Heza pallidula (Walker, 1873) Walker, 1873

Gil-Santana, Helcio R. & Webb, Michael D., 2019, Transfer of the assassin bug Helonotus pallidulus Walker to the genus Heza Amyot & Serville (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Reduviidae, Harpactorinae, Harpactorini), ZooKeys 872, pp. 91-99 : 91

Heza pallidula (Walker, 1873) comb. nov. Figs 1-4 , 5-6

Helonotus pallidulus Walker, 1873: 90 [description]; Lethierry and Severin 1896: 200 [catalog, among "Genera et species Harpactoridarum subfam. incerti loci systematic"].

Ploeogaster pallidulus ; Distant 1903: 251 [checklist]; Wygodzinsky 1949: 44 [catalog]; Maldonado Capriles 1990: 259 [catalog].

Notes.

This species was described from a single specimen (holotype) for which Walker (1873) provided the following data: " a. Cuenca. From Mr. Fraser’s collection". The reference to 58/132 on the label noted above ( Fig. 4 ) refers to an entry in the BMNH register for 1858 132: Cuenca (Province of Ecuador) collected by Fraser. The type specimen, originally recorded as male is in fact female ( Fig. 3 ).

Material examined.

Helonotus pallidulus , female holotype, [Ecuador]: 5. Helonotus pallidulus . // a. Cuenca. // Cuenca [opposite side of same label]: 58/132// Holo- / type [rounded label with red circle] // ♀ // Type [rounded label with blackish circle] // QR CODE / NHMUK 013585371 (BMNH).

Redescription.

Female ( Figs 1 - 6 ). Measurements: total length: 22.0 mm; maximum width of abdomen: approximately 7.5 mm.

Coloration.

General color pale brownish to brownish red ( Figs 1 , 2 ); pale yellowish on ventral surface of thorax and abdomen ( Fig. 3 ). Antenna with distal fourth of segments I and II darkened (other segments absent). Legs somewhat lighter, with fuscous ill-defined submedian marking on fore femur and submedian and distal markings on remaining femora; apices of femora somewhat darkened. Scutellum darkened, with apex reddish brown. Hemelytra: corium with base, apical portion at level of membrane and basal half of clavus reddish, median portion somewhat paler, grayish; membrane pale grayish, approximately basal half of anal and cubital veins and median vein mostly blackish ( Fig. 1 ). Meso and metapleura reddish brown ( Fig. 5 ). Meso and metasterna generally paler; stridulitrum and lateral portions of mesosternum darkened ( Fig. 3 ). Abdomen: connexiva faintly darkened dorsally at basal half of segments IV–VII ( Fig. 1 ); sternites generally yellowish to pale orange ( Fig. 3 ).

Structure.

Head ( Figs 5 , 6 ): elongated with a well marked transverse sulcus, shorter than pronotum, and a pair of spines just behind antennal bases; these spines (postantennal spines) are conspicuously bowed with the apex directed slightly anteriad ( Fig. 6 , pa). Eyes globose, glabrous, projecting laterally, rounded in dorsal view and suboval in lateral view. Ocelli elevated, closer to eyes than to each other. Antennal segments I–II (other absent) straight, slender, segment I somewhat longer than head and pronotum combined; segment II quite shorter than head. Labium stout, moderately curved, segment II (first visible) thickest and longest; segment IV, approximately half as long as segment III, tapering ( Fig. 6 ). Thorax. Pronotum: hind lobe approximately two and half times longer than fore lobe, with its maximum width (at posterior margin) somewhat more than twice that of fore lobe; anterior collar inconspicuous; anterolateral angles pronounced; transverse sulcus well marked ( Figs 1 , 2 ). Fore lobe divided in two sublobes by shallow median longitudinal depression, with a blunt tubercle on disc of each sublobe ( Figs 1-2 , 5-6 , tf). Hind lobe finely transversely corrugate, with four sharp spines ( Figs 1 , 2 ); of these, the discal spines ( Figs 2 , 5 , ds) shorter, directed dorsad, larger at base, preceded by an inconspicuous carina; lateral spines relatively long, conspicuous, horizontally directed laterally ( Figs 1 , 2 ). Posterior margin curved laterally, with a pair of rounded prominences at level of base of clavus; margin between these prominences slightly curved ( Figs 1 , 2 ). Scutellum with a rounded median tubercle on disc ( Fig. 5 , ts) just before apex, which is rounded and somewhat obliquely elevated ( Fig. 5 , as). Mesopleura with a well-developed plica ( Fig. 5 , p), i.e., a small raised tubercle over posterior margin of propleuron. Prosternum almost entirely anterior to fore coxa and shorter than them, with its median portion occupied by stridulitrum. Mesosternum flattened, somewhat depressed at median portion, larger than metasternum. Legs: fore coxae contiguous to each other; middle and hind coxae distant from each other by a distance approximately equivalent to twice width of each coxa ( Fig. 3 ). Apices of all femora with a pair of lateral small tubercles. Femora generally straight; fore femora thickened ( Figs 1-3 ), approximately thrice thicker than middle and hind femora; middle and hind femora slender, slightly dilated subapically; hind femora longest, middle femora shortest. Fore tibiae curved inwards in distal half, somewhat enlarged at apex, with a dorsal spur apically; middle and hind tibiae generally straight, slender. Hemelytra surpassing apex of abdomen for a short distance ( Figs 1-3 ). Abdomen spatulate, gradually widening to apex of segment V and then slightly narrowing to form a roughly truncate apex at last segment ( Fig. 3 ). All connexival segments without spines.

Vestiture.

Integument generally covered by short thin adpressed setae, more numerous on thorax ( Fig. 2 ). Legs generally covered with longer straight erect setae; fore legs with trochanter, femur and tibia ventrally with a dense pubescence formed by short erect thin setae. Membrane of hemelytra glabrous.

Figures

Figures 1 - 4. Heza pallidula (Walker, 1873), comb. nov., female holotype. 1 Dorsal view 2 dorsal view (with antennae and left fore leg repositioned) 3 ventral view 4 labels. Scale bars: 5.0 mm (1, 3).

Figures 5, 6. Head and thorax of Heza pallidula (Walker, 1873), comb. nov., female holotype, lateral view. 6 Antennae repositioned (as, apex of scutellum, ds, discal spine of hind lobe, p, plica, pa, postantennal spine, tf, discal tubercle of fore lobe, ts, tubercle of disc of scutellum). Scale bars: 2.0 mm (5); 1.0 mm (6).