Ectomocoris decoratus ( Stål, 1863 )

Malipatil, M. B., Liu, Yingqi & Cai, Wanzhi, 2023, Revision of Australian Ectomocoris with the description of nine new species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae), Zootaxa 5263 (4), pp. 451-504 : 463-468

Ectomocoris decoratus ( Stål, 1863)

( Figs. 8–10 )

Pirates decoratus Stål, 1863: 57 .

Callisphodrus decoratus: Stål (1867: 258) .

Pirates decorellus Walker, 1873: 129 . Synonymized by Distant (1902: 283).

Eumerus (Callisphodrus) decoratus: Stål (1874: 62) .

Sirthenea decorella: Lethierry & Severin (1896: 129) .

Ectomocoris decoratus: Lethierry & Severin (1896: 122) ; Maldonado (1990: 352).

Type specimens examined. Lectotype (present designation), macropterous male, (lectotype circular label added in present study), 58·124 Australia., decoratus Stål , 104. Pirates decoratus, NHMUK 013586031 ( NHM). Holotype of Pirates decorellus Walker, 1873 , macropterous male, Type, Moreton Bay 57 71, Pirates decoratus Walker’s Catal., NHMUK 013586032 ( NHM).

Other specimens examined. [ males macropterous and females micropterous]. AUSTRALIA. 2 males, aus., Pres. by Perth Museum. B.M. 1953-629. ( NHM) ; 1 male, Fin mola ( NHM) . QUEENSLAND. 1 male, Mackay , Queensland. G. Turner. 1892-16. ( NHM) ; 1 female, Townsville, Qld. 8.12.02 F. P Dodd, Queensland. F.P. Dodd. 1907-54. ( NHM) ; 1 male, Brisbane: H. Hacker. 30.10.21, 96, Queensland. H. Hacker. B.M. 1924-455. ( NHM) ; 1 male, 66. 12., Mor B., Pirates decoratus Walker’s Catal. ( NHM) ; 1 male, Kuranda , 1.08, R.W. Armitage 2.3.08 ( MV) ; 2 females, 17 00S 145 26E, Mareeba, iii.1993, Quarantine interception ( ANIC) ; 1 female, Mt Moffatt, Carnarvon NP, Top shelter shed, 1000m, 10-12.xii.1987, Monteith, Thompson & Yeates ( QM) ; 1 female, Blackdown Tableland via Dingo, 1-6.ii.1981, GB Monteith ( QM) ; 1 male, Fletcher ( QM) ; 1 male, Nth Pine, 4.xii.1962, G. Monteith ( QM) ; 1 male, Biggenden Bluff Range foothills, 19-20.xii.1972, H. Frauca ( ANIC) ; 1 male, Lake Broadwater via Dalby, SW Track, 22.viii.1984, M. Bennie ( QM) ; 1 male, Deepwater Creek via Rosedale, 14.xii.1976, G.B. & S.R. Monteith ( QM) ; 1 male, Brisbane , J. Muir ( QM) . NEW SOUTH WALES. 1 female, New S. Wales: Sydney, Auburn. 12.v.1927. B.M.1927-188. ( NHM) ; 1 male, Maitland, 26.xii.1962, A. N. ( MV) ; 1 female, Cessnock, 12.iii.1953, I.G. Filmer ( QM) ; 1 male, Bulgeragar Ck via Quambone, 11.xi.1979, R.J. Faulder ( NSWDPI) ; 1 female, Rivertree, 1.i.1931, E. Sutton ( MV) . AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY. 1 male, Yass, 1.i.1929, K. English ( ANIC) ; 1 male, Deakin, Canberra, 28.xii.1967, E.B. Britton ( ANIC) ; 1 male, Canberra, i.1953, H. Willings ( ANIC) . VICTORIA. 1 male, Tallarook Ranges, J.E. Dixon Collection Don. Jan 1940 ( MV) ; 1 female (abdomen missing), Glenrowan ( MV) ; 1 male, Grampians ( MV) ; 2 females, Trawool, 17.xii.1919 ( MV) ; 2 males, Victoria ( MV) .

Redescription.

Macropterous male ( Fig. 8 )

Colouration ( Fig. 8 ): Colouration of this species varies considerably among specimens examined. Primary body colour may be red, brownish red, brown or brownish black (brownish black part usually with blue metallic lustre). Following description is mainly based on the red colour form, which represents majority of examined specimens. Head, pronotum, scutellum, thoracic pleura and sterna red, posterior lobe of pronotum paler than anterior lobe in some individuals; scape yellow, second to fourth antennal segments yellowish brown; legs reddish brown, with apex of coxae, base of trochanters, apex of fore femur, basal one third and apex of mid and hind femora, base of tibiae and tarsi yellow; hemelytra of macropterous male dark brown, corium with a whitish stripe along claval suture, membrane with three whitish areas: a small stripe near base of costal margin, a curved band at basal area of AIC and an irregular patch at apical area of membrane; first to third abdominal tergites red, fourth to seventh tergites and abdominal sternites reddish brown, six and seventh tergites with a yellow patch in middle part, fourth and fifth tergites with median yellow spot as well in some individuals; connexiva with about anterior half of segments III–VII yellow and posterior half reddish brown.

Structure ( Figs. 8 , 10 ): Head covered with short yellowish pilosity and sparse brown longer bristly setae prominent on mandibular plates and dorsum of head. Anteocular region about 2.3 times as long as postocular part, postocular region not protruding laterally, clypeus near its base distinctly elevated above mandibular plates. Neck with lateral tubercles distinct. Ocelli separated from eye by slightly more than diameter of single ocellus. Anterior lobe of pronotum about 1.9 times as long as posterior lobe. Scutellum triangular, slightly longer than wide, scutellar process projected and long. Hemelytra exceeding tip of abdomen. Coxa of fore leg with yellowish pilosity; fore tibia with fossula spongiosa occupying over 2/3 tibial length, mid tibia with fossula spongiosa occupying half of tibial length. Male with abdominal sternum medially carinate, extragenital structure absent.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 10 ): Median pygophore process long, falcate in caudal view, apex sharp, ventral surface with a longitudinal ridge, basal part with paired pointed knobs ( Fig. 10A–C ). Parameres subtriangular, inner margins curved ( Fig. 10D&E ), left paramere with apex blunt ( Fig. 10D ). Phallus ( Fig. 10F–I ) in resting condition with basal plate bridge slightly longer than basal plate ( Fig. 10F ), length of pedicel similar with length of basal plate ( Fig. 10H ); dorsal phallothecal sclerite curved ( Fig. 10H&I ); lateral phallothecal sclerite somewhat rectangle with an indistinct process at basal portion of inner margin ( Fig. 10I ); apical portion of endosoma with a sclerite, apex of which with a sharp angular process ( Fig. 10F ).

Micropterous female ( Fig. 9 )

Colouration generally similar to macropterous male. Differs from macropterous form as follows. Ocelli smaller and less elevated. Pronotum with anterior lobe subspherical, more than four times as long as posterior lobe, posterior lobe slightly narrower than anterior lobe. Scutellum reduced, much wider at base than long. Mesonotum with a lateral tubercle on each side. Hemelytra represented by minute flap, only reaching half length of scutellum ( Fig. 9 ).

Measurements: [of lectotype macropterous male of Pirates decoratus when available, followed by ranges of six macropterous males and two micropterous females]. Body length 13.94, 12.35–12.69 (♁), 13.17–13.64 (♀); maximum width of abdomen 3.91, 3.60–3.64 (♁), 3.71–4.21 (♀); length of head 2.25, 1.81–1.88 (♁), 1.78–1.92 (♀); width of head across eyes 1.71, 1.47–1.56 (♁), 1.46–1.50 (♀); length of anteocular region 0.74–0.78 (♁), 0.82–0.91 (♀); length of postocular region 0.32–0.41 (♁), 0.35–0.39 (♀); width of eye in dorsal view 0.56–0.57 (♁), 0.50–0.53 (♀); width of interocular space 0.36, 0.35–0.38 (♁), 0.41–0.49 (♀); width of interocellar space 0.20, 0.10–0.12 (♁), 0.11–0.12 (♀); lengths of antennal segments I–IV 1.26, 1.11–1.29 (♁), 0.99–1.10 (♀) / 2.43, 2.12–2.22 (♁), 1.93–2.07 (♀) /?–2.69 (♁), 2.69–? (♀) /?–? (♁), 1.68–? (♀); length of visible labial segments I–III 0.80–0.86 (♁), 0.75–0.79 (♀) / 1.17–1.35 (♁), 1.28–1.32 (♀) / 0.71–0.72 (♁), 0.71–0.78 (♀); length of pronotum 3.42, 2.99–3.21 (♁), 2.60–? (♀); length of anterior pronotal lobe 1.90–2.12 (♁), 2.11–2.28 (♀); length of posterior pronotal lobe 1.09–1.10 (♁), 0.49–? (♀); width of anterior pronotal lobe 2.19–2.98 (♁), 2.19–2.19 (♀); width of posterior pronotal lobe 3.51, 2.97–3.18 (♁), 2.05–? (♀); length of scutellum 1.80, 1.52–1.93 (♁), 0.83–1.03 (♀); maximum width of scutellum 1.44, 1.32–1.64 (♁), 1.91–? (♀); length of hemelytra 9.52, 8.40–8.99 (♁).

Distribution. Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Victoria, and also Tasmania ( Cassis & Gross 1995)).

Notes. This species differs from E. truculentus (redescribed below) in having connexivum of each segment alternating with light and dark bands both ventrally and dorsally ( Figs. 8 , 9 ).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Ectomocoris decoratus (Stål, 1863), lectotype, male, habitus. A, dorsal view; B, lateral view; C, ventral view. Orange arrow indicates median carina on abdomen. Scale bar = 4.00 mm.

FIGURE 9. Ectomocoris decoratus (Stål, 1863), non-type females showing different body colour, dorsal habitus. Scale bar = 3.00 mm.

FIGURE 10. Male genitalia of Ectomocoris decoratus (Stål, 1863). A–C, pygophore; D, left paramere; E, right paramere; F–I, phallus. A, G, ventral view; B, caudal view; C, H, I, lateral view; D, E, outer ventrolateral view; F, dorsal view. Abbreviations: bp, basal plate; bpb, basal plate bridge; dps, dorsal phallothecal sclerite; end, endosoma; kb, knob on median pygophore process; lps, lateral phallothecal sclerite; mpp, median pygophore process; ped, pedicel; st, struts. Scale bar = 1.00 mm (for A–C); 0.80 mm (for D–I).