Rhopalus maculatus (Fieber, 1837)

Rohanová, Markéta & Vilímová, Jitka, 2019, Nymphal development of Rhopalus maculatus and Chorosoma schillingii (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Rhopalidae: Rhopalinae) and development of trichobothrial pattern in Rhopalidae, Zootaxa 4564 (2), pp. 367-390 : 385

Rhopalus maculatus

1 Abdominal terga 2–7 without thorn-shaped robust processes each side, terga 5–7 with long, flattened, medially swollen, apically pointed setae on dark pigmented tubercles laterally ( Figs. 1 , 19 , 34, 37 ); setae on dorsal abdominal surface arise from almost flat alveoles. Six distinct dark brown flattened setae on head between eyes. Wing pads not developed ( Figs. 1, 4 , 34 ). Lengths of 1–4 antennomeres: average 0.14 (min. 0.12– max. 0.17), 0.26 (0.19–0.31), 0.27 (0.20–0.32), 0.39 (0.32–0.44), average body length =1.40 (range, 0.99–1.86). Body weakly elongated, general body color green................ 1 st instar

- Abdominal terga 2–7 sublaterally with distinct thorn-shaped robust process each side, process composed from anterior dark part bearing two distinct setae and posterior pale part, terga 5–7 without long, flattened, medially swollen, apically pointed setae ( Figs. 2, 3 , 20–23 , 35, 38, 39 ); setae on dorsal abdominal surface arise from distinct protuberant alveoles. Flattened setae on head not developed. Wing pads not developed (2 nd instar) or developed. Average body length 1.67 or greater. Body oval or ovoid, general body color pink with red spots around bases of setae.............................................. 2

2 Mesothorax and metathorax slightly convex dorsally. Mesonotal wing pads not developed, posterior margin of mesonotum arcuate ( Figs. 2, 5 ). Metanotum subrectangular. Lengths of 1–4 antennomeres: 0.19 (0.17–0.20), 0.37 (0.34–0.41), 0.35 (0.31– 0.39), 0.51 (0.48–0.54), average body length = 2.15 (range, 1.67–2.60)..................................... 2 nd instar

- Mesothorax and metathorax flattened. Mesonotal wing pads developed, posterolateral angles of mesonotum elongated at least into short, rounded wing pads ( Figs. 3, 6–8 , 35 ). Metanotum narrowly transverse or medially only as narrow strip. Average body length 2.15 or greater.............................................................................. 3

3 Transverse furrow on pronotum not developed, posterior margin of pronotum weakly arcuate. Beginning of scutellum not evident, posterior margin of mesonotum between wing pads almost straight medially. Mesonotal wing pads short, rounded, reaching abdominal tergum 1 ( Figs. 3, 6 , 35 ). Metanotal wing pads not developed. Lengths of 1–4 antennomeres: 0.26 (0.24–0.31), 0.52 (0.46–0.56), 0.47 (0.43–0.51), 0.69 (0.65–0.75), average body length = 2.83 (range, 2.11–3.23).............. 3 rd instar

- Transverse furrow on pronotum shallow to distinctly developed, posterior margin of pronotum weakly to distinctly sinuate. Beginning of scutellum evident, posterior margin of mesonotum between wing pads convex, rounded or pointed. Mesonotal wing pads elongate, reaching beyond abdominal tergum 1 ( Figs. 7, 8 ). Metanotal wing pads developed, short, almost completely overlapped by mesonotal wing pads ( Figs. 7, 8 ). Average body length 3.38 or greater.......................... 4

4 Beginning of scutellum evident on posterior margin of mesonotum, rounded, short, not covering metanotum, not detached from wing pad by mesonotal groove each side. Mesonotal wing pads reaching abdominal tergum 2 ( Fig. 7 ). Metanotum medially only as narrow strip. Developing external genitalia not present. Lengths of 1–4 antennomeres: 0.36 (0.34–0.43), 0.74 (0.66–0.82), 0.64 (0.56–0.70), 0.96 (0.88–1.09), average body length = 4.10 (range, 3.38–4.95).................. 4 th instar

- Beginning of scutellum on posterior margin of mesonotum, triangular, large, covering metanotum, detached from wing pad by distinct mesonotal groove each side. Mesonotal wing pads long, reaching at least abdominal tergum 3 ( Fig. 8 ). Metanotum medially covered by beginning of scutellum. Developing external genitalia present (male’s abdominal sternum 9 compact, female’s abdominal sternum 9 divided by longitudinal groove medially). Lengths of 1–4 antennomeres: 0.45 (0.40–0.50), 0.95 (0.86–1.06), 0.86 (0.79–0.97), 1.29 (1.09–1.45), average body length = 5.88 (range, 4.90–6.86).................. 5 th instar

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Rhopalus maculatus, nymphal instars (dorsal view; chaetotaxy, antennae, and legs omitted on left side of body). (1–3) Dorsal habitus: (1) 1 st instar. (2) 2 nd instar. (3) 3 rd instar. (4–8) Thoracic nota: (4) 1 st instar. (5) 2 nd instar. (6) 3 rd instar. (7) 4 th instar. (8) 5 th instar. Scale bars: 1, 2, 4, 5 = 0.5 mm; 3, 6–8 = 1.0 mm. Lettering: A, anteclypeus; Bs, distinctly sclerotized black spot; Fs, flattened seta; Mg, mesonotal groove; Mp, mandibular plate; Ms, mesonotum; Msp, mesonotal wing pads; Mt, metanotum; Mtp, metanotal wing pads; Os, ostiole/s of dorsal abdominal scent gland/s; Pr, pronotum; Sc, beginning of scutellum; Tf, transverse furrow on pronotum; Tp, thorn-shaped process; dotted line, outline of more pigmented area; black, distinctly pigmented structure.

FIGURES 19–23. Rhopalus maculatus, nymphal instars (ventral view of abdomen; right half of figure = natural left side of body, with real chaetotaxy except trichobothria, only their alveoles illustrated as open circle; left half of figure only with symbols illustrating trichobothrial pattern): (19) 1 st instar. (20) 2 nd instar. (21) 3 rd instar. (22) 4 th instar. (23) 5 th instar. Scale bars: 19–21 = 0.5 mm, 22, 23 = 1.0 mm. Lettering: II–VII, abdominal segments; Fs, flattened seta; Sp, spiraculum; Tp, thorn-shaped process; solid circle and short seta, precursor seta; open circle and short seta, short trichobothrium; open circle and long seta, long trichobothrium; black, distinctly pigmented structure.

FIGURES 34–39. Rhopalus maculatus, nymphal instars (SEM): (34, 36, 37) 1 st instar. (38) 2 nd instar. (35) 3 rd instar. (39) 5 th instar. (34, 35) Total body from dorsal view. (36) Head from dorsolateral view. (37–39) The most exposed view. (37) Detail of long flattened seta laterally on abdomen. (38, 39) Detail of thorn-shaped process laterally on abdomen. Lettering: A, anteclypeus; Ds, dark seta on thorn-shaped process; Fs, flattened seta; G, groove on thorn-shaped process; Mp, mandibular plate; Ms, mesonotum; Msp mesonotal wing pad; Mt, metanotum; Os, ostiole of dorsal abdominal scent gland; Pr, pronotum; Tp, thorn-shaped process; Tpa, anterior part of thorn-shaped process; Tpp, posterior part of thorn-shaped.