Ambracius rubricosus (Distant)

Ferreira, Paulo Sérgio F. & Henry, Thomas J., 2010, Revision of the genus Ambracius Stål, 1860 (Heteroptera: Miridae: Deraeocorinae: Clivinematini), with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 2485, pp. 1-15 : 9-10

Ambracius rubricosus (Distant)

(Fig. 8)

Fundanius rubricosus Distant, 1884: 291 (n. sp.); Atkinson, 1890: 45 (cat.).

Synonymized by Carvalho, 1952b: 14 with Ambracius dufouri Stål ; resurrected by Ferreira, 1996: 271.

Diagnosis: Head reddish, without stripe or band. Scutellum uniformly or predominantly pale red. Hemelytral membrane fuscous, with apex whitish.

Redescription: Female (Figs. 8a–b) compared with type (four specimens measured, specimen “compared with type by Carvalho” given first, followed in parentheses by mean and range): Body length 4.08 (4.32, 4.08–4.56); width 2.32 (2.42, 2.32–2.52). Head length 0.60 (0.64, 0.60–0.68); width 0.86 (0.99, 0.98–1.00); distance between eyes 0.42 (0.51, 0.42–0.60); length of antennal segment I 0.30 (0.33, 0.30–0.36); II 1.20 (1.27, 1.20–1.34); III 0.60 (0.65, 0.60–0.70); IV 0.40 (0.40, only two examples); labium length 1.24 (1.36, 1.24–1.48). Pronotum length 1.20 (1.33, 1.20–1.46); width 1.66 (1.77, 1.66–1.88); length from anterior margin to transverse suture 0.34 (0.40, 0.34–0.46). Hind leg lengths: Femur 1.40 (1.52, 1.40–1.64); tibia length 1.88 (2.12, 1.88–2.36); tarsus [missing] (0.29, 0.28–0.32). Scutellum length 0.64 (0.75, 0.64–0.86); width 0.76 (0.84, 0.76–0.92). Hemelytron length 3.48 (3.94, 3.48–4.40); width 1.16 (1.22, 1.16–1.26); length from base to cuneal fracture 2.04 (2.30, 2.04–2.56); length from cuneal fracture to apex of membrane 1.44 (1.64, 1.44–1.84); cuneal length 0.64 (0.74, 0.64–0.84); cuneal width 0.70 (0.63, 0.56–0.70).

General coloration red, with brown, fuscous and black areas. Antennal segments, except segment I, eye, apical 2/3 of labium, and all tarsi fuscous. Hemelytral membrane and terminal segments of abdomen fuscous. Ostiolar peritreme pale red.

Genitalia (Figs. 8c–j): Posterior wall variably triangular, entire anterior margin deeply notched (Figs. 8c, e, g, i); sclerotized rings (Figs. 8d, f, h, j) simple, not twisted, with lateral margins very thin.

Male (two specimens measured, the first from Tamaulipas, the second from Veracruz): Body length 3.44– 4.48; width 1.96–2.08. Head length 0.60–0.62; width 1.00–1.02; distance between eyes 0.42 (same for both); length of antennal segment I 0.30–0.34; II 1.08–1.14; III 0.60, missing; IV 0.40, missing; labium length 1.14– 1.26. Pronotal length 1.06–1.16; width 1.38–1.46; length from anterior margin to transverse suture 0.28–0.34. Hind leg lengths: Femur 1.32–1.40; tibia 1.76–2.00; tarsus 0.24–0.28. Scutellum length 0.66 (same for both); width 0.68–0.72. Hemelytron length 3.28–3.44; width 0.98–1.04; length from base to cuneal fracture 2.00– 2.04; length from cuneal fracture to apex of membrane 1.28–1.40; cuneal length 0.66–0.74; cuneal width 0.60 (same for both).

Similar to female in morphology, color, and vestiture. Antennal segment II not clavate as in females.

Genitalia (Figs. 8k–m): Gutterlike structure (Fig. 8k) highly developed with apex enlarged and longer than spine-support structure. Seminal duct well developed. Left paramere (Fig. 8l) falciform, with apex enlarged and acute; sensory lobe reduced, bearing long erect setae; right paramere (Fig. 8m) reduced, with apex rounded and spiny.

Distribution: Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru ( Schuh, 1995).

Host: Unknown.

Material examined: Mexico: 1 Ƥ, Chiapas, 3–5 km N Ocozocoautla, 25 July 1988, Robert W. Jones ( TAMU); 1 Ƥ, 21 km N Ocozocoautla, 2 Aug. 1982, Clark and Cave ( TAMU); 13, 1 Ƥ, 5 mi. north Nuevo Tenochtitlan, 3000', 7 Aug. 1990, J. C. Schaffner ( TAMU); 1 Ƥ, Oaxaca, 4 mi. N C. Loxicha, 15 July 1973, Mastro and Schaffner ( TAMU); 2 Ƥ, 5 miles south Candelaria Loxicha, 18–19 July 1974, Clark, Murray, Ashe, Schaffner ( TAMU); 1 Ƥ, 4.4 mi. S San Gabriel, Mixtepec, (Hwy. 131), elev. 2500ft., 10–11 July 1987, Kovarik, Schaffner ( TAMU); 1 Ƥ, Tamaulipas, 4 mi. W Cd. Victoria (Canon del Novillo), 14 Nov. 1985, P. Kovarik, R. Jones and K. Haack ( TAMU); 13, 82 km east Ciudad Victoria, Hwy. 70, 3 July 1986, Jones, Kovarik, Schaffner ( TAMU); 13, Veracruz, Catemaco, 6 Sept. 1974, G. Bohart, W. Hanson ( TAMU); 1 Ƥ, 20 mi. S Misantla, 22 Sept. 1976, W. E. Clark, host plant 76–6 ( TAMU); 1 Ƥ, Tecolapa, 9 Sept. 1977, E. Barrera ( UNAM); 2 Ƥ, Est. Biologia Los Tuxtlas, 4 Mar. 1985, A. Ibarra ( UNAM); Ƥ, 8 km S Sontecomapan, 7 Sept. 1982, Clark & Cave ( TAMU); Ƥ, 2 mi. NE Catemaco, July 23, 1966, J. Meyer ( TAMU); 1 Ƥ, 1 mi. S Misantla, 27 Sept. 1976, E. W. Clark ( TAMU). Dominican Republic: 1 Ƥ, Distrito National, St. Domingo 20– 9 l, Aug., A. Busck ( USNM); 1 Ƥ (compared with type by Carvalho), Samana: La Majagua, 16 Aug. 1967, J. C. Schaffner ( TAMU).

Discussion: The majority of specimens of this species have a transverse fuscous to black stripe on the basal half of hemelytra that may be reduced in size (present only on the clavus) or absent in others. Some exemplars have a black mark covering most of the pronotal disc (Fig. 8b) that varies in size or is absent. An examination of the male and female genitalia indicates that A. rubricosus and D. dufouri are distinct species.