Strachia frontalis, (Strachia)

Roell, Talita, Lemaître, Valérie A., Webb, Michael D. & Campos, Luiz A., 2023, An annotated and illustrated Type Catalogue of the predacious Shieldbugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae) in the Collection of the Natural History Museum, London, Zootaxa 5232 (1), pp. 1-105 : 41

frontalis (Strachia) Walker 1867b: 338–339. [ Figs 64–67 ]

Original data: “ a. Batchian. Presented by W. W. Saunders, Esq. b. Batchian. From Mr. Wallace’s collection.”; “Var. β.: c, d. Kaisaa. Presented by W. W. Saunders, Esq. Var. γ.: e. Batchian. Presented by W. W. Saunders, Esq.” [two syntypes and three specimens representing two varieties]

SYNTYPE ♀: blue-margined syntype disc; “Batch/ 62 58”; “Antestia Strachia frontalis Walker’s catal.”; “NHMUK 010592376”. Specimen well preserved ( Fig. 64 ) .

SYNTYPE ♀: blue-margined syntype disc; “Bac.”; “Antestia Strachia frontalis Walker’s catal.”; “Saunders 65. 13.”; “NHMUK 010592378”. Fourth and fifth right antennomere, and fifth left antennomere missing ( Fig. 65 ).

NON-TYPE ♁ (var. β): “Kai.”; “Saunders. 65. 13.”; “Antestia Strachia frontalis Walker’s catal.”; “NHMUK 010592377”. Left fourth and fifth antennomeres missing, wings opened. ( Fig. 66 )

NON-TYPE [formerly considered as type] ♁ (var. γ): green-margined type disc; “Bac.”; “Saunders. 65. 13.”; “ ASOPUS FRONTALIS .”; “NHMUK 010592375”. Specimen well preserved ( Fig. 67 ).

Current status: Amyotea frontalis (Walker, 1867) (see Schouteden 1907: 54; Thomas 1994: 155).

Notes: Walker (1867b: 338–339) mentioned two varieties for this species: “ Var. β.—Thorax more completely pale yellow in front; the purple spots very small or quite wanting. c, d Kaisaa. Presented by W.W. Saunders, Esq” and “ Var. γ.—The purple spots of the thoraX connected and forming a large patch. e. Batchian. Presented by W.W. Saunders, Esq.”. In the collection, we have found two male specimens representing these varieties (one specimen of Var. β. is missing), but according to the Zoological Code of Nomenclature ( ICZN 1999: Art. 72.4), varieties are not to be considered part of the type series, so we just considered the females listed above as syntypes. Thomas (1994: 155) wrote: “Material Examined. Walker’s type specimen was examined in the BM(NH).” Strangely, he mentioned just one specimen. As he did not give any details to recognize the specimen, we do not consider he designated a lectotype and in fact may have been referring to the non-type, specimen of var. γ listed above. Indeed, it was the specimen which had so far been considered the type as it bore the long label: “ ASOPUS FRONTALIS .” and the green-margined type disc (chosen to distinguish Walker’s types from all others). While “ ASOPUS FRONTALIS .” is not the original combination, this is the one used by Walker (1868: 533).

Figures

FIGURES 57–64. Type specimens deposited in NHMUK. 57, Coryzorhaphis egeri; 58, Oplomus equestris; 59–60, Glypsus erubescens; 61, Strachia erythromela; 62, Podisus falcatus; 63, Oplomus festivus; 64, Strachia frontalis. Scale bars: 4 mm.

FIGURES 65–72. Type and non-type specimens deposited in NHMUK. 65–67, Strachia frontalis; 68, Anasida funebris; 69, Arma fuscescens; 70, Podisus gaumeri; 71–72, Arma grandis. Scale bars: 4 mm.