Orthotylus tafoensis Kerzhner and Schuh, 1995

Forero, Dimitri, 2009, Description of One New Species of Chileria and Three New Species of Orthotylus, with Nomenclatural and Distributional Notes on Neotropical Orthotylinae (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylini), American Museum Novitates 3642, pp. 1-50 : 40-43

Orthotylus tafoensis Kerzhner and Schuh

Figures 2 , 17–18

Orthotylus nigrescens Carvalho and Fontes, 1973: 497 [n. sp.]; Schuh, 1995: 172 [catalog, as synonym of O. virens ( Fallén, 1807) ].

Orthotylus tafoensis Kerzhner and Schuh , in Schuh, 1995: 171 [replacement name].

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the elongate, sickle-shaped right paramere reaching the left paramere socket (fig. 17); strongly curved left paramere, apically enlarged, with a vertical central cleft (fig. 17); paramere sockets with dorsal, flattened lobes (fig. 17); phallotheca with a dorsal, curved opening, an apical left medially directed prolongation, and a basal, lateral right weakly sclerotized area (fig. 17, arrow); and vesica with a single spicule with four rami, three of the rami directed caudad, one directed cephalad (fig. 17).

Orthotylus tafoensis is easily recognized among Neotropical Orthotylini by the dark coloration (fig. 2) and the structure of the male genitalia (fig. 17). Orthotylus tafoensis may be confused with the four Orthotylus species treated above (i.e., O. chilensis , O. chullan , O. kakan , and O. kikin ) due to its dark coloration (fig. 2), but in males of those four species the head has a pair of whitish marks on the vertex next to the eyes that are absent in males of O. tafoensis (fig. 2). Females of O. tafoensis are very similar in coloration to O. chilensis , O. chullan , O. kakan , and O. kikin , but they are more ovoid and short winged (fig. 2). Orthotylus tafoensis is further separat- ed from those species by the long and curved right paramere, whereas in the other four species it is elongate and approximately subrectangular (fig. 14E–H). The flattened foliaceous lobes located dorsal to the paramere sockets (fig. 17) are unique and are not found in any other known species of Orthotylini .

DISTRIBUTION: Orthotylus tafoensis is found in the ‘‘Norte Chico’’ region in the northern part of Chile between the rivers Copiapó and Aconcagua, approximately between 27 ° and 32 ° S (fig. 18).

HOST: Heliotropium stenophyllum Hook. & Arn. (Boraginaceae) .

DISCUSSION: Carvalho and Fontes (1973) described Orthotylus nigrescens as a new species from ‘‘Eltofo’’ (misspelling of El Tofo), Coquimbo, Chile. Stichel (1933) named three forms from Europe of Orthotylus virens ( Fallén, 1807) , a Palearctic species: O. virens fuscescens , O. virens lutescens , and O. virens nigrescens . Carvalho (1958) regarded these three forms as synonyms of O. virens . Schuh (1995: 172) incorrectly listed O. nigrescens Carvalho and Fontes as a synonym of O. virens nigrescens Stichel 1933 , rather than as a homonym. Kerzhner and Schuh (2001) stated that O. tafoensis is the replacement name for O. nigrescens Carvalho and Fontes , and that the latter should be removed from synonymy of O. virens , as in Schuh’s catalog (1995). Orthotylus tafoensis was supposedly proposed by Kerzhner and Schuh (1995) (see Schuh, 1995: 171), although the replacement name was never included in that paper. Nonetheless, because it is clearly indicated in Schuh’s catalog (1995: 171) that O. tafoensis is the replacement name for O. nigrescens Carvalho and Fontes , it is considered valid, and takes the authorship of Kerzhner and Schuh and the date of publication of the catalog ( ICZN, 1999: article 60.3).

The right paramere usually has a subbasal concavity on its ventral serrate margin (fig. 17). Sometimes this excavation is strongly concave, shaped as a bottle opener. This variation is not related to any variation of the vesica, and occurs in specimens from the same locality.

PARATYPES: CHILE: Coquimbo [– Region IV]: El Tofo , [29.45 ° S 71.21667 ° W], Oct 1952, [Unknown collector], 13 ( AMNH _ PBI 00070019 ), 1♀ ( AMNH _ PBI 00070020 ) ( USNM) .

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: CHILE: Atacama – Region III: Chañaral: Los Loros, Aceit., 27.83333 ° S 70.1 ° W, 01 Nov 1980, L. E. Peña, 43 (AMNH_PBI 00191135–AMNH_ PBI 00191138), 1♀ (AMNH_PBI 00191143) (USNM). Copiapo: 100 km S of Copiapo, 28.284 ° S 70.26077 ° W, 01 Oct 1980, L. E. Peña, 1♀ (AMNH_PBI 00191148) (USNM). Totoral, 27.9 ° S 70.96667 ° W, 21 Oct 1980, L. E. Peña, 413 (AMNH_PBI 00185434– AMNH_PBI 00185474), 36♀ (AMNH_PBI 00185475–AMNH_PBI 00185510) (USNM). Huasco: N of Huasco, 28.43184 ° S 71.18589 ° W, 12 Nov 1980, L. E. Peña, 2♀ (AMNH_PBI 00191144, AMNH_PBI 00191145) (USNM). Q[uebrada] Chorrillos, SW of Freirina, 28.52454 ° S 71.09042 ° W, 12 Oct 1980, L. E. Peña, 263 (AMNH_PBI 00185596–AMNH_PBI 00185621), 23♀ (AMNH_PBI 00185622–AMNH_PBI 00185644) (USNM). Q[uebrada] El Salto, S of Freirina, 28.5318 ° S 71.05236 ° W, 28 Oct 1980, L. E. Peña, 43 (AMNH_PBI 00191139–AMNH_PBI 00191142), 3♀ (AMNH_PBI 00185668, AMNH_PBI 00191146–AMNH_PBI 00191147) (USNM). [Road] Los Loritos – Carrizalillo, 29.14071 ° S 71.41987 ° W, 20 Oct 1983, L. E. Peña, 253 (AMNH_PBI 00185368–AMNH_PBI 00185392), 5♀ (AMNH_PBI 00185393–AMNH_ PBI 00185397) (USNM). Coquimbo – Region IV: Choapa Province: Hacienda Illapel, S Coquimbo, 31.64796 ° S 71.17145 ° W, Oct 1954, L. E. Peña, 163 (AMNH_PBI 00104741–AMNH_PBI 00104756), 19♀ (AMNH_PBI 00104757–AMNH_PBI 00104775) (CNC). Elqui Province: 19–21 Km N La Serena, 29.72719 ° S 71.21516 ° W, 200 m, 01 Nov 1981 – 04 Nov 1981, R. T. Schuh and N. I. Platnick, Heliotropium stenophyllum Hook & Arn. (Boraginaceae) , 273 (AMNH_PBI 00102068– AMNH_PBI 00102069, AMNH_PBI 00194632– AMNH_PBI 00194655, AMNH_PBI 00194685), 25♀ (AMNH_PBI 00102070–AMNH_PBI 00102071, AMNH_PBI 00194656–AMNH_PBI 00194678), 6 NYMPHS (AMNH_PBI 00194679– AMNH_PBI 00194684) (AMNH). NE of Choros Bajos, 29.24628 ° S 71.2382 ° W, 20 Oct 1983, L. E. Peña, 33 (AMNH_PBI 00185645–AMNH_PBI 00185647) (USNM). Limari Province: Parque Nacional Fray Jorge, 30.66666 ° S 71.66667 ° W, 21 Jun 1968, L. and C. W. O’Brien, Light Trap, 13 (AMNH_PBI 00080086) (UCB). Socos, 30.7089 ° S 71.4994 ° W, 142 m, Nov 1957, L. E. Peña, 13 (AMNH_PBI 00107032), 3♀ (AMNH_PBI 00107033–AMNH_PBI 00107035) (USNM). 20 km S of Ovalle, 30.77113 ° S 71.2532 ° W, 01 Oct 1967, C. W. O’Brien, 23 (AMNH_PBI 00080084, AMNH_PBI 00080085), 1♀ (AMNH_PBI 00080087) (UCB). C[err]o Los Cristales, 29.15 ° S 71.01666 ° W, 1600 m, 29 Sep 1980, 13 (AMNH_PBI 00070021) (USNM); 30 Sep 1980, L. E. Peña, 143 (AMNH_PBI 00185648–AMNH_PBI 00185661), 6♀ (AMNH_PBI 00185662–AMNH_PBI 00185667) (USNM).

Platyscytus youngi (Carvalho) , new combination

Saileria youngi Carvalho, 1953: 574 [n. sp.]; Carvalho, 1958: 131 [catalog]; Schuh, 1995: 192 [catalog].

DISCUSSION: Carvalho (1953) described a new species of Saileria from Panama. In the description, he mentioned that the phallus was of ‘‘ Phylinae type’’. Nevertheless, he did not discuss the placement for his species, and just mentioned that the genitalia of S. youngi were different from S. bella without further explanation. Carvalho (1953: fig. 2) illustrated the genital capsule, with the aedeagus in situ, and the left paramere ( Carvalho, 1953: figs. 4–5). In the holotype, the genital capsule is elongate and the phallotheca is protruding to the left as in other Phylinae . Both the vesica and the left paramere suggest a phyline species. In S. youngi the head is transverse, with its posterior margin curved, the eyes are adjacent to the pronotum, and the posterior margin of the pronotum is emarginated. Because of this structure of the head and pronotum, I propose to transfer S. youngi to Platyscytus ( Phylinae : Phylini ) as Platyscytus youngi , new combination. All but one of the paratypes (AMNH_PBI 00133861) are not P. youngi but an unidentified—probably undescribed— species of Saileria , because of eye sexual dimorphism, green blotches on the hemelytra, and rounded anterior margin of the pronotum with the posterior margin excavated.

Maldonado and Carvalho (1981) provided a key for Platyscytus . Run through their key, P. youngi appears to be close to P. paulistanus and P. venezuelanus due to overall pale coloration without markings. P. youngi is distinguished from these two by the coloration of the antenna, which is pale in P. youngi but with dark markings in the other two species. Three other species of Platyscytus are known from Panama: P. blantoni , P. englemani , and P. hemiruber ( Schuh, 2006a) . Each of these species has various color markings on the hemelytra, whereas P. youngi has a uniformly yellowish dorsum without any conspicuous markings.

Platyscytus is very similar in external appearance to Amazonophilus Carvalho and Costa, Platyscytisca Costa and Henry ( Costa and Henry, 1999; Henry and Costa, 2003), Rondonisca Carvalho and Costa, and Rondonoides Carvalho and Costa (personal obs.). Costa and Henry (1999) noted that Platyscytus is probably not a monophyletic taxon and it may be composed of at least three different species groups, whose relationships to Amazonophilus and Platyscytisca are unclear. The new combination of P. youngi highlights the need for a revision of Platyscytus and related genera.

HOLOTYPE ( MALE): PANAMA: Pan [ama] Province: Tocumen, [9.0833 ° N 79.3833 ° W], 14 Apr 1952, F. S. Blanton, Saileria youngi

n.sp. det Carvalho 1953, Type No. 62001 U.S. N.M., Platyscytus youngi (Carvalho) Det. D. Forero , 13 ( AMNH _ PBI 00133860 ) ( USNM) .

PARATYPE: PANAMA: Panama: Tocumen, [9.0833 ° N 79.3833 ° W], 14 Apr 1952, F. S. Blanton, Paratype Saileria youngi n.sp. Carvalho det. 1953, Platyscytus youngi (Carvalho) Det. D. Forero , 1 adult sex unknown ( AMNH _PBI 00133861) ( USNM).

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED: Saileria sp. [ Orthotylinae : Orthotylini ]: PANAMA: Cocle: El Retiro, 8.4833 ° N 80.15 ° W, 10 Nov 1952, F. S. Blanton, Paratype Saileria youngi n.sp. Carvalho det. 1953, Saileria sp. D . Forero det. 2007, 1 adult sex unknown (abdomen missing) (AMNH_PBI 00133936) (USNM). Panama: Tocumen, 9.0833 ° N 79.3833 ° W, 14 Apr 1952, F. S. Blanton, Paratype Saileria youngi n.sp. Carvalho det. 1953, Saileria sp. D . Forero det. 2007, 13 (AMNH_PBI 00133932), 2♀ (AMNH_PBI 00133933, AMNH_PBI 00133934), 1 adult sex unknown (abdomen missing) (AMNH_ PBI 00133935) (USNM); 13 (AMNH_PBI 00175156) (MNRJ).

Figures

Fig. 2. Dorsal habitus digital photographs. Orthotylus chilensis, O. chullan, O. kikin, O. kakan, O. tafoensis, and Saileria bella. Specimens of O. kikin (A–C, arrows) show variation on embolium coloration from brown to white.

Fig. 17. Orthotylus tafoensis. Male genitalia: vesica, lateral left view; phallotheca, dorsal view; genital capsule, dorsal and lateral right views; and right and left parameres, dorsal view.

Fig. 18. Distribution map of Orthotylus chilensis, O. chullan, O. kikin, O. kakan, and O. tafoensis.