Helenus hirsutus Champion, 1898

Heiss, Ernst, 2016, RevIew of the NeotropIcal genus Helenus WhIte, 1879, wIth descrIptIon of a new specIes (HemIptera: Heteroptera: AradIdae), Zootaxa 4088 (4), pp. 555-562 : 557-561

Helenus hirsutus Champion, 1898

( Figs. 2, 5 , 9 , 12 )

Type specimen examined: Male ( Fig. 2 ) (glued on card, right antennal segment III+IV, left and right mesotarsus missing) labeled ( Fig. 5 ): “ Type ” (pr., round label with red margin) // “Bugaba / 800–1500 ft / Champion” (pr) // “ B.C.A. Rhyn.II (pr) / Helenus (pr) / hirsutus (hw) / ♂ Ch “ (hw) // “sp.figured” (pr) // “ cleaned and remounted / E.Heiss X 2015 ” (pr) // “ BMNH/ 1705803” (pr) //.

As indicated by the author (p.75) the description was based on male and female specimens who are considered syntypes. The male specimen borrowed is also figured (Tab.V, fig. 16) and therefore selected as lectotype in accordance with article 74B ICZN. It is designated here and labeled: “ Lectotype ♂ / Helenus / hirsutus / Champion 1898 / des. E.Heiss 2015” (pr, red label) //. Deposited in BMNH.

Additional material. 3♂ 1♀ “ Costa Rica / Carrara Nat. Res. / Westküste / 1–8 II 87 Heiss” (pr) //; 1♂ “ Nicaragua: Rio San Juan / Bartola Field Stn. 70–100m / 10°58’21’’N, 84°20’21’’W / leg. Schuh 7–11 VI 2005 ” (pr) // CEHI.

Measurements. Lectotype. Length 8.2mm, head length / width 28/22; pronotum l/w 34/60; length of antennal segments I/II/III/IV = 23/ 13/18/11; ratio length of antennae / width of head 2.95; width of abdomen across deltg IV and V 3.55mm.

Distribution. The so far available record data reaching from Panama to Costa Rica and Nicaragua indicate a distribution restricted to Central America. ( Fig.14 )

Discussion. Size, colouration and habitus of hirsutus is similar to hesiformis and wachteli n. sp. but characterized and distinguished from them both by the less pilose body, abdominal margins with produced peangles of deltg II–VI and the shape of pygophore and parameres.

Helenus wachteli n. sp. ( Figs. 6, 7, 10 , 13 )

Material examined: Holotype ♂ glued on card, labeled: “ Peru Dep. Huanaco / Rio Llullapichis, Estac. / Biol. Panguana 233m / 9° 36.823S –74° 56,127W / 1–24 XI 2010 F.Wachtel” (pr) // “ Holotypes resulting from / this material are / property of Peru and / Paratypes ZSM - / Collection only! (pr) // “ Holotype ♂ / Helenus / wachteli n.

sp. / des. E.Heiss 2015” (pr, red label) // deposited at the "Museo de Historia Natural Javier Prado of the University San Marcos in Lima (Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos)". Paratypes: 1♀ “ Peru, Huanaco / Yuyapichis, Panguana / 9°37’S – 74°56’W, 220m / 21 IX–04 X 2004 / leg. Schönitzer / Kothe & Breitsameter “ (pr) // also deposited at "Museo de Historia Natural Javier Prado of the University San Marcos in Lima (Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos)"

1♂ “ Peru, Panguana, Dept. Huanaco / Rio Llullapichis, Nebenfluß des / Rio Pachitea, 9°37’S, 74°56’W / 260m, 6 IV–17 IV 2003, leg. Diller” (pr) // ZSM

1♂ “ Peru / Iquitos Amazonas / 11 II 77 Heiss (pr) // CEHI

1♀ “ Peru Dep. Loreto / Porvenir W Iquitos / 65981 / 9569651 / P5, V 5 10 VII 2011 / Greg Lamarre lg.” (pr) / / CEHI

1♂ “ Bolivia, Cochabamba Prov. / 20km SW Villa Tunari / Rio Avispha: 460m 6 IX 2000 / 17°01.49’S, 65°31.66’W / M.Hauser” (pr) // CEHI.

All paratypes are designated and labeled accordingly: “ Paratype ♂ (or ♀) / Helenus / wachteli n.,sp. / des. E.Heiss 2015” (pr., red label).

Diagnosis. Shares the rather dense pilosity with H.hesiformis but the male genitalia are distinct. H.hirsutus is distinguished by protruding pe-angles of deltg II–VI and different genitalia.

Description. Body surface with dispersed yellowish double pilosity; colouration reddish-brown, tibiae with a fading yellowish median and apical ring.

Head. Distinctly longer than wide (27/24); genae slightly protruding over clypeus, anterolaterally rounded and diverging; antenniferous lobes subparallel, apices recurved, shorter than clypeus; antennae about 3x as long as width of head (71/24); length of antennal segments I/II/III/IV = 26/ 13/20/12; eyes oval inserted in head; postocular lobes slightly rounded and converging posteriorly to constricted collar; rostrum as long as head, arising from a slitlike atrium.

Pronotum. About 1.8x as long as wide (63/35); lateral margins sinuate converging anteriorly to the distinct ring-like collar, humeri subparallel; anterior half of disk with 2(1+1) smooth oval depressions flanked by oblique elevations, separated by a deep transverse suture from raised posterior part.

Scutellum. Triangular, basal and lateral margins carinate, disk with a longitudinal carina, transversely rugose laterally.

Hemelytra. Corium with carinate setose veins nearly reaching posterior margin of deltg III; membrane covering ½ of tergite VII with irregular venation.

Abdomen. Tergal plate separated by a carina from deltg II–VII; deltg II+III fused, its fusion line only laterally discernible; lateral margins of deltg II–VI straight, pe-angles rounded and not protruding; spiracles II–V ventral on vltg II–V, far from lateral margin, VI–VIII lateral and visible from above.

Legs. Femora and tibiae cylindrical, beset with erect setae, claws with thin long pulvilli.

Female. Basically as male, pe-angles of deltg VI–VII more rounded, posterior margin of tergite VII straight, ptg VIII strongly transverse, segments IX and X produced posteriorly.

Measurements. Lectotype. Length 8.9mm; length of antennae 3.55mm; width of abdomen 4.1mm. Variation of length in paratypes (♂, ♀): 8.2–8.8mm.

Etymology. This unexpected species is dedicated to Franz Wachtel, expert coleopterist and collector of the holotype, recognizing his repeated generous donations of by-catched Aradidae to the author.

Distribution. All records are from an area east of the Andes mountain range in the lowlands of Amazon basin. (Map Fig. 14 )

Figures

FIGURE 14. Distribution of Helenus species in Northern South and Central America.

FIGURES 1 – 5. Helenus spp.: 1 — Helenus hesiformis, holotype male, dorsal view; 2 — Helenus hirsutus, lectotype male, dorsal view; 3 — labels attached to holotype of hesiformis; 4 — ditto, reverse side; 5 — labels attached to holotype of hirsutus.

FIGURES 6 – 10. Helenus spp.: 6 — Helenus wachteli n. sp., holotype male, dorsal view; 7 — Helenus wachteli n. sp., paratype female, dorsal view; 8 – 10. Male pygophore: 8 — hesiformis; 9 — hirsutus; 10 — wachteli n. sp.

FIGURES 11 — 13. Left paramere of Hesus spp.: 11 — hesiformis; 12 — hirsutus; 13 — wachteli n. sp.