Sphaeridops aurantius Gil-Santana, Costa & Zeraik, 2000

Gil-Santana, Hélcio R., 2021, A revision of Sphaeridops (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae), Zootaxa 5020 (3), pp. 521-549 : 535-540

Sphaeridops aurantius Gil-Santana, Costa & Zeraik, 2000

( Figs. 50–72 )

Sphaeridops aurantius Gil-Santana, Costa & Zeraik, 2000: 2–5 . Holotype: ♂, Brazil: “ Mato Grosso, Rosário Oeste” [in error; = Goiás, Serra da Mesa, Rio Tocantisinho ]; formerly in MNRJ, now destroyed.

Sphaeridops aurantius: Gil-Santana & Alencar (2001: 96) (citation), Forero (2004: 164) (citation), Gil-Santana et al. (2015: 336: fig. 12.13) (photo of paratype).

Distribution. Brazil.

Diagnosis. Sphaeridops aurantius can be easily separated from other species of Sphaeridops by its completely pale connexivum ( Figs. 50–52 , 54–55, 57–60 ), and the coloration of the femora and tibiae, completely dark in other species of Sphaeridops , but pale at the middle to a variable extent in S. aurantius ( Figs. 51 , 55, 58–60 ). The male genitalia of S. aurantius differs from those of other congeners by the following characters: (1) the distal portion of pygophore (dpp) forms a shorter horizontal extension of its wall, not covering completely the parameres in most individuals, with the posterior margin of parameres partially visible in ventral view ( Fig. 61 ), while in the other species of Sphaeridops , the distal portion of pygophore (dpp) is larger and completely or almost completely covers the parameres; (2) the medial process of pygophore (mpp) is situated relatively near to the posterior margin of the pygophore, with its tip visible in ventral view in some individuals ( Figs. 63–65 ), while in other species of Sphaeridops it is always completely invisible in ventral view; (3) the basal portion of the medial process of the pygophore (mpp) is somewhat elongated at approximately its basal two thirds in anterior view ( Figs. 62, 64–65 ), while it is shorter in the other species; (4) the basal processes (bp) of the endosoma are narrower in S. aurantius than in other congeners, with more extensive and remarkably undulating margins than in S. pallescens ( Fig. 70 ); (5) the pair of groupings of sclerotized longitudinal linear shallow ridges of the subbasal processes (sbp) are subparallel in S. aurantius , slightly curved at distal half in S. amoenus and slightly divergent anteriorly in S. pallescens , furthermore the ridges are more numerous at approximately the distal third of the groupings in S. aurantius ( Fig. 71 ) and at approximately the distal two-thirds in the other species.

Redescription. Male. Body length:18–19.5 mm; maximum width of abdomen:6.8–7.1 mm. General coloration and variability ( Figs. 50–52 , 54–55, 57–60 ): General coloration of body pale orange, yellowish to whitish with blackish markings or portions.Antennae and legs dark brownish to blackish, inner surface of coxae, basal portion of fore coxae, median portion of femora and tibiae with pale markings or portions, variable in extension and presence among the individuals, including femora and tibiae mostly pale with only their bases and apices dark (e.g. Figs. 54– 55 ) or less extensively pale, and/or mostly on ventral surface (e.g. Figs. 57–60 ); tibial pads pale. Connexivum pale, without dark markings ( Figs. 50–52 , 54–55, 57–60 ). Head. Antennifers with small dark markings at mid portion or apex in some individuals; ocellar tubercle darkened just around ocelli to mostly or completely dark between them too; second visible labial segment variably darkened, brownish to blackish. Thorax ( Figs. 50–52 , 54–55, 57–60 ): fore lobe with a narrow median transverse stripe below anterior collar, contiguous with a pair of small dark spots below point of union between anterior collar and anterolateral angles in the holotype ( Fig. 50 ), but interrupted in most part and substituted by a median and a lateral pair of small dark markings in a non-type individual ( Fig. 57 ); a narrow straight longitudinal median dark stripe from distal portion of fore lobe to approximately middle of distal third of hind lobe; a pair of blackish lateral elongated markings on hind lobe ( Figs. 50 , 54, 57, 59 ). Lateral margins of scutellum dark ( Figs. 50, 52 , 54, 57, 59 ). Pleurae with elongated dark markings on upper portion, forming separated stripes or suboval markings on each pleura, or dark markings are variably partially or completely split in two or three separated, but close, markings on each pleura. Mesosternum largely dark at lateral portion; metasternum darkened on lateral margin, just above hind coxae ( Figs. 51 , 55, 58, 60 ). Corium of hemelytra with three elongated or suboval dark markings ( Figs. 50 , 54, 57, 59 ): first just above the basal portion of inner cell of membrane, extending shortly inside this cell, variably larger than the others in most individuals; second just above the basal portion of outer cell; and third, somewhat smaller than the others, at apex of the corium; in the holotype the latter was darkened but without a distinct marking ( Fig. 50 ); membrane translucent with veins forming inner cell and a narrow portion of the adjacent membrane variably darkened while lateral vein of outer cell almost completely blackish; basal portion of all these veins pale or paler to a variable extent ( Figs. 50 , 54, 57, 59 ). Abdomen. Last tergite with a pair of median parallel curved dark markings, visible through the translucent membrane and partially exposed at the posterior portion of the segment in the individuals with shorter hemelytra ( Figs. 50 , 57, 59 ). Sternites III–VI with midlateral basal subrounded, subsquared, subtriangular or irregularly shaped dark spots, which become slightly progressively larger posteriad ( Figs. 51–52 , 58 ) and generally larger in the paratype and in a non-type specimen than in the holotype ( Figs. 55, 60 ); sternite VII with a large median pair of markings, extending from anterior margin of the segment, almost reaching the margin above the pygophore ( Figs. 51–52 , 55, 58, 60 ), somewhat variable in shape, partially united at basal portion in some individuals, including holotype ( Fig. 51 ); holotype with small additional basal and distal spots laterally to each of these large markings ( Figs. 51–52 ). Exposed portion of pygophore without markings or with small dark markings. Vestiture: setosity of the body generally shorter and less developed; long setae on dorsal portion of cylindrical prolongation of prosternum very numerous. Structure: generally as described for Sphaeridops . Thorax. Median sulcus of pronotum extending from distal portion of fore lobe, becoming even shallower towards posterior portion and reaching variably the median third or basal distal third of hind lobe; ridges at its margins more or less elevated. Hind lobe:wrinkles of integument not pronounced; lateroposterior and midposterior margins curved ( Figs. 50 , 54, 57, 59 ). Process of scutellum elongated ( Figs. 50, 52 , 54, 57, 59 ). Apex of hemelytra not reaching apex of the abdomen but terminating at a variable distance before it ( Figs. 50 , 54, 57, 59 ). Median keel on sternites extending through all visible sternites, but faint or absent on sternite VII. Male terminalia. Abdominal segment VIII: anterior margin of ventral face slightly curved; posteroventral margin with a median small notch ( Fig. 61 ), of somewhat variable deepness. Male genitalia ( Figs. 61–72 ): pygophore: distal portion of pygophore forming a short horizontal extension of pygophore wall, not covering completely the parameres in most individuals, their posterior margin partially visible in ventral view ( Fig. 61 ). Medial process of pygophore (mpp) ( Figs. 62–65 ): situated relatively near posterior margin; not only visible in dorsal and lateral views of pygophore, its tip also visible in ventral view in some individuals; somewhat elongated at approximately its basal two thirds and subtriangular at its distal third in anterior view. Phallus ( Figs. 66–69 ): basal plate bridge (bpb) with their margins parallel, not bent ventrally ( Fig. 66 ); each membranous lobe on endosoma (mle) rounded to suboval ( Figs. 66–68 ). Processes of endosoma ( Figs. 70–72 ): basal processes (bp) narrow, with almost all their margins remarkably undulated ( Fig. 70 ); pair of groupings of sclerotized linear shallow ridges of the subbasal processes (sbp) subparallel; ridges numerous at approximately the distal third ( Fig. 71 ).

Type material examined. [ BRAZIL]: Holotype: ♂, [printed labels:] [red label:] HOLOTIPO [= holotype] // QR code / MNRJ-ENT 3-147 // [handwritten labels:] Sphaeridops / aurantius / sp. nov / Holótipo // BRASIL- Goiás / Serra da Mesa / Rio [River] Tocantizinho / XII.1995 / C.A. Caetano col. [leg.] // 14°01’89”S / 48°12’32”W (formerly in MNRJ, now destroyed). Paratype: ♂, [printed labels:] Sphaeridops / aurantius [handwritten:] sp. nov. / Gil-Santana det. [handwritten:] 00 // [red label:]: PARATIPO [= paratype] // [Ex] COLEÇÃO [Collection] / CAMPOS SEABRA // [handwritten label:] Rosario Oeste / M[ato] Grosso / BR. [=Brazil] XI.1959 // A. Maller [leg.] ( MNRJ).

Additional specimens examined. BRAZIL: Mato Grosso, Diamantino, Reserva Vale da Solidão , 14°22’S 56°07’W, 450m, i.2003, ix.2004, 2 males, E. Furtado leg. ( MNRJ) .

Remarks. Sphaeridops aurantius was described based only on two male specimens. Unfortunately, the data of these type specimens were inadvertently switched by Gil-Santana et al. (2000: 5), i.e., they erroneously associated the label of the holotype ( Figs. 50–53 ) with the paratype ( Figs. 54–56 ) and vice versa. This error is now fixed and the correct label information for both species is presented by the author of the present paper, who was the first author of the paper describing S. aurantius and the author responsible for the type designation. Together with the entire Heteroptera collection of the MNRJ ( Escobar 2018), the holotype was destroyed during the regrettable events on the 2nd of September 2018, however, the male paratype still exists and it will be returned to MNRJ.

Figures

FIGURES 50–53. Sphaeridops aurantius Gil-Santana, Costa & Zeraik, 2000, male holotype previously deposited in MNRJ. 50–52, scale bars 5.0 mm; 50, dorsal view, 51, ventral view, 52, lateral view; 53, labels.

FIGURES 54–60. Sphaeridops aurantius Gil-Santana, Costa & Zeraik, 2000, males. 54–55, 57–60, scale bars 5.0 mm; 54–56, paratype (MNRJ), 54, dorsal view, 55, ventral view, 56, labels, a vial with the male genitalia and a card with two tarsi glued, both pinned to the specimen; 57–58, 59–60, same specimens from Mato Grosso, Brazil, 57, 59, dorsal view, 58, 60, ventral view.

FIGURES 61–68. Sphaeridops aurantius Gil-Santana, Costa & Zeraik, 2000, male. 61–62, scale bars 1.0 mm; 61, abdominal segment VIII and pygophore, ventral view; 62–63, setae omitted, 62, pygophore, dorsal view, 63, pygophore without parameres, lateral view, schematic outline, scale bar 0.5 mm; 64–65, posterior margin of pygophore and medial process of pygophore, anterior view, 64, paratype, scale bar 0.1 mm, 65, schematic outline, scale bar 0.5 mm; 66–67, phallus, scale bar 0.5 mm, 66, dorsal view, 67, lateral view, 68, apex of phallus, median and a lateral portions, scale bar 0.1 mm, bpa, basal plate arm, bpb, basal plate bridge, br, transverse bridge, dps, dorsal phallothecal sclerite, lpds, lateral portion of dorsal phallothecal sclerite, mle, membranous lobe on endosoma, mpp, medial process of pygophore, pa, paramere, pct, proctiger, pd, pedicel, st, struts.

FIGURES 69–72. Sphaeridops aurantius Gil-Santana, Costa & Zeraik, 2000, male genitalia, dorsal view. 69, struts, scale bar 0.1 mm; 70–72, processes of endosoma, 70–71, scale bars 0.05 mm; 70, basal processes, arrows point to undulating margins of the processes, 71, subbasal processes, arrow points to distal third of a grouping of sclerotized linear shallow ridges, 72, subapical (sp) and apical (ap) processes, scale bar 0.2 mm.