Anisoscelis (Bitta) hymenipherus Westwood

Brailovsky, Harry, 2016, The genus Anisoscelis Latreille (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae: Coreinae: Anisoscelini): new species, taxonomical arrangements, distributional records and key, Zootaxa 4144 (2), pp. 195-210 : 204-205

Anisoscelis (Bitta) hymenipherus Westwood

( Figs. 13–14 , 25 )

Anisoscelis hymenipherus Westwood, 1840: 275 .

Bitta flavolineata osunai Brailovsky & Mayorga, 1995: 200 –202. Nov. Syn.

Diagnosis. Head pale orange; pronotum tricolored, posterolateral and posterior border yellow, with black transverse band between humeri, the rest pale to dark orange; scutellum black, lateral margins, middle longitudinal stripe and apex yellow; clavus shiny reddish; corium pale reddish orange, costal and apical border yellow, with inner incomplete black longitudinal stripe; inner margin of corium next to clavus black; hemelytral membrane dark brown; connexivum dark brown; dorsal abdominal segments dark brown, anterior border usually yellow; antennal segment I black, inner surface dark yellow, segments II–III black and IV pale brown with apical third dark orange; ventral surface pale yellow; labial segments I–III pale yellow, IV black; coxae pale yellow; trochanters pale yellow with two black longitudinal stripes; femora pale yellow with two complete black longitudinal stripes; fore and middle tibiae yellow with two complete longitudinal stripes; hind tibiae with inner expansion dark reddish with posterior border black, proximal angle and middle third pale orange; outer expansion dark reddish with proximal and distal third dark to pale yellow and middle third with transverse dark to pale yellow stripe with 5 to 8 irregular black spots; tarsi pale yellow. Labium almost reaching posterior margin of abdominal sternite IV; humeral angles subacute, directed back ward. Parameres. Figs. 13–14 .

Notes. Anisoscelis (B.) alipes Westwood, 1840 , A. (B.) gradadius Distant, 1881 , and A. (B.) hymenipherus Westwood, 1840 form a natural group of species characterized by having the pronotum tricolored, with posterolateral and posterior border yellow, next to a black transverse band between the humeri, the remainder pale to dark orange; scutellum black with lateral margins, middle longitudinal stripe, and apex yellow; antennal segment I black, inner surface pale to dark yellow; trochanters, femora and fore and middle tibiae pale yellow with two complete black longitudinal stripes. Anisoscelis (B.) hymenypherus is recognized by having the clavus shiny reddish, with its margin next to scutellum black, corium shiny reddish with apical and costal borders yellow and having a black longitudinal stripe next to costal border. The other two species have a black clavus and corium with claval and corial veins, and apical and costal margin yellow. In A. (B.) alipes and A. (B.) hymenipherus the head dorsally is pale yellow to pale orange, and in A. (B.) gradadius pale yellow with antenniferous tubercle, postocular area, ocellar tubercle and neck black. The humeral angles in A. (B.) alipes and A. (B.) hymenipherus are narrow, subacute, and directed backwards and in A. (B.) gradadius stout, and directed laterally.

Distribution. Colombia: Boyaca (Casanare, Aguaclara, Hacienda Don Antonio) and Tolima. Venezuela: Aragua (Maracay, El Limón, Rancho Grande), Arzoategui (Valle Guanape, near to Tucusito), and Mérida (Parroquia) ( Brailovsky & Mayorga 1995).

Type material examined. Holotype, male, Venezuela, Estado Aragua, El Limon, Maracay , 15-VII-1976, leg. J. M. Ayala ( UNAM) .

Material examined. New records. Surinam: 1 male, Nickerie, Mozes Kreek , 26-VI-1974, leg. D. Engleman ( UMRM) . Trinidad (West Indies): Carriker, heights of Aripo , VIII– IX-1909 (without collector) ( UNAM) ; 1 male, Arima Valley, Simla , Beebs Tropical Res., 27-IV-1976, 3-VII-1976, leg. C. B. & H. V. Weemer ( UNAM) ; 1 male, St. George Co., Simla House, N Arima, 10°41’N –61°17’W, 26–30-V-1997, leg. M. L. Pickles (CNC).

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 16. Parameres of Anisoscelis (Bitta) spp., in two views. 13 – 14, A. (B.) hymenipherus Westwood. 15 – 16, A. (B.) luridus sp. nov.

FIGURES 23 – 26. Dorsal view of Anisoscelis (Bitta) spp. 23, A. (B.) alipes Guérin-Méneville (male). 24, A. (B.) gradadius Distant (female). 25, A. (B.) hymenipherus Westwood (male). 26, A. (B.) podalicus Brailovsky & Mayorga (male).