Ventocoris achivus ( Horváth, 1889 ), Horvath, 1889

Dursun, Ahmet & Fent, Meral, 2013, Overview of the subgenus Ventocoris s. str. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) with new records and a revised key to the Ventocoris species of Turkey, Zootaxa 3681 (1), pp. 151-177 : 170-172

Ventocoris achivus ( Horváth, 1889)

Trigonosoma (Astirocoris) falcatum var. achivum Horváth , 188944 (upgraded by Horváth, 1917: 373). References. Horváth (1889), Seidenstücker (1964), Rider (2006), Péricart (2010).

Redescription. Body generally yellowish brown ( Figures 15 . a, b, c, d, e). Head, venter and spiracles yellow. Antennae yellow, 4th and 5th segments usually black ( Figure 15 . f). Body and head wrinkled and with punctures. Lateral part of mandibular plates concave. Rostrum brown, apiacal two segments black, extends to middle coxae.

Pronotum subdivided into two regions by a transverse line., Humeral processes of pronotum do not pass anterior margin of prothorax, apex of process rounded and black or yellowish brown. Middle part of scutellum gibbous, proximal part brown or yellowish brown ( Figures 15 . a, b, c, d, e). Connexivum dark brown, connexival tubercles developed. Legs yellowish brown, tarsi brown or black.

Male genitalia: Ventral side of pygophore yellowish brown, medial region of ventral rim of pygophore hollow, lateral part of superior process black ( Figures 15 . g, h). Distal part of paramere extended ( Figures 15 . i, j, k).

Female genitalia: Gonocoxites gibbous, brownish yellow, 8th gonapophysis medially hollow, lateral gibbous ( Figure 15 . m).

Measurements in millimetres of 3 and (Ƥ): Males (n=3) female (n=1). Length of head 2.00 (2.10), width 2.10 (2.15), interocular distance 1.40 (1.50), lengths of antennal segments I, II, III, IV and V, 0.45 (0.50), 0.70 (0.70), 0.40 (0.45), 0.65 (0.70) and 0.80 (0.90), width of pronotum with distal part of humeral process 7.00 (7.40); width of abdomen 5.30 (5.80); total length of body 8.20 (8.70).

Material examined. Greece: Athen, Leonis, 1Ƥ; Rhodos, Egeo, Mai, 1939, 1Ƥ, 13 (leg. Meyer) ( ZSMC); Rhodos, Mt. Atavyros, b. Lindos, 06.V. 1958, 13 (leg. Wittich); (?), 13; Kreta, Agia Galini, 17.V.1993, 1Ƥ (leg. M. Döberi) ( ZSMC); Turkey: Adana, Misis, 07.VI.1958, 1Ƥ; 15.V.1960, 1Ƥ, 13; 01.VI.1960, 1Ƥ, 13; Kozan, 20.V.1963, 13; Hatay, Bahçe, 16.VI.1964, 1Ƥ (leg. Seidenstücker), ( ZSMC); Aydın, Yamalak, 29.V.1982, 1Ƥ; Manisa, Turgutlu, 8.IV.1987, 13 (leg. Önder); Palestine. Ben Schemen, (?). III. 1925, 1 Ƥ (leg. Bodenheimer) ( ZSMC).

Distribution. Europe: Greece, Kreta. North Africa: Algeria, Egypt. Asia: Azerbaijan, Turkey (Asian part), Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Syria ( Rider 2006).

Distribution in Turkey. İzmir ( Horváth 1917) as V. falcatus achivus ; Adana ( Seidenstücker 1960) as V. falcatus achivus ; Şanlıurfa (Önder et al. 1995) as V. falcatus ; Osmaniye ( Lodos et al. 1998) as V. falcatus ; Diyarbakır ( Gözüaçık et al. 2011) as V. falcatus .

Comments. In the past, this species in Turkey was given as Trigonosoma falcatum var. achivum by Horváth (1917) and as V. falcatus achivus (valid at present as V. a c h i v u s) by Seidenstücker (1960). Later, Önder et al. (1995), Lodos et al. (1998) and Gözüaçık et al. (2011) reported the species as V. falcatus , possibly disregarding the variety or subspecies. The specimens of Dr. Celalettin Gözüaçık was requested and were confirmed to be V. achivus . It is clear from the distribution of V. falcatus that the species has a west Mediterranean distribution ( Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Lebanon) ( Rider 2006, Péricart 2010). The specimens formerly recorded in Greece, Egypt and Asia as V. falcatus were indeed also reported to be V. achivus ( Rider, 2006) . Therefore, V. f a l c a t u s is not distributed in Turkey. Moreover, in the present study, all the specimens collected from various locations in Turkey were identified as V. achivus . The variations of the humeral process of pronotum of V. achivus and its sympatric occurrence with V. falcatus in several regions lead to misidentifications. The humeral process of V. a c h i v u s specimens from Greece is apically oval, but it is more sharp in specimens from Turkey. Reliable identification is possible by examination of the genitalia. Seidenstücker (1960) and Lodos et al. (1998) recorded Sinapis sp. ( Brassicaceae ) as host plant.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Ventocoris achivus (Horváth, 1889): a) 3 body (dorsal view), from Greece (Rhodos Insel), b) 3 body (dorsal view), from Turkey (Mediterranean region), c) Ƥ body (dorsal view), from Turkey (Mediterranean region), d) 3 body (dorsal view) from Greece (Rhodos Insel), e) 3 body (dorsal view), from Turkey (Mediterranean region), f) 3 antennae Greece (Rhodos Insel), g) Pygophore (Ventral view), from Greece (Rhodos Insel), h) Pygophore (top view) from Greece (Rhodos Insel), i) paramera, from Greece (Rhodos Insel), j) paramera, from Turkey (Mediterranean region), k) paramera, from Greece (Rhodos Insel), m) Ƥ genitalia (ventral view) from Greece.