Ceratocapsidea balli (Knight) Henry, Thomas J., 2015

Henry, Thomas J., 2015, Revision of the Ceratocapsine Renodaeus group: Marinonicoris, Pilophoropsis, Renodaeus, and Zanchisme, with descriptions of four new genera (Heteroptera, Miridae, Orthotylinae), ZooKeys 490, pp. 1-156 : 12-13

Taxon classification Animalia Hemiptera Miridae

Ceratocapsidea balli (Knight) comb. n. Figs 2, 3-10, 26-28, 156-158

Ceratocapsus balli Knight, 1927: 146 (orig. descrip.); Carvalho 1958: 44; Henry and Wheeler 1988: 392 (cat.); Schuh 1995: 90 (cat.).

Ceratocapsus nigropiceus : Henry and Wheeler 1982: 235 (note, host, distr.).

Diagnosis.

Ceratocapsus balli (Figs 26-28) can be distinguished from all other species of the genus by the impunctate, shiny, brown head and pronotum; punctate hemelytra with numerous white, scale-like setae on the clavus and basal half of the corium; and the male genitalia, especially the left paramere (Fig. 156), with a beak-like distal process and right (Fig. 158) paramere, with an apically hooked lateral arm.

Description.

Male (n = 10; holotype measurements in parentheses): Length 0.83-1.03 mm (1.01 mm); width 1.06-1.22 mm (1.24 mm). Head: 0.67-0.74 mm (0.74 mm), interocular width 0.22-0.26 mm (0.26 mm). Labium: Length 0.93-1.06 mm (1.06 mm). Antenna: Segment I, length 0.22-0.27 mm (0.27 mm); II, 0.70-0.85 mm (0.85 mm); III, 0.40-0.48 mm (0.43 mm); IV, 0.38-0.40 mm (0.40 mm). Pronotum: Length 0.51-0.64 mm (0.64 mm), basal width 0.93-1.12 mm (1.12 mm).

Coloration: Overall coloration dark brown to fuscous. Head: Dark brown, eyes dark brown or fuscous. Antenna: Segment I and basal half to two thirds of II brown to yellowish brown, segments III, IV, and apical third of II usually red tinged. Pronotum: Fuscous. Hemelytron: Clavus and basal half of corium brown to yellowish brown, becoming dark brown through middle of corium, apical third of embolium, and on cuneus; membrane pale or whitish on basal third, dark smoky gray or brown distally. Ventral surface: Dark brown on thorax to fuscous or nearly black on abdomen. Ostiolar evaporative area: White, with central knob red. Legs: Fore and middle coxae brown, often red tinged, hind coxa paler brown; fore and middle femora yellowish brown to dark brown, hind femur usually dark brown; fore and middle tibiae reddish, pale on apical third to fourth, hind tibia uniformly reddish; tarsi and claws yellowish brown.

Structure, texture, and vestiture: Head: Impunctate, shiny. Labium: Extending to bases of hind coxae. Pronotum: Impunctate, shiny, smooth, slightly transversely wrinkled near collar, calli smooth, impunctate; scutellum finely punctate and transversely rugose. Hemelytron: Uniformly and finely punctate. Head with scattered simple, recumbent simple setae; pronotum with numerous, relatively long, semierect simple setae; scutellum with numerous, small, white, scale-like setae, intermixed with a few long, erect, simple setae; hemelytra densely covered with small, white, scale-like setae, mostly on clavus and basal half of corium through paler brown areas, intermixed with scattered, relatively long, semierect, simple setae.

Male genitalia: Left paramere (Fig. 156) elongate, with a well-developed beak-like distal process and two short, stout, apically acute processes at middle. Right paramere (Fig. 158) relatively slender, with a long, upward-curving and apically hooked lateral arm. Phallotheca (Fig. 157) relatively stout, weakly curved, and apically acute.

Female (n = 3): Length 2.82-2.88 mm, width 1.15-1.20 mm. Head: Width 0.62-0.64 mm, interocular width 0.29 mm. Labium: Length 0.96 mm. Antenna: Segment I, length 0.24-0.26 mm; II, 0.72-0.74 mm; III, 0.45 mm; IV, 0.40 mm. Pronotum: Length 0.58 mm, basal width 0.99-1.02 mm.

Hosts.

Most specimens studied are males that have been taken at light. Henry and Wheeler (1982) beat a specimen from Batis maritima L.[ Bataceae ] in Upper Key Largo. In Florida, three specimens were taken on live oak, Quercus virginiana Mill. [ Fagaceae ], and three were swept from ferns.

Distribution.

This species was described and previously known only from Florida (Knight 1927). New records are Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

Discussion.

Henry and Wheeler (1982) based their record of Ceratocapsus nigropiceus in Florida on comparison of the undissected holotype from Jamaica with locally collected material from South Florida. Re-examination of a male paratype and other specimens of Ceratocapsus nigropiceus from Jamaica shows that this species is similar to Ceratocapsus balli in overall size, general appearance, and the shape of the left (Fig. 186) and right parameres (Fig. 188). More detailed examination of dissected specimens, however, shows that the two species are quite distinct, especially in the stouter, apically acute phallotheca of Ceratocapsus balli (Fig. 157) as compared with a more slender and apically bifid phallotheca in Ceratocapsus nigropiceus . As a consequence, reference is made to Henry and Wheeler’s (1982) Florida record of Ceratocapsus nigropiceus to Ceratocapsus balli .

In addition, a small series of specimens taken at lights in the Gainesville, Florida, area differ in details of the right and left parameres from the typical Ceratocapsus balli . The right paramere has a distinct elongate process at the base of the lateral arm, the apex of the lateral arm is less hooked, and the main trunk has a broad subapical flange. The left paramere has a broader beak-like apex and the two processes at the middle of the main trunk are longer, more slender, and sharply pointed apically. Examination of additional material to determine variability of these structures may eventually reveal that this population is distinct from Ceratocapsus balli .

Type material examined.

Holotype ♂: USA:Florida:Seminole Co.: Sanford, 15 May 1926, E. D. Ball (00162209) (USNM). Paratypes: USA:Florida:Alachua Co.: Agricultural Research Station, Univ. Florida, Gainesville, 29.64254EN, 82.32289EW, 12 m, 09 May 1918, C. J. Drake, 1♂ (00329539) (CNC), 1♀ (02467780) (TAMU). Seminole Co.: Sanford, 28.80055EN, 81.27312EW, 01 Jun 1926, E. D. Ball, 1♀ (00329540) (CNC), 3♀♀ (00071407, 00071408, 00071356) (USNM). Sanford, 28.7884EN, 81.2544EW, 12 m, 17 Aug 1927, E. D. Ball, 1♂ (00246779) (TAMU). Volusia Co.: Orange City, 28.94852EN, 81.29883EW, 8 m, 05 May 1928, E. D. Ball, 1♀ (02467781) (TAMU).

Other specimens examined.

USA:Arkansas: Garland Co.: Camp Clearfork Ouachita National Forest, ca. 1 km S. of U.S. route 270, area ca. 30 km W. Hot Springs, 34.85EN, 93.65EW, 25 Jun 2008, Brian Baldwin, 2♂♂ (00286327, 00286328) (USNM). Florida:Alachua Co.: Gainesville, 29EN, 82EW, 13 May 1977-15 May 1977, F. W. Mead, 3♂♂ (00071413- 00071415) (USNM); 20 May 1977-22 May 1977, F. W. Mead, 1♂ (00286052), 2♂♂ (00071419, 00071420), 1♀ (00071421) (USNM); 03 Jun 1977-05 Jun 1977, F. W. Mead, 1♂ (00286053) (USNM); 09 Jun 1978-11 Jun 1978, F. W. Mead, 2♂♂ (00071416, 00071417) (USNM); 08 Sep 1978-10 Sep 1978, F. W. Mead, 1♂ (00071418) (USNM). Gainesville, 29.63527EN, 82.37111EW, 24 m, 05 May 1977, F. W. Mead, 1♂ (00071437) (USNM); 22 May 1986-26 May 1986, F. W. Mead, 1♂ (00071439) (USNM); 10 Dec 1997, F. W. Mead, 1♂ (00071438) (USNM). Gainesville, 29EN, 82EW, 20 May 1977-22 May 1977, F. W. Mead, 1♂ (00286013) (USNM). Hendry Co.: LaBelle, 26.76055EN, 81.43916EW, 16 Jul 1939, Oman, fern, 1♂ (00071429) (USNM). Highlands Co.: Archbold Biological Station, 27.18833EN, 81.33778EW, 12 Mar 1971, S. W. Frost, 1♂ (00071423) (USNM). Highlands Hammock State Park, 27.47138EN, 81.54138EW, 26 m, 22 Apr 1981-28 Apr 1981, T. J. Henry, swept from fern, 1♀ (00071424) (USNM). Marion Co.: 9 mi SSW of Ocala, 29.819EN, 82.187EW, 27 Aug 1975, Drummond & Wiley, fern, 1♀ (00071428) (USNM). Lake Eaton, BLT, 29.25861EN, 81.86444EW, 10 m, 08 Aug 1975-25 Aug 1975, J. & S. Knox, black light, 1♂ (00071422) (USNM). Monroe Co.: Bahia Honda Key, 27.73722EN, 82.73583EW, 1 m, 10 Jun 1968, F. E. Wood, black light, 1♂ (00071425) (USNM). Upper Key Largo, 25.124EN, 80.41502EW, 2 m, 17 Apr 1982, T. J. Henry and A. G. Wheeler, Jr, Batis maritima ( Bataceae ), 1♂ (00286055) (USNM). Seminole Co.: Sanford; 17 Apr 1927, E. D. Ball, 1♂ (00286051), 1♀ (00071409) (USNM); 05 May 1927, E. D. Ball, 1♂ (00071410) (USNM); 15 May 1927, E. D. Ball, Quercus sp. ( Fagaceae ), det. E.D. Ball, 1♀ (00071360) (USNM). Volusia Co.: Orange City, 28.94852EN, 81.29883EW, 8 m, 05 May 1928, E. D. Ball, 2♂♂ (00071411, 00071412) (USNM). Rt. 415, 2 miles N. Osteen, 28.87888EN, 81.1525EW, 27 Apr 1984-28 Apr 1984, T. J. Henry, J. T. Polhemus and A. G. Wheeler Jr., Quercus virginiana ( Fagaceae ), 1♀ (00071435), 1♂ (00071436), light trap, 1♀ (00286016) (USNM); 27 Apr 1984, T. J. Henry, J. T. Polhemus and A. G. Wheeler Jr., Quercus virginiana ( Fagaceae ), 1♂ (00286054) (USNM). Georgia:Peach Co.: Peach County, 32.5666EN, 83.8333EW, 12 Jul 1943, Turner, light trap, 1♂ (00071427) (USNM); 12 Jul 1943, Turner, light trap, 1♀ (00071426) (USNM). Louisiana:Baton Rouge Parish: E. Baton Rouge, 24-25 July 1998, E. G. Riley, at UV light (TAMU). North Carolina:Columbus Co.: Lake Waccamaw, 34.32194EN, 78.52194EW, 18 m, 04 Jul 1985-06 Jul 1985, W. Steiner & A. Gerberich, at blacklight in oak & pine scrub sand barren near lake, 1♀ (00071430), 2♂♂ (00071431, 00071432) (USNM). Tennessee:Hamilton Co.: Hamilton County, 35.22111EN, 85.20888EW, 24 Jun 1943-15 Jul 1943, Turner, light trap, 1♀ (00071433), 1♂ (00071434) (USNM). Texas:Brazos Co.: College Station, Riley Estate, 30.58833EN, 96.25333EW, 18 May 2006-19 May 2006, K. Menard, light & sheet, 2♂♂ (00286014, 00286015) (USNM).

Gainesville specimens showing genitalic variation discussed above: Florida: 1♂, Alachua Co., Gainesville [Doyle Conner Building], 5 May 1977, F. W. Mead (USNM); 1♂, same locality, 10 Dec. 1997, no collector (FSCA); 1♂, same locality, 22-26 May 1986, F. W. Mead. (FSCA).