Physopelta (Neophysopelta) quadriguttata Bergroth, 1894

Souma, Jun & Ishikawa, Tadashi, 2021, A taxonomic review of the genus Physopelta (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Largidae) from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, with a new record of Ph. parviceps from China, Zootaxa 4951 (3), pp. 461-491 : 484-486

Physopelta (Neophysopelta) quadriguttata Bergroth, 1894

( Figs. 1E–G , 3F , 4F , 5H , 6F , 7F , 8F , 9F , 10F , 11F , 12F , 13E , 14E )

Physopelta quadriguttata Bergroth, 1894: 160 . Syntypes: macropterous 2 ♀, India: Sikkim; MZHF? ( Stehlík 2013: 540 ).

References. Esaki (1926: 157) (distribution); Blöte (1931: 100) (distribution); Kerzhner (2001: 246) (checklist: Palaearctic); Stehlík (2004: 3) (distribution); Miyamoto et al. (2005: 11) (distribution); Rédei et al. (2009: 13) (monograph); Kohno et al. (2012: 400) (monograph); Aukema et al. (2013: 401) (checklist: Palaearctic); Stehlík (2013: 540) (monograph); Zheng & Lin (2013: 15) (distribution); Ito (2015: 55) (distribution); Ishikawa (2016: 478) (checklist: Japan); Zhou & Rédei (2020: 5) (female genitalia).

Material examined. Non-types (macropterous 66 ♂♂ 41 ♀♀) , JAPAN: Ryukyu Islands: Yaeyama Islands: Ishigaki Is. , Nosoko Forest Road, 21.iv.1999, light trap, leg. K. Takahashi (1 ♀, TUA) ; Iriomote Is., Hoshidate , 18.xi.2004, light trap, leg. M. Hayashi (1 ♀, TUA) . TAIWAN: Yilan County: “Taiheizan (Taihoku-shû)” [= Datong Township, Mt. Taiping-shan ?], 26.vii.1932, leg. K. Sato (1 ♂, ELKU) ; as above but 24.x.1932 (2 ♀♀, ELKU) . Kaohsiung City: Taoyuan District, Baoshan, near Mt. Jianfu-shan , 23°03'07.6"N 120°44'42.7"E, 1350m alt., 3.iv.2018, light trap, leg. Y. Fukuda, S. Shimamoto & S. Taru (33 ♂♂ 22 ♀♀, TUA) ; Taoyuan District, Mt. Jianfu Shan , 23°02'39.4"N 120°44'42.7"E, 26.iv.2019, leg. S. Shimamoto (15 ♂♂ 4 ♀♀, TUA) . Taipei City: Wulai District , 4.v.1968, leg. Y. Watanabe (1♀, TUA) . Chiayi County: Alishan Township , 17.v.1968, leg. H. Sawada (1 ♂ 1 ♀, TUA) . Nantou County: Ren’ai Township , 24°07'38.4"N 121°15'88.8"E, 19.v.2016, light trap, leg. N. Kaneko and Y. Tamadera (15 ♂♂ 8 ♀♀, TUA) ; Nanshanchi , 16.v.1971, leg. K. Sakai (1 ♂ 1 ♀, TUA) .

Diagnosis. Recognized among other species of Physopelta by a combination of the following characters: only macropterous morph known; body 2.8 times as long as maximum width across fore wings ( Fig. 1C–E ); calli and disc of pronotum pale brown, with orange margins ( Fig. 5H ); scutellum brown, with numerous pale callosities; membrane of fore wing pale brown ( Fig. 6F ); abdominal sternites paler brown with dark brown lunulae on sutures ( Figs. 3F , 4F ); compound eye more than 0.3 times as wide as vertex in dorsal view; antennomere I shorter than antennomere II; antennomere II nearly clavate; calli in male convex; punctures of scutellum denser in central part than in marginal part, as large as punctures of pronotum; anterior margins of fore wings not parallel to each other in rest; procoxal projection present, horn-shaped, curved, less than 1.5 times as long as its maximum width ( Fig. 7F ); protrochanteral wrinkles present; male profemur more than 2 times as wide as mesofemur at widest part of each; male protibia lacking tooth at apex, with a single row of denticles throughout its length ventrally; peritreme of scent gland ostiole crescent-shaped, protruding posterolaterad ( Figs. 8F , 10F ); infolding of ventral rim of genital capsule less convex in middle part ( Fig. 9F ); outer margin of endophallic reservoir outgrowth emarginate in apical part ( Fig. 11F ); stem of paramere not emarginate in basal part ( Fig. 12F ); crown of paramere at apex convex in posterior view; and inner margins of ring sclerites not parallel to each other ( Fig. 13E ).

Description of genitalia. Genital capsule ( Fig. 9F ) spherical, semicircular in ventral view, smooth on surface; infolding of ventral rim less convex in middle part. Phallus ( Fig. 11F ) oblong; capitate process membranous; basal plate and phallotheca coriaceous; conjunctiva with two pairs of partly sclerotized conjunctival appendages; endophallic reservoir with a pair of outgrowths; outer margin of outgrowth emarginate in apical part. Paramere ( Fig. 12F ) longer than its maximum width across crown; stem not emarginate in basal part; crown at apex convex in posterior view.

Female terminalia ( Fig. 13E ) triangular in anterior view; valvulae VIII and IX combining to form an ovipositor, fused with valvifers VIII and IX, respectively; ring sclerites coriaceous in marginal part, membranous in central part, protruding inward, with inner margins not parallel to each other. Spermatheca ( Fig. 14E ) membranous; apical receptacle spherical; intermediate part in width uniform; spermathecal duct apically widened.

Remarks. In terms of general appearance, Physopelta (Neophysopelta) quadriguttata strongly resembles Ph. (N.) redeii, but the former can be distinguished from the latter by the body form, which is 2.8 times as long as maximum width across the fore wings. In contrast, Ph. (N.) redeii has the body 2.5 times as long as the maximum width across the fore wings.

The teratological from in pronotum is found in Ph. (N.) quadriguttata ( Figs. 1G , 5H ). The calli of this individual is more convex in the left part than in the right part. In Neophysopelta , sexual dimorphism in the swelling degree of the calli and similar dimorphism between larger and smaller male has been known as mentioned in the previous section. In this individual, the left and right parts of the calli represents dimorphism between larger male and female/smaller male, respectively.

Distribution. Japan: Ryukyu Islands (Ishigaki Island, Iriomote Island) ( Miyamoto et al. 2005; Kohno et al. 2012; Ito 2015; present study); Taiwan (main island) ( Esaki 1926; Kerzhner 2001; Rédei et al. 2009; Stehlík 2013; Zheng & Lin 2013; present study); China ( Stehlík 2013); India ( Bergroth 1894); Laos ( Stehlík 2013); Nepal ( Stehlík 2004); Thailand ( Stehlík 2013); Vietnam ( Stehlík 2013).

Host plant. In Taiwan, this species was collected from Mallotus paniculatus (Lam.) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) , and Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro. (Poaceae) ( Zheng & Lin 2013), but nymphs have not been collected to date. Therefore, the “true” host plant for Physopelta (Neophysopelta) quadriguttata is still unknown.

Biology. Adults are attracted to artificial light ( Rédei et al. 2009; Zheng & Lin 2013; present paper).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus images of four Physopelta (Neophysopelta) species, dorsal view: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta, male (A) and female (B) from Japan proper; Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov., male from the main island of Taiwan (C) and female from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (D); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata, male (E, G) and female (F) from the main island of Taiwan; Ph. (N.) lutaspidata sp. nov., male from the main island of Taiwan (H). Arrows mark antenna with antennomeral oligomery and malformed calli. Scale bar: 5.0 mm.

FIGURE 3. Habitus images of five Physopelta (Neophysopelta) species, lateral view: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta, female from Japan proper (A); Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov., female from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (B); Ph. (N.) lutaspidata sp. nov., male from the main island of Taiwan (C); Ph. (N.) parviceps, male from Japan proper (D) and female from the Ryukyu Islands (E); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata, male from the main island of Taiwan (F). Scale bar: 5.0 mm.

FIGURE 4. Habitus images of five Physopelta (Neophysopelta) species, ventral view: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta, female from Japan proper (A); Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov., female from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (B); Ph. (N.) lutaspidata sp. nov., male from the main island of Taiwan (C); Ph. (N.) parviceps, male from Japan proper (D) and female from the Ryukyu Islands (E); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata, male from the main island of Taiwan (F). Scale bar: 5.0 mm.

FIGURE 5. Male pronotum and scutellum of five Physopelta (Neophysopelta) species, dorsal view: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta (A); Ph. (N.) lutaspidata sp. nov. (B); macropterous morph of Ph. (N.) parviceps from Japan proper (C, D); macropterous morph of Ph. (N.) parviceps from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (E); brachypterous morph of Ph. (N.) parviceps from Japan proper (F); Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. (G); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata (H). Arrows mark malformed calli. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 6. Left fore wing of five macropterous species of Physopelta (Neophysopelta), dorsal view: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta (A); Ph. (N.) lutaspidata sp. nov. (B); Ph. (N.) parviceps from Japan proper (C); Ph. (N.) parviceps from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (D); Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. (E); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata (F). Scale bar: 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 7. Procoxa of five Physopelta (Neophysopelta) species, ventral view: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta (A); Ph. (N.) lutaspidata sp. nov. (B); Ph. (N.) parviceps from Japan proper (C); Ph. (N.) parviceps from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (D); Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. (E); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata (F). Abbreviation: pp = procoxal projection. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 8. Left scent gland ostiole of five Physopelta (Neophysopelta) species, ventral view: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta (A); Ph. (N.) lutaspidata sp. nov. (B); Ph. (N.) parviceps from Japan proper (C); Ph. (N.) parviceps from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (D); Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. (E); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata (F). Abbreviation: pe = peritreme. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 9. Genital capsule of five Physopelta (Neophysopelta) species, posterior view: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta (A); Ph. (N.) lutaspidata sp. nov. (B); Ph. (N.) parviceps from Japan proper (C); Ph. (N.) parviceps from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (D); Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. (E); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata (F). Abbreviations: vif = infolding of ventral rim; cr = crown of paramere. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 10. Left scent gland ostiole of five Physopelta (Neophysopelta) species, lateral view: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta (A); Ph. (N.) lutaspidata sp. nov. (B); Ph. (N.) parviceps from Japan proper (C); Ph. (N.) parviceps from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (D); Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. (E); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata (F). Abbreviation: pe = peritreme. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 11. Phallus of five Physopelta (Neophysopelta) species, dorsal view: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta (A); Ph. (N.) lutaspidata sp. nov. (B); Ph. (N.) parviceps from Japan proper (C); Ph. (N.) parviceps from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (D); Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. (E); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata (F). Abbreviations: ad = aedeagus; bb = basal plate bridge; bp = basal plate; co = conjunctiva; cp = capitate process; dc = dorsal connective; ds = ductus seminis; ed = endophallic duct; eo = endophallic reservoir outgrowth; ep = erection fluid pump; er = endophallic reservoir; pt = phallotheca; 1ca, 2ca = first and second conjunctival process. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 12. Left paramere of five Physopelta (Neophysopelta) species, dorsal view: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta (A); Ph. (N.) lutaspidata sp. nov. (B); Ph. (N.) parviceps from Japan proper (C); Ph. (N.) parviceps from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (D); Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. (E); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata (F). Abbreviations: ba = basal apodeme; cr = crown; ne = neck; st = stem. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 13. Female terminalia of four Physopelta (Neophysopelta) species, anterior view: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta (A); Ph. (N.) parviceps from Japan proper (B); Ph. (N.) parviceps from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (C); Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. (D); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata (E). Abbreviations: go = gonangulum; lt9 = laterotergite IX; mt8 = mediotergite VIII; ra8, ra9 = ramus of valvula XIII, IX; rs = ring sclerite; va8, va9 = valvulae VIII, IX; vf8, vf9 = valvifers VIII, IX. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 14. Spermatheca of four Physopelta (Neophysopelta) species: Ph. (N.) gutta gutta (A); Ph. (N.) parviceps from Japan proper (B); Ph. (N.) parviceps from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (C); Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. (D); Ph. (N.) quadriguttata (E). Abbreviations: ar = apical receptacle; ip = intermediate part; sd = spermathecal duct. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.