Polytes debra Eger, 2015

J. E. Eger, Jr., 2015, Polytes debra, a new species from Peru (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae: Pachycorinae), Insecta Mundi 2015 (420), pp. 1-6 : 1-2

Polytes debra Eger , new species

Description. Dorsum ( Fig. 1 ) densely, finely punctate, punctures provided with short curved setae. Dorsal coloration black with following orange markings: pair of large macules on pronotum, each contiguous with posterior pronotal margin and occupying a large part of each side of pronotum; cicatrices mesially and thin longitudinal line between cicatrices; large transverse macule stretching across scutellum beginning at about 1.0 mm posteriad of basal margin and extending nearly half-way to apex of scutellum; and claval vein on hemelytra. Anterolateral pronotal margins, lateral margin of hemelytra basally, lateral margin of connexiva and extreme apex of scutellum bordered with thin pale line; apex of tylus pale. Venter black ( Fig. 2 ) with the following pale markings: fine line along lateral margins of pronotum, hemelytra basally, and abdomen; fine line on posterior margin of seventh sternite mesially, this not as wide as tibial diameter; base of head, and parts of first two rostral segments, and anterior margin of prosternum. Ventral punctation moderately dense laterally, sparse mesially, most provided with fine curved setae. Length of body 10.5, width at widest point 7.2.

Head broadly rounded apically ( Fig. 3 ), relatively short, width at 1/4 of distance from apex to base equal to about 3/4 of head length; lateral margin before eyes sharply angled; length 2.1, width 3.05, interocular distance 1.95, interocellar distance 1.0. Length of antennal segments 1–5: 0.7; 0.6; 0.7; 1.3; 1.6. Rostrum reaching posterior margin of metasternum, length of segments 1–4: 1.1; 1.6; 0.65; 1.0.

Pronotum rather evenly convex, slightly impressed submarginally along anterolateral margins; anterolateral margins convex, carinate, posterolateral margins sinuate, posterior margin concave. Length of pronotum at meson 3.25, width across humeri 6.65. Scutellum strongly convex, 7.1 long, maximum width 7.1. Legs black, coxae and trochanters somewhat lighter colored and with some pale markings.

Abdominal venter uniformly black except for pale markings mentioned previously. Mid-ventral length of segments 3–7: 0.6; 0.6; 0.45; 0.5; 1.9.

Female genital plates ( Fig. 4 ). First gonocoxae elongate, relatively thin, moderately punctate and wrinkled, provided with few long setae; posterior margins broadly concave laterally, narrowly convex mesially; mesial margins contiguous, distinctly but narrowly elevated. Exposed portion of second gonocoxae small, pale. Ninth paratergites elongate; mesial margins rounded, narrowly overlapping; sparsely punctured, provided with sparse long setae mesially; anterior margins laterally and posterior margins mesially pale-bordered. Eighth paratergites narrow, sparsely punctured; posterior margins pale, provided with row of long setae.

Type Material. HOLOTYPE: female, labeled: a) PERU: San Martín Dept., Mirador Alto Mayo, Km 374 on 5N, 18-X-2012, 1960 m., J. E. Eger. b) S 05º40’07.9”, W 077º45’22.0”. Deposited in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods , Gainesville, FL. There are no paratypes.

Comments. Polytes debra is similar to P. ruth (Breddin) in overall size, the shape of the head, and the presence of a thin pale line on the posterior margin of the last sternite. The dorsal coloration is quite different, though. The latter species is known only from males which are relatively consistent in coloration ( Fig. 5 ). Polytes debra is similar in color except that the pronotal macules are not invaded by a lanceolate marking, and the scutellar macule does not cover most of the scutellum, and is not interrupted mesially by black. In addition, the dorsal surface of P. ruth tends to be relatively glabrous and mostly lacks setae in punctation, whereas the dorsal surface of P. debra is matte and most punctures are provided with setae (this difference may be an artifact of specimen age); the area around the cicatrices in P. ruth tends to be more strongly impressed than in P. debra ; the lateral margin of the head anterad of the eyes is sharply angled in P. debra , smoothly rounded in P. ruth ( Fig. 6 ). It is conceivable that P. debra is a female of P. ruth , but the fact that the coloration of P. ruth was relatively consistent and species of Polytes for which both sexes are known do not display sexual dimorphism in coloration leads me to believe that this is a distinct species.

Within the fenestra species group, P. debra can be recognized by the head broadly rounded anteriorly, the lack of a bilobed pale macule mesially on the posterior margin of the seventh sternite, and the distinctive color pattern. The type of P. debra was swept by me along a roadside and immediately recognized as distinctive. I returned to this area and swept and beat intensively, but was not able to find additional specimens.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to my wife, Debra Eger , for many years of love, support and encouragement.

Figures

Figures 1–4. Polytes debra. 1) Habitus, dorsal view. 2) Habitus, ventral view. 3) Head. 4) Female genital plates. Scale bars equal 1 mm.

Figures 5–6. Polytes ruth. 5) Habitus, dorsal view. 6) Head. Scale bars equal 1 mm.