Tetraphleps aterrima (J. Sahlberg, 1878 )

Yamada, Kazutaka & Yasunaga, Tomohide, 2021, The tribe Anthocorini in Japan (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae): descriptions of new species, review of distribution and bionomics, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 61 (2), pp. 375-426 : 387-389

Tetraphleps aterrima (J. Sahlberg, 1878)

( Figs 4E–H , 5D–F , 6E–H , 16C , 19 )

Anthocoris aterrimus J. Sahlberg, 1878: 31 . Lectotype (designated by Pඣ- උංർൺඋඍ 1970: 740): ♀, Russia (ES), Yenisei Valley , Imbatsk (MZHF).

Tetraphleps aterrimus var. piceipennis Reuter, 1883a: 27 . Syntypes: Russia: West Siberia: Tyumen Prov., “Leusch” (= Leushi) (MZHF).

Tetraphleps ezoensis Hiura, 1959: 2 . Holotype: J, Japan, Hokkaido, Mt. Meakandake (OMNH). Synonymized by KൾඋඓHඇൾඋ (1978: 48).

Tetraphleps aterrimus (selected references): Rൾඎඍൾඋ (1884): 86 (redescription); LൾඍHංൾඋඋඒ & Sൾඏൾඋංඇ (1896): 244 (listed, taxonomic status); Pඣඋංർൺඋඍ (1972): 155–157 (in key, figures, redescription, distribution); Eඅඈඏ (1976): 371–372, 377 (figure, in key, note); Eඅඈඏ & KൾඋඓHඇൾඋ (1977): 212 (record, bionomics); Fඈඋൽ (1979): 58 (listed, distribution); Bඎ & ZHൾඇG (1991b): 198, 202 (record, taxonomic status); Hඎൺ (2000): 199 (listed, distribution); Bඎ & ZHൾඇG (2001): 170 (in key, redescription, figures); Cඈඎඅංൺඇඈඌ (2005): 18 (record, distribution); Kൾ & Bඎ (2005): 393 (description of female genitalia); Hൺඈ & Mൺ (2013): 36 (listed).

Tetraphleps aterrima (selected references): SඍංർHൾඅ (1958): 30 (in key, diagnosis); SඍංർHൾඅ (1960): 358 (listed, distribution); KൾඋඓHඇൾඋ (1988):769, 774 (figure, in key); Mංඒൺආඈඍඈ &YൺඌඎඇൺGൺ (1989):166 (listed, distribution); VංඇඈKඎඋඈඏ & KൺඇඒඎKඈඏൺ (1995): 12 (listed); Pඣඋංർൺඋඍ (1996): 120 (catalogue, distribution); Mංඓඈං (1999): 45, 46 (record); Mංඓඈං & HൺGൺ (1999): 64 (listed); Kඐඈඇ et al. (2001): 81 (catalogue, record, distribution); YൺඌඎඇൺGൺ (2001b): pl. 85, 283 (photo, diagnosis, habitat, phenology); Cඈඎඅංൺඇඈඌ (2003): 61 (record, distribution); Hඈൿൿආൺඇඇ & Mൾඅൻൾඋ (2003): 243 (distribution); VංඇඈKඎඋඈඏ et al. (2003): 58 (listed); IർHංඍൺ (2009): 68 (listed); VංඇඈKඎඋඈඏ et al. (2010): 59 (catalogue, distribution); Rංඇඍൺඅൺ & Rංඇඇൾ (2011): 170 (diagnosis, habitat, distribution, photo); SඎඓඎKං (2011): 8 (distribution); AඎKൾආൺ et al. (2013a): 88 (catalogue, distribution); EඌൾඇൻൾKඈඏൺ (2013): 59 (habitat, distribution); JඎඇG et al. (2013): 422 (catalogue, diagnosis, distribution); AඅൻඋൾർHඍ et al. (2015): 24 (listed); MൺൾHൺඋൺ (2015): 28 (recorded as Acompocoris sp. , bionomics); MൺൾHൺඋൺ (2016): 126 (recorded as Acompocoris brevirostris , distribution, habitat); TඈർHංGං Pඋൾൿൾർඍඎඋൺඅ Mඎඌൾඎආ (2016): 60 (recorded as Acompocoris brevirostris , photo, habitat, phenology);Yൺආൺൽൺ et al. (2016):423 (catalogue, distribution);JඎඇG & Lൾൾ (2017): 39 (distribution); VංඇඈKඎඋඈඏ (2020): 40 (catalogue, distribution); VංඇඈKඎඋඈඏ & KHඋඎඅൾඏൺ (2021): 22–23 (distribution).

Tetraphleps ezoensis : Mංඒൺආඈඍඈ (1961): 220 (morphology of alimentary organ); TඈGൺඌHං (1985): 97–99 (listed). Type material examined. Tetraphleps ezoensis : Hඈඅඈඍඒඉൾ: J, ‘5. VII.

1958 \ Mt. MEAKAN \ HOKKAIDO \ Ezomatsu [= Picea jezoensis , in Chinese script], Todomatsu [= Abies sachalinensis in Chinese script]’ [handwritten], ‘Hඈඅඈඍඒඉൾ J [handwritten] \ Tetraphleps [handwritten] \ ezoensis [handwritten] \ HIURA, 1959 [handwritten] \ I. HIURA Det. [printed]’, ‘OMNH TI 188’ [handwritten] ( OMNH). Pൺඋൺඍඈඉඈඍඒඉൾ: ♀ ( Figs 4G–H ), ‘ 5. VII. 1958 \ Mt. MEAKAN \ HOKKAIDO \ Ezomatsu [= Picea jezoensis , in Chinese script], Todomatsu [= Abies sachalinensis in Chinese script] \ S. MIYAMOTO’ [handwritten], ‘Pൺඋൺඍඈඉඈඍඒඉൾ \ Tetraphleps [handwritten] \ ezoensis [handwritten] \ HIURA, 1959 ♀ [handwritten] \ I. HIURA Det. [printed]’ ( OMNH).

Additional material examined. JAPAN: HඈKKൺංൽඈ: 1 J 2 ♀♀, Kamikawa-cho, Mts. Taisetsu, Mt. Midori-dake, 1500–1700 m alt., 43.640N 142.923E, Pinus pumila , 7.viii.2001, T. Yasunaga ( TYCN); 1 J, Kamikawa-cho, Aizankei, 19.vii.1962, Y. Miyatake ( OMNH); 1 ♀, Higashikawa-cho, Mt.Asahi-dake, 10.vii.1970, H. Hasegawa ( OMNH); 3 JJ (one in Figs 5D–F ) 1 ♀, Kuchanbetu Riv., Taisetsu Natural Park, 1000–1100 m, 26.vii.2000, T. Yasunaga ( TKPM); 1 J ( Figs 6E–G ) 1 ♀ ( Fig. 6H ), Kamishihoro-cho, Mikuni-tôge, 17.vii.2000, K. Yamada ( TKPM); 1 J, Mt. Upepesanke, 20.vii.1967, A. Nakanishi ( ELKU); 2 JJ, Mt. Satsunai-dake, 28.vii.1967,A. Nakanishi ( ELKU).Rishiri-tô Is.: 1 J ( Figs 4E–F ), Kutsukata, 27.–28.vii.1994, T.Yasunaga ( TKPM); 1J, no detailed locality, 7.viii.1954, T. Nakane ( OMNH). HඈඇඌHඎ: Aomori Pref.: 1 ♀, Towada-shi, Kasamatsu-tôge, 18.vii.1998, T. Ichita ( TKPM). Tochigi Pref.: 1♀, Nikko-shi,Yumoto, 25.vi.2010, S. Maehara ( TKPM); 1 ♀, same locality, 16.vi.2015, S. Maehara ( TKPM); 1 ♀, same locality, 24.vii.2019, S. Maehara ( TKPM); 1 J 1 ♀, Nikko-shi, Yumoto, Mt. Yusengatake, 2280 m alt., N 36°49′23.3″ E 139°24′12.4″, 14.ix.2013, T. Kurihara ( TKPM). Yamanashi Pref.: 2♀♀, Koufu-shi, Oodarumi-tôge to Mt. Kinpusan, 2360–2500 m, 18.vii.2010, H. Kojima ( TKPM). Nagano Pref.: 1♀, Mt.Yatsuga-take, 18.vii.1939, H. Hasegawa ( OMNH); 2♀♀, South Alps, Kitazawa to Mt. Senjôga-take, 27.vii.1959, Y. Miyatake ( OMNH); 2 ♀♀, Ôtaki-mura, Tanohama, 7.viii.2010, T. Ban ( TKPM). Gifu Pref.: 1 ♀, Mt. Norikura-dake, Dohyôgahara to Sarutobihacchô, 2400–2600 m, 16.vii.1960, I. Hiura ( OMNH); 1 J, Mt. Norikura-dake, 8.ix.1951, H. Hasegawa ( OMNH). No data: 4 ♀♀ ( TKPM).

Differential diagnosis. Recognized by the following combination of characters: body ( Figs 4E–H , 16C ) generally blackish brown; anteocular region as long as the length of eye in dorsal view; antennal segment II approximately as long as head width across eyes; labium ( Figs 4F,H ) just reaching but not exceeding to procoxae; hemelytra ( Figs 4E,G ) sometimes tinged with reddish brown; membrane of hemelytra smoky dark brown, with area behind apex of cuneus, with four distinct veins grayish white; apex of femora and entire tibiae reddish brown to yellowish brown. Similar in general appearance to T. bicuspis (Herrich-Shaeffer, 1835) from the western to central Palaearctic Region, but distinguished from that species by the anteocular region being as long as the length of eye in dorsal view (in T. bicuspis , considerably longer than length of eye), labium reaching but not exceeding the procoxae (in T. bicuspis , reaching middle of mesosternum), and hemelytral membrane with grayish pale or whitish markings on area behind apex of cuneus (in T. bicuspis , grayish pale or whitish along four distinct veins). Resembling also Acompocoris brevirostris in appearance but distinguished from that species by the length of labium and the shape of ostiolar peritreme ( Figs 4F,H , 5D ).

Redescription. Male genitalia ( Figs 5E–F , 6E–G ): Pygophore ( Fig. 6E ) elongate-conical, covered with 4–5 long, stout setae intermixed with short, suberect setae along outer margin and on posteroventral surface, of which the longest setae are shorter than half the length of pygophore; mid-dorsal surface very hirsute with short, suberect setae; paramere ( Figs 5F , 6F–G ) moderately curved, acute at apex, basally twisted, with a few very short, erect setae on middle portion, without longitudinal groove.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 6H ): Copulatory tube fused on middle part of intersegmental membrane between sterna VII and VIII in dorsal view, approximately 1.3 mm in length, entirely very thin but expanded at base, with many twists; thin-walled, annular structures of unknown function slightly visible within sperm pouch at junction of pouch and copulatory tube; trunk of conductive tissue not pronounced (or possibly dissolved).

Measurements [mm; JJ (n = 9) / ♀♀ (n = 12)]. Body length 4.10–4.75 / 4.20–5.00; head length (excl. neck) 0.48–0.53 / 0.54–0.60; head width across eyes 0.54–0.58 / 0.58–0.66; vertex width 0.28–0.30 / 0.33–0.36; length of antennal segments I – 0.15–0.19 / 0.18–0.23, II – 0.56–0.60 / 0.50–0.69, III – 0.31–0.36 / 0.31–0.40, and IV – 0.35–0.39 / 0.34–0.41; length of labial segments II – 0.15–0.18 / 0.16–0.20, III – 0.46–0.53 / 0.55–0.68, and IV – 0.26–0.29 / 0.28–0.36; anterior pronotal width 0.43–0.46 / 0.48–0.55; mesal pronotal length 0.49–0.58 / 0.56–0.65; basal pronotal width 1.21–1.38 / 1.38–1.66; length of embolial margin 1.29–1.50 / 1.50–1.75; length of cuneal margin 0.88–1.03 / 1.00–1.18; maximum width across hemelytra 1.54–1.75 / 1.81–2.13.

Bionomics. Tetraphleps aterrima was collected from Picea jezoensis (Sieb. & Zucc.) Carrière and Abies sachalinensis (F. Schmidt) Masters in Hokkaido (Hංඎඋൺ 1959), and from Abies homolepis Sieb. & Zucc. , A. mariesii Mast. , and Picea jezoensis var. hondoensis (Mayr) Rehder in the northern part of Tochigi Prefecture, at 1600 to 2300 m elevation (MൺൾHൺඋൺ 2016, TඈർHංGං Pඋൾൿൾർඍඎඋൺඅ Mඎඌൾඎආ 2016). The species was also found on Pinus pumila in the alpine zone of Hokkaido and central Honshu. Tetraphleps aterrima was collected from Abies sibirica Ledeb. in Europe and Russia (Pඣඋංർൺඋඍ 1972), and from Larix species in Siberia (KൾඋඓHඇൾඋ 1988).

Distribution. Japan: Hokkaido (Hංඎඋൺ 1959), Rishiri- -tô Is.*; Honshu: Aomori (YൺඌඎඇൺGൺ 2001b), Tochigi (MൺൾHൺඋൺ 2016), Ishikawa (TඈGൺඌHං 1985), Yamanashi (Mංඓඈං 1999), Nagano *, Gifu *. Korea: North (Kඐඈඇ et al. 2001). Mongolia (Pඣඋංർൺඋඍ 1972). China: Jilin, Hebei, Ningxia, Shanxi, Xinjiang (Bඎ & ZHൾඇG 2001). Russia (whole territories) (KൾඋඓHඇൾඋ 1988, VංඇඈKඎඋඈඏ et al. 2010). Finland (Lංඇඇൺඏඎඈඋං 1951, AඅൻඋൾർHඍ et al. 2015). Germany (Jඈඋൽൺඇ 1963, Hඈൿൿආൺඇඇ & Mൾඅൻൾඋ 2003). Estonia (Cඈඎඅංൺඇඈඌ 2003). Kazakhstan: Asian part (Pඣඋංർൺඋඍ 1996, EඌൾඇൻൾKඈඏൺ 2013). Kirgizia (Pඣඋංർൺඋඍ 1996). In Japan, this species is apparently restricted to subalpine coniferous forests of high mountain regions in central and northern Japan and frequently co-occurs with Acompocoris brevirostris ( Fig. 19 ). This species is also strongly associated with subalpine conifers, similar to A. brevirostris .

Figures

Fig. 4. Habitus, dorsal (A, C, E, G) and lateral (B, D, F, H) views. A–B – Acompocoris brevirostris Kerzhner, 1979, male; C–D – same, female; E–F – Tetraphleps aterrima (J. Sahlberg, 1878), male; G–H – same, female. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Fig. 5. Scanning electron micrographs of diagnostic characters of Japanese anthocorids. A–C – Acompocoris brevirostris Kerzhner, 1979, female (A) and male (B–C); D–F – Tetraphleps aterrima (J. Sahlberg, 1878), male.A, D – ostiolar peritreme and evaporatorium, left lateroventral view; B, E – pygophore with paramere, dorsal view; C, F – paramere, dorsal views. Abbreviations: eva ‒ evaporatorium; mf ‒ median furrow; op ‒ ostiolar peritreme; prm ‒ paramere; pyg ‒ pygophore.

Fig. 6. Male (A–C, E–G) and female (D, H) genitalia.A–D – Acompocoris brevirostris Kerzhner, 1979; E–H – Tetraphleps aterrima (J. Sahlberg, 1878). A, E – pygophore with paramere (ejaculatory bulb omitted), dorsal view; B–C, F–G – paramere, two different views; D, H – copulatory tube and sperm pouch, dorsal view. Abbreviations: ct ‒ copulatory tube; ism ‒ intersegmental membrane; prm ‒ paramere; pyg ‒ pygophore; sp ‒ sperm pouch. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Fig. 16. Habitus images of living individuals of Japanese Anthocorini spp. A – Acompocoris brevirostris Kerzhner, 1979, male; B – same, female; C – Tetraphleps aterrima (J. Sahlberg, 1878); D – Anthocoris confusus Reuter, 1884; E – A. takahashii Hiura, 1959; F – A. venustus sp. nov. (courtesy of M. Takai).

Fig. 19. Distribution of Acompocoris brevirostris Kerzhner, 1979 (circles) and Tetraphleps aterrima (J. Sahlberg, 1878) (triangles) in Japan. Filled symbols represent records based on specimens examined by us, open symbols represent literature records.