Rhysostethus Hsiao, 1973

Rédei, Dávid, Ren, Shuzhi & Bu, Wenjun, 2012, A new synonymy in the genus Rhysostethus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 52 (2), pp. 341-348 : 342

Rhysostethus Hsiao, 1973

Rhysostethus Hsiao, 1973: 64 . Type species by original designation: Rhysostethus glabellus Hsiao, 1973 .

References. HSIAO & REN (1981): 419 (in key), 429 (redescription); MALDONADO CAPRILES (1990): 71 (catalogue); PUTSHKOV & PUTSHKOV (1996): 154 (catalogue, Palaearctic).

Revised diagnosis. Macropterous or micropterous; integument of body dull, virtually glabrous; head elongate, posterior lobe with a tubercle (♁, Fig. 6 : arrow) or obtuse angle (♀, Fig. 9 : arrow) immediately posteriad to eye in dorsal view; antenniferous tubercle not surrounded by lamelliform process laterally; antennal segment III subdivided into two, segment IV into four secondary segments, therefore antenna 8-segmented; first apparent labial segment distinctly longer than combined length of second and third apparent segments; anterior lobe of pronotum distinctly shorter and narrower (macropterous morph, Fig. 6 ) or distinctly longer and slightly narrower (micropterous morph, Fig. 9 ) than posterior lobe, coarsely corrugate, provided with large tubercles separated by impressions, with 1+1 large, conspicuous submedian tubercles immediately posteriad of anterior collar, median longitudinal sulcus terminating before posterior margin of anterior lobe; posterior lobe of pronotum transversally rugose; scutellum strongly narrowed posteriad, with 1+1 closely situated lateral prongs apically; ventral margin of fore femora concave, abruptly narrowed in its distal one fourth, anteroposteriorly flattened thus forming a sharp keel provided with a series of minute, thick, conical spines; tibia curved and thickened apically, with a series of minute, thick, conical spines ventrally.

Diversity and distribution. The genus is currently monotypic with the species occurring in Southwest China (Sichuan).

Note. Since the original description ( HSIAO 1973) was based only on macropterous males, a revised diagnosis is provided above which allows recognition of macro- and micropterous morphs as well.

Figures

Figs. 6–12. Diagnostic characters of Rhysostethus glabellus Hsiao, 1973 (6–8 – macropterous male, 9–12 – micropterous female). 6, 9 – head and thorax, dorsal view; 7, 10 – head, lateral view; 8, 11 – left fore leg, posterior view; 12 – detail of ventral margin of fore femur.Figs. 6–8 drawn after holotype of Rh.glabellus, Figs.9–12 after holotype of P. breuningi. Scale bars in mm.