Arenaeocoris, Blinn, Robert L., 2012

Blinn, Robert L., 2012, Arenaeocoris enervatus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Stenopodainae), a new genus and species from the Southeastern United States, Zootaxa 3478, pp. 105-110 : 106-108

Arenaeocoris n. gen.

( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Type species: Arenaeocoris enervatus n. sp., by original designation.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other North American stenopodaine genera by the absence of the apical Cu- PCu crossvein on the hemelytra, well developed prosternal process extending towards hind margin of eye, dense covering of setigerous spines on head and thorax, head ventrally with a row of large setigerous spines extending length of head each side of the rostrum, terminating as a ramose setigerous spine (poorly developed in some specimens), and a single row of smaller setigerous spines located medially extending from the base of the head forward to between eyes.

Arenaeocoris is most similar in general appearance to Diaditus , and keys to Diaditus in Wygodinzsky & Giacchi’s (1996) key to genera. However, in Arenaeocoris the juga do not exceed the apex of the head whereas in Diaditus the juga are well developed, extending in front of the head. The prosternal process is well developed extending towards the hind margin of eye, and in species of Diaditus the prosternal process is poorly developed. The apical Cu-PCu crossvein on the hemelytra, absent in Arenaeocoris , is present in Diaditus . In Arenaeocoris the 1st and 2nd rostral segments are subequal and the 3rd segment is ½ the length of the 1st or 2nd segment. In Diaditus the 1st rostral segment is subequal to the length of the 2nd and 3rd segment combined. The tarsal formula in Arenaeocoris is 3-3- 3 in males and 2-3- 3 in females, whereas in Diaditus it is 2-2- 2 in males and 2-3-3 or 2-2- 2 in females.

The structure and arrangement of the setigerous spines on the ventral side of the head resembles that of Seridentus Osborn. Arenaeocoris is distinguished from Seridentus by the following characters: in Seridentatus the prosternum is distinctly elongate behind the fore coxae, but in Arenaeocoris the coxae are inserted at the hind margin of the prosternum. Also in Seridentus, the last male abdominal segment ends in 2 flaring, widely developed, apically acute lobes; these lobes are absent in Arenaeocoris .

Description. Body, especially head and thorax, densely covered with setigerous spines. Head with juga porrect, divergent, extending in front of head; antenniferous tubercles small, with setigerous spine at apex; ocelli large, divergent, placed on median tubercle and elevated above level of anterior part of head; ventral surface of head with a row of large globular setigerous spines extending length of head each side of rostrum, terminating as a ramose setigerous spine (poorly developed in some specimens); a single row of smaller setigerous spines located medially extending from base of head forward to between the eyes. Antennal segment I dorsally with pale short scale-like setae, laterally and ventrally with erect stout setae and finer pale setae, finer setae longer and more dense ventrally; II, dorsally with pale short scale-like setae arranged in 2 poorly defined rows, laterally and ventrally pilose with a mixture of darker erect setae and finer pale setae, finer setae denser and longer basally; III and IV both with fine, short, recumbent whitish setae and erect, sparse whitish hairs. Rostral segments with scale-like setae on first and basal 1/3 of second segment, distal 2/3 of second and third segment with short erect setae, denser on third segment. Prosternal processes well developed, extending towards hind margin of eye, horizontal in male, angled downward in female. Males macropterous, hemelytra reaching slightly beyond apex of abdomen, large cell formed by cubital and postcubital veins open with apical cu-pcu cross-vein absent, female apterous. Femora slender, covered with small setigerous spines, lower surface of profemora with ill-defined row of larger setigerous spines; tarsi 3-segmented in male, protarsi 2-segmented, meso- and metatarsi 3-segmented in female.

Etymology. From the Latin arena, referring to “sandy place,” and coris, meaning “bug,” referring to the presumed habitat preference. The gender of this genus-group name is feminine.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Arenaeocoris enervatus n. sp. a: Male (holotype); b: Female.

FIGURE 2. Arenaeocoris enervatus n. sp. a: Male head, dorsal view; b. Male head, ventral view; c. Male head, lateral view; d. Female head, lateral view; e. Pygophore, lateral view; f. Right paramere.