Anisops varius Fieber, 1851

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 : 485-487

Anisops varius Fieber, 1851

( Fig. 11 )

Anisops varius Fieber, 1851: 59 (original description). Lectotype (designated by LANSBURY 1966: 42): ♀ (f. sugillata ), Sudan:Ambukhol (ZMHB).

Anisops varius var. scutellata Fieber, 1851: 59 (original description). Syntypes (see LANSBURY 1966: 42, as paralectotypes): 1 ♂ 3 ♀♀, Egypt: Sinai Peninsula (ZMHB).

Anisops varius var. sugillata Fieber, 1851: 59 (original description). Lectotype (designated by LANSBURY 1966: 42): ♀, Sudan:Ambukhol (ZMHB). Junior objective synonym of A. varius , synonymized by HUTCHINSON (1929: 393, 396).

Anisops perpulcher Stål, 1855: 89 (original description). Syntype (s): South Africa: “terra Natalensi” [= Natal] (NHRS). Synonymized by KIRKALDY (1899b: 106).

Notonecta nanula Walker, 1870: 2381 (original description). Syntype (s): Egypt: Shoobra [= Cairo, Shubra] (BMNH). Synonymized by HORVÁTH (1888: 189).

Anisops perpulcher var. kalahariensis Schumacher, 1913: 83 (original description). Syntypes: 1 ♂ 3 ♀♀, Botswana: Kalahari, Lobatsi [= Lobatse] (ZMHB, viz J. T. POLHEMUS 1995: 67). Synonymized by HUTCHINSON (1929: 393).

Anisops perpulcher var. plumbeus Schumacher, 1913: 83 (original description). Syntypes: 3 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, South Africa: Klein-Namaland, Kamaggas (ZMHB, viz J. T. POLHEMUS 1995: 67). Synonymized by HUTCHINSON (1929: 393).

Anisops hoggarica Poisson, 1929: 89–91 , figs 4–5 (original description). Syntypes:3♂♂ 2♀♀, Algeria:Mouyidir,Tiguelguemine and Tahoun Arak (depository?). Synonymized by LINNAVUORI (1989b: 3).

Published record. WRANIK (2000, 2003, as A. varia ): Socotra (no exact locality).

Material examined. SOCOTRA: S Sokotra Isld. , wadi Difarroha [= Di Farho, ca. 100–130 m a.s.l.], south side, 15.i.2010, 1 ♂ 1 spec., A. Saldaitis lgt., Achat Saldaitis I.G.31.512 ( ISNB, NMPC); Dirhashas [= Di Hashus, ca. 950–990 m a.s.l.], ix.1998, 6 spec. 2 L, W. Wranik lgt. ( WWRG → NMPC); Firmihin, [ca. 390–760 m a.s.l.], iii.1999, 3 spec., W.Wranik lgt. ( WWRG → NMPC); Diksam [= Dixam, ca. 500–1000 m a.s.l.], 21.ii.2000, 3 spec. 7 L, W.Wranik lgt. ( WWRG → NMPC); C Sokotra Isld., Diksam [= Dixam, ca. 500–1000 m a.s.l.] canyon, 23.iii.2009, 1 spec., A. Saldaitis lgt., Achat A. Saldaitis I.G.31.268 ( ISNB); 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, 1 spec., Socotra expedition 2012: J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, P. Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart lgt. ( NMPC, MMBC); Firmihin, [ca. 390–760 m a.s.l.], ii.1999, 1 spec., W.Wranik lgt. ( WWRG → NMPC); Hagher Mts., wadi Madar (12°33′12ʺN 54°00′24ʺE), brook in montane shrubland, 1170 m a.s.l., 18.vi.2012, 1 spec., Socotra expedition 2012: J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, P. Kment, I. Malenovský, J. Niedobová & L. Purchart lgt. ( NMPC); Homhil Wadi, 600 m a.s.l., 5.vi.2008, 1♂ 3♀♀, A. Carapezza lgt. ( ACPI); Wadi Dirhor, 8.vi.2008, 11 ♂♂ 10 ♀♀, A. Carapezza lgt. ( ACPI); Dixam plateau, wadi Zerig (12°29′36ʺN 53°59′30ʺE), 18.i.2014, 5 ♂♂ 5 ♀♀ 1 L, A. Carapezza lgt. ( ACPI); Dixam plateau, wadi Zerig, beginning of track for Skand Mt. (12°29′15ʺN 53°59′20ʺE), 20.i.2014, 6 ♂♂ 9 ♀♀, A. Carapezza lgt. ( ACPI). ‒ ALGERIA: Algerien Hoggar, Guelta de Imlaoulauéne, 9.v.1973, Eckerlein lgt., N. Nieser & P.-P. Chen det. ( NMPC). BURKINA FASO: Haute Volta, Onagadougou [= Ouagadougou], ix.1936, 1 spec., Škulina lgt., N. Nieser & P.-P. Chen det. ( NMPC). CHAD: Environs du Tsad, 1937, 71 spec.; Lac Tsad [= Lake Chad], 1 spec., all Škulina lgt., N.Nieser & P.-P. Chen det. ( NMPC). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Congo b., Ituri, i.1937, 3 spec., Škulina lgt., N. Nieser & P.-P. Chen det. ( NMPC). ISRAEL: Jerusalem, 1.iv.1987, 1 ♀, A. Carapezza lgt. & det. ( ACPI). JORDAN: Wadi Rum, 29.xii.1995, 4 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, A. Carapezza lgt. & det. ( ACPI); Dead Sea, 29.xii.1995, 1 ♂, A. Katbeh lgt., A. Carapezza det. ( ACPI). MALI: Sangha, Bandiagara Mts., x.1936, 1 spec., Škulina lgt., N. Nieser & P.-P. Chen det. ( NMPC). NIGER: Nigere, Maradi, x.1936, 2 spec., Škulina lgt., N. Nieser & P.-P. Chen det. ( NMPC). RWANDA: Ruanda, 1 spec., Škulina lgt., N. Nieser & P.-P. Chen det. ( NMPC). TANZANIA: TANGANYIKA: Tanganyika, iii.1937, 1 spec., Škulina lgt., N. Nieser & P.-P. Chen det. ( NMPC).

Identification. BROOKS (1951) (key, redescription, figure); LANSBURY (1966) (figures); WRANIK (2003): 439 (habitus photo); D. A. POLHEMUS & J. T. POLHEMUS (2013) (diagnosis, figures).

Habitat. In Socotra, the species was collected from coastal to montane zone (ca. 100–1170 m a.s.l.). Once it was collected in a large pool with sparse littoral vegetation in a drying wadi ( Fig. 49 ), once in a mountain brook ( Fig. 50 ), and twice at black light (A. Saldaitis, pers. comm.); the remaining records lack habitat information. In Egypt, it was found common in small artificial brackish water pools for goats ( LINNAVUORI 1964). In Senegal, the species was collected in small pools in steppe as well as in a garden ( JACZEWSKI 1926). In Sudan, it was collected in large and rather deep pools ( LINNAVUORI 1971). In Ethiopia and Kenya, it was found only in permanent water at high as well as low altitudes ( HYNES 1955). In Zimbabwe, it was collected in pans (small, temporary seasonal lakes) with rich littoral vegetation as well as in small pools ( WEIR 1966). LANSBURY (1961a) reported the species in Namibia and South Africa from the following habitats: water-hole with micaceous mud and no vegetation, gravelly and muddy streams from a spring, small shallow ephemeral pool with muddy bottom, and rapid milky stream over rocks and gravel. According to LINNAVUORI (1981) it is found in both oligotrophic and eutrophic pools and rivers.

Distribution. Afrotropical Region: Benin ( POISSON 1951c, as A. varia scutellata ), Botswana ( SCHUMACHER 1913, as A. perpulcher and A. perpulcher var. kalahariensis ; HUTCHINSON 1929), Burkina Faso ( LINNAVUORI 1981), Chad ( BROOKS 1951, DISPONS 1965), Comoros ( POISSON 1957d, 1959a), Democratic Republic of the Congo ( POISSON 1949 a, 1965a, as both A. v. varia and A. v. scutellata, 1968a ; BROOKS 1951; POISSON & SALLIER DUPIN 1969), Eritrea ( BROOKS 1951), Ethiopia (DE CARLINI 1892, as A. perpulcher ; POISSON 1936; MANCINI 1939a, 1956, 1961; HYNES 1955), Guinea ( POISSON 1960b), Ivory Coast ( POISSON 1948b, no exact locality), Kenya ( HUTCHINSON 1929, 1930b, 1932b; BROOKS 1951; HYNES 1955), Lesotho ( POISSON 1957a), Madagascar ( KIRKALDY 1899b; POISSON 1957d, 1959a), Malawi ( HUTCHINSON 1929), Mali (BROOKS 1951), Mauritania ( POISSON 1939; VILLIERS 1951, as A. varia hoggarica ), Mozambique ( BROOKS 1951, LANSBURY 1961b), Namibia ( SCHUMACHER 1913, as A. perpulcher ; HUTCHINSON 1929; POISSON 1957a; LANSBURY 1961a; LINNAVUORI 1989b), Niger ( POISSON 1941a, as A. hoggarica ; BROOKS 1951; LINNAVUORI 1981), Nigeria ( LINNAVUORI 1981, as A. varia scutellata, 1989b ), Rwanda (this paper), Senegal ( JACZEWSKI 1926, POISSON 1939, BROOKS 1951, POISSON & SALLIER DUPIN 1970, both as A. v. varia and A. v. hoggarica ), Seychelles ( KIRKALDY 1899b; DISTANT 1909b, 1913; D. A. POLHEMUS & J. T. POLHEMUS 2013), Somalia ( MANCINI 1964, as A. v. var. scutellata ), South Africa ( STÅL 1855, as A. perpulcher ; SCHUMACHER 1913, as A. perpulcher and A. plumbeus ; HUTCHINSON 1929; BROOKS 1951; POISSON 1955a, as A. varia scutellata ; POISSON 1957a, as A. v. varia and A. v. scutellata ; LANSBURY 1961a,b; LINNAVUORI 1989b), Sudan ( FIEBER 1851, as A. sugillata ; HUTCHINSON 1929; LANSBURY 1961b; LINNAVUORI 1971), Tanzania ( POISSON 1960 a, 1963), Uganda ( POISSON 1960a, LANSBURY 1961b), Zimbabwe ( HUTCHINSON 1929; POISSON 1955a, as A. varia scutellata ; WEIR 1966). Palaearctic Region: North Africa: Algeria ( POISSON 1929, 1948b, 1953; LINNAVUORI 1981, as A. v. hoggarica ), Egypt ( WALKER 1870, as Notonecta nanula ; HORVÁTH 1888; BROOKS 1951; PRIESNER & ALFIERI 1953; LANSBURY 1961b; LINNAVUORI 1964, 1989b), Morocco ( GHEIT 1994, 1995), Near East: Egypt: Sinai ( FIEBER 1851, as A. scutellata ; PRIESNER & ALFIERI 1953), Israel ( FURTH 1983), Jordan (this paper), Saudi Arabia ( BROWN 1951, as A. v. varia ; LINNAVUORI 1986a), Socotra ( WRANIK 2000, 2003), Syria ( BROOKS 1951, LANSBURY 1961b), Yemen ( BROWN 1951, as A. v. scutellata ; LINNAVUORI 1989b). New species for Jordan and Rwanda.

Nomenclatorial notes. FIEBER (1851) described A. varius to include two distinct forms, ‘ A. sugillata ’ from Sudan and ‘ A. scutellata ’ from Sinai, neither of them considered the nominotypical form. HUTCHINSON (1929), acting as the first reviser, chose A. sugillata as the ‘nominotypical form’, thus making the two names objective synonyms. LANSBURY (1966) accepted HUTCHINSON’ s (1929) opinion and designated a lectotype in the following statement: ‘ Lectotype female ( sugillata ), one male and three paralectotype females ( scutellata ) in the Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Zoologisches Museum, Berlin.’ However, this lectotype designation has no influence on the three type specimens of A. scutellata which remain syntypes. J. T. POLHEMUS (1995) swapped the type localities of A. sugillata and A. scutellata by mistake.

J. T. POLHEMUS (1995: 67) mentioned the holotype of Anisops hoggarica from Tahoun Arak as being lost. However, there is no mention of the holotype in the original description. POISSON (1934a: 135) cited the 3 ♂♂ and 2 ♀♀ as ‘types’, i.e. syntypes.

Figures

Figs 10–11. 10 – Anisops debilis socotrensis Brown, 1956, Arher (body length 6.67 mm); 11 – Anisops varius Fieber, 1851, Di Hashus (7.55 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).