Sirthenea (Sirthenea) africana Distant, 1903

Chłond, Dominik, 2018, A taxonomic revision of the genus Sirthenea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) of the Old World, Zootaxa 4520 (1), pp. 1-85 : 8-14

Sirthenea (Sirthenea) africana Distant, 1903

( Figs. 2–14 , 169 , 193 , 191 , Map 1)

Sirthenea africana Distant, 1903: 47 . Syntype (s) (♂): Pretoria: Republic of South Africa; NHMUK.

Sirthenea africana: Horváth (1909: 358) .

Sirthenea rapax Horváth, 1909: 360 . Syntype (s) (♂): Cameroon; HNHM. Syn. nov.

Sirthenea leonina Horváth, 1909: 360 . Syntype (s) (♀): Sierra Leone; HNHM. Syn. nov.

Sirthenea bequaerti Schouteden, 1913: 435 . Lectotype (♂) ( Schouteden 1931: 146, by use of “le type”): Belgian Congo [= Democratic Republic of Congo]: Mufungura; RMCA. Syn. nov.

Sirthenea leontovitchi Schouteden, 1931: 146 . Holotype (♂): Democratic Republic of Congo: Bambesa ; RMCA. Syn. nov.

Type material examined: Sirthenea (Sirthenea) africana Distant, 1903 . Syntype, Ƌ: Type / H.T. [printed on round label]; Africana / Dist. [handwritten]; Pretoria / (W.L.D.) [printed]; Distant Coll. / 1911-383 [printed]; [pinned vial with genitalia] (NHMUK). Sirthenea (Sirthenea) rapax Horváth, 1909 . Syntype, ♀: Africa / Camerun [printed]; Sirthenea / rapax Horv [handwritten]; Holotypus; Hung. Nat. Hist. Mus. / Budapest / Coll. Hemiptera (HNHM). Sirthenea (Sirthenea) rapax var. concolor Schouteden, 1931 : Syntype, ♀: Holotypus;

MAP 1. Distribution of Sirthenea africana Distant, 1903 .

Musée du Congo / Boma [printed] / 12-VII-1920 [partially handwritten] / Dr H. Schouteden [printed]; R. Dét [printed] / H [handwritten] / 2453; Sirthenea / rapax var. / concolor Sch. / Type [handwritten] (RMCA). Sirthenea (Sirthenea) leonina Horváth, 1909 . Syntype, ♀: S. Leona [printed on old, small label]; Sirthenea / leonina Horv. [handwritten]; Holotypus [printed]; Hung. Nat. Hist. Mus. / Budapest / coll. Hemiptera (HNHM). Sirthenea bequaerti Schouteden, 1931 . Syntype, Ƌ: Holotypus [handwritten on orange label]; Musée du Congo [printed] / Mufungura / 15-X-1912 / (Dr. J. Bequaert) [handwritten]; R.Det. / F / 2453 [printed]; Sirthenea / bequaerti / Sch. / Type [handwritten] (RMCA). Sirthenea leontovitchi Schouteden, 1931 . Syntype, Ƌ: Holotypus [printed on orange label; Musée du Congo [printed] / Bas Uele: Bambesa]: / 1938 / (Leontovitch) [handwritten] R. Det / 2453 [printed]; Sirthenea / leontovitchi / Sch. / Type [handwritten] (RMCA).

Other material examined: Botswana: Ƌ: BOTSWANA (B 15) / R. Thamalakane, / 7 mls. NE. Maun / 20.iv.1972 [printed]; at / light [printed]; Southern / African Exp. / B.M. 1972-1 [printed] ( NHMUK) . Democratic Republic of Congo: ♀: Musée du Congo / Région d’Abok [printed] / -1935 [printed]; M & Me Ch. Scops [printed]; Sirthenea / leontovitchi / Scht [handwritten] ( RMCA). Ƌ: Musée du Congo / Bamabnia

[printed] / -1934 [printed]; R. Fr. Longinus [printed]; R. Det / 6968 [printed] / B [handwritten] (RMCA). ♀: Musée du Congo / Mahagi-Niarembe [printed] / IX-1935 [printed]; Ch. Scops [printed]; Sirthenea / leontovitchi / Scht / Det: Schuteden [handwritten] (RMCA). ♀: Musée du Congo / Mahagi-Niarembe [printed] / -1935 [printed]; Ch. Scops [printed]; Sirthenea / leontovitchi / Scht / Det: Schuteden [handwritten] (RMCA). Ƌ: Musée Du Congo / Lulua: Tshibalaka / X-1933 / F.G. Overlaet [printed]; Sirthenea / rodhaini Sch [handwritten] (RMCA). Ƌ: Congo Belge P.N.A / 18-VIII-1953 / Vanschuytbroeck / V. Hendrickx 5335 [printed]; Massif Ruvenzori / Kalonge, 1900 m / Riv. Kamusonge, / aff. Butahu [printed]; Coll. Mus. Tervuren [printed]; Sirthenea / bequaerti / Schout. [handwritten] / A. Villiers det 195 [printed] (RMCA). ♀: Coll. Mus. Tervuren [printed]; Kiva N: Mutsora / 2.II.1953 / Mission de Witte [handwritten] (RMCA). Ƌ: Musée du Congo / Flandria [printed] / 15-III-1932 [handwritten, partially printed]; R.P. Hulstaert [printed]; R. Det / 6968 [printed] / B [handwritten] (RMCA). Ƌ: Coll. Mus. Tervuren / Tschuapa: Bamanya / 1968 / Rev. P. Hulstaert [printed] (RMCA). Ƌ: Musée du Congo / Equateur: Flandria [printed] / X-1931 [handwritten, partially printed]; R.P. Hulstaert [printed]; R. Det / 6968 [printed] / B [handwritten] (RMCA). Ethiopia: ♀: ETHIOPIA / Illubabor Prov. / Gambela [printed] AT UV LIGHT [handwritten] / 15-11-1972 [partially handwritten] / G.B.White / B.M. 1974-85 [printed] (NHMUK). 2 ƋƋ: ETHIOPIA / Illubabor Prov. / Gambela [printed] UV LIGHT [handwritten] / 15-11-1972 [partially handwritten] / G.B.White / B.M. 1974-85 [printed] (NHMUK). Gabon: ♀: Gabon 1935 II [printed] / Libreville [handwritten] / Coll. J. Primot [printed]; Sirth enea / rapax / Horv. [handwritten]; det. R.J.Izzadr 1937 [printed, date partially handwritten] (NHMUK). Ghana: ♀: Ghana: Ashanti region / Kwadaso, 259 m / N 6° 42' - W 1° 39' / Dr. S. Endrődy-Younga [printed]; Nr. 341 / mixed light / 28.IV.1969 [printed]; Sirthenea rapax / Horváth, 1909 [handwritten] / det. Rédei D., 2003. [printed, date partially handwritten]; Hung. Nat. Hist. Mus. / Budapest / Coll. Hemiptera (HNHM). ♀: Ghana: Ashanti region / Kwadaso / 259 m, N 6 55 - W 1 39 / Dr. S. Endrődy-Younga [printed]; Nr. 367 - light trap / on field / 2.VI.1969 [printed]; Sirthenea rapax / Horváth, 1909 [handwritten] / det. Rédei D., 2003. [printed, date partially handwritten]; Hung. Nat. Hist. Mus. / Budapest / Coll. Hemiptera (HNHM). Ƌ: Ghana: Ashanti region / Kwadaso, 259 m / N 6° 42' - W 1° 39' / Dr. S. Endrődy-Younga [printed]; Nr. 341 / mixed light / 28.IV.1969 [printed]; Sirthenea rapax / Horváth, 1909 [handwritten] / det. Rédei D., 2003. [printed, date partially handwritten]; Hung. Nat. Hist. Mus. / Budapest / Coll. Hemiptera (HNHM). Ƌ: Ghana: Ashanti region / Kwadaso / 320 m, N 6 42 - W 1 39 / Dr. S. Endrődy-Younga [printed]; Nr. 366 - light trap / on field, UV light / 26.V.1969 [printed]; Sirthenea rapax / Horváth, 1909 [handwritten] / det. Rédei D., 2003. [printed, date partially handwritten]; Hung. Nat. Hist. Mus. / Budapest / Coll. Hemiptera (HNHM). Ƌ: Ghana: Ashanti region / Kwadaso / 259 m, N 6 55 - W 1 39 / Dr. S. Endrődy-Younga [printed]; Nr. 366 - light trap / on field, UV light / 26.V.1969 [printed]; Sirthenea rapax / Horváth, 1909 [handwritten] / det. Rédei D., 2003. [printed, date partially handwritten]; Hung. Nat. Hist. Mus. / Budapest / Coll. Hemiptera (HNHM). Ƌ: Ghana: Ashanti region / Kumasi, Rhiasu / 350 m, N 6° 43' - W 1° 39' / Dr. S. Endrődy-Younga [printed]; Nr. 300 / UV light / 7.II.1968 [printed]; Sirthenea rapax / Horváth, 1909 [handwritten] / det. Rédei D., 2003. [printed, date partially handwritten]; Hung. Nat. Hist. Mus. / Budapest / Coll. Hemiptera (HNHM). Ƌ: Ghana: Ashanti region / Kwadaso / 320 m, N 6 42 - W 1 39 / Dr. S. Endrődy-Younga [printed]; Nr. 327 / mixed light / 18.III.1969 [printed]; Sirthenea rapax / Horváth, 1909 [handwritten] / det. Rédei D., 2003. [printed, date partially handwritten]; Hung. Nat. Hist. Mus. / Budapest / Coll. Hemiptera (HNHM). Malawi: ♀: Mt. Mlanje / Nyassaland [printed] / 21.IX 1913 [partially handwritten] / S.A.Neave. [printed]; Pres. by / Imp. Eur. Ent. / Brit. Mus. 1927-85 [printed] (NHMUK). ♀: Mt. Mlanje / Nyassaland [printed] / 29.VIII 1913 [partially handwritten] / S.A.Neave. [printed]; Pres. by / Imp. Eur. Ent. / Brit. Mus. 1927-85 [printed] (NHMUK). Ƌ: Valley of / Lowes / Shide [handwritten] / Nyassaland [printed] / 22. VII 1913. [partially handwritten] / S.A. Neave [printed]; Pres. by / Imp. Eur. Ent. / Brit. Mus. 1927-85 [printed] (NHMUK). Mozambique: ♀: Museum Paris / Moçambique / Prov. De Gorongora / Tendo de Sungoue (40 m D’Alt) / C. Vasse 1907 [printed on green label] (MNHN). Nigeria: ♀: N. Nigeria: / Zaria, Samaru. / 17.XI. 1967. [printed, date partially handwritten]; J.C.Deeming / m. v. trap [printed]; Sirthenea / rapax Horv. / var. concolor / Schout. [handwritten] / Det.JC.Deeming 1967 [printed, date partially handwritten] (NHMUK). Ƌ: Ibadan Nigeria / At Light Trap / D/C:I:II:66 [handwritten]; 19 [handwritten]; Sirthenea / rapax Horv. [handwritten] / M.S.K. Ghauri, det.1968 [printed, date partially handwritten]; Pres by Com Inst Ent / B M 1958 26 [printed]; C.I.E. Coll [printed] / A. 2038 [handwritten] (NHMUK). ♀: Lagos Dist. / S. Nigeria / IBD. 4.1949 / W.K.S Merrett [rinted, date partially handwritten]; Brit. Mus. / 1962-270 [printed] (NHMUK). Ƌ: Ibadan Nig. / Dec. 59 / at light / C Phoyt [handwritten]; 3 [handwritten]; C.I.E. Coll. [printed] / A. 956 [handwritten]; Sirthenea / rapax Horv. [handwritten] / M.S.K. Ghauri det. 1966 [printed]; Pres. by / Com Inst Ent / B. M. 1966-3 [printed] (NHMUK). ♀: Obudu district / Ogoja Province., / S. Nigeria. / April 1945 [handwritten]; Brit. Mus. / 1962- 270 [printed] (NHMUK). Republic of South Africa: ♀: C. Bon / Spei [printed]; Fry Coll. / 1905.100 [printed] (NHMUK). Tanzania: ♀: Tang. Terr. / Ukerewe. [printed] / Father Conrads [printed]; XII [handwritten]; UR 13 [handwritten]; Sirthenea / africana Dist. [handwritten] / N.C.E. Miller det.1956 [printed, date partially handwritten] (NHMUK). Ƌ: Zanzibar [handwritten]; Museum Paris / Coll. Noualhier 1898 [printed] (MNHN). Uganda: ♀: UGANDA / Bukyamata, / J.J. Ruwabuneza. / B.M. 1967-677. [handwritten] (NHMUK). Zambia: ♀: Katambo / Zambia / 1-II-1965 [handwritten] / Nat. Museum S. Rhodesia [printed]; Brit. Mus. [printed] / 1970 - 289 [partially handwritten]; Sirthenea / africana Dist. [handwritten] / det. G.M.Black 1968 [printed] (NHMUK). Ƌ: 33 [handwritten]; N Rhodesia / 1912 / Dr. Ll. Lloyd [printed]; Pres. by / Imp. Inst. Ent. / B.M. 1935-101. [printed] (NHMUK).

Diagnosis. This species is similar to S. rodhaini but can be easily distinguished from it by the distinct pale areas in the basal part of corium ( Figs. 2 , 193 ) and the pale apical part of membrane (hemelytron of S. rodhaini is dark, without pale markings, cf. Figs. 41, 197 ), the very slender left paramere, long and thin pedicel of aedeagus as well as the delicately curved posterior margin of the posterior pronotal lobe.

Redescription. Color: Body black or brown with pale markings on hemelytron ( Figs. 2 , 193 ). Head and all labial segments light brown to dark brown with seate of same color or slightly darker. Dark stripes under antennifer (from anterior margin of eye to apical part of head; visible variability in color intensity of stripes in different specimens), basal part of basiflagellum. Scape, basi- and distiflagellum as well as intercalar segments pale. Pedicel and basiflagellum with darker basal part. Apical part of pedicel pale (some representatives with unicolorous dark scape or only basal part paler). Eyes and ocelli dark. Ocelli rounded by dark annulus (brown to black). Pronotum uni- or bicolorous. Anterior pronotal lobe pale brown (darker than head) or darker in same color as posterior lobe (if anterior pronotal lobe dark then head in same color). Posterior pronotal lobe pale in anterior part or entirely dark brown (darker than anterior lobe, sometimes black). Scutellum dark brown to black with distinctly paler lateral margins and black apex. Hemelytron dark brown to black with paler markings in basal part ( Figs. 2 , 193 ). Pale markings covering a various area of basal part of corium. Apical part of membrane whitish. Legs, mesepimeron, apical part of mesepisternum and metepisternum pale. Abdomen beneath black with a pale, longitudinal spot on ventral side. Connexives dark (black or dark brown), bicolorous (anterior half pale, posterior half dark) or pale. Connexives of second and seventh segment pale (specimens with pale and bicolorous connexives) or dark (specimens with dark connexives). Pygophore pale with dark, irregular spots.

Structure: Body robust, relatively large. Head and pronotum shiny. Head with relatively long setae and a 3–4 pairs trichobothrial setae and shallow apodeme depression. Dorsal surface of antenniferes smooth. area from base of clypeus to posterior margin of ocelli without setae. Hairless area forked at basal part of clypeus. Anteocular part of head 3.13–3.4 times as long as postocular part in females and 2.46–2.47 times as long as postocular part in males. Eye narrower than synthlipsis with S-curved posterior margin in lateral view, ocelli large. Scape almost reaching or reaching apex of head, club-shaped, with variably sized (mostly long), erect setae and a few robust, erect setae. Pedicel with dense, adherent, short setae and 6 long trichobothrial setae ( Fig. 169 ). Basi- and distiflagellum with short, adherent setae and longer, numerous, regularly arranged, erect setae. Erect setae on basiflagellum of two different lengths. Second visible labial segment reaching or surpassing posterior margin of head. Tranversal furrow of head shallow. Anterior pronotal lobe sculptured with distinct sulci, long and thin apodeme depression, and without collar. Ridges of proepisternum and proepimeron connected in entire length ( Fig. 191 ). Transverse suture of pronotum with delicate curvature in middle. Posterior pronotal lobe smooth, slightly depressed medially, at level with curvature of transversal suture. Lateral part of posterior pronotal lobe with distinct, longitudinal, sculpturation. Metapleura with two incomplete ridges. Margins of scutellum thickened and shining with dense, variably sized setae (mostly long setae). Central part of scutellum with distinct granulations. Apex of scutellum short and rounded. Tibia and tarsus with spine-like setae (mostly on inner side). All legs with very long trichobothrial setae. Coxa with long, dense setae. Corium dull with shining basal part and slightly granulated costal margin. Hemelytron with different sized setae, very dense and short on costal margin. Hemelytron surpassing (most of males) or not (females) apex of abdomen. Abdomen ventrally with long and very dense setae, spiracles III–IV placed distant from ventral connexival suture.

Genitalia: Male—Median process of pygophore ( Fig. 6 ), with very small apex ( Fig. 11 ). Both parameres ( Figs. 7–10 ) slender and club-shaped, slightly curved in middle of length in dorsal view with relatively long setae on outer and inner sides. Vestiture of parameres reaching almost to base. Both parameres with sharp process in apical part. Pedicel of aedeagus long and thin ( Figs. 12, 13 ). Dorsal endosomal sclerite distinctly corrugated ( Fig 14 ).

Female—Valvifer I quadrangular ( Fig. 5 ), on outer side with numerous, dense very short setae and few distinctly longer setae. Styloids on inner margin with dense, short setae and with sharp apical part ( Fig. 3 ). Basal part of valvula II with a convolute inward process, forked in apical part with two sharp apices ( Fig. 4 ).

Measurements (in mm, male in parentheses): Body length: 19.5–22.3 (15.6–20.7); maximum width of abdomen: 3.6–5.1 (3.2–4.3); head length: 3.1–4.4 (2.8–3.7); head width: 2.2–2.5 (1.8–2.3); length of anteocular part: 1.7–2.5 (1.6–2.1); length of postocular part: 0.5–0.8 (0.7–0.9); length of synthlipsis: 0.9–1.2 (0.8–1.1); interocellar distance: 0.6–0.8 (0.5–0.7); length of antennal segments I:II:III:IV: 1.0–1.3 (1.0–1.2): 1.7–2.25 (1.7– 2.5): 1.5–1.9 (1.6–2.0): 1.8–2.0 (1.7–1.9); length of visible labial segments I:II:III: 1.0–1.2 (0.7–1.3): 2.5–3.3 (2.1– 3.4): 1.0–1.6 (1.2–1.9); maximum length of anterior pronotal lobe: 2.2–3.3 (2.2–3.0); maximum length of posterior pronotal lobe: 1.4–1.9 (1.3–2.0); maximum width of anterior pronotal lobe: 3.3–4.4 (3.0–4.0); maximum width of posterior pronotal lobe: 3.9–5.25 (3.4–5.0); length of scutellum: 1.3–1.8 (1.0–1.7); length of hemelytron: 11.1–13.8 (10.4–13.4).

Distribution: Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of South Africa (Transvaal, Pretoria), Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Uganda, Zambia (Map 1).

Comments: The species exhibits a certain degree of color variability, mainly concerning the color of connexives and the size of the pale area in the basal part of corium. Specimens from the northern part of its area ( Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan) are characterized by black connexives and only the basal part of corium as well as basal third to half of clavus being pale. The connexives of specimens from the central part of distribution of the species ( Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Uganda, Zanzibar) are bicolorous (pale anterior half and dark posterior half), and the pale markings on basal part of corium reach apex of clavus. Connexives of specimens from the southern part of the area of this species ( Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Republic of South Africa, Zambia) are usually pale or bicolorous (with small surface covered by dark pigment), with hemelytron provided with small pale markings only at base.

The described variability includes also specimens with transitional characters. Color variability of all examined specimens clearly shows a certain gradient of coloration along the entire range of occurrence of the species.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Sirthenea africana Distant, 1903—dorsal habitus.

FIGURES 3–14. Sirthenea africana Distant, 1903: 3—styloids, outer view; 4—gonapophysis of VIII segment, inner view; 5— gonocoxite of VIII segment, inner view; 6—pygophore, dorsal view; 7—left paramere, inner view; 8—left paramere, outer view; 9—right paramere, inner view; 10—right paramere, outer view; 11—median process of pygophore, lateral view; 12— phallus, right lateral view; 13—phallus, left lateral view; 14—phallus, dorsal view.

FIGURES 169–182. Trichobothrial setae on pedicel: 169—Sirthenea africana Distant, 1903; 170—S. flaviceps (Signoret, 1860); 171—S. picescens Reuter, 1887; 172—S. rodhaini Schouteden, 1913; 173—S. caiana Chłond, 2008; 174—S. dimidiata Horváth, 1911; 175—S. flavipes (Stål, 1855); 176—S. kali sp. nov.; 177—S. nigronitens (Miller, 1958); 178—S. nitida Chłond, 2008; 179—S. nigra Cai & Tomokuni, 2004; 180—S. setosa sp. nov.; 181—S. laevicollis Horváth, 1909; 182—S. obscura (Stål, 1866).

FIGURES 193–196. Color figures of habitus: 193—Sirthenea africana Distant, 1903; 194—S. flaviceps var. adelpha Horváth, 1909; 195—S. flaviceps var lugubris Horváth, 1909; 196—S. picescens Reuter, 1887.

FIGURES 188–192. 188—Ridges of metapleura of Sirthenea caiana Chłond, 2008; 189—U-shape posterior margin of an eye of S. obscura (Stål, 1866); 190—S-shape posterior margin of an eye of S. flaviceps (Signoret, 1860); 191—Ridges of proepisternum and proepimeron of S. africana Distant, 1903; 192—Ridges of proepisternum and proepimeron of S. nigronitens (Miller, 1958).

FIGURES 197–200. Color figures of habitus: 197—Sirthenea rodhaini Schouteden, 1913; 198—S. caiana Chłond, 2008; 199—S. dimidiata Horváth, 1911, male; 200—S. dimidiata, female.