Epitoxicoris, Published, 2007

WALL, MICHAEL A., 2007, A revision of the Solomonius-group of the stinkbug tribe Halyini (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae), Zootaxa 1539 (1), pp. 1-84 : 45-46

Epitoxicoris n. gen.

Description. Head broader than long. Juga as long as tylus, separated anteriorly, rounded and obtuse apically; antennifers visible from above; vertex convex. Eyes slightly stalked; ocelli located posterior of imaginary drawn through posterior margins of eyes. Antennae 4–segmented; segment I surpassing apex of the head. Pronotum distinctly hexagonal, anterior margin linear becoming concave medially, anterolateral margins slightly sinuate, posterior margin straight, anterolateral angle produced laterally, lateral angles produced into acute angle. Scutellum subtriangular, slightly swollen basally; midline narrowly raised. Laterotergites visible from above.

Posterior margin of bucculae acuminate. Labium long, reaching fourth abdominal sternite (third visible). Prosternum sulcate; anterior margin concave; posterior margin anterior to posterior margin of coxal cavity. Mesosternum with low median keel; posterior margin bilobed. Posterolateral angle of mesopleuron posteriorly produced as narrow lobe. Metasternum hexagonal, lateral margins swollen. Posterolateral angle of metapleuron entire. Ostiole of metathoracic scent gland lenticulate; peritreme longer than distance between episternal ridge and peritreme, longer than distance from peritreme to lateral margin of metapleuron, its breadth equal throughout its length, rounded distally. Third through fifth abdominal sternites (second and fourth visible) sulcate. Trichobothria transverse, coincident with spiracular line, just posterior to pseudosuture. Posterior margin of S6 distinctly ‘V’–shaped. Tarsi 3–segmented. Profemora with ventral row of stout distally hooked spines, dorsally unarmed. Mesofemora with row of small ventral tubercles. Metafemora unarmed.

Male. Pygophore subglobular with elongate posteriorly directed dorsolateral lobes, ventral margin lobed. Dorsolateral lobes longer than chamber portion of pygophore, posteriorly swollen, anteriorly with earlike dorsal flange. Basal sclerite of proctiger well developed, fused with reduced parameres Proctiger heavily sclerotized, apically deeply emarginate. Medial penile plates of aedeagus fused with single tubercle.

Female. Gonocoxa of eighth segment roughly semicircular. Gonocoxa of ninth segment with posterior margin carinate; large lateral scrotum-like lobes extend from base. Laterotergites of ninth segment elongate, apically triangular, surpassing posterior margin of abdominal tergite VII. Secondary thickening of vagina intima hemispherical, surrounding pore to ductus recepticali.

Etymology. From the Greek noun epitoxis— the slot in a catapult in which the arrow lies; and koris— bug. During World War II, the New Georgia Sound was referred to as “The Slot” by Allied Forces. The two species in this genus are each endemic to the islands, Bougainville and Guadalcanal, at opposing ends of ‘The Slot’. The gender of the name should be considered male.

Comments. This genus shares several key characters with genera from mainland New Guinea that are missing in Solomonius , the other Solomon Islands genus. Whereas the dorsolateral lobes and laterally free basal sclerite are shared with Solomonius , the smaller medial penile plates and the secondary thickenings of the vagina intima are more like those of the genera from mainland New Guinea. This is the only genus within the group with four–segmented antennae.

Type species. Epitoxicoris allisonae sp. nov.