Pelocoris balius La Rivers

Sites, Robert W., 2015, Pelocoris balius La Rivers (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Naucoridae) in Florida: New Status of an Enigmatic Saucer Bug, Zootaxa 3915 (3), pp. 433-438 : 434-437

Pelocoris balius La Rivers , new status

Figs. 1 , 3, 5

Pelocoris femoratus balius La Rivers 1970 : Biol. Soc. Nevada Occas. Paper 26: 1–3.

Supplemental description. In the original description, the only reference to a sex-related structure was the shape of the female subgenital plate. Otherwise, the description did not include consideration of male or female genitalia and other associated structures. Therefore, these and other features are described here.

Coloration. Body color of live specimens anteriorly brown with green mottling, scutellum and wings dark brown to black ( Fig. 1 ). Profemur with dark spotting generally over dorsal and ventral surfaces, dark markings coalescent at posterodorsal margin. Head with dark spotting generally over entire dorsal surface, markings coalescent at posterior margin on either side of midline, sometimes extending anteriorly as paired lines approaching anterior margin. Pronotum with dark brown punctation scattered over most of surface; laterally punctures not evident but dark markings present; dark spotting coalescent in various places, especially in anterior half at midline; transverse band at posterior margin medium brown with irregular dark brown blotches. Scutellum black. Hemelytra dark brown to black. Connexiva greenish brown anteriorly, dark brown posteriorly, giving checkered appearance. Ventrally mostly brown.

Structural characteristics. Males (n=10): Length 8.96–9.76 (mean = 9.37); maximum width 5.20–5.60 (mean = 5.36). Females (n=10): Length 9.28–10.72 (mean = 9.82); maximum width 5.28–6.08 (mean = 5.68).

Male. Head anterior to eyes 0.12; eyes convergent anteriorly, inner margin strongly concave, length 1.28, width 0.58, synthlipsis at anterior margin 1.16. Labrum width 0.84, length 0.40. Labium extending beyond labrum 0.50. Scutellum width 3.00, length 1.36. Hemelytron 6.40 mm in length (chord distance); embolium length 2.68, maximum width 0.80; claval commisure 0.74. Connexiva with posterolateral corner II squared, III–IV slightly produced, V–VII distinctly produced. Leg measurements as follows: foreleg, femur 2.48, tibia 1.96, tarsus 0.40; middle leg, femur 2.12, tibia 1.64, tarsomeres 1–3 0.12, 0.32, 0.42; hind leg, femur 2.60, tibia 3.16, tarsomeres 1–3 0.18, 0.66, 0.62, pretarsal claw 0.30.

Genitalia and associated structures. Male: Posterior margin of mediosternite III, IV, VII straight; V deeply incised medially; mediosternite VI small, nearly half width of posterior margin of V, broadly convex posteriorly; genital operculum broadly convex posteriorly. Aedeagus broad basally, left side mostly straight, right side gradually narrowing throughout and distinctly arcuate in apical ¼ to knoblike apex ( Fig. 3 ). Parameres small, with short hairs on distal half, slightly asymmetrical; right paramere with mesal margin somewhat straight, left paramere lobe-like with mesal margin rounded ( Fig. 3 ). Pygophore with margin between parameres strongly convex and rounded ( Fig. 3 ), with fine setae. Female: Mediosternites III–VI with posterior margin slightly concave and parallel. Posterior margin of laterosternite VI straight. Subgenital plate broad, lateral margins slightly concave, posterior margin with pronounced medial concavity ( Fig. 5 ), greatest width 1.56, length at midline 1.04. Valvulae 1 with stout, overlapping spines.

Discussion. In the original description, La Rivers distinguished P. f. balius ( Fig. 1 ) from the nominate subspecies ( Fig. 2 ) by "the prominent brown tuberculation of the posterior surface of the procoxa; the conspicuous brown mottling of profemur; and the dense dotting and spotting of the pronotum." In addition to those differences are the following: Body coloration of live specimens predominantly brown rather than green ( Figs. 1, 2 ); posterolateral corners of abdominal segments less acuminate; embolium more elongate, lateral margin less convex and pale coloration restricted to marginal stripe rather than the entire basal 3/4; female laterosternite VI posterior margin straight rather than convex; female subgenital plate less narrowed posteriorly, lateral margins only slightly concave (compare Figs. 5, 6 ); valvulae I with larger, stout spines similar to those of P. biimpressus Montandon (see Sites and Polhemus 1995, Fig. 2 a); parameres slightly asymmetrical with left paramere lobe-like with mesal margin rounded rather than truncate, pygophore convex medially rather than concave (compare Figs. 3, 4 ); claws shorter, 0.75x that of P. femoratus . Body size is very highly significantly greater when considering overall body length (males: t=5.86, df=18, p<0.0001; females: t=3.70, df=18, p=0.002) and overall body width (males: t=9.98, df=18, p<0.0001; females: t=5.79, df=18, p<0.0001).

In bodies of water at different localities in central and northern Florida, both taxa were collected together including at Clay, Hardee, Leon, and Orange counties. Thus, because both taxa co-occur and the morphological differences between them are even more profound than previously reported, I hereby elevate Pelocoris femoratus balius to full species status. As such, Pelocoris balius joins P. femoratus and P. carolinensis to become the third species of Pelocoris in Florida and the fourth in the U.S. Note that John Epler (2006) already considered P. balius to be a valid species in his treatment of the aquatic and semi-aquatic Heteroptera of Florida.

Roback and Nieser (1974) considered P. binotulatus (Stål) of Colombia, South America to be similar to P.

femoratus because of the same form of the aedeagus, but opted not to synonymize them because their P. binotulatus were smaller and have a dark patch on the dorsal side of the fore femur, which they noted is similar to that of P. balius . Further research is needed to determine the relationship between P. balius and P. binotulatus .

Material examined. FLORIDA: Alachua Co.: Gainesville, University of Florida, retention pond at Entomology and Nematology Building, 6 May 2004, emergent vegetation, R. W. Sites (1♀, UMC); Gainesville, 11-18-87, coll: Willis, (7♂, 1♀, FSCA); Gainesville, 22-III-1983, Scott W. Gross, Scott W. Gross collection 1990 (1♀, USNM); Gainesville, X-12, Oman 1938 (1♀, USNM); Aug. 29 70, Matta (1♂, USNM). Highlands Co.: Fish Eating Creek, Venus, 20-I-1975, (1♂, 3♀, USNM); Fish Eating Creek, Venus, 20-I-1975, water hyacinth, leg. W.R. Suter, (1♂, USNM); Fish Eating Creek, Venus, (4 mi. W), 9-I-1975, hyacinth seine, Judy and Walter Suter legs. (1♂, 1♀, USNM); Fish Eating Creek, 9-I-1975, cypress duff hyacinth, W. Suter legs (1♀, USNM); Fish Eating Creek, 9-I-1975, hyacinth seine, Judy and Walter Suter legs, (2♂, USNM). Marion Co.: Lake Bryant, 16 April 1938, S.H. Spurr (1♀, FSCA). Miami-Dade Co.: PineL and Tr. Camp Area, Everglades Nat’l. Park, III-27-1967, coll: Lloyd R. Davis Jr. (1♂, FSCA). Orange Co.: Hwy 50 1.3 mi E of Christmas, 30 June 1994, coll. R. W. Sites, roadside ditch/swamp (1♂, 4♀, 33 nymphs, UMC); same locality, 8 Feb. 1995, D. G. LeDoux (1♂, UMC); 1.9 km W St Johns Riv. on hwy 50, 28° 32.419' N, 80° 57.756' W, elev. 4 m, 1 July 2014, R. W. Sites & D. Denson, among Salvinia in ditch with cypress, L-1827 (17♂, 11♀, UMC). Palm Beach Co.: 2 mi. E. Belle Glade, 27 January 2005, leg. R. Beiriger (1♀, UMC). Polk Co.: Lakeland, 23 X 1948, R. F. Hussey (1♀, USNM); Lakeland, 15 IV 1950, J. E. Burgess (1♀, USNM). Union Co.: near Dukes, December 30 1947, F. N. Young #480 (1♂, UMAA).

Additional records. FLORIDA: Clay Co.: Camp Blanding Wildlife Mgt. Area, tributary of Long Ford Creek at Gidding Rd, 0.2 mi S of N. Bay Rd., site 83; 29-Oct-95, leg. M.C. & M.F. Minno, det. J.T. Polhemus, JH Epler (1♂ JHEC). DeSoto Co.: Horse Creek at State Rte 72, 30 Dec. 1981, leg. R.P. Rutter, det. J.T. Polhemus, JH Epler (1♂, 2♀, JHEC). Franklin Co.: Bald Point, pond off Dunes Rd, 39-iii- 2005, leg JH Epler, det JH Epler (1♀, JHEC). Hardee Co.: Horse Creek above Goose Pond Road, lat 27.41900, long -81.98478 [HCSW-2], 22-iv-2004, leg. Biological Research Associates personnel, det. JH Epler (1♀, JHEC); near Fort Green, 19 July 2005, herbaceous marsh, coll. K. Bowman (1♂, 1♀, RPUC). Lake Co.: Unnamed pond at CR 445 near Astor, Ocala National Forest (N 29.104147, W -81.566942), 03-V-05, coll: Dana R. Denson (1 nymph, DRDC); Glenn Branch at NFS 539, Ocala National Forest (N 29.051477, W -81.526125), 28-IV-07, coll: Dana R. Denson (1♀, FDEP). Leon Co.: Black Creek off Forest Road 305, 4-iv-2005, leg. JH Epler, det JH Epler (1♂ JHEC). Osceola Co.: Whittenhorse Creek at Hartzog Road (N 28.386014, W -81.614676), coll. Dana R. Denson (1♀, RCID). Palm Beach Co.: Water Conservation Area 2A, south of Hillsboro Canal spillway S-10C, 26-viii-1992, leg. Environmental Services & Permitting field personnel, det JT Polhemus, JH Epler (1♂ JHEC). Wakulla Co.: Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge, East River at State Highway 59; 26-xi-2003, leg. JH Epler, det JH Epler (1♀, JHEC).

Published records ( La Rivers 1970): FLORIDA: Brevard Co.: Titusville; Orange Co.: Orlando; Seminole Co.: Sanford (type locality).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Habitus of (1) Pelocoris balius, (2) Pelocoris femoratus.

FIGURES 3 – 6. Genital capsule showing aedeagus and parameres of (3) Pelocoris balius, (4) Pelocoris femoratus. Terminal abdominal sterna of female including subgenital plate of (5) Pelocoris balius, (6) Pelocoris femoratus.