Platerus pilcheri Distant

Zhao, Ping, Yang, Chunwang & Cai, Wanzhi, 2006, First record of the genus Platerus Distant (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from China, with the description of a third species of the genus, Zootaxa 1286, pp. 23-31 : 25-28

1. Platerus pilcheri Distant

( Figs. 1–6 )

Platerus pilcheri Distant 1904: 375 ; Maldonado­Capriles 1990: 166; Putshkov & Putshkov 1996: 228.

Description of female. Coloration: Body mostly black. Dorsal surface of head, external surface of fore femur (except yellow stripes), mid and hind femora (except yellow annulations), anterior pronotal lobe, four long spines of posterior pronotal lobe, anterior half of each connexival segment, corium, and third rostral segment darker; two middle annulations on first antennal segment, wide annulation on second antennal segment, third and fourth antennal segments, first rostral segment (except basal part and apex blackish brown), second rostral segment (except apex brown), three annulations on femur, two annulations on tibia, small round markings on apical portion of femur and basal portion of tibia, and posterior half of each connexival segment yellow; clavus and membrane fuliginous, basal half brown, apical half pale hyaline ( Fig. 1 ); lateral margins of anterior pronotal lobe, a waved transverse fascia to posterior lobe in front of discal spines, lateral margins of scutellum, and reticulate markings on corium (except base) white ( Figs. 1 , 2 ).

Structure: Body large and elongate. Body clothed with pale short bent setae and subvertical sparsely distributed setae of different lengths, ventral surface of fore leg with dense short setae; first and second antennal segments with sparse oblique setae, two distal segments densely pubescent; legs clothed with subvertical long setae of different lengths, apical half of tibia with dense oblique setae. Head elongate, anteocular portion slightly shorter than postocular; two long spines posterior to antenna bent and pointed anterolaterally; interocellar space about 3 times as long as distance between ocellus and eye on each side; transverse constriction between eyes deep; first rostral segment extending to posterior margin of eyes, slightly longer than second and third segments combined ( Fig. 2 ); pronotum distinctly wider than long; collar processes tubercle­shaped; anterior pronotal lobe nearly hemispheroidal with obscurely elevations; posterior pronotal lobe about 2.5 times as long as anterior lobe, posterior margin nearly straight; posterior angle indistinct; posterior­lateral margin feebly undulate; lateral pronotal angles strongly spinously produced, posterior­lateral margin distinctly notched near base ( Fig. 1 ); discal tuberculous spines of posterior pronotal lobe long and erect, apex feebly laterally produced in caudal view ( Fig. 3 ). Scutellum triangular, disk slightly concave, apex short tongueshaped; fore femur feebly incrassated; sixth connexival segment of abdomen expended; membrane extending beyond tip of abdomen.

Measurements. [in mm, & (n= 1)]. Body length 28.63; abdomen width 8.00. Head length 4.94; anteocular portion length 1.89; postocular portion length 2.15; synthlipsis length 1.05; interocellar space 0.79; length of antennal segments I–IV= 11.18, 6.34, 6.70, 2.80; length of rostral segments I–III = 2.99, 1.68, 0.87; anterior pronotal lobe length 1.58; posterior lobe length 3.83; thorax width 6.27; scutellum length 2.15; hemelytron length 19.50.

Material examined: 1 &, China, Xizang (Tibet), Motuo; 29­VIII­2003, collector unknown; kept in CAU; second to fourth segments of left antenna missing. Distribution: China (Xizang), India (Sikhim).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Platerus pilcheri Distant, Ψ. Habitus. Scale bar = 4.00 mm

FIGURES 2 ­ 6. Platerus pilcheri Distant, Ψ. 2, Head and pronotum, antennae removed; 3, pronotum; 4, abdomen; 5, 6, apical part of abdomen; 2, 4, 6, lateral view; 3, caudal view; 5, ventral view. Scale bar of 2, 3 = 2.67 mm; of 4 = 2.00 mm; of 5, 6 = 1.00 mm.