Leptopus, Latreille, 1809

Khazaei, Zohreh, Polhemus, Dan A. & Tahami, Mohadeseh S., 2020, A new species of Leptopus (Heteroptera: Leptopodidae) from caves in Iran, with notes on other cavernicolous Iranian Heteroptera, Zootaxa 4763 (2), pp. 246-258 : 255

Key to the species of Leptopus occurring in the Western Palearctic and India

(west of 90° East longitude)

1. Hemelytra submacropterous, with costal margins strongly bowed outward ( Fig. 2 ).................................. 2

- Hemelytra fully macropterous, with costal margins parallel-sided or weakly bowed ( Figs. 7, 8 , 10 )..................... 4

2. Hemelytra uniformly pale tan, with some faintly indicated darker markings on the clavus and adjacent inner part of the corium, and on the extreme posterior part of the corium adjoining the base of the wing membrane; western India (Haryana), Afghanistan, Iran................................................................................. L. decus Drake

- Hemelytra with contrasting dark and pale markings ( Fig. 2 ); Iran or northern India................................. 3

3. Costal margin of hemelytra widened basally; distal half of clavus predominantly pale with a few small, scattered dark spots; male paramere club-like; northern India (Himachal Pradesh).................................. L. marusiki Vinokurov

- Costal margin of hemelytra tapering basally; distal half of clavus predominantly orange-brown with a small pale spot subapically ( Fig. 2 ); male paramere spatulate ( Figs. 4 , 5 ); Iran........................................... L. gakalae n. sp.

4. Hemelytra with broad, strongly contrasting dark-brown markings on a pale whitish background ( Figs.7, 8 ).............. 5

- Hemelytra more uniformly greyish-tan, yellowish-brown, or black with scattered, weakly contrasting darker brown or pale patches ( Fig. 10 )...................................................................................... 6

5. Hemelytra pale with a single broad, transverse fascia on the posterior part of the corium behind the claval apex ( Fig. 7 ); widespread around the rim of the Mediterranean Sea from northern Africa to southern Europe and eastward to Tajikistan............................................................................................ L. hispanus Rambur

- Hemelytra with a broad dark bifasciate marking posteriorly in the form of an “H” laid on its side, with the upper fascia traversing the central part of the corium and the apex of the clavus, connected by a dark confluent patch beyond the claval apex to a second transverse fascia covering the extreme posterior part of the corium and base of the wing membrane ( Fig. 8 ); northern India.................................................................................. L. scitulus Drake

6. Overall coloration medium yellowish-brown, without strongly contrasting light or dark markings; spots behind eyes yellowish; India............................................................................ L. travancorensis Distant

- Overall coloration variable, with most specimens being predominantly pale greyish-tan with scattered black flecks and patches, but some specimens predominantly black with only limited pale markings; spots behind eyes large, whitish ( Fig. 10 ); southern Europe, from Spain to Croatia........................................................... L. marmoratus Goeze

Figures

FIGURE 2. Leptopus gakalae n. sp., female, dorsal habitus photo. Specimen from Gakal Cave, Iran.

FIGURE 4. Leptopus gakalae n. sp., male abdomen, ventral view, showing symmetrical parameres.

FIGURE 5. Leptopus gakalae n. sp., male paramere.

FIGURE 10. Leptopus marmoratus Goeze, 1778, dorsal habitus photograph, appendages omitted. Specimen from agricultural quarantine intercept at Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

FIGURES 7, 8. Leptopus species, dorsal habitus photos, appendages omitted. 7. Leptopus hispanus Rambur, 1840, specimen from Cyprus. 8. Leptopus scitulus Drake, 1954, specimen from India, Dehra Dun.X