeug WF, 0 7°15'N 100°02'E, 95 m, 2- VI-2004, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-733 (6 males, 7 females); Khao Ban Tad WS, Prai Wan WF, 0 7°21'N 99°57'E, 73 m, 2-VI-2004, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-734 (5 males, 6 females); Suratthani Province: Tai Rom Yen NP, Dard Fah WF, 0 8°51'N 99°28'E, 236 m, 17-VI-2004, Sites, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-774 (9 males, 6 females); Amphur Ban Na San, Ban Plai Nam, 0 8°52.680'N 99°28.621'E, 168 m, 17-VI-2004, Sites, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-775 (3 males); Trang Province: Khao Ban Tad WS, Sai Roong WF, 0 7°26'N 99°48'E, 70 m, 3-VI-2004, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-737 (1 male); Khao Ban Tad WS, Tone Tae WF, 0 7°17'N 99°53'E, 70 m, 8-VI-2004, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-753 (1 male, 4 females).

Figures

FIGURES 38 – 42. Lateral view of left paramere of (38) Rheumatogonus vietnamensis, (39) Rheumatogonus intermedius, (40) Pleciobates pacholatkoi, (41) Pleciobates tuberculatus, (42) Pleciogonus wongsirii.

FIGURES 43 – 46. Terminal abdominal segments of species of female Pleciobates. P. pacholatkoi in (43) dorsal and (44) lateral view; P. tuberculatus in (45) dorsal and (46) lateral view.