Chaulioleistes, Swanson, 2019

Swanson, Daniel R., 2019, Doomed to a vile lot: new taxa, notes, and an updated generic key for the Old World corsairs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Peiratinae), Zootaxa 4700 (2), pp. 196-228 : 203-204

Chaulioleistes gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5A0B09CE-B1A3-4561-BFFF-CC6107AF3A80

Type species. Peirates singularis Stål, 1874 .

Diagnosis. This genus is easily separated from all other peiratine genera by the two large posterior lobate projections of the posterior pronotal margin that flank the scutellum. Other useful characters include the small eyes and ventrally armed profemur (see key).

Included species. Chaulioleistes singularis ( Stål, 1874) comb. nov.

Distribution. Unknown.

Etymology. The name is derived from the Greek, χαύλιος, Latinized chaulios, ‘outstanding, prominent’ and the Greek, λῃστής, Latinized leistes, ‘robber, plunderer, pirate’. The first element literally references the posterior lobate projections of the pronotum and more symbolically references the uniqueness of this species among other peiratines. The second element highlights the predatory nature of assassin bugs, while maintaining the “piratical” connection of the corsairs. The name is masculine.

Remarks. Pirates [sic] singularis was described by Stål (1874) from an unknown locality. It was accorded a unique status (unplaced in any subgenus) based on the large obtuse lobes extending caudad from the posterior pronotal margin on either side of the scutellum, a structural feature otherwise unknown among peiratines. Onehundred twenty-three years later, Coscarόn (1997) provided a partial redescription of the species, placing it as the sole member of her singularis group. Nothing more has been contributed regarding this anomalous species, and its geographic distribution remains unknown.

Although the species of Peirates vary in several characters, P. singularis possesses a suite of characteristics apparently absent in putative congeners. The most conspicuous trait and namesake, remaining unique within Peiratinae , is the posterior projections of the pronotal margin. Additionally, the eyes of P. singularis are small, reaching proportions used to delimit other peiratine genera, i.e., Eidmannia Taeuber, 1934 ; Lentireduvius Cai & Taylor, 2006 ; as well as in other subfamilies (e.g., Emesinae : Wygodzinsky 1966; Reduviinae : Swanson 2015). Furthermore, Stål (1874) stated “Femora antica subtus denticulis pluribus armata”, whereas species of Peirates possess an unarmed profemur (e.g., Coscarόn 1997). Stål’s (1874) statement is followed, despite Coscarόn (1997) having coded the pro- femur as unarmed in the matrix. As Peirates singularis Stål, 1874 remains distinct from the other species of Peirates (type species: Reduvius stridulus Fabricius, 1787 by Blanchard’s [1840] subsequent designation), as well as species of all other peiratine genera (see key to genera), it required a new genus, here erected for its reception.

The holotype of P. singularis was deposited in NHMW ( Sehnal 2000). Unfortunately, like that of Calistocoris caesareus (see previous section), the holotype was not available for study as it has been on loan since 1993 and has not been returned, despite repeated requests (Zettel, pers. comm. 2016). However, the morphological characters are distinctive enough to warrant erecting the genus in a comparative context without examining the holotype.