Limnocoris menkei La Rivers, 1962

Rodrigues, Higor D. D. & Sites, Robert W., 2023, Revision of Limnocoris Stål (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae) of the Guiana Shield and Amazon regions, Zootaxa 5284 (1), pp. 44-76 : 63-65

Limnocoris menkei La Rivers, 1962

( Figs. 8 , 13B )

Limnocoris menkei La Rivers, 1962: 195–196 (original description).

Limnocoris birabeni De Carlo, 1967: 193–194 (original description) (new synonym).

Limnocoris bruchi De Carlo, 1967: 194–195 (original description) (new synonym).

Limnocoris menkei: La Rivers 1971: 76 (catalog); Nieser & López-Ruf 2001: 319 (catalog).

Limnocoris birabeni: Nieser 1975: 66–67 (redescription); Moreira et al. 2011: 45 (catalog).

Limnocoris bruchi: La Rivers 1971: 75 (catalog); Nieser & López-Ruf 2001: 318 (catalog); Moreira et al. 2011: 45 (catalog); Rodrigues & Sites 2021: 19–20, 23 (supplemental description).

Diagnosis. Based on L. bruchi in Rodrigues & Sites (2021): Body length 6.88–7.44, body width 4.72–4.80. This species is recognized by the mottled color pattern of the dorsum ( Figs. 8A, C ), the markedly serrate lateral margins of the abdomen (tergum V has 11–15 teeth), the group of rounded, dark-brown spots near the lateral margins of abdominal sterna III–V ( Fig. 8F ), and the posterior margin of male abdominal tergum VII with a pair of small lateral lobes and is convex or truncate medially. The mesosternal carina has a short anterior projection and the elliptical fossa contains short golden hairs inside the rim ( Figs. 8D, G ). The broad shagreened area of the propleuron extends approximately 2/3 the length of the lateral margin ( Fig. 8D ). The posterolateral spines of abdominal segments III–V are more darkly colored than the preceding smaller teeth of lateral serration ( Fig. 8E ). The female subgenital plate posterior margin is broadly rounded ( Fig. 8F ).

Supplemental description. See section of L. bruchi in Rodrigues & Sites 2021.

Comparative notes. This species is morphologically similar to L. fittkaui and L. minutus . These three species share the mottled color pattern of the dorsum, the shagreened area of the propleuron extending approximately 2/3 of the length of the lateral margin, the shape of the mesosternal carina, the lateral margin of the abdomen distinctly serrated, and abdominal sterna III–V with a group of rounded, dark-brown spots near the lateral margins ( Table 2 ). In L. menkei , the number of teeth on tergum V is 11–14 ( Figs. 8E, F ), the posterolateral corners of terga III–V are blackish to dark-brown, the posterior margin of male tergum VII is convex or truncate medially, and the female subgenital plate is broadly rounded ( Fig. 8F ); whereas in L. fittkaui , the number of teeth on tergum V is 17–19 ( Fig. 4E ), the posterolateral corners of terga III–V are yellowish-brown, the posterior margin of male tergum VII is distinctly projected medially ( Fig. 6E ), and the female subgenital plate is narrowed medially at the posterior margin ( Fig. 4G ).

Limnocoris menkei and L. minutus are differentiated as follows: in L. menkei , the posterolateral spine of segment IV is black and the anterior half of the female subgenital plate lateral margins are straight ( Fig. 8F ); whereas in L. minutus , the posterolateral spine of segment IV is yellowish-brown and the anterior half of the female subgenital plate lateral margins are shallowly concave ( Fig. 1L ).

Discussion. This species is morphologically very similar to L. birabeni and L. bruchi . After examining the holotype and paratypes of these three species, it was evident that they share the following characteristics: the mottled color pattern of the dorsum, the shagreened area of the propleuron extending 2/3 of the length of the lateral margin, the shape of the mesosternal carina, the lateral margin of the abdomen distinctly serrated, the posterolateral corners of abdominal terga III–V dark-brown to black, abdominal sterna III–V with a group of rounded dark-brown spots near the lateral margin, the posterior margin of male mediotergite VII with a pair of small lateral lobes, the left medial lobe of male tergum VIII produced further posteriorly than the right lobe, and the female subgenital plate with the posterior margin rounded.

Rodrigues & Sites (2021) differentiated L. menkei from L. bruchi by the shape of the female subgenital plate, which would be slightly projected medially in L. menkei , and rounded in L. bruchi . However, at the time, these authors did not examine any females from the type series of L. menkei . In the present study, we examined the female allotype of L. menkei deposited at the LACM. The posterior margin of the female subgenital plate is rounded, not projected medially, similar to the female paratypes of L. bruchi and L. birabeni . Furthermore, L. menkei and L. birabeni were described based on specimens with brachypterous hind wings, whereas L. bruchi was described based on specimens with macropterous hind wings. We noticed variation in the curvature of the embolium lateral margin, which is slightly more dilated in L. menkei and L. birabeni when compared to L. bruchi . We believe this variation is related to wing polymorphism. Thus, L. birabeni and L. bruchi are here proposed as junior synonyms of L. menkei .

Distribution. This species is distributed from northern Venezuela (Monagas), Peru, Bolivia, to northeastern Brazil (Rio Grande do Norte) ( Fig. 13B ).

Published records. Brazil: Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, and Roraima ( De Carlo 1967; Rodrigues & Sites 2021). Peru: Cusco and Loreto ( Rodrigues & Sites 2021). Venezuela: Amazonas and Monagas ( La Rivers 1962; Rodrigues & Sites 2021).

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE of L. menkei , ♁ brachypterous ( LACM), VENEZUELA, Monagas, July 3, 1958, 42 kms SE Maturin, Arnold Menke, Limnocoris menkei n. sp., Limnocoris menkei LaR Holotype, LACM ENT 160180. PARATYPES of L. menkei : same data as holotype, except: Limnocoris menkei LaR Allotype, LACM ENT 160181 (1♀ brachypterous ‘allotype’ LACM); same data as holotype, except: Limnocoris menkei Paratype, Ira La Rivers Collection, Bequeathed to the California Academy of Sciences, 1978 (2♁ brachypterous CAS). HOLOTYPE of L. birabeni , ♁ brachypterous ( ZSMC), BRAZIL, Pará, Amazonasgebiet, Rio Arapiuns, Ig. Curi, 20.11.52, leg. H. Sioli, S279-b, Holotypus, Limnocoris birabeni De Carlo. PARATYPES of L. birabeni : same data as holotype, except S280 (1♁ brachypterous INPA, HEMIP 004; 1♀ brachypterous ‘allotype’ ZSMC); Brasil, Igarapé Curi, Rio Arapiuns, Sioli leg., 1952 (2♁, 3♀ brachypterous MACN, 54.003). HOLOTYPE of L. bruchi ♁: [ Brazil, Pará], Amazonasgebiet, Rio S„o Manoel, 6.5.[19]41, leg. H. Sioli, S36, Holotypus, Limnocoris bruchi De Carlo (ZSMC) . PARATYPES of L. bruchi : same data as holotype (1♀ ‘allotype’, 5 specimens ZSMC; 3♁, 1♀ INPA Hemip005–008; 1♁, 3♀ MACN 54004).

Additional material examined. BRAZIL, Amazonas: Estr. Aleixo, Km 4, INPA, Mn., Am., Br. , 16.6.1976, lalluq. col. (1♁ macropterous INPA) ; Est. BR-174, Am., Br. , 03.IV.1976, lalluque col. (1♁ macropterous INPA) . Maranhão: Timon, Estrada do Portal da Amazônia , primeiro riacho da estrada, 09.VI.2011, N. Hamada, P.V. Cruz & R.B. Querino (1♁ brachypterous MZUSP) ; Timon, estrada do Portal da Amazônia , 05º03’03.3”S, 43º01’52.2”W, 09.VI.2011, N. Hamada, P.V. Cruz & R.B. Querino col. (1♁ brachypterous MZUSP) . Mato Grosso: Querência, Fazenda Tanguro , 12º54’S, 52º22’W, 2007, E. Wanzeler col. (10♁, 2♀ macropterous MZUSP) . Rio Grande do Norte: Pedro Velho, Rio Piquiri , 05.VIII.1991, Andrade col. (1♁ brachypterous MZUSP) . Roraima: BR-401, Km 12, Igarapé Azul , 1351, 29.X.1987, V. Py-Daniel & U. Barbosa col. (1♁ macropterous MZUSP) ; Rio Uraricoera, Igarapé Xiquibá , 24.X.1987, V. Py-Daniel & U. Barbosa col. (2♁ brachypterous MZUSP) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Structures of Limnocoris. (A–B) Part of thorax in ventral view, (A) L. yanomami n. sp., (B) L. surinamensis n. stat., white arrow indicates row of elongate golden setae on mesosternum (C) Propleuron of L. reynosoi, white arrow indicates posterior end of shagreened area. (D–F) Lateral view of mesosternal carina, (D) L. pusillus, (E) L. reynosoi, (F) L. illiesi. (G–H) Dorsal view of abdominal segments III–V, (G) L. pusillus, (H) L. reynosoi, white arrows indicate posterolateral corners. (I–J) Left abdominal sternum II (circled), (I) L. pusillus, (J) L. reynosoi. (K–N) Terminal abdominal sterna of female, (K) L. illiesi, (L) L. minutus, (M) L. pusillus, (N) L. reynosoi.

FIGURE 4. Limnocoris fittkaui De Carlo. (A) Dorsal habitus of male paratype hindwing brachypterous (INPA), (B) dorsal habitus and (C) ventral habitus of female hindwing macropterous (from Amazonas, Venezuela), (D) ventral view of part of head and thorax, (E) ventral view of abdominal segments IV–VI of female, (F) ventral view of abdominal segments V–VI of male, black arrow indicates posterolateral corner of segment V, (G) terminal abdominal sterna of female, and (H) lateral view of meso- and metasternal carinae. Size bar = 1.00 mm and applies only to Figs. A–C.

FIGURE 6. Structures of male terminalia. (A, C, E, G) 6th and 7th abdominal terga, (B, D, F, H) 8th abdominal tergum. (A–B) Limnocoris amazonensis n. sp., (C–D) L. burmeisteri, (E–F) L. fittkaui, and (G–H) L. flavescens n. sp. agp = accessory genitalic process, lml = left medial lobe, rml = right medial lobe.

FIGURE 8. Limnocoris menkei La Rivers. (A) Dorsal habitus and (B) ventral habitus of male paratype, hindwing brachypterous (CAS), (C) dorsal habitus of male paratype of L. birabeni De Carlo n. syn. (INPA), (D) ventral view of head and part of thorax, black arrow indicates posterior end of propleuron shagreened area, (E) dorsal view of abdominal segments III–V, black arrows indicate posterolateral corners, (F) terminal abdominal sterna of female, and (G) lateral view of meso- and metasternal carinae. Size bar = 1.00 mm and applies only to Figs. A–C.

FIGURE 13. Distribution records for nine species of Limnocoris in South America.