Limnocoris panamensis La Rivers, 1971

Rodrigues, Higor D. D. & Sites, Robert W., 2019, Revision of Limnocoris (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae) of North America, Zootaxa 4629 (4), pp. 451-497 : 479-482

Limnocoris panamensis La Rivers

( Figs. 2F , 13 , 14 E–F, 20A)

Limnocoris panamensis La Rivers, 1970: 6–8 (original description).

Limnocoris panamensis: La Rivers 1971: 76 (catalog); Nieser & López-Ruf 2001: 319 (catalog); Herrera 2013: 227 (catalog).

Diagnosis. The pubescent area of the propleuron is not extended posteriorly on the lateral margin (as in Fig. 1D ). The fossa of the mesosternal carina is distinctly deep and elliptical to ovate ( Fig. 13C ). The metasternal carina is depressed medially, and acuminate posteriorly ( Fig. 13C ). The lateral margin of the female subgenital plate has a tuft of elongate golden setae at mid-length, and the posterior margin is evenly rounded ( Fig. 13D ).

Measurements (n = 3 males / 3 females). Body length 8.20–8.23/ 8.60–8.74, body width 5.65–5.80/ 5.86–6.00, synthlipsis 1.49–1.52/ 1.50–1.51, head length 1.21–1.40/ 1.40, head width 2.75–2.80/ 2.80–2.82, pronotum length on midline 1.50/ 1.50–1.60, pronotum width 5.37–3.40/ 5.65–5.68, scutellum length 1.20–1.40/ 1.40, scutellum width 2.51–2.70/ 2.61–2.80, hemelytra length 5.90–6.12/ 6.20–6.40.

Supplemental description. Maxillary plate tumescent anteriorly. Distolateral margins of labrum tapering to broadly rounded point. Antenna not exceeding lateral margin of eye; pedicel quadrate; flagellomeres slender, not partially fused, with long setae. Posterior margin of propleuron convex at mid-length ( Fig. 13C ); posteromesal corner near prosternellum flat. Region between mesobasisternum and mesoepisternum with longitudinal row of elongate golden setae (partially visible in Fig. 13C ). Lateral margin of abdomen with minute serration; posterolateral corners of II–VI narrowly rounded to right angled, not spinose; sterna with elongate golden setae generally dispersed, concentrated at midline of segments III–V; sternum II with sinuous row of golden setae. Male: mediotergite VI with accessory genitalic process poorly developed; posterior margin of mediotergite VII convex medially, with small rounded lobe on each side; laterotergite VII with lateral and mesal margins subparallel, and posterior margin narrowly rounded ( Fig. 14E ). Lateral lobe of tergum VIII with lateral margin almost straight in anterior half; left medial lobe slightly angled laterally at apex, distal margin rounded; right medial lobe twisted in distal third ( Fig. 14F ). Female: subgenital plate with posterior margin broadly convex; laterosternite VII with posterior margin shal- lowly angled to rounded apex ( Fig. 13D ).

Comparative notes. This species has a characteristic mesosternal carina with a distinctly deep fossa. Five other species of Limnocoris share a deep fossa of the mesosternal carina: L. angulatus Nieser, González & Eichelkraut , L. bouvieri Montandon , L. calii Nieser, González & Eichelkraut , L. pectoralis Montandon , and L. virescens . Of these, only L. virescens occurs in North America. In L. bouvieri and L. virescens the posterolateral corners of abdominal segments III–V are spinose, whereas in L. panamensis , L. angulatus , L. calii , and L. pectoralis these corners are slightly acuminate to rounded, without forming spines. Limnocoris calii and L. pectoralis differ from L. panamensis and L. angulatus by the pubescent area of the propleuron extended posteriorly, which does not occur in the last two species. Limnocoris panamensis can be differentiated from L. angulatus by having the posterolateral corner of the pronotum rounded in brachypterous specimens, male abdominal tergum VIII with the right medial lobe twisted in the distal half, and the female subgenital plate with the posterior margin broadly rounded; whereas in L. angulatus the posterolateral corner of pronotum is acute, male abdominal tergum VIII with the right medial lobe weakly twisted, and the female subgenital plate tapering posteriorly and the posterior margin truncate medially.

Distribution. This species is distributed from northern Costa Rica (Guanacaste) to the central region of Panamá (Veraguas) ( Fig. 20A ). Label data suggest that L. panamensis occurs in regions with elevations above 1,000 meters above sea level.

Published records. Costa Rica: Chiriquí ( La Rivers 1970).

Type material examined. All specimens brachypterous. HOLOTYPE ♀, PANAMA, [Chiriquí], Poterillos [=Potrerillos], 27.III.1935, J. MacSwain Collector, Type No. 13422 ( CAS). PARATYPES: same data as holotype (1♂, 1♀, CAS).

Additional material examined. COSTA RICA, Alajuela, Rio Cataratas, on road from San Ramon to Fortuna , 25 Nov. 2002, W.D. Shepard, WDS-A-1498 (1♂ brachypterous, UMC) . Cartago, Pejibaye, 23.March.1987, among rocks and leaf packs in sunlit rapids of Rio Pejibaye , W.E. Steiner, J.M. Hill & S.E. Frye collectors (1♀ macropterous, USNM) ; Tapanti NP, 5.1 Km abv gate, 22.VI.2003, 4.980 ft, unnamed stream, William D. Shepard leg (1♂ brachypterous, EMEC) . Guanacaste, El Santo de Angel , CL-1271, 26.XII.1969, J.T. Polhemus (3♂, 3♀, all brachypterous, USNM) ; Rincon de la Vieja NP, Quebrada Catarata , 14 June 2001, W.D. Shepard, WDS-A-1387 (1♂ macropterous, UMC) . Heredia, Arroyo La Paz Chiquita , 11.V.1995, W. Baumann & R.M. Houseman (7♀ bra- chypterous, 1♀ macropterous, BYUC) . Puntarenas, Monteverde area, 1.400 –1.700 meters, 06.June–14.June.1973, Erwin & Hevel, Central Expedition , 1973 (1♀ brachypterous, USNM) ; Alturas Biol. Station , 20.VI.2003, 4.360 ft, Rio Bella Vista, William D. Shepard leg (1♂ brachypterous, 2♀ brachypterous, 3♀ macropterous, EMEC) ; Que- brada Móquina, Estac. Biol. Monteverde , 10°18.55’N / 84°48.16’W, 24.I.2000, C.B. Barr (1♂, 3♀, all brachypter- ous, EMEC) ; Rio Bella Vista, Las Alturas Biological Station N of Alturas, 20.VI.2003, 12°27.45’N / 75°35.57’W, 4.360 ft elevation, C.B. Barr coll (2♂, 2♀, all brachypterous, 1♂, 2♀, all macropterous, EMEC) . PANAMA, Chiriquí, same data as holotype (3♂, 6♀, USNM; 3♂, 5♀, EMEC—all brachypterous) ; Rio Candela, Jurutungo , January 1993, CL2806, coll. J.T. Polhemus (4♂, 4♀, USNM; 1♂, UMC; 1♀, MZUSP—all brachypterous) ; Volcán , 01.March.1924, Fred J. Foster (1♂ brachypterous, 2♀ brachypterous, 1♀ macropterous, USNM) . Veraguas, stream near Santa Fe , 15.I.1993, CL-2832, J.T. Polhemus col (2♂, 2♀, USNM; 1♂, 1♀, UMC—all brachypterous) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Structures of Limnocoris. (A–D) Propleuron, white arrows indicate posterior end of pubescent area, yellow arrows indicate mid-lateral region of posterior margin, (A) L. zacki n. sp., (B) L. inornatus, (C) L. virescens, (D) L. chaetocarinatus n. sp. (E–H) Part of abdominal segments, showing pubescence patterns of sternum II (circled), (E) L. moapensis, (F) L. submontandoni, (G) L. nanus n. sp., and (H) L. stali. pa = pubescent area, pra = pruinose area.

FIGURE 2. (A–B) Lateral view of meso- and metasternal carinae, (A) L. pygmaeus, white arrow indicates anterior projection, black arrow indicates excavation posterior to fossa, (B) L. zacki n. sp., black arrow indicates median projection of mesosternal carina. (C–D) Ventral view of meso- and metasternal carinae, (C) L. inornatus, white arrow indicates row of longitudinal golden setae between mesobasisternum and mesoepisternum, (D) L. zacki n. sp., white arrow indicates fossa partially open anteriorly, dotted lines indicate anterior and posterior limits of fossa. (E–F) Ventral view of abdominal segments III–V, (E) L. virescens, black arrows indicate posterolateral corners, (F) L. panamensis. (G–H) Ventral view of female abdominal segments IV–IX, (G) L. moapensis, sgp = subgenital plate, (H) L. major n. sp., white arrows indicate elongate golden setae, gs= posterolateral elongate golden setae on lateral margin of subgenital plate.

FIGURE 13. Limnocoris panamensis La Rivers. (A) Dorsal habitus and (B) ventral habitus of female paratype, hindwing brachypterous (USNM), (C) ventral view of part of head and thorax, (D) terminal abdominal sterna of female, and (E) lateral view of meso- and metasternal carinae. Size bar = 1.00 mm and applies only to Figs. A–B.

FIGURE 14. Structures of male terminalia. (A, C, E) 6th and 7th abdominal terga, (B, D, F) 8th abdominal tergum. (A–B) Limnocoris moapensis, (C–D) L. nanus n. sp., and (E–F) L. panamensis.

FIGURE 20. (A–B) Distribution records for species of Limnocoris in North America.