Afrius (Subafrius) flavirostrum ( Signoret, 1861 )

Roell, Talita, Lemaître, Valérie A. & Webb, Michael D., 2019, Revision of the African shieldbug genus Afrius Stål, 1870 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 520, pp. 1-44 : 15-21

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2019.520

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:085164DC-B31D-4293-A037-9C31940E24CD

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14639464

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9260BF24-685D-7B38-988F-6378FCFCCF60

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scientific name

Afrius (Subafrius) flavirostrum ( Signoret, 1861 )
status

 

Afrius (Subafrius) flavirostrum ( Signoret, 1861)

Figs 1–4 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig

Picromerus flavirostrum Signoret, 1861: 921 .

Cantheconidea migratoria Distant, 1913: 144 –145 . Syn. nov.

Afrius williamsi Miller, 1952: 183 –184 . Syn. nov.

Canthecona flavirostris (incorrect subsequent spelling) – Stål 1864: 68.

Cimex (Afrius) flavirostris (incorrect subsequent spelling) – Stål 1870: 44.

Afrius flavirostris (incorrect subsequent spelling) – Lethierry & Severin 1893: 214 [with “ Stål 1864 ” as authority]. — Schouteden 1905a: 151–153.

Afrius (Subafrius) flavirostrum – Schouteden 1907a: 51 . — Kirkaldy 1909: 10. — Cachan 1952: 306. — Thomas 1994: 152. — Maldès & Pluot-Sigwalt 2004: 20. — Gapon & Konstantinov 2006: 809.

Afrius williamsi – Williams 1951: 461 . — Jolivet & Théodoridès 1953: 5. — Orian 1956: 642. — Mamet 1957: 35. — Cox 1996: 38.

Subafrius flavirostrum – Orian 1965: 116 .

Afrius (Subafrius) migratorius – Thomas 1994: 152 .

Afrius (Subafrius) williamsi – Thomas 1994: 152 .

Afrius flavirostrum – Kuklinski & Borgemeister 2002: 59 .

Types examined

MADAGASCAR • Picromerus flavirostrum Signoret, 1861 ; syntype ³; labels: “Madagasc Coll. Signoret.”, “ flavirostr det. Signoret.”, “ flavirostrum d. Schouteden.”; Fig. 2 View Fig A–C; NHMW syntype ♀; labels: “ Madagascar. Coll. Signoret.”, “ flavirostrum ”, “ flavirostrum d. Schouteden.”, “ flavirostr. det. Signoret.”, “ Afrius flavirostrum Type Sign.”; Fig. 2 View Fig E–F; NHMW syntype ♀; labels: “Madag.”, “Stål”, “Type”, “Typus”, “ NHRS-GULI 000057896 ”; Fig. 2D View Fig ; NHRS-GULI 0 0 0 0 57896 . These three syntypes were examined by photos .

SEYCHELLES ISLANDS • Cantheconidea migratoria Distant, 1913 ; syntype ♀; labels: bluemargined syntype disc label; red-margined type disc label “Aldabra. APT. 1907”, “Percy Sladen Trust Expedition. 1911-497.”, “ Canthecona migratoria type Dist.”, “ NHMUK 010592166 About NHMUK ”; Fig. 2 View Fig G–H; NHMUK010592166 .

MAURITIUS • Afrius williamsi Miller, 1952 ; holotype ³; labels: red-margined holotype disc label, “MAURITIUS. Coll. J.R. Williams i.1949.”, “182”, “Pres by Com Inst Ent BM 1950 – 262 ”, “ Afrius williamsi sp.n det. N.C.E. Miller. 1950.”, “COM INST ENT. COLL. NO. 11607”, “Predaceous on Schematiza cordiae, Barb”, “ NHMUK 010592172 About NHMUK ”; Fig. 2 View Fig I–J; NHMUK 0 10592172 paratype ♀; labels: yellow-margined paratype disc label, “ MAURITIUS Reduit. xii.1948 Coll. J.R. Williams ”, “182”, “Pres by Com Inst Ent BM 1950 – 262 ”, “ Afrius williamsi sp.n det. N.C.E. Miller. 1950.”, “COM INST. ENT. COLL. NO. 11607”, “Predaceous on Schematiza cordiae, Barb”, “ NHMUK 010592173 About NHMUK ”; Fig. 2 View Fig K–L; NHMUK 0 10592173 paratype ♀; labels: yellow-margined paratype disc label, “ MAURITIUS Reduit. xii.1948 Coll. J.R. Williams ”, “182”, “Pres by Com Inst Ent BM 1950 – 262 ”, “ Afrius williamsi sp.n det. N.C.E. Miller. 1950.”, “COM INST. ENT. COLL. NO. 11607”, “Predaceous on Schematiza cordiae, Barb”, “ NHMUK 010747732 About NHMUK ”; NHMUK 0 10747732 paratype ♀; labels: yellow-margined paratype disc label, “ MAURITIUS Reduit. I.1949 Coll. J.R. Williams ”, “182”, “Pres by Com Inst Ent BM 1950 – 262 ”, “ Afrius williamsi sp.n det. N.C.E. Miller. 1950.”, “COM INST. ENT. COLL. NO. 11607”, “Predaceous on Schematiza cordiae, Barb”, “ NHMUK 010747733 About NHMUK ”; NHMUK 0 10747733 paratype ♀; labels: yellow-margined paratype disc label, “ MAURITIUS Reduit. vi.1949 Coll. J.R. Williams ”, “182”, “Pres by Com Inst Ent BM 1950 – 262 ”, “ Afrius williamsi sp.n det. N.C.E. Miller. 1950.”, “COM. INST. ENT. COLL. NO. 11607”, “Predaceous on Schematiza cordiae, Barb”, “ NHMUK 010747734 About NHMUK ”; NHMUK 0 10747734 paratype ♀; labels: yellow-margined paratype disc label, “Dept. of Agric. MAURITIUS ”, “Pres by Com. Inst. Ent. B.M.1948-38”, “COM. INST. ENT. COLL. NO. 10958”, “182”, “ NHMUK 010747735 About NHMUK ”; NHMUK 0 10747735 paratype ³; labels: yellow-margined paratype disc label, “ MAURITIUS Reduit. i.1949 Coll. J.R. Williams ”, “182”, “Pres by Com Inst Ent BM 1950 – 262 ”, “ Afrius williamsi sp.n. det. N.C.E. Miller. 1950.”, “COM INST. ENT. COLL. NO. 11607”, “Predaceous on Schematiza cordiae, Barb”, “ NHMUK 010747736 About NHMUK ”; NHMUK 0 10747736 paratype ³; labels: yellow-margined paratype disc label, “ MAURITIUS Reduit A. Moutia II. v.1948 ”, “Pres by Com. Inst. Ent. B.M.1948-38”, “COM. INST. ENT. COLL. NO. 10958”, “Preying on Schematiza cordiae”, “182”, “ NHMUK 010747737 About NHMUK ”; NHMUK 0 10747737 paratype ♀; labels: yellow-margined paratype disc label, “ MAURITIUS Reduit. i.1949 Coll. J.R. Williams ”, “ Afrius williamsi sp.n. det. N.C.E. Miller. 1950.”, “Press by Com Inst Ent B M 1950 - 262”, “COM INST. ENT. COLL. NO. 11607”, “182”, “Predaceous on Schematiza cordiae, Barb”, “ NHMUK 010747738 About NHMUK ”; NHMUK 0 10747738 paratype ♀; labels: yellow-margined paratype disc label, “ MAURITIUS Reduit. i.1949 Coll. J.R. Williams ”, “ Afrius williamsi sp.n. det. N.C.E. Miller. 1950.”, “Press by Com Inst Ent B M 1950 - 262”; “182”, “Predaceous on Schematiza cordiae, Barb”, “ NHMUK 010747739 About NHMUK ”; NHMUK 0 10747739 paratype ♀; labels: yellow-margined paratype disc label, “Dept. of Agric. MAURITIUS Reduit 19.IV.1948 ”, “ J.R. Williams ”, “Pres by Com. Inst. Ent. B.M.1948-38”, “COM. INST. ENT. COLL. NO. 10958”, “182”, “ NHMUK 010747740 About NHMUK ”; NHMUK 0 10747740 .

Diagnosis

Scutellum wider than long, humeral pronotal angles laterally well projected to an acute angle; male abdomen without setose patches; parameres with two distinct lobes.

Redescription

BODY. Elongated oval, yellowish to brown, usually with a pale posterior margin of the scutellum.

HEAD. Subrectangular, wider than long, uniformly punctured; mandibular plates equal or slightly shorter than and twice as wide as clypeus, anteriorly rounded, with margin straight to slightly sinuous; antennomeres yellow to brownish, black coloured on apical halves of third to fifth antennomeres, bearing thin setae, denser on third to fifth antennomeres; proportion of lengths of antennomeres: II ± IV> V> III> I; labium robust, reaching metasternum, last segment darker than preceding; proportion of lengths of labiomeres: II> I ± III> IV.

THORAX. Pronotum hexagonal, uniformly punctured except on cicatrices, twice or more as wide as long, cicatrices flat. Anterior margin concave. Lateral margins sinuous, slightly crenulated on anterior half, humeral angle laterally projected, emarginated, apices acute. Scutellum wider than long. Corium longer than scutellum, reaching connexival segment VI, uniformly punctured, membrane surpassing apex of abdomen ( Fig. 2 View Fig ).

MALE ABDOMEN. Without setose patches; parameres biramous ( Fig. 3 View Fig F–H, par).

Male

MEASUREMENTS (n = 5). Head length 1.82 ± 0.18 (1.68–2.10); width 1.93 ± 0.15 (1.87–2.13); pronotum length 2.52 ± 0.48 (1.85–3.22); width 6.44 ± 0.64 (5.64–7.25); scutellum length 3.02 ± 0.32 (2.66–3.48); width 3.22 ± 0.34 (2.88–3.75); lengths of antennomeres: I 0.32 ± 0.05 (0.27–0.37), II 1.26 ± 0.11 (1.2– 1.39), III 1.12 ± 0.23 (0.97–1.37), IV 1.32 ± 0.21 (1.12–1.54); V 1.16 ± 0.13 (1.05–1.31); lengths of labiomeres: I 0.94 ± 0.02 (0.93–0.97), II 1.13 ± 0.09 (1.05–1.23), III 0.97 ± 0.10 (0.90–1.90), IV 0.81 ± 0.02 (0.78–0.82); length of abdomen 4.50 ± 0.70 (4.00–5.00); width 4.82 ± 0.25 (4.65–5.00); total length 9.87 ± 0.71 (9.19–11.00).

GENITALIA. Genital plates elongated and cylindrical ( Fig. 3A View Fig , C–D, F, I, gp). Parameres long, biramous, head V-shaped divided into one process long, acute and another shorter, rounded, dorsally directed, extended beyond pygophore ( Fig. 3 View Fig A–H, par). Phallus. Thecal shield about twice as long as basal theca, widely opened posteriorly ( Fig. 3 View Fig J–Q, ts). Vesica subrectangular in dorsal view ( Fig. 3 View Fig O–Q, v), golf club-shaped in lateral view, with apex subtriangular and a central, slightly elevated, rounded portion covered by fine and inconspicuous microsculptures ( Fig. 3 View Fig L–N, v, m); ductus seminis enlarged near apex ( Fig. 3 View Fig K–Q, ds). Apices of conjunctival lobes globose, endowed with a set of sculptured processes, forming a subrectangular projection in lateral view ( Fig. 3 View Fig K–P, cl, sp).

Female

MEASUREMENTS (n = 5). Head length 1.87 ± 0.10 (1.80–1.95); width 1.78 ± 0.18 (1.65–1.91); pronotum length 2.62 ± 0.17 (2.5–2.74); width 3.48 ± 0.07 (3.43–3.53); scutellum length 3.01 ± 0.07 (2.96–3.07); width 3.24 ± 0.18 (3.11–3.37); length of antennomeres: I 0.30 ± 0.0 (0.30–0.30), II 1.29 ± 0.03 (1.27– 1.31), III 1.08 ± 0.0 (1.08–1.08), IV 1.28 ± 0.05 (1.24–1.31); V 1.16 ± 0.06 (1.12–1.20); length of labiomeres: I 0.97 ± 0.06 (0.93–1.01), II 1.14 ± 0.03 (1.12–1.16), III 0.94 ± 0.0 (0.94–0.94), IV 0.86 ± 0.06 (0.82–0.90); length of abdomen 5.12 ± 0.05 (5.08–5.16); width 5.24 ± 0.0 (5.24–5.24); total length 9.51 ± 1.14 (8.70–10.32).

GENITALIA. Gonocoxites VIII slightly longer than wide, mesial portions of posterior margins slightly constricted ( Fig. 4 View Fig A–B, gcVIII). Median and inner ducts of vesicular area with uniform diameter ( Fig. 4 View Fig C–D, md, id).

Distribution

Madagascar ( Signoret 1861), Seychelles Islands ( Distant 1913), Mauritius ( Miller 1952) ( Table 1 View Table 1 , Fig. 1 View Fig ).

Remarks

Although this species seems similar to A. (Afrius) purpureus ( Westwood, 1837) in general aspect, this is the most distinct species of the genus: the scutellum is wider than long, the males do not have abdominal glandular patches, the parameres are divided into two arms, and the vesica is shorter and less microsculptured in comparison to that of A. (Afrius) purpureus and A. (Afrius) kolleri Schouteden, 1911 . Because of the aforementioned, we have kept the subgeneric classification, grouping A. kolleri and A. purpureus in the subgenus Afrius , and A. flavirostrum in the subgenus Subafrius .

When describing A. williamsi, Miller (1952) compared his new species with A. marmoratus ( Dallas, 1851) , but did not mention A. (Subafrius) flavirostrum .

The two new synonymies proposed herein were previously pointed out by Orian in his unpublished thesis ( Orian 1965).

Cachan P. 1952. Les Pentatomidae de Madagascar (Hemipteres Heteropteres). Memoires de l'Institut scientifique de Madagascar (E) 1 (2): 231 - 462.

Cox M. L. 1996. Insect predators of Chrysomelidae. In: Jolivet P. H. A. & Cox M. L. (eds) Chrysomelidae Biology. Vol. 2: Ecological Studies: 23 - 91. SPB Academic Publishing, Amsterdam.

Dallas W. S. 1851. List of Specimens of Hemipterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum, Pt. 1. Taylor & Francis, London. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 20373

Distant W. L. 1913. Percy Sladen Trust Expedition to the Seychelle Islands. No. IX. Rhynchota. Part I: Suborder Heteroptera. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 16 (2): 139 - 191. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.1913. tb 00115. x

Gapon D. A. & Konstantinov F. V. 2006. On the structure of the aedeagus of shield bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae): III. Subfamily Asopinae. Entomological Review 86 (7): 806 - 819.

Jolivet P. & Theodorides P. 1953. Les parasites phoretiques et predateurs des Chrysomeloidea (Coleoptera) (4 ieme note). Bulletin de l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles 29 (32): 1 - 15.

Kirkaldy G. W. 1909. Catalogue of the Hemiptera (Heteroptera) with Biological and Anatomical References, Lists of Foodplants and Parasites, etc. Vol. 1: Cimicidae. Felix L. Dames, Berlin.

Kuklinski F. & Borgemeister C. 2002. Cotton pests and their natural enemies in Madagascar. Journal of Applied Entomology 126: 55 - 65. https: // doi. org / 10.1046 / j. 1439 - 0418.2002.00622. x

Lethierry L. & Severin G. 1893. Catalogue general des Hemipteres, Pentatomidae. Musee royal d'Histoire naturelle Belgique, Bruxelles.

Maldes J. M. & Pluot-Sigwalt D. 2004. Les Asopinae afrotropicaux et malgaches conserves au MNHN a Paris: Liste des specimens types et des especes representees [Heteroptera: Pentatomidae]. Revue francaise d'Entomologie 26 (1): 19 - 28.

Mamet J. R. 1957. A revised and annotated list of the Hemiptera (Heteroptera and Homoptera, excluding Sternorrhyncha) of Mauritius. The Mauritius Institute Bulletin 5 (2): 31 - 81.

Miller N. C. E. 1952. A new species of Afrius (Hem., Pentatomidae) predacious on Schematiza cordiae Barb., in Mauritius. Bulletin of Entomological Research 42: 183 - 184.

Orian A. J. E. 1956. LXXX. - Hemiptera (Heteroptera and Homoptera excluding Sternorrhyncha) of Mauritius. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 (105): 641 - 654. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222935608655871

Orian A. J. E. 1965. Hemiptera of Mauritius. PhD Thesis, Imperial College London, England. Available from https: // spiral. imperial. ac. uk / handle / 10044 / 1 / 17749 [accessed 13 May 2018].

Schouteden H. 1907 a. Heteroptera, Fam. Pentatomidae, Subfam. Asopinae (Amyoteinae). Genera Insectorum 52, P. Wytsman, Bruxelles.

Schouteden H. 1911. Cimicidae et Coreidae recueillis dans les districts du Kasai et du Kwango par MM. Carlier, Koller et Luja. Revue zoologique africaine 1: 179 - 189.

Signoret V. 1861. Faune des Hemipteres de Madagascar. Pt. 2. Heteropteres. Annales de la Societe entomologique de France 8: 917 - 972.

Stal C. 1864. Hemiptera Africana, vol. 1. Norstedt, Stockholm. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 8566

Stal C. 1870. Enumeratio Hemipterorum. Bidrag till en forteckning ofver alla hittills kanda Hemiptera, jemte systematiska meddelanden. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar 9 (1): 1 - 232. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 12549

Thomas D. B. 1994. Taxonomic synopsis of the Old World asopine genera Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Insecta Mundi 8: 145 - 211.

Westwood J. O. 1837. A Catalogue of Hemiptera in the Collection of Rev. F. W. Hope, M. A., with Short Latin Diagnoses of the New Species. J. C. Bridgewater, London.

Williams J. R. 1951. The control of the black sage in Mauritius by Schematiza cordiae Barb. (Col., Galerucid.). Bulletin of Entomological Research 42 (2): 455 - 463. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 0007485300025451

Gallery Image

Fig. 1. Geographic distribution of the genus Afrius Stål, 1870 throughout Africa. The species points of occurrence and their dispersion in different countries are represented with colours: purple = A. (Subafrius) flavirostrum (Signoret, 1861); red = A. (Afrius) kolleri Schouteden, 1911; green = A. (Afrius) purpureus (Westwood, 1837). The countries highlighted for each species on the right part of the map are based on data from literature. The points marked for each species are from literature and labels information.

Gallery Image

Fig. 2. Afrius (Subafrius) flavirostrum (Signoret, 1861), type specimens. A–C. Picromerus flavirostrum Signoret, 1861, syntype ³, labels, dorsal and ventral habitus, respectively (images courtesy of Herbert Zettel and Harald Bruckner, NHMW). D. Picromerus flavirostrum, syntype ♀, labels and dorsal habitus (image courtesy of Gunvi Lindberg, NHRS). E–F. Picromerus flavirostrum, syntype ♀, labels and dorsal habitus (images courtesy of Herbert Zettel and Harald Bruckner, NHMW). G–H. Cantheconidea migratoria Distant, 1913, syntype ♀, labels and dorsal habitus (NHMUK). I–J. Afrius williamsi Miller, 1951, holotype ³, labels and dorsal habitus (NHMUK). K–L. Afrius williamsi, paratype ♀, labels and ventral habitus (NHMUK). Scale bars: 4 mm.

Gallery Image

Fig. 3. Afrius (Subafrius) flavirostrum (Signoret, 1861), male genitalia. A–F. Pygophore in dorsal (A, D), ventral (B, E) and posterior (C, F) views. G–H. Right paramere in lateral views, internal and external respectively. I. Right genital plate, dorso-posterior view. J–L. Phallus in anterior, posterior and lateral views, respectively. M. Detail of the vesica in lateral view, also represented in N. N. Drawing of the phallus. O–Q. Phallus in dorsal view. Abbreviations: bf = basal foramen; bp = basal plates; bt = basal theca; cl = conjunctival lobes; db = dorsal border; ds = ductus seminis; er = ejaculatory reservoir; gp = genital plates; il = inferior layer; m = microsculptures; pa = posterolateral angles; par = parameres; ph = phallotheca; sg = secondary gonophore; sp = conjunctival process; ts = thecal shield; v = vesica; vb = ventral border; X = segment X. Scale bars: F = 0.5 mm; G–Q = 0.25 mm.

Gallery Image

Fig. 4. Afrius (Subafrius) flavirostrum (Signoret, 1861), female genitalia. A–B. Genital plates, ventroposterior view. C–D. Inner genitalia, ventral view. Abbreviations: cs = capsula seminalis; gcVIII = gonocoxites VIII; gcIX = gonocoxites IX; gpIX = gonapophyses IX; id = inner duct; laVIII = laterotergites VIII; laIX = laterotergites IX; md = median duct of vesicular area; od = outer duct of vesicular area; pi = pars intermedialis; tgIX = secondary thickening of gonapophyses IX; vi = thickening of vaginal intima; X = segment X. Scale bars: A–B = 1 mm; C–D = 0.5 mm.

NHMW

Austria, Wien, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien

NHMUK

NHMUK

NHMW

Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien

NHMUK

Natural History Museum, London

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hemiptera

SubOrder

Heteroptera

Family

Pentatomidae

SubFamily

Asopinae

Genus

Afrius

SubGenus

Afrius