Brizica alacris Walker, 1867

WALL, MICHAEL A., 2007, A revision of the Solomonius-group of the stinkbug tribe Halyini (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae), Zootaxa 1539 (1), pp. 1-84 : 31-35

Brizica alacris Walker, 1867

( Figs. 16A , 18 A-C, 20A, 21)

1867 Brizica alacris Walker, 1867: 236 ; Lethierry & Severin, 1893: 99; Distant, 1899: 443 (taxonomic status); Kirkaldy, 1909: 190 (L).

Diagnosis. Distinguished by a relatively short labium and an episternal ridge developed as a distinct carina. Small relative to congeners.

Redescription. Body 2.1X longer than broad ( Fig. 16A ). Vertex of head flat, punctate. Juga slightly convergent anteriorly; apices acute, slightly overlapping tylus. Juga and tylus subequal in length, depressed relative to remainder of head. First antennal segment subequal with apex of head. Eyes slightly stalked; posterior margins converging toward pronotal margin. Pronotum subrugose; lateral angles approximately 90º. Scutellum slightly swollen anteriorly; apex acute, pointed. Laterotergites with posterior angle slightly produced.

Bucculae weakly produced, becoming obsolete before reaching posterior margin of head; anterior angle obtuse. Labium reaching second abdominal sternite (first visible); ratios 1:1.6:1.6:1. Peritreme 2/5 as long as distance from ostiole of metathoracic scent gland to lateral margin of metapleuron. Episternal ridge located 2/ 3 of distance between ostiole of metathoracic scent gland and lateral margin of metapleuron. Venter of abdomen primarily convex; median flattened to slightly sulcate medially. Profemora with 3–4 large ventral spines on distal third, proximal portion with 2–3 small ventral pointed tubercles; meso- and metafemora sometimes with one small distal sharp tubercle.

Color and vestiture. Ground color testaceous with black shining punctures; antennal segments 1–2 testaceous with piceous markings, antennal segments 3–5 piceous; legs mostly straminous, tibiae with two castaneous bands on longitudinal ridges; spiracles black. Antennal segments 1–2 shiny with sparse vestiture; antennal segments 3–5 with dense short pile.

Male. Ventral rim of pygophore thinly produced posteriorly, divided medially although lobes in contact for much of their length ( Fig. 18A–C ). Proctiger hemispherical; basal sclerite shallowly bilobed posteriorly, anterior margin straight ( Fig. 18C ).

Female. Eighth gonocoxa large, roughly trapezoidal, subdistally swollen, covering ninth laterotergites and gonocoxae ( Fig. 20A ).

Measurements. Males (n=5): body length 14.8 SD 0.2 (14.5–15.2), anterior pronotal width 2.8 SD 0.1 (2.8–2.9), humeral width 7.1 SD 0.1 (6.8–7.2), scutellar length 5.2 SD 0.2 (4.9–5.5), medial length of sixth sternite (fifth visible) 1.0 SD 0.1 (0.9–1.1), medial length of seventh sternite (sixth visible) 1.9 SD 0.1 (1.8– 2.0). Females (n=5): body length 14.5 SD 2.3 (10.6–16.5), anterior pronotal width 3.2 SD 0.1 (2.9–3.3), humeral width 7.5 SD 0.3 (7.2–8.0), scutellar length 5.6 SD 0.3 (5.2–6.0), medial length of sixth sternite (fifth visible) 1.3 SD 0.2 (0.9–1.4), medial length of seventh sternite (sixth visible) 1.8 SD 0.1 (1.6–2.0). Appendages in Table 3.

Specimens examined. INDONESIA: Propinsi Maluka, Aru Islands , [5° 46' S, 1340° 13’ E] coll. A.R. Wallace - 1 ♀ ( BPBM - holotype) - Irian Jaya, Star Mts., Sibil Val. , elev. 1245 m, [4° 54' S, 140° 40’ E], 18 October - 8 November 1961, coll. S. Quate - 1 ♀ ( BPBM) ; Star Range, Sibil , elev. 1260 m, [4° 54' S, 140° 40’ E], 18 April 1959 - 1 ♂ ( RMNH – Leiden) ; PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Central Province, Bisianumu, E. of Port Moresby, elev. 500 m, [9° 24' S, 147° 24’ E], 22 September 1955, coll. J.L. Gressitt - 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂ ( BPBM) ; Bisianumu, Sogeri Plateau , elev. 550 m, [9° 25' S, 147° 25’ E], 11 May 1959, coll. C. Michener - 1 ♀ ( BPBM) ; SE: Brown River , [9° 15' S, 147° 4’ E], 12–23 October 1968, coll. Tawi Mena - 1 ♂ ( BPBM) ; Eastern Highlands, NE: Karimui, South of Goroka , elev. 1000–1080 m, [6° 30' S, 144° 51’ E], 8–12 July 1963, coll. J. Sedlacek - 1 ♀, 1 ♂ ( BPBM) ; Morobe Province, Aseki , elev. 1200–1300 m, [7° 21' S, 146° 53’ E], 3 December 1974, coll. R. Sakomdaro - 1 ♂ ( BPBM) ; Western Highlands, Korgua , elev. 1450 m, [5° 57' S, 144° 12’ E], 30 June 1963, coll. H Clisssold - 1 ♂ ( BPBM) ; Western Province, Kiunga , elev. 30 m, [6° 7' S, 141° 18’ E], 1–30 August 1969, coll. J. Sedlacek - 1 ♂ ( BPBM) .

Distribution. Low to middle elevations of New Guinea and neighboring islands of Aru ( Fig. 21 ).

Figures

FIGURE 16. Brizica species, habitus. A. B. alacris Walker, B. B. exiguus (Distant), C. B. flyensis sp. nov., D. B. humeralis (Horváth), E. B. proximus (Schouteden), F. B. sphaeroides sp. nov., G. B. tubercularis sp. nov., H. B. vandoesburgi sp. nov..

FIGURE 18. Ventral, lateral, and dorsal views of pygophores of selected species of Brizica. A-C. B. alacris Walker, D- F. B. exiguus (Distant), G-I. B. flyensis sp. nov., J-L. B. humeralis (Horváth).

FIGURE 20. External female genitalia of selected species of Brizica. A. B. alacris Walker, B. B. exiguus (Distant), C. B. humeralis (Horváth), D. B. proximus (Schouteden), E. B. tubercularis sp. nov., F. S. vandoesburgi sp. nov..

FIGURE 21. Distribution of Brizica alacris Walker, B. proximus (Schouteden), B. vandoesburgi sp. nov., and Elemana propria Distant in New Guinea.