Bathycoelia rodhaini Schouteden, 1913

Nicolas, Vincent, Carapezza, Attilio, Rider, David A. & Kment, Petr, 2024, New records, diagnostics and preliminary checklist of the superfamily Pentatomoidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from the Comoro Islands, Zootaxa 5481 (1), pp. 1-29 : 7-8

Bathycoelia rodhaini Schouteden, 1913

( Figs. 3 , 6–10 )

Type material examined. Holotype ( MRAC; Figs. 6–10 ): ♀, Democratic Republic of the Congo : ‘MUSÉE DU CONGO [p] / Sankishya / 3 - 4 - 1911 [hw] / Dr Bequaert [p] // Bathyc. / Rodhaini / Typ. ♀ Sch, [hw] // HOLOTYPUS [p, pink label with black frame submarginally] // HOLOTYPUS / BATHYCOELIA / RODHAINI / Schouteden, 1913 / labelled: P. KMENT 2023 [p, red label]. The body length of the holotype is 23.4 mm; it is pinned through scutellum, wings sligthly outstretched; right metatarsus and left antennomeres IIa–IV missing.

Additional material examined. MAYOTTE: Ouangani , 25.ii.2021, photo ( Fig. 3 ), N. Gommichon lgt., A. Carapezza det. ( VNBF) .— CAMEROON: Kikot , vii.1993, 1♀, P. Moretto lgt., D.A. Rider det. ( DARC) . CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: 60 km SE Bouar , 860 m, 05°42′N 16°00′E, 30.iii.2010, 1♀, J. Halada lgt., A. Carapezza det. ( ACPI) . GABON: KinguÉlÉ, Monts de Cristal N. P., 230 m, 0°26′25″N 10°16′26″E, 19–30.xi.2019, 4♂, 3♀, D. Sechi lgt., A. Carapezza det. ( ACPI) . GHANA: Tafo , 17-IV-1966, UV trap, 1♂, Kumar det. ( DARC) ; Tafo , 1.v.1967, UV trap, 1♂, Kumar det. ( DARC) . ZAMBIA: NW, E of Chisasa, W of Solwezi , 24.x.2008, 1♀, M. Snížek lgt., P. Kment det. ( ISNB) ; N Rhodesia , Abercorn [= Mbala], xi.1946, 1♀, W. Eichler lgt., P. Kment det. ( ZMPA) .

Biology. This species is recorded as a pest of cotton ( Gossypium , Malvaceae ) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( Mayné & Ghesquière 1934), avocado ( Persea americana , Lauraceae ) in South Africa ( Joubert & Claasens 1994, van den Berg 1998, van den Berg et al. 2000), macadamia (Macadamia spp., Proteaceae ) in South Africa ( De Villiers 1986, van den Berg et al. 1999), and possibly also on Citrus sp. ( Rutaceae ) in Senegal ( Etienne et al. 1992). Owusu-Manu (1979) cited Pseudospondias microcarpa ( Anacardiaceae ) as the main host plant of B. rodhaini . The species was also collected on Bauhinia ( Fabaceae ) ( Linnavuori 1974, 1982a).

Distribution. Comoros: Mayotte (new record), Cameroon (new record), Central African Republic (new record), Democratic Republic of the Congo ( Schouteden 1913, Mayné & Ghesquière 1934), Gabon (new record), Ghana ( Nuamah 1982), Ivory Coast ( Gillon 1972; Linnavuori 1974, 1982a), Nigeria ( Medler 1980, Linnavuori 1982a),? Senegal ( Etienne et al. 1992), South Africa: Mpumalanga (e.g., Joubert & Claasens 1994; van den Berg 1998; van den Berg et al. 1999, 2000), Zambia (new record).

The record from Senegal requires confirmation, as Etienne et al. (1992) recorded the species as Bathycoelia cf. rodhaini . Considering the distribution pattern of this species in Western and Central Africa, the populations in South Africa and the Comoros may be the result of human introduction with agriculture.

Figures

FIGURES 2–5. Habitus of Comoro Pentatomidae:2—Gadarscama ebenaui Reuter,1887, 3—Bathycoelia rodhaini Schouteden, 1913, 4—Bathycoelia thalassina (Herrich-Schäffer, 1844), 5—Lerida annulicornis (Signoret, 1861). Photos: V. Nicolas (2), N. Gommichon (3), J. Vittier (4–5).

FIGURES 6–10. Holotype of Bathycoelia rodhaini Schouteden, 1913, body length 23.4 mm: 6—body in dorsal view, 7—body in ventral view, 8—detail of callosity in anterolateral angle of scutellum, 9—female terminalia in ventral view, 10—labels. Photos: N. Mazáčková.