Engytatus modestus (Distant)

Ferreira, Paulo Sergio Fiuza & Henry, Thomas J., 2011, Synopsis and keys to the tribes, genera, and species of Miridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Minas Gerais, Brazil Part I: Bryocorinae, Zootaxa 2920, pp. 1-41 : 8-9

Engytatus modestus (Distant)

Engytatus geniculatus Reuter, 1876: 83 (orig. descrip.). Preoccupied. Neosilia modesta Distant, 1893: 447 (orig. descrip.).

Cyrtopeltis (Engytatus) modesta: Carvalho and Hussey, 1954: 6 (list, host). Engytatus modestus: Cassis, 1984: 101 (comb.); Schuh, 1995: 497 (cat.).

Diagnosis. Overall coloration pale yellowish green. Length 3.75–3.90 mm.

Similar to E. varians but is distinguished by lack of dark markings on the head, antennae, and apex of the cuneus, and the less distinct femoral spots.

Hosts. Cassis (1984) listed Heterotheca grandiflora (Nutt.) [Asteraceace], Gynandropsis pentaaphylla D.C. [ Cleomaceae ], Lagenaria sp. [ Cucurbitaceae ], Jatropha gossypifolia L. [ Euphorbiaceae ], Merremia aegyptia (L.) Urban [Convulvulaceae], Bougainvillaea sp. [ Nyctaginaceae ], and Solanum sp. and Solanum sisymbrifolium Lam. [ Solanaceae ], several of which are probably accidental or sitting records. We collected this species on cultivated tobacco, Nicotiana tobaccum L., and Solanum sp. [ Solanaceae ] in Viçosa.

Distribution. Widespread from the southern United States, south through Mexico and Central America to Brazil, and the West Indies ( Carvalho, 1958).

Minas Gerais specimens examined. 11 ɗɗ, 12 ΨΨ, Viçosa, 13 Oct.–1 Nov. 1985, T. J. Henry and P. S. Fiuza Ferreira, taken on cultivated tobacco ( USNM); 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Viçosa, Mato da Prefeitura, 2 Mar. 1993, T. J. Henry and P. S. Fiuza Ferreira, beaten from Solanum sp. ( USNM).