Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellapé, 2006

Noack, Ann E., Cassis, Gerasimos & Rose, Harley A., 2011, Systematic revision of Thaumastocoris Kirkaldy (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae), Zootaxa 3121, pp. 1-60 : 42-46

Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellapé, 2006

(Figures: 7A,B; 14A–H; 19B)

Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellapé, 2006: 61 (description); Noack and Rose 2007: 27 (biology).

Thaumastocoris australicus: Jacobs and Neser 2005: 233 (misidentification); Noack and Coviella 2006: 13 (misidentification).

Holotype: 3, ARGENTINA, Buenos Aires, La Plata, XI-2005, on Eucalyptus sp., Carpintero-Dellapé colls ( MLP).

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA: AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: 23, 2Ƥ, Canberra, 35°16’34.28”S 149°07’24.39”E, 16 August 2004, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus sp. (AM); NEW SOUTH WALES: 53, 5Ƥ, Sydney, Carlingford Shopping Centre, Rembrandt Street, 33°46’33.75”S 151°03’ 05.27E, 17 July 2001, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM; UNSW); Sydney, Hornsby, opposite Hornsby Nissan Centre, corner Carden Ave, 33°42’46.76”S 151°06’27.43”E, 2 August 2001, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus scoparia 73, 9Ƥ (AM); 33, 4Ƥ, Sydney, Moorebank, 33 Heathcote Road, nr Service Centre, 33°56’05.50”S 150°56’05.78”E, 18 July 2001, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus nicholii (AM); 43, 5Ƥ, Sydney, Leumeah, 96 Waminda Ave. 34°04’12.44”S 150°49’53.78”E, 18 July 2001, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus nicholii (AM); 33, 2Ƥ, Sydney, Sutherland, nr tennis court, Rawson Ave. Leisure Centre, 34°02’22.82”S 151°03’21.61”E, 18 July 2001, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM); 13, 2Ƥ, Sydney, Sutherland, car park Rawson Ave. Leisure Centre. 34°02’15.33”S 151°03’18.28”E, 18 July 2001, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM); 33, Sydney, Sutherland, Waratah St., 34°01’38.61”S 151°03’55.07”E, 22 June 2005, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus sideroxylon (AM); 2Ƥ, Sydney, Sutherland, Waratah St. 34°01’39.43”S 151°04’01.30”E, 13 August 2004, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM); 23, 2Ƥ, Sydney, Birrong, 163 Woods St. 33°53’58.43”S 151°00’48.58”E, 2 August 2001, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM); 43, 3Ƥ, Sydney, Dee Why, Roache Chemicals complex 4–10 Inman Road, 33°44’13.24”S 151°17’05.08”E, 9 August 2001, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM); 33, Ingleburn, 34°00’25”S 150°53’38”E (AM); 103, 10Ƥ, North Rocks, 219 North Rocks Road, Lever Rexona site, 33°47’04”S 151°00’32”E, 5 August 1999, M. Brownas, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM); 103, 2Ƥ, 10 nymphs, Sydney, Como. 34°00’15”S 151°04’05”E, 2 June 1999, E.E. Taylor, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM; UNSW); 23, Sydney, Stanmore, cr. Harrow Lane and Trafalgar Streets, 33°53’39.88”S 151°10’01.01”E, 21 January 2002, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus nicholii (AM); 23, Sydney, Camperdown, University of Sydney campus, 33°53’14.65”S 151°11’25.76”E, 7 August 2001, HA Rose, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM); 13, Sydney, Olympic Park, Homebush, 33°51’07.07”S 151°04’01.38”E, 27 August 2002, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus nicholii (AM); 53, Sydney, Mosman, 33°49’40.02”S 151°15’01.95”E, 17 July 2002, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus viminalis (AM); 53, 2Ƥ, Sydney, Mosman, 33°49’50.87”S 151°15’29.86”E, 15 July 2002, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus tereticornis (AM); 13, 1Ƥ, Sydney, Forestville, 4 Tora Place, 33°46’02.11”S 151°12’41.76”E, 21 May 1999, P van der Watt, ex Eucalyptus nicholii , NSW Forest Dept S5880 (AM); 1Ƥ, Sydney, Holsworthy, 145 Bardia Road, 33°57’26.91”S 150°56’53.38”E, 20 September 2001, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (?) (AM); 33, 1Ƥ,Coonabarabran: 31°16’S 149°17’E, 10 April 2004, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus nicholii (AM); 73, 5Ƥ, Cootamundra, 34° 38’S 148° 02’E, 23 March 2006, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM; UNSW); 43, 2Ƥ, 2nymphs, Mudgee, near railway station, 32°35’ 27”S 149°35’10”E, 8 April 2004, AE Noack ex Eucalyptus punctata (in alcohol) (AM); 63, 6Ƥ, Narrandera, 34°45’S 146°33’S, 20 April 2006, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM; UNSW); 13, 3Ƥ, Parkes, cnr Short Street and Highway, in park, 33°08’S 148°11’E, 12 April 2004 AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus nicholii (AM); 73, 5Ƥ, Wagga Wagga, 35°07’S 147°22’E, 22 March 2006, AE Noack, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM; UNSW); 33, 1Ƥ, Tamworth, Namringha, 31°05’S 150°55’E, 17 May 2001, S. Signor, ex Eucalyptus scoparia (AM); 23, 2Ƥ,Tamworth, 31°05’S; 150°55’E (AM); 13, Darling River, 1.5 km S ‘Trilby’ Station homestead, 30:39:7S 144:56:1E, 20 December 1999, F. Christie, M. Elliott, locality code locality code DRRP 101/02Bt, beating, ex Eucalyptus camaldulensis (AM); 1Ƥ, Mogie Melon watercourse, ‘Karrawingi’ Station, 31:23:34S 148:41:28E, L Wilkie and H Smith, 11 December 1999, Eucalyptus camaldulensis / largiflorens patch, ex Eucalyptus camaldulensis , locality code DRRP 051/03Bt, beating (AM); 1Ƥ, Darling River, ‘Kalyanka,’ approx. 11 km E Wilcannia, 31:33:43S 143:29:13E, F Christie and M Elliott, 21 December 1999, Eucalyptus camaldulensis patch, ex Eucalyptus camaldulensis , locality code DRRP 104/01Bt, beating (AM); 13, junction of Mobigamy Creek and Carlton- Brewarrina Road, 31:6:38S 147:11:29E, 13 December 1999, R Harris and T Moulds, Eucalyptus largiflorens patch, locality code DRRP 010C, beating (AM); 83, 4Ƥ, bank of Merri Merri Creek, 2.5 km N of Quambone, 30:54:38S 147:51:56E, 14 December 1999, R Harris and T Moulds, Eucalyptus camaldulensis / largiflorens patch, locality code DRRP 03C, beating (AM); 13, 50m E of Boonal Road, 5.2 km NE of jnctn with Moree-Boomi Road, 28:50:26S 149:42:7E, 19 December 1999, R Harris and T Moulds, C. cristata patch, locality code DRRP 027C, beating (AM). QUEENSLAND: 93, 8Ƥ, 9 nymphs, Wondai to Proston Road, 26°15.014’S 151°49.359’E, 20 May 2008, R Nadel, ex Eucalyptus tereticornis (AM); 43, 4Ƥ, 6 nymphs, Cunnamulla, 28°04’S 145°40’E, July 1994, ex Eucalyptus sp. (QM). SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 23, 3Ƥ, 1 nymph, Mitcham. 34°58’S 138°37’E, 16 July 1976, RV Southcott, ex Eucalyptus camaldulensis ( SAMA). 1Ƥ, Mitcham 34°58’S 138°37’E, 18 June 1980, RV Southcott, at light, ( SAMA). ARGENTINA: 23, 3Ƥ, Buenos Aires, Luján, ca. 70 km W downtown Buenos Aires, 34°34’S 59°06’W, C Coviella MT, 23 May 2006 (AM; UNSW); 53, Buenos Aires, Prov., La Plata, Mus. Ciencias Naturales, 34°55’S 57°57’W, 20 February 2006, TJ Henry, ex Eucalyptus sp. (AM). SOUTH AFRICA: 63, NW Sparkling Waters nr Buffelspoort Magaliesberg, 25°51’S 27°24’E, 21.xi.2004, S Neser and OCN Neser, ex Eucalyptus camaldulensis , AcSN 2777 (AM; UNSW); 53, 6Ƥ, 3 nymphs, Gauteng Rietondale, Pretoria, 25: 43.6S 28: 14.2 E, 1320 m, 12.i.2005, S Neser, ex Eucalyptus camaldulensis , AcSN 2776 (AM; UNSW).

Diagnosis. Thaumastocoris peregrinus is recognised by the following characters: body elongate ( Figure 7 A,B); mandibular plates strongly recurved anterolaterally ( Figure 14 A); bucculae weakly arcuate, strongly explanate distally ( Figure 14 B); pygophoral lock triangulate, weakly excavate medially, narrowing apically to a dull point; paramere subquadrate ( Figure 19 B). This species can be distinguished from T. nadeli by the apical margin of the pygophoral lock which is obliquely angled and not attenuating to a dull point. The females of the two species can be distinguished by their respective pronotal disc colouration in T. nadeli it is fuscous to black (cf. Figure 6B), whereas in T. peregrinus it is cream ( Figure 7 B).

Redescription. Submacropterous. Male length 2.45–2.88, width 0.80–0.98; female length 2.57–2.96, width 0.98–1.09. Female larger and darker in colouration, and medial margin of corium more straight to weakly excavate. Colouration. Dorsum cream to yellowish brown with contrasting dark brown to fuscous markings ( Figure 7 A,B). Head: mostly cream-coloured; vertex and clypeus yellowish brown to dark brown; lateral areas of mandibular plates and genae with fuscous stripe; genae, gula and bucculae cream-coloured. Antennae: mostly yellowish brown; subapical third of AII light brown; subapical half of AIV dark brown to fuscous ( Figure 7 A,B). Labium: straw-coloured; apex of LIV fuscous. Pronotum: mostly yellowish brown, pronotal disc cream medially. Thoracic pleura and sterna: propleura yellowish brown, posterior margin cream-coloured; mesopleura dark brown anteroventrally; prosternum straw-coloured; mesosternum dark brown. Scutellum : dark brown, posterior two-thirds of midline straw-coloured. Hemelytra: yellowish brown, with clavus cream-coloured; medial margin of corium yellowish brown to dark brown; membrane cream, medially infused with brown ( Figure 7 A,B). Legs: mostly strawcoloured, with distal half of second tarsomere dark brown. Abdomen: uniformly yellowish brown. Texture. Dorsum moderately polished, with scattered shallow to deep setose punctures. Head: vertex mostly impunctate, with transverse puncticulate rows sometimes visible; epicranial suture with shallow to moderately deep irregular punctures; mandibular plates irregularly punctate, denser posteriorly, punctures shallow ( Figure 14 A). Pronotum: callosite region irregularly punctuate , punctures shallow, denser along midline and anterolateral angles; disc densely and regularly punctate, punctures deep, humeral angles impunctate ( Figure 14 D). Thoracic pleura and sterna: propleuron with regular distribution of fine punctures posteroventrally; thoracic sterna impunctate; mesosternum strongly polished. Scutellum : densely and regularly punctate, punctures deep, midline polished. Hemelytra: clavus and corium with uniform distribution of deep punctures, larger than on pronotal disc ( Figure 7 A,B). Abdomen: impunctate, moderately polished. Vestiture. Dorsum with uniform distribution of setose punctures, setae short erect straw-coloured. Ventral surface of body with irregular distribution of fine, straw-coloured, decumbent setae; mesosternum with irregular distribution of setae medially, sparse laterally. Antennae: uniform distribution of decumbent setae intermixed with fine erect setae; AIII–AIV with same setae on lateral margins, otherwise bare ( Figure 14 C). Male genitalia: pygophore with irregular distribution of fine setae, more elongate and denser near genital opening; pygophoral lock with sparse and irregular distribution of setae; paramere evenly beset with setae, becoming sparse apically ( Figure 19 B). Structure. Head: mandibular plates elongate, surpassing clypeus by length of clypeus, contiguous medially, flared anteriorly, concave dorsally, anterolateral margins strongly recurved (Figure 14A); bucculae, weakly arcuate, strongly explanate posteriorly ( Figure 14 B). Eyes: moderately pedicellate. Antennae: AI and AII cylindrical; AIII and AIV dorsoventrally flattened; AII weakly distally expanded; AIV weakly lanceolate ( Figure 14 C). Labium: short, reaching past anterior margin of prosternum ( Figure 14 B). Pronotum: strongly constricted medially; callosite region and disc subequal in length, disc a little broader; anterolateral angles strongly tuberculate; lateral margin of disc weakly arcuate ( Figure 14 D). Thoracic sterna: prosternum weakly swollen medially, lateral margins rounded. Hemelytra: at rest extending to basal third of pygophore in male; medial margin of corium straight to weakly convex, apex of corium at membrane strongly narrowed medial margin less than 45° to costal margin ( Figure 7 A,B; 14F). Legs: forecoxal separation equal to slightly wider than coxal width; fore and mesofemora strongly incrassate; fossula spongiosa elongate, reaching distal half of second tarsomere; 3–4 foretibial teeth, 3–4 mesotibial teeth, without metatibial teeth. Male Genitalia: pygophoral lock triangulate, weakly excavate medially narrowing apically to a dull point; paramere subquadrate ( Figure 19 B).

Measurements. See Table 2.

Distribution. Thaumastocoris peregrinus is known from southeast Queensland, through much of New South Wales, to the southern gulfs of South Australia ( Figure 21 A). There are many records of this species from the Murray Darling basin. This species has now been introduced accidentally to Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.

The focus on Thaumastocoris peregrinus commenced in 2001, with its dramatic infestation of street trees in the Sydney basin, and then its subsequent invasion of South Africa and South America. However, earlier collection records exist; for example, it was collected on Eucalyptus camaldulensis from Mitcham, South Australia in 1976. Since that time, it was collected across a wide geographic area, from Cunnamulla in central Queensland in 1994 to an increasing large number of localities within Sydney in 1999.

Host plants. Thaumastocoris peregrinus has been collected on thirteen species of Eucalyptus and a single species of Corymbia ( Table 3 ).

Remarks. This species was described by Carpintero and Dellapé (2006) from an introduced population to Argentina, which was infesting an unidentified species of Eucalyptus in a Buenos Aires park. Unfortunately, they described this species on Argentinean material and fail to account for the variation in native Australian populations.

Some of their diagnostic characters are not supported by this work. For example, the anterolateral angle of the pronotal callosite region is strongly tuberculate and does not possess a tubercle as they report in their original description. Comparison with either T. safordi or T. slateri , which have tubercles, demonstrates the difference in this character ( Figure 16 B,E).

The pygophore T. peregrinus exhibits fluctuating asymmetry and can be oriented to either the right or left. Field studies have found that approximately one in 250 males have their pygophore oriented to the left. Although left orientation does not commonly occur, a right oriented pygophore is not wholly diagnostic of this species.

Carpintero and Dellapé (2006) correctly highlighted the existence of tibial teeth on T. peregrinus and T. australicus , stating the presence of three teeth on the fore and mesotibiae. Within Australian populations, the number of teeth is slightly more variable, with four tibial teeth occasionally found on each of these legs. This variability in tibial teeth number is common within species of Thaumastocoris , especially among species which have high numbers of tibial teeth; it is a character of limited diagnostic value.

There is colour variation between different populations of Australian T. peregrinus and generally the species appears darker than those found in South Africa and South America. However, the population from Cootamundra, New South Wales, has light straw colouration, as in the extralimital populations.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Habitus, dorsal view. A and B Thaumastocoris peregrinus. C and D Thaumastocoris petilus. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 14. Scanning electron micrographs: Thaumastocoris peregrinus. A 3 head, dorsal view. B 3 head, ventral view. C 3 antenna, lateral view. D 3 head and pronotum, dorsal view. E 3 thorax, lateral view. F 3 hemelytra, dorsal view. G 3 genitalia, ventral view. H Ƥ genitalia, ventral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 16. Scanning electron micrographs: Thaumastocoris safordi. A 3 head, dorsal view. B 3 head, ventral view. C 3 head, lateral view. D 3 antenna, lateral view. E 3 pronotum, dorsal view. F 3 thorax, lateral view. G 3 genitalia, ventral view. H Ƥ genitalia, ventral view. t = tubercle. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 19. Male genitalia. A. Thaumastocoris nadeli, ventral view. B. Thaumastocoris peregrinus, ventral view C. Thaumastocoris petilus, ventral view D. Thaumastocoris roy, ventral view E. Thaumastocoris safordi, ventral view F. Thaumastocoris slateri, ventral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 21. Distribution map. A. Thaumastocoris ohallorani, T. peregrinus and T. petilus B. Thaumastocoris roy, T. safordi and T. slateri.