Limnogonus (Limnogonus) cereiventris ( Signoret, 1862 )

Kment, Petr & Carapezza, Attilio, 2022, Heteroptera (Hemiptera) of the Socotra Archipelago I: Introduction, Nepomorpha, Gerromorpha and Leptopodomorpha, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 62 (2), pp. 475-519 : 498-500

Limnogonus (Limnogonus) cereiventris ( Signoret, 1862) ( Fig. 45 )

Gerris cereiventris Signoret, 1862 : J.–30 (original description). Lectotype (designated by ANDERSEN 1975: 65, 67): ♀ (macropterous), Madagascar (NHMW).

Limnogonus cereiventris: BERGROTH (1893) : 203 (new combination).

Gerris (Lamprotrechus) leptocerus Reuter, 1882: 40 (original description). Lectotype (designated by ANDERSEN 1995: 105, as holotype): ♀ (macropterous), Ghana:Addah (HNHM). Downgraded to subspecies by POISSON (1949b: 99–100), synonymized by ANDERSEN (1975:67).

Gerris aegyptiaca Puton, 1890: 228 (original description). Syntypes: Egypt: ‘Egypte’ and Suez (MNHN). Synonymized by HORVÁTH (1926: 1).

Tenagogonus bottegoi de Carlini, 1895: 121–122 (original description). Syntypes: 2 ♀♀, Somalia, Lugh [= Lunq] to Bardera [= Baardere] (USNM). Synonymized by KIRKALDY (1908: 21, with G. aegyptiaca ).

Material examined. SOCOTRA: Dixam plateau, wadi Zerig (12°29′36ʺN 53°59′30ʺE), pool at road bridge, Juncus marsh, 655 m a.s.l., 13.–14.vi.2012, 4♂♂ 10♀♀ (ma), Socotra expedition 2012: J. Bezděk, J. Hájek,V.Hula, P.Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart lgt. ( NMPC, MMBC); Hadibo [= Hadiboh] env., [10–20 m a.s.l.], 4.vi.2008, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (ma) 8 ♂♂ 5 ♀♀ (ap), A. Carapezza lgt. ( ACPI). – BURKINA FASO: Ouagadougou, ix.1936, 3 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀ (ma), Škulina lgt., P. Kment det. ( NMPC). CAPE VERDE ISLANDS: SANTIAGO ISLAND: irrigation reservoir in Ribeta Grande valley, 14°55′22.0″N 23°36′06.8″, 17.v.2013, 1 ♀ (ma), J. Bojková lgt., P. Kment det. ( NMPC). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Congo belge, P.N.A., Bugazia, 920 m a.s.l., 17.v.1935, 1 ♂ (ma), Mission H. Damas: 135, R. Poisson det. 1951 as L. leptocerus, P. Kment revid. ( NMPC). ETHIOPIA: OGADEN: Ex tug between Guadere–Mustahil, 5.xii.1954, 1 ♂ (ma), I. Lansbury lgt., P. Kment det. ( NMPC). GHANA: Labadi, No. 52, 14.viii.1965, 1 ♂ (ma), D. Leston lgt., P. Kment det. ( NMPC). MADAGASCAR: E coast, Toamasina Province, Mahambo (17°28′38.49″N 49°27′50.84″E), 16.iii.2010, 4 spec. (ma) 1 spec. (ap), J. Votýpka lgt., Chen & Nieser det. ( NMPC); Rogez, 800 m a.s.l., 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (ma), L. Hoberlandt det., P. Kment revid. ( NMPC). NIGER: Maradi, Sahara merid, x.1936, 1 ♀ (ma), Škulina lgt., P. Kment det. ( NMPC). SOUTH SUDAN: UඉඉER NILE: Tonga, 19.xi.1953, 6 ♂♂ (ma), E. T. M. Reid lgt., P. Kment det. ( NMPC). SUDAN: KHARTOUM: Chartum [= Khartoum], v.1931, 1 ♂ (ma), coll. Baum, P. Kment det. ( NMPC).

Identification. ANDERSEN (1975) (key, redescription, figures), D. A. POLHEMUS & J. T. POLHEMUS (2013) (key, redescription, figures).

Habitat. In Socotra, the species was collected twice, in the coastal zone near Hadiboh (ca. 10–20 m a.s.l.) and in the medium-elevation zone in a large pool with sparse littoral vegetation in a drying wadi ( Fig. 53 ). In East Africa, HYNES (1955) found L. cereiventris only at altitudes below 1400 m. There it was very common and occurred along the banks of rivers, on irrigation dikes, wadis and temporary pools. The insects did not form shoals even when large numbers were present. Remarkable features of this species were that in the dry country it was found on puddles and temporary pools within a few days of their filling, and that it flew readily from the water surface when pursued. All but one of the specimens seen were fully winged; the one being a female taken in copula with a winged male on a permanent irrigation dike. Mating pairs were often seen on temporary pools. It would seem that the species maintains itself on permanent water and flies far and wide over the dry semi-desert at the onset of rains, and may breed successfully on temporary pools. Some of the pools on which it was found were over 80 km from permanent water, so individuals must be able to travel a long distance.

Other authors collected this species in Africa in different localities, along the banks of rivers, on irrigation dykes, wadis and temporary pools and puddles; also at light ( ANDERSEN 1975). JACZEWSKI (1926, as Gerris leptocerus ; 1936, as L. leptocerus ), LINDBERG (1959, as L. cereiventris leptocerus ), and LINNAVUORI (1964, 1971, both as L. c. leptocerus ; 1981) reported it in rivers, brooks, ponds, pools, and irrigation canals with rich vegetation, among fields as well as in the desert, also in pools and a mangrove lagoon with brackish water, and even in a swimming pool of sulphur baths. In Zimbabwe, it was collected in pans (small temporary seasonal lakes) with rich littoral vegetation ( WEIR 1966). Macropterous specimens are collected by light traps ( LINNAVUORI 1971). According to SALEH AHMAD (2001), the species has two generations in NE Egypt, overwintering in adult stage.

Distribution. Afrotropical Region: Benin ( ANDERSEN 1975, LINNAVUORI 1981), Burkina Faso ( ANDERSEN 1975; this paper), Burundi ( ANDERSEN 1975), Cameroon ( LINNAVUORI 1981), Cape Verde Islands ( LINDBERG 1959, as L. c. leptocerus ; this paper), Chad ( ANDERSEN 1975, LINNAVUORI 1981), Comoros ( POISSON 1957d, 1959 a, 1965b; ANDERSEN 1975), Democratic Republic of the Congo ( POISSON 1954b, 1963, 1965 a, 1968a; POISSON & SALLIER DUPIN 1969, all as L. c. leptocerus ; ANDERSEN 1975; this paper), Ethiopia ( MANCINI 1954; HYNES 1955, both as L. leptocerus ; ANDERSEN 1975; this paper), Ghana ( REUTER 1882, as Gerris leptocerus ; LINNAVUORI 1981; this paper), Guinea ( POISSON 1960b, as L. c. leptocerus ), Ivory Coast ( POISSON 1968b, as L. c. leptocerus ; ANDERSEN 1975; LINNAVUORI 1981), Kenya ( MANCINI 1939b; HYNES 1955, both as L. leptocerus ; POISSON 1963), Madagascar ( SIGNORET 1862; POISSON 1949b, 1963, 1965b; ANDERSEN 1975; this paper), Mali ( ANDERSEN 1975), Mauritius ( KIRKALDY 1899b; MAMET 1957, as L. leptocerus ; POISSON 1965b; ANDERSEN 1975), Mozambique ( POISSON 1934b, as L. leptocerus ; ANDERSEN 1975), Niger ( POISSON 1941a, as L. leptocerus ; POISSON 1950a, as L. c. leptocerus ; ANDERSEN 1975; LINNAVUORI 1981; this paper), Nigeria (ANDERSEN 1975, LINNAVUORI 1981), Republic of the Congo ( BERTRAND 1962), Reunion ( SIGNORET 1862; KIRKALDY 1899b; POISSON 1957b, 1965b), Rodriguez ( CHINA 1924, as L. dolosa ; DAMGAARD et al. 2010, 2014), São Thomé ( ANDERSEN 1975), Senegal ( JACZEWSKI 1926, as Gerris (Limnogonus) leptocerus ; BERTRAND 1962; POISSON & SALLIER DUPIN 1970, both as L. c. leptocerus ; ANDERSEN 1975), Seychelles ( DISTANT 1909b, 1913; POISSON 1965b; D. A. POLHEMUS & J. T. POLHEMUS 2013), Somalia (DE CARLINI 1895, as T. bottegoi ; MANCINI 1939b; HYNES 1955, both as L. leptocerus ; LINNAVUORI 1977), South Africa ( ANDERSEN 1975), South Sudan ( HORVÁTH 1926, LINNAVUORI 1971; this paper), Sudan ( LINNAVUORI 1971, ANDERSEN 1975; this paper), Tanzania ( KIRKALDY 1908, as L. aegyptiacus ; POISSON 1960a, as L. c. leptocerus ; ANDERSEN 1975), Togo ( LINNAVUORI 1981), Uganda ( POISSON 1960a, as L. c. leptocerus ; ANDERSEN 1975), Zambia ( POISSON 1957a, as L. c. leptocerus ; ANDERSEN 1975), Zimbabwe ( WEIR 1966). Palaearctic Region: North Africa: Egypt ( PUTON 1890, as G. aegyptiaca ; HORVÁTH 1926, as L. leptocerus ; JACZEWSKI 1936; LINNAVUORI 1964; ANDERSEN 1975; SALEH AHMAD 2001; SALEH AHMED & GADALLA 2005b); Near East: Egypt: Sinai (SALEH AHMED & GADALLA 2005b, no exact record), Israel ( HORVÁTH 1913, as L. aegyptiacus ; LINNAVUORI 1960), Saudi Arabia ( LINNAVUORI 1986a), Socotra (this paper). New species for the Socotra Archipelago.

Notes. SIGNORET (1862) described Gerris cereiventris in a paper dealing with fauna of Réunion, but without any mention of type material or type locality. ANDERSEN (1975: 65, 67) clarified the situation, designating one macropterous female from Madagascar as lectotype and another macropterous female from Bourbon [= Réunion] as paralectotype.

REUTER (1882) described G. leptocerus without any mention of types or the type locality. ANDERSEN (1975: 66) examined a probable syntype of the species, listing it as follows: ‘type (?), winged ♀, Addah ( leptocerus ; Budapest)’. ANDERSEN (1995: 105) listed that specimen as holotype. We consider the mention of holotype by ANDERSEN (1995) a valid lectotype designation under the Article 74.5 ( ICZN 1999) because the term ‘holotype’ was used explicitly for one of the syntypes.

Limnogonus dolosus Bergroth, 1893 , described from the Seychelles: La Dique, was synonymized with L. cereiventris by KIRKALDY (1899b: 102), an opinion accepted by ANDERSEN (1975). However, D. A. POLHEMUS & J. T. POLHEMUS (2013: 70–71) restored L. dolosus as a valid species and provided its redescription.

POISSON (1941c: 151) mentioned also Algeria and Tunisia in connection with this species in an ambiguous statement: ‘remonte jusqu’en Égypte et exceptionellement sur les confins tunisiens et algériens [= it extends as far north as Egypt and exceptionally along the borders of Algeria and Tunisia]’. ANDERSEN (1975) listed those records with question mark, while ANDERSEN (1995) and DAMGAARD et al. (2014: S20) listed them as accepted. However, we are not aware of any exact record from those countries (see CARAPEZZA 1997, SLIMANI et al. 2016).

Figures

Figs 45–46. 45 – Limnogonus cereiventris (Signoret, 1862): 45 – macropterous ♀, wadi Zerig (body length 9.12 mm). 46 – Onychotrechus rhexenor Kirkaldy, 1903, apterous ♂, Firmihin (4.71 mm). (Orig. P. Kment).

Figs 49–53.49 –Arher,a spring near the sea coast (5 m a.s.l.), habitat of Ochterus papaceki Kment & Carapezza,2020,Anisops debilis socotrensis Brown, 1956, Mesovelia vittigera Horváth,1895,Hebrus kanyukovae sp.nov.,Microvelia macani Brown,1953,Rhagovelia infernalis socotrensis Brown,1956 and Micracanthia ornatula (Reuter,1881).50– Wadi Madar (1,170 ma.s.l.), habitat of Anisops d.socotrensis, A.varius Fieber,1851,Mesovelia vittigera, Microvelia macani, and Rhagovelia i. socotrensis. 51 –Skand Mt.,helocreneunder the top (1,450 ma.s.l.), habitatof Microvelia gracillima Reuter,1882 andSaldula niveolimbata (Reuter, 1900). 52 – Tudhen, helocrene (1,135 m a.s.l.), habitat of Mesovelia vittigera, Hebrus sp., and Microvelia gracillima Reuter, 1882. 53 –Wadi Zerig with a large pool (655 m a.s.l.), habitat of Micronecta eupompe Hutchinson, 1930, Sigara hoggarica Poisson,1929,Anisops d.socotrensis, A.varius, Hebrus kanyukovae sp.nov.,Limnogonus cereiventris (Signoret,1862), andMicracanthia ornatula. (Orig.P.Kment:Figs 49–52;J.Hájek:Fig.53).