Physopelta (Afrophysopelta) analis (Signoret, 1858)

Stehlík, Jaroslav L., 2013, Review and reclassification of the Old World genus Physopelta (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Largidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 53 (2), pp. 505-584 : 555-557

Physopelta (Afrophysopelta) analis (Signoret, 1858)

Pyrrhocoris analis Signoret, 1858 in FAIRMAIRE & SIGNORET (1858): 306 (description, distribution).

LECTOTYPE (here designated): ♀, ‘ Old Calabar’ [= Nigeria, Cross River State, Calabar] (NHMW).

Note. The species was described based on unknown number of specimens. We located two syntypes of the species, one in Signoret’s collection in NHMW, one in the General Collection of the MNHN, originating from the collection of Fairmaire. The lectotype is designated here to fix the identity of the species.

Odontopus analis Stål, 1858: 441 (description, distribution).

SYNTYPES: 2 specimens, Old Calabar (NHRS, G. Lindberg, pers. comm.).

Synonymized by STÅL (1863: 391).

Note. According the original description, the types were deposited in coll. Dohrn ( STÅL 1858). The collections of A. Dohrn, C. A. Dohrn, and W. L. H. Dohrn were acquired by the Museum für Naturkunde in Stettin [= Szczecyn] ( HORN et al. 1990: 96); the collections of this institution were partly destroyed during the World War II; the remaining part was transferred to the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa ( HORN et al. 1990: 458). However, there are two syntypes in Stål collection in NHRS.

Physopelta analis: STÅL (1863) :391 (catalogue, new synonym, distribution); STÅL (1866): 2–3 (catalogue, redescription, distribution); STÅL (1870): 101 (catalogue, distribution); WALKER (1873): 17 (key, catalogue, distribution); REUTER (1882): 28 (distribution); LETHIERRY & SEVERIN (1894): 241 (catalogue, distribution); HAGLUND (1895): 464 (distribution); KIRKALDY & EDWARDS (1902): 172 (distribution); DISTANT (1904): 62 (differences from Ph. melanoptera ); GOLDING (1927): 97 (bionomics, distribution); HUSSEY (1929): 29 (catalogue, distribution); BLÖTE (1931): 99 (distribution); SCHMIDT (1931): 46 –47 (variability, distribution); VILLIERS (1951): 40 (key); VILLIERS (1952a): 121 (diagnosis); VILLIERS (1952b): 1196 (distribution); SOUTHWOOD (1961): 115 (distribution, ecology); LESTON (1969): 225–227 (key, biology, ecology, host plant, distribution); GIBBS & LESTON (1970): 528, 536 (ecology, distribution); DUVIARD (1974): 26–32 (morphology of female internal genitalia, biology, ecology); MEDLER (1980): 119 (checklist); LINNAVUORI (1988): 13 (distribution); ROBERTSON (2004): 4 –5 (key, catalogue, distribution); GÖLLNER- SCHEIDING (2012): 105 (distribution).

Type material examined. LECTOTYPE: ♀, NIGERIA: CROSS RIVER STATE: ‘Old Calabar [hw] // Coll. Signoret. [p] // analis [hw] / det. Signoret. [p] // ♀ [p, white label] // LECTOTYPUS / PYRRHOCORIS / ANALIS / Signoret, 1858 / des. J. L. STEHLÍK 2013 [p, red label]’. The specimen is pinned through scutellum on a black-enameled pin with head; both antennomeres 4, left hind leg, right protarsus, and right middle and hind leg are missing.

PARALECTOTYPE: ♂, NIGERIA: CROSS RIVER STATE: ‘vieux Calabr [= old Calabar], 1898, coll. Noualhier // [green label] // ♂ [p] // PARALECTOTYPUS / PYRRHOCORIS / ANALIS / Signoret, 1858 / des. J. L. STEHLÍK 2013’ ( MNHN). The lectotype is pinned on a black-enameled pin, considerably damaged, missing both antennae and all the legs on its left side, right fore leg, mesotibia, and mesotarsus.

Additional material examined. BENIN: no details, 1 ♀, Schutz lgt. ( ZMUH) ; Attogon, 6°42′N – 2°9′E, friches prés des cultures [= fallow lands near cultivated fields], 3.–4.vii.2000, 1 ♂, H. Perrin lgt. ( MNHN) ; Bas-Dahomey, Plateau de Zaguanado et de Kétou , et forêt [= and forest of] d’Adja-Duéré (saison séche [= dry season]), i.1910, 1 ♀, P. Ducrops lgt., P. Kment det. ( MNHN) . – CAMEROON: SOUTH- WEST PROVINCE: Victoria [= Limbe], no data, 3 ♀♀, coll. Breddin ( DEIC) ; ditto, i.[no year], 1 ♀, coll. Breddin ( DEIC) ; ditto, vi.[no year], 1 ♂ 1 ♀, coll. Breddin ( DEIC) ; ditto, no further data, 1 ♀, coll. Schouteden ( MRAC) ; ditto, vii.1916 – viii.1917, 1 ♀, Cdr. F. H. FitzRoy lgt., P. Kment det. ( BMNH) ; Mukonje by Kumba , 23.–25.ii.1938, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, S. G. Eisentraut lgt. ( ZMHB) ; Mukonje Farm by Mundame , on mungo, no date, 3 ♂♂ 7 ♀♀, R. Rohde lgt. ( ZMUH) . – CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: BANGUI PROVINCE: Bangui env., x.1968, 1 ♀, R. Pujol lgt., P. Kment det. ( MNHN) ; HAUT- MBOMOU PROVINCE: Haut-Oubangi, Bessou ( Mission ), amont de [= above] Fort de Possel , Mission Chari-Tchad , ix.1904, 1 ♀, Dr. J. Decorse lgt., P. Kment det. ( MNHN) . – DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: EQUATEUR: Lukolela , xi.1934, 1♂, Dr. Ledoux lgt. ( MRAC) ; ditto, x.–xii.1941, 1♀, Breuiheid lgt. ( MRAC) ; Eala, xi.1934, 1 ♂, J. Ghesquière lgt. ( MRAC). – HAUT KATANGA: Lubumbashi , xii.[no year], 1 ♂, Dr. M. Bequaert lgt. ( MMBC). – KWANGO: Ngowa, 16.xi.1938, 1 ♀, no collector ( ISNB). – NORD- UBANGI: Libenge , Yumbi , 19.ix.1947, 1 ♂; ditto, Mission Mawuay , 15.x.1947, 1 ♀; ditto, 19.xi.1947, 1 ♂ ; ditto, Savane Liki-Bembe , 2 ♀♀, all Cremer & Neuman lgt. ( ISNB) ; Libenge , i.1937, 3 ♂♂ 6 ♀♀ ; ii.1937, 1 ♂, v.1938, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, all C. Leontovitch lgt. ( ISNB). – SUD- UBANGI: Budjala , 1.v.1937, 1 ♂, C. Leontovitch lgt. ( ISNB) . – EQUATORIAL GUINEA: BIOKO ISLAND: Santa Isabel [= Malabo], v.[no year], 1 ♀, coll. Schouteden ( MRAC) ; Conception Coast , 14.xii.1926, 1 ♀, no collector ( ZMUH) . – GABON: Libreville env. (Ft. Sibangue), viii.1930, 1 ♀, G. Babault lgt. ( MNHN). – GHANA: ASHANTI REGION: Tafo , light, 5.iv.1957, 1 ♂, 23.iv.1957, 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, 29.iv.1957, 1 ♂, 15.v.1957, 1 ♀, V. F. Eastop lgt. ( BMNH) ; Ashanti, Bompata, 3 ♀♀, A. E. Evans lgt. ( BMNH). – EASTERN REGION: Exp. Station , border of primary forest, 20 km from Kade , 150 km of Accra , 1968, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, no collector ( MMBC) . – IVORY COAST: Adiopodoumé , 1973, 4 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, no collector, P. Kment det. ( MNHN) ; Assinie , 1898, 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, Alluaud lgt., coll. Noualhier, P. Kment det. ( MNHN) ; Bingerville , vi.1961, 1 ♀, J. Decelle lgt. ( MMBC) ; Yakopa by Gagnoa, viii.196l, 1 ♂, no collector·( MMBC) ; Lamto , piège lumineux [= light trap], ii.1968, 1 ♂, Cl. Girard lgt., P. Kment det. ( MNHN) . – NIGERIA: CROSS RIVER STATE: Calabar, no date, 2 ♀♀ 1 spec., no collector, P. Kment det. ( BMNH). – LAGOS STATE: Lagos Dist. , 16.ix.1968, 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, W. E. S. Merrett lgt. ( BMNH). – RIVERS STATE: Opobo, no further data, 1 ♀, S. Sühders lgt. ( ZMHB) . – REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Région d’Ouesso, Bassin N’Goko-Sanga , 1906, 1♀, Dr. J. Gravot lgt., P. Kment det. ( MNHN) . – TOGO: no further data, 20.xii.1909, 3 ♀♀, M. Otto lgt. ( ZMUH).

Biology. According to LESTON (1969), it is a common species in food- and cocoa-farms in Ghana, widespread within the forest zone and occasionally very abundant. Most localities may be defined as farmbush, which includes the edges of farms, early fallow after food-farming operation, and the more mature regeneration stage usually styled secondary forest. However, it was also collected in the coastal shrub belt in Ghana ( LESTON 1969). GOLDING (1927) reported adults of Ph. analis from Ibadan, Nigeria, feeding on fruits of Mallotus oppositifolius (Euphorbiaceae) in July–September, with larvae being observed in September.Also in Ghana, the species is often abundant on Mallotus oppositifolius , where the larvae and adults feed on the small green trilobed fruits, their warning coloration making them easily spotted. LESTON (1969) noted the common co-occurrence of Ph. analis with Ph. melanoptera and Kmentia festiva , all three species exploiting the same parts of the same host plant at the same time.

In Ghana, adults of Ph. analis have been captured in every month of the year, but numbers vary greatly ( LESTON 1969, GIBBS & LESTON 1970). SOUTHWOOD (1961) recorded Ph. analis from an ultra-violet light trap at Tafo, Ghana, operated in March and April. According to LESTON (1969), adults mate in Ghana at least between early March and mid-April (and perhaps from January on); the new generation is responsible for the light-trap peak, suggesting largescale movement of the new adults. Larvae are seldomly seen after the end of May ( LESTON 1969, GIBBS & LESTON 1970). The adults probably survive until about next March. Although the species is probably mainly diurnal, night feeding was observed in mid-April. Arrivals to lights take place between 19.00 hour and midnight. The warning colouration pattern is efficient so far as large feeding aggregations occur ( LESTON 1969). The flight activity and its relationship with development of internal female reproductive organs was studies in Ivory Coast by DUVIARD (1975).

Distribution. Benin ( VILLIERS 1952b; this paper), Cameroon ( HAGLUND 1895, BLÖTE 1931, SCHMIDT 1931, ROBERTSON 2004; this paper), Central African Republic (new record), Democratic Republic of the Congo ( HUSSEY 1929, as Congo; this paper), Gabon ( KIRKALDY & EDWARDS 1902, no details; ROBERTSON 2004; this paper), Ghana ( REUTER 1882, SOUTHWOOD 1961, LESTON 1969, LINNAVUORI 1988, ROBERTSON 2004; this paper), Guinea ( STÅL 1870), Ivory Coast (DUVIARD 1975, ROBERTSON 2004; this paper), Nigeria (SIGNORET 1858, STÅL 1858, GOLDING 1927, MEDLER 1980, LINNAVUORI 1988, SCHMIDT 1931, ROBERTSON 2004; this paper), Republic of the Congo (GÖLLNER- SCHEIDING 2012; this paper), Togo ( VILLIERS 1952b; this paper).