Buenoa ( Truxal 1953 )

Young, Euan C., 2010, The taxonomic impediment of unrecognised flight polymorphism in Notonectidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), Zootaxa 2535, pp. 35-48 : 37-38

Buenoa ( Truxal 1953)

Forty-two species and subspecies are described in Truxal’s (1953) revision (Appendix 3); the flying morph in 11, the flightless morph in 15, and both morphs in 9. Seven descriptions could be of either morph and are not assigned. Ten of the flightless morph species were recorded as having wing polymorphism. From the outset Truxal indicated that he knew a range of forms existed in his species, although the uncommon ones received only scant comment. He was, however, perplexed by the variability in the pigmentation of his specimens and many of his descriptions end with the sentence ‘This species variable in color.’

This is the third of the series of revisions from the University of Kansas. It is an interesting account as it appears that as Truxal became more familiar with the genus during his research the species’ accounts become more detailed and perceptive. For instance, not until number 20 ( B. nitida ) were pale and dark forms noted and not until number 24 ( B. gracilis ) was wing polymorphism (brachyptery or macroptery) recorded, as though only at this stage in the revision was it discovered. From number 27 ( B. macrotibialis ) the numbers of brachypterous and macropterous specimens are recorded in the distribution data. As wing polymorphism is apparently common within this genus, but not always recorded, it is uncertain for most species whether the pale specimens described are wing or flight-muscle morphs. Specimens of each would have rather similar appearance in cursory inspection and the polymorphism would only be defined more precisely if the wings were examined.