Ambunticoris Carvalho, 1981

Konstantinov, Fedor V., Zinovjeva, Aurika N. & Ras, Komi Scientific Centre Ub, 2016, A new species of Ambunticoris from Sulawesi (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 56 (1), pp. 51-59 : 52

Ambunticoris Carvalho, 1981

Ambunticoris Carvalho, 1981: 52 . Type species: Ambunticoris ochraceus Carvalho, 1981 , by original designation.

Comments on the taxonomic position. STONEDAHL (1988) provided a comprehensive diagnosis of the tribe Eccritotarsini and listed six synapomorphies including the characteristic structure of metafemoral trichobothria, pulvilli, parempodia, metathoracic scent gland evaporative area, and male genitalia. However, according to the results of our preliminary analysis (Konstantinov & Namyatova, in prep.) monophyly of the tribe is supported by just one unique synapomorphy, the presence of large, semicircular pulvilli attached to the entire inner surface of a claw ( Fig. 25 ). Eccritotarsini appear to fall into two lineages; the larger one contains more than 90% of all the species, includes all Neotropical representatives and is characterized by the following features (see KONSTANTINOV & KNYSHOV 2015, NAMYATOVA et al. 2016): (1) pulvillus with a characteristic row of long setae ( Fig. 24 ), pulvillar combs of SCHUH (1976); (2) parempodia asymmetrical, with outer parempodium distinctly longer than inner ( Fig. 24 ); (3) scent gland evaporative area reduced, narrow and falciform ( Figs 18–19 ); (4) peritreme lanceolate, extended posteriorly along ventral margin of metapleuron ( Figs 18–19 ). All four characters are missing in the smaller eccritotarsine clade containing one African and nine Oriental genera.

The genus Ambunticoris clearly belongs to the larger clade. STONEDAHL (1988) discussed the relationships of several Old World Eccritotarsini genera and correctly pointed out the close relationships of Ambunticoris with a group of genera that includes Cuneomiris Carvalho, 1981 , Frontimiris Carvalho, 1981 , Grossicoris Carvalho, 1973 , Knightiola Hsiao, 1944 , Stenopterocorisca Carvalho, 1981 , Taricoris Carvalho, 1981 , and Thaumastomiris Kirkaldy, 1902 . Most of these genera are exclusively or mostly known from New Guinea, with Grossicoris ( New Caledonia, New Hebrides) and Knightiola ( Philippines) representing an exception. The group is united by the contrastingly short and thick labial segments III and IV, with segment II being longer than segments III and IV combined, the coarsely punctate pronotum, and the characteristic structure of the aedeagus taking form of an undifferentiated simple sclerotized tube, apically equipped with membranous lobe(s). Many, but not all taxa from this group of genera possess the transverse depression behind the eyes (missing in Ambunticoris ) and the relatively long, apically narrow cuneus ( STONEDAHL 1988). Within the above mentioned group of genera, Ambunticoris appears to be the most closely related to Frontimiris but differs from that genus in the strongly convex, distinctly protruding frons and the absence of a transverse depression on vertex (see CARVALHO 1981).

Figures

Figs 14–25. Ambunticoris sulawesicus sp. nov., SEM micrographs of selected structures. 14 – head and thorax, lateral view. 15–16 – head and pronotum, dorsal view. 17 – head, lateral view. 18 – metapleuron. 19 – scent gland evaporative area. 20–21 – femoral trichobothrium. 22 – genital segment, laterally. 23 – hind tarsus. 24 – pretarsus. 25 – inner surface of one claw.