THE TRIBE MEROPACHYDINI WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF FIVE NEW GENERA, SYNONYMICAL NOTES, AND A KEY TO THE GENERA (HETEROPTERA : COREIDAE : MEROPACHYDINAE)

22 Pages·1999·10.7 MB·

by  H Brailovsky

PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH.
101(3). 1999, pp. 573-594
THE TRIBE MEROPACHYDINI WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF FIVE NEW
GENERA, SYNONYMICAL NOTES, AND A KEY TO THE GENERA
(HETEROPTERA: COREIDAE: MEROPACHYDINAE)
Harry Brailovsky
Departamento de Zoologia, Institute de Biologia UNAM, Apdo. Postal 70-153, Mexico,
D.F., 04510, Mexico (e-mail: [email protected])
—
Abstract. Five new genera and six new species from Costa Rica, Brazil, Ecuador,
Peru, and Bolivia are described in the tribe Meropachydini: Alcocerniella limonensiSy
Juaristiella pacificae, Larraldiella tertninalis, Possaniella oblata, Soteloniella perpar-
vula, and Soteloniella scutellata. Menardus Distant is proposed as a newjuniorsynonym
of Peranthus Stal, and Menardus notatus (Walker) is transferred to the genus Peranthus,
resulting on the new combination Peranthus notatus (Walker). A key to the 11 known
genera of Meropachydini is given.
Key Words: Insecta, Heteroptera, Coreidae, Meropachydinae, new genera, new species.
Neotropical
Stal (1867) provided a key to the genera The new genera belong to the tribe Mer-
of Meropachydinae, and later Stal (1870) opachydini which are recognized by the
listed species included in each genus. Dis- elongate scutellum which extends beyond
tant (1881-1892, 1900) made some changes the distal end ofthe clavus, hind acetabulae
in the generic placement primarily of spe- projecting laterally and visible in dorsal
cies described by Walker (1871). Since that view, and hind tibiae broadly curved dis-
time, taxa of this subfamily have received tally.
little attention with a few exceptions (Kir- In this revision five new genera and six
kaldy 1904, Schmidt 1911, Kormilev 1951, new species collected in Costa Rica (1),
1954, Alayo Pastor 1967, Froeschner 1981, Brazil (4), Ecuador (1), Peru (1) and Boliv-
Baranowski and Slater 1986, Packauskas ia (1) are described, the genus Menardus
1994). Distant (1900) is proposed as a junior syn-
The subfamily Meropachydinae Stal re- onym of Peranthus Stal (1867), and Men-
stricted to the Western Hemisphere, is a rel- ardus notatus (Walker) is transferred to the
atively small, but diverse group of Heter- genus Peranthus, with the binomen Per-
optera characterized primarily by having anthus notatus (Walker).
the distal end of the hind tibiae ending be- The following abbreviations are used for
AMNH
neath in a short projecting spine, hind fem- the institutions cited in this paper:
ora curved and usually strongly incrassate, (American Museum of Natural History,
and hind coxae far separated. The subfam- New York); BMNH (The Natural History
ily includes 15 genera separated into three Museum, London); BPBM (Bernice P.
tribes: Merocorini (1), Meropachydini (7), Bishop Museum, Honolulu); CAS (Califor-
and Spathophorini (7) (Kormilev 1954, nia Academy of Sciences, San Francisco);
Packauskas 1994). CMN (Carnegie Museum of Natural His-
574 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
tory, Pittsburgh); INBIO (InstituteNacional and wide longitudinal furrow; anterior mar-
de Biodiversidad, Santo Domingo de He- gin entire, slightly curved; anterolateral
redia, Costa Rica); LACM (Los Angeles margins obliquely straight, smooth or tu-
County Natural History Museum, Los An- berculate, and emarginate or not; postero-
geles); MNR (Museum Nacional, Rio de Ja- lateral margins sinuate and smooth; poste-
neiro, Brasil); UB (University ofCalifornia, rior border convex or barely straight, mar-
UNAM
Berkeley); (Instituto de Biologia, gin without or with an irregular transverse
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexi- ridge; triangular process absent or well de-
co); USU (Utah State University, Logan); veloped. Prostemum markedly sunken, with
ZMB (Museum der Humboldt, Universitat posterior third in front of area between fore
zu Berlin, Germany). legs produced into narrowed acute tubercle;
mesostemum raised or not, with anterior
Features in Common of the Genera margin in front of area between fore legs
Described
produced into narrowed subacute tubercle,
Head: Wider than long, pentagonal, non posterior margin variable throughout gen-
declivent, dorsally flat; tylus unarmed, api- era; lateral margins of mesopleuron raised
cally globose, elevated, extending anterior- on a short or medium-size elongate tuber-
ly to and laterally higher than juga and an- cle, overlapping or not propleuron; meta-
tenniferous tubercles;juga unarmed, shorter stemum variable throughout genera; poste-
than tylus; space between antenniferous tu- rior margin of metathorax straight, with lat-
bercles filled by tylus; antenniferous tuber- eral angles projected into wide conical tu-
cles unarmed, never contiguous; space be- bercles, touching the hind coxae; metathorax
tween antenniferous tubercles almost wider laterally expanded, in dorsal view with
than one tubercle; side of head in front of metapleura and acetabulae weakly or prom-
eye unarmed; antennae shorter than body; inently visible; metathoracic peritreme lo-
antennal segment I robust, barely flattened, cated near lower margin of metapleuron,
thickest, slightly curved outward, longer with upper third closed; canal short, semi-
than head; segments II and III flattened, sul- circular, with raised sides; evaporating area
cate, slender; segment IV fusiform, weakly poorly developed; anterior lobe variable
incrassate; antennal segment IV the longest, throughout genera, posterior lobe short, ob-
III the shortest, and I longer than II; ocelli tuse, slightly exposed.
close to eyes; preocellar pit obliquely deep; Legs: Hind coxa strongly separated,
eyes globose, slightly protuberant, based on armed or unarmed, visible beyond costal
an hypothetical line upper margin located margins and sides of body in dorsal view;
almost at same level of vertex and frontal hind trochanter conspicuously tuberculate
area; postocular tubercle absent; mandibu- and exposed, or weakly convex; fore and
lar plate absent; head ventrally and behind middle femora relatively slender, unarmed
buccula without or with conical tubercle; or armed with one to three subdistal tuber-
buccula rectangular or almost quadrate, cles; hind femur markedly incrassate, with
raised, short, entire, projected ornot beyond dorsal surface smooth or tuberculate and
antenniferous tubercles, meeting posteriorly ventral surface strongly armed with spines
and closed; rostrum short, barely reaching and tubercles; fore and middle tibiae un-
anterior or middle third of mesostemum. armed, sulcate, and slightly expanded at
Thorax: Pronotum: Wider than long, tra- posterior third; hind tibia curved, com-
peziform, slightly declivent, wider than pressed, shorter than femur, with outer mar-
base of scutellum; collar wide; frontal an- gin not expanded and remarkably sulcate,
gles obtuse, not projected; humeral angles inner margin usually markedly expanded,
obtuse or barely projected; calli entire, not and apically armed with a broad long spine;
elevated, separated at midline by a short fore and middle tarsi with tarsal segment I
.
VOLUME 101, NUMBER 3 575
equal or slightly shorter than segments II conical tubercle (= Menardus Distant) ....
and III combined; hind tarsus with segment Peronthus Stal
Head ventrally behind buccula smooth, with-
I longer or shorter than segments II and III out a tubercle at most with an irregular cal-
combined.
losity 3
Scutelhun: Longer than wide, and al- 3. Scutellar disc without a distinct Y-shaped el-
ways longer than clavus; general shape var- evation; posterior margin of mesostemum at
iable throughout genera; disc with or with- each side with one short lobe touching ante-
out Y-shaped elevation. rior lobes ofmetasternum (Figs. 11-12); pos-
Hemelytron: Macropterous, reaching terior margin of metasternum flat; dorsal sur-
faces ofhind femora smooth 4
apex of or slightly beyond last abdominal - Scutellar disc with a clearly Y-shaped eleva-
segment; claval suture present but covered tion; posteriormargin ofmesosternumateach
by apex of scutellum; clavus partially cov- side with one large lobe freely projecting
ered by scutellum; costal margin shallowly backwards and bending up, not touching an-
concave; apical margin obliquely straight or terior lobe of metasternum (Figs. 6—10, 13);
posterior margin of metasternum at middle
slightly concave, with apical angle narrow- third with a deep depression of capsule-like
ly, very long, extending beyond middle appearance; dorsal surface of hind femura
third of hemelytral membrane. weak to strongly tuberculate from base to
Abdomen: Gradually narrowing beyond apex 5
middle, and slightly expanded posteriorly; 4. Scutellum remarkably slender abruptly nar-
rowed on distal half, apex bifid (Fig. 21); an-
abdominal segment VII of male usually lat- tennal segment I slender, less than 2.05 mm;
erally exposed; connexival segments metapleuranot laterallyexpanded;hindfemur
scarcely elevated, clearly sulcate; posterior scarcely incrassate; inner face of hind tibia
angle of each segment entire, not expanded weakly expanded; abdominal sternite III of
into spine; abdominal sternum without me- male with small lateral prominences ....
Larraldiella. new genus
dial furrow; abdominal spiracle elliptical;
- Scutellum not remarkably slender, narrowing
abdominal spiracle III closer to anterior very gradually, apex rounded; antennal seg-
border, spiracles IV to VII closer to middle ment I robust, longer than 2.10 mm; meta-
third; abdominal stemite II visible, slender, pleura laterally expanded; hind femur con-
with or without conical tubercle located spicuously incrassate; inner face ofhind tibia
close to posterior border of metathorax; ab- expanded; abdominal sternite III of male
smooth, without lateral prominences ....
dominal stemite III weakly or clearly ex- Gracchus Stal
panded, and in dorsal view with spiracle 5. Dorsal surface of hind femur strongly tuber-
visible. culate from proximal to distal end; hind tro-
Female genitalia: Abdominal sternite chanterconvex, nottuberculate; scutellum 1.7
VII with plica and fissura; plica triangular; to 2.2 times longer than wide, and apically
fissura with inner margin overlapping; gon- rounded; anterior margins of thoracic meso-
pleura each with a black elongate spot ....
ocoxae I subtriangular, in caudal view Maiichisine Kirkaldy
closed, in lateral view almost straight, with - Dorsal surface of hind femur weakly tuber-
upper border rounded; paratergite VIII tri- culate fromproximal endtomiddlethird(Fig.
angular, with spiracle visible; paratergite IX 22); hindtrochantertuberculate; scutellum3.3
squarish, longer than paratergite VIII. to 3.8 times longer than wide, and apically
acute; anterior margins ofthoracic mesopleu-
Key to Genera of Meropachydini ra without black spot . . Soteoniella, new genus
6. Head ventrally and behind buccula with a
1 Posteriorborderofpronotumwithatriangular strong conical tubercle 7
projection above each basal angle of scutel- - Head ventrally and behind buccula smooth,
lum 6 without a tubercle 9
- Posterior border of pronotum without trian- 7. Hind femurconspicuously clavate, slenderto-
gular projections 2 wards base, and abruptly thickened beyond
2. Head ventrally behind buccula with a strong middle (Fig. 23) Possaniella. new genus
—
576 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
"
'I
Figs. 1-5. Metathoracic peritreme. \, Flavius lineaticoniis. 2, SofelonielUi perpiiniilci. ?>. Jnaristiella paci-
ficae. 4, Alcocernielki Uinonensis. 5, Lcirraldiella tenninalis.
Hind femur never clavate, uniformly incras- ed near base: scutellar disc without a distinct
sate (Fig.s. 19-20) 8 Y-shaped elevation 10
Middle third ofposterior margin ofmetaster- 10. Posterior margin of metasternum bilobed
num flat, without lateral lobes (Fig. 10): an- (Fig. 6) Hihlcus Stal
terior lobe of metathoracic peritreme with a - Posterior margin of metasternum projected in
black lunular spot (Fig. 1): body surface a medial quadrangular plate directed straight
densely pubescent: scutellumclearlycontract- downward (Fig. 7) .... Jiiciristiella. new genus
ed near base: dorsal surfaces of hind femur
strongly tuberculate Flavius Stal Alcocerniella Brailovsky, new genus
Middle third of posterior margin of metaster-
num with two lateral lobes (Figs. 6-8): ante- Diagnosis. Alcocerniella and Flavius
rior lobe of metathoracic peritreme tooth- Stal are the only known genera in the tribe
shaped without a black lunular spot (Figs. 3- Meropachydini that have the head ventrally
4); body surface not densely pubescent: scu- with a conical tubercle behind the bucculae,
tellum not contracted near base: dorsal sur-
faces of hind femur smooth triangular process on posterior margin of
Alcocerniella. new genus pronotum well developed, mesosternum al-
9. Posterior margin of mesosternum trilobed, most raised, and the hind coxa with outer
withmesial lobeexpandedandbroad,and lat- apical angle strongly tuberculate.
eral lobes short (Fig. 9); scutellum strongly Alcocerniella differs from Flavius by the
contracted nearthe base: scutellardisc with a
following characters: Anteriorlobe ofmeta-
broad Y-shaped elevation
Meropachys Burmeister thoracic peritreme globose, without a black
Posterior margin of mesosternum bilobed lunular spot (Fig. 4), scutellum not con-
(Figs. 6-7): scutellum not orweakly contract- tracted near base, hind femur in dorsal view
—
VOLUME NUMBER
101, 3 577
smooth, body surface not densely pubes- overlapping the posterior margin of pro-
cent, mesosternum slightly raised, and mid- pleuron; metathorax laterally expanded, in
dle third of posterior margin of metaster- dorsal view metapleura and acetabulae very
num with two lateral lobes (Fig. 8). In Flav- broadly visible. Anterior lobe of metatho-
ins the anterior lobe of the metathoracic racic peritreme globose (Fig. 4).
peritreme has a black lunular spot (Fig. 1), Legs: Hind coxae well separated, dis-
scutellum clearly contracted near base, hind tance between them nearly 3.4 to 3.8 times
femur in dorsal view strongly tuberculate, the diameter ofone coxa, outer apical angle
body surface heavily covered with whitish strongly tuberculate; hind trochanter con-
pubescence, mesosternum conspicuously vex; fore femur relatively slender, unarmed;
raised, middle third of posterior margin of middle femur relatively slender, ventrally
metasternum flat, without lateral lobes (Fig. with 1 to 3 subdistal tubercles; hind femur
10). markedly incrassate, attaining apex or pos-
A unique character in the male of Alco- terior margin oflast abdominal sternite with
cerniella is the conical tubercle on abdom- dorsal surface smooth, ventrally armed with
inal sternite III, absent in Flavins. spines and tubercles in two irregular rows,
Generic description. Head: Distance without a strong tooth close to base; inner
between ocelli 2.4 to 2.6 times diameter of margin of hind tibia well expanded.
one ocellus; distance between ocelli and Scutellum: 1.8 to 2.1 times longer than
eye 0.9 to l.I times diameter of one ocel- wide, longer than clavus, not coarctate near
lus; head ventrally and behind buccula base; disc with Y-shaped elevation; apex
strongly tuberculate; rostrum short, barely subacute; lateral margins clearly emargin-
reaching anterior third ofmesosternum; ros- ate.
tral segment III shortest, IV longest, I lon- Abdomen: Abdominal sternite II visible,
ger than II. slender, without conical tubercle; abdomi-
Thorax: Pronotum: Humeral angles ob- nal sternite III clearly expanded, in dorsal
tuse, not exposed; anterolateral borders view with spiracle visible; male abdominal
obliquely straight, almost smooth, not sternite III laterally conspicuously produced
emarginated; posterior border barely con- into two large conical lobes freely directed
vex; triangular process broad, apically downwards; female abdominal sternite III
rounded. Mesosternum weakly raised, an- flat, without conical lobes.
terior margin in front of area between fore Male genitalia: Genital capsule simple,
legs produced into a narrowed subacute tu- semiglobose; posteroventral edge entire,
bercle, posterior margin between middle straight, with small medial plate, and lat-
legs prominent, bilobed, each lobe well sep- erally with the angles rounded. Paramere:
arated from mesial line, overlapping the Simple and straight; anterior lobe convex,
lobes of anterior margin of metasternum; continuous with body, apex curved, nar-
metasternum slender, rectangular, anterior rowly blunt (Fig. 15).
margin remarkably raised on two large Female genitalia: Spermatheca: Bulb
lobes, separated along midline by a wide somewhat elongated; spermathecal duct
furrow; each lobe touching the two lobes of moderately coiled proximally, with only
posterior margin of mesosternum; posterior two distal coils; flank distinct; chamber
margin of metasternum almost straight, more or less globose (Fig. 14).
each lateral angle projected as a broad rect- Integument: Body surface with mixed
angular plate, laying against metacoxae, short and large decumbent to suberect hairs;
and at middle third with two lateral lobes head, calli, clavus, corium, prosternum, me-
delimiting a barely hemispherical capsule- sosternum, metasternum, and abdominal
like depression (Fig. 8); lateral margin of sterna impunctate; pronotum strongly punc-
mesopleura raised as an elongate tubercle tate, abruptly striate; scutellum punctate.
——
578 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
.^.^4Ai.
M.
.^^
12
Figs. 6-13. Thorax in ventral view showing niesosternum and metasternum. 6, Hirilciis i^racilis. 7, Jiuiris-
tiellapucificae. 8,Alcoceniiella limonensis. 9, Meropachys nigricans. 10, Flavins lineaticornis. 11, LarraUliella
tenninalis. 12, Gracchus integer. 13, Soteloniellaperpar\'ula.
except lateral margins and Y-shaped ele- interocular space 1.20; interocellar space
vation (arms of Y-shaped finely striate); 0.45; distance ocellus to eye 0.20; diameter
propleura, posterior margin of metapleura, of ocellus 0.17; preocular distance 1.10
and acetabulae punctate; metapleuraweakly length antennal segments: I, 3.55; II, 2.95
tuberculate; antennal segments and legs III, 2.60; IV, 4.20; length rostral segments
densely covered with short decumbent to I, 0.77; II, 0.58; III, 0.55; IV, 0.80. Prono-
suberect setae.— tum: Total length 4.45; width across frontal
Etymology. Named for Jorge Alcocer angles 2.25; width across humeral angles
Varela, distinguished Mexican immunolo- 5.40. Scutellar length 5.50; maximum width
gist. of anterior lobe 2.25; maximum width of
Type species. Alcoceniiella limonensis posterior lobe 1.40. Hind leg: femur length
Brailovsky, new species. 8.74; tibia length 5.82. Total body length
18.20.
Alcoceniiella limonensis Brailovsky, Female: Head length 1.60; width across
new species
eyes 2.05; interocular space 1.05; interocel-
(Figs. 4, 8, 14-15, 19) lar space 0.45; distance ocellus to eye 0.17;
Description. Measurements: Male: diameter ofocellus 0.15; preocular distance
Head length 1.75; width across eyes 2.30; 1.03; length antennal segments: I, 2.85; II,
VOLUME 101, NUMBER 3 579
2.30; III, 2.15; IV, 3.80; length rostral seg- tarsi reddish brown; hind leg with coxa
ments: I, 0.65; II, 0.62; III, 0.52; IV, 0.74. bright orange, trochanter bright reddish
Pronotum: Total length 3.90; width across brown, femur bright orange with spines and
frontal angles 2.25; width across humeral tubercles reddish brown, tibia and tarsus
angles 4.55. Scutellar length 4.15; maxi- bright black to reddish brown; abdominal
mum width ofanterior lobe 1.90; maximum sterna bright chestnut orange with tubercles
width of posterior lobe 0.95. Hind leg: fe- of abdominal sternite III and posterior mar-
mur length 6.91; tibia length 5.16. Total gin of VII reddish brown; pleural abdomi-
body length 15.72. nal sterna III to VI bright orange yellow,
Dorsal coloration: Male: Head bright and VII black with olive green reflections;
chestnut yellow with olive green reflec- genital capsule bright chestnut orange.
tions; antennal segment I with dorsal face Female: Similar to male. Connexival
dull chestnut orange and ventral face red- segments VIII and IX dark chestnut orange;
dish brown; segments II and III reddish abdominal segments VIII and IX black;
brown, IV with basal third reddish brown, genital plates bright chestnut orange, outer
middle and distal third dark reddish orange; border ofparatergite VIII and IX black; pli-
pronotum chestnut yellow with three broad ca black; hind tibia bright black with pale
longitudinal stripes, posterior margin, and yellow fascia close to the apical third; ab-
humeral angles pale to dark olive green; dominal sternite III without lateral tuber-
scutellum bright orange yellow with bright cles.
red longitudinal medial stripe; clavus and Variations in coloration: 1, Pronotum
corium dark olive green to dark brown, chestnut orange with olive green reflec-
with veins yellow and with or without olive tions, and three irregular longitudinal
green reflections; hemelytral membrane stripes black to dark olive green. 2, Clavus
dark ambarine with veins and basal angle and corium with veins pale olive green. 3,
black; connexival segments I to VI yellow, Corium dark olive green to dirty yellow
and VII black; abdominal segments black, with olive green reflections. 4, Anterior
with abdominal scars IV-V and V-VI yel- lobe of metathoracic peritreme pale yellow.
low. Ventral coloration: Head pale bright 5, Hind tibia bright black, basal join and
chestnut orange with olive green reflec- outer surface chestnut orange. 6, Posterior
tions; rostral segments dark bright chestnut margin ofmetathorax creamy yellow to yel-
orange with olive green reflections (apex of low, with olive green reflections. 7, Meso-
IV black); prothorax orange yellow with sternum bright chestnut orange. 8, Area
reddish orange spot near fore acetabulae, around each abdominal spiracle reddish or-
posterior margin of propleura olive green ange. 9, Tubercles of abdominal sternite III
with punctures reddish brown; mesosternon bright orange. —
mostly black; mesopleuron bright orange Type material. Holotype: d, Costa
yellow with reddish orange spot near to Rica, Prov. Limon, Estac. Hitoy Cerere, R.
middle acetabulae, and close to middle third Cerere, Res. Biol. Hitoy-Cerere (1000 m),
ofthe same mesopleuron; metathorax bright July 1992, G. Carvallo (INBIO). Paratypes:
orange with anterior and posterior tubercles COSTA RICA: 2 d 1 $, Prov. Guanacaste,
darker to black; upper face ofhind acetabu- Estac. Pitilla, 9 km. S. Sta Cecilia (700 m).
lae bright orange with olive green reflec- May and August 1988, G. N. P Biodiver-
tions and irregular red spot near to dorsal sity Survey, 85°25'40"W-10°59'26"N and
edge; metathoracic peritreme black with an- November 1988, C. Chaves and M. Espi-
terior lobe with pale ochre reflections; fore noza (INBIO, UNAM); 4 d, Prov. Heredia,
and middle legs, with coxae, and trochan- Estac. Magsasay, P. N. Braulio Carrillo (200
ters bright chestnut orange, femora and tib- m), March 1991, A. Fernandez, May 1991,
iae yellow with olive green reflections and M. A. Zumbado (INBIO, UNAM); 1 ?,
—
580 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 14-18. \4-\5, AlcocenueUa Umonensis. 14, Spermatheca. 15, Paramere. \6-\l.Jiiahstiellapacificae.
16. Spermatheca. 17, Paramere. 18. Spermatheca of//////tf/.v t;/Y<t/7/.v.
Prov. Puntarenas, Estac. Biol. Las Alturas, Juaristiella Brailovsky, new genus
Goto Brus (1500 m), January 1992, M. Ra-
mirez, G. Mora and F. Quesada (INBIO); 1 Diagnosis. Alcocerniella, Flavins, Hir-
?, Golfito, 26 July 1981, B. K. Dozier ilciis, Meropachys, Possaniella, and Juar-
(USU); 1 (5, Prov. Gartago, 3 km. SE, Tur- istiella are the only known genera in the
rialba, GATIE (600 m), 13-16 May 1985, tribe Meropachidini with a triangular pro-
J. Doyen (UB); 1 9, Prov. Limon, Haci- cess on posterior border of pronotum.
enda Tapezco, 29 air Km, W. Tortuguero, In Alcocerniella, Flavins and Possaniel-
10°30'N-83°47'W (40 m), 13 March 1978, la, the head in ventral view has a tubercle
J. P. Donahue, D. Penny, D. Moeller, and behind buccula, in Hirilcus the tubercle is
G. Lewis (LAGM); 1 d, Prov. Limon, Si- absent or barely developed, and in Mero-
quirres (100-200 m), 16 August 1970, J. pachys and Juaristiella always absent. In
and M. Sedlacek (BPBM). Meropachys the posterior margin of meso-
—
Etymology. The species is named for sternum between middle legs is trilobed,
the Province of—Limon in Gosta Rica. with medial lobe expanded and broad, lat-
Distribution. Known only from Costa eral lobes shorter, the posterior margin of
Rica. metastemum simple and straight (Fig. 9). In
—
VOLUME 101. NUMBER 3 581
Hihlciis and Juaristiello the posterior mar- racic peritreme strongly exposed, semiglo-
gin of mesosternum is bilobed (Figs. 6-7). bose, curving upward (Fig. 3).
Juaristiella is clearly segregated from Legs: Hind coxa strongly separated,
Hihlcus because the posterior margin ofthe with outer apical angle scarcely tubercu-
metasternum is projected into a medial qua- late; distance between them 4.0 to 5.0
drangular plate directed straight downward times diameter of one coxa; hind trochan-
(Fig. 7), and the spermathecal bulb is elon- ter convex; fore and middle femora slen-
gated with the proximal third barely coiled der, unarmed, without tubercles; hind fe-
(Fig. 16). In Hihlcus the posterior margin mur markedly incrassate, not attaining
of the metasternum is projected into two apex of abdomen, reaching middle third of
lateral and broad conical tubercles (Fig. 6), abdominal sternite VI; dorsal surface with
and the spermathecal bulb is almost flat- few scattered callosities, similar to tuber-
tened, with the proximal third conspicuous- cles, ventrally armed with five subapical
ly coiled (Fig. 18). spines and four tubercles in one irregular
Generic description. Head: Distance row; inner margin of hind tibia markedly
between ocelli 4.0 to 4.2 times the diameter expanded.
of one ocellus; distance between ocellus Sciitellum: 2.1 (d) to 3.0 (9) times lon-
and eye 0.8 times the diameter of one ocel- ger than wide, elongate, longer than clavus,
lus; head ventrally and behind buccula slightly contracted near base; disc with Y-
without tubercle; rostrum short, barely shaped elevation; apex subtruncated or
reaching anteriorthird ofmesosternum; ros- rounded; lateral margins emarginated.
tral segment III shortest, IV longest, I lon- Abdomen: Abdominal sternite II visible,
ger than II. slender, with medium sized conical tubercle
Thorax: Pronotum: Humeral angles ob- close to lateral angle and near to metacox-
tuse, barely exposed; anterolateral borders ae; abdominal sternite III expanded, in dor-
obliquely straight, tuberculate, weakly sal view with spiracle visible.
emarginate; posterior border convex; trian- Male genitalia: Genital capsule simple,
gular processes broad, apically rounded; semiglobose; posteroventral edge with
pronotal disc and calli with tubercles or ir- broad tongue-like middle plate, with small
regular elevations. Mesosternum not raised, notch at middle third; lateral angles round-
anterior margin in front of area between ed. Paramere: Simple, straight; anterior lobe
fore legs produced into narrowed subacute convex, continuous with body, apex ending
tubercle, and posterior margin between in a slender projection with sharp apical
middle legs bilobed, with each lobe almost tooth (Fig. 17).
touching at mesial line and projecting to- Female genitalia: Plica narrowly, U-
wards metasternum, laying between tuber- shaped; gonocoxae I squarish, in caudal
cles of anterior margin of metasternum; view closed, in lateral view almost straight,
metasternum slender, rectangular, with an- upper border rounded. Spermatheca: Bulb
terior border distinctly raised as two broad somewhat elongate; spermathecal duct
lobes, separated along midline by short fur- moderately coiled proximally, with two
row; each lobe touching the two lobes of coiled distally; flank distinct; chambermore
posterior margin of mesosternum; posterior or less globose (Fig. 16).
margin ofmetasternum projected into a me- Integument: Body surface densely cov-
sial quadrangular plate directed straight ered with long to short decumbent to sub-
downward (Fig. 7); lateral margin of me- erect hairs; head, calli, clavus, corium, pro-
sopleura raised on an elongate callosity; sternum, mesosternum, and metasternum
metathorax laterally expanded, in dorsal impunctate; pronotum strongly punctate
view with metapleura and acetabulae re- and abruptly striate; scutellum punctate, ex-
markably visible. Anterior lobe of metatho- cept lateral margin; propleura, posterior
582 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Fig. 19. Dorsal view ofAlcoceniiella liinoneiisis.
margin of metapleura, acetabulae, and pleu- decumbent to suberect setae; calli, pronotal
ral abdominal sterna scarcely punctate; meta- disc, and abdominal sterna III with con-
pleura weakly tuberculate; antennal seg- spicuous creamy-yellow callosities like-tu-
ments and legs densely covered with short bercles or irregular spots.