Lampromicra senator ( FABRICIUS 1803 )

Gerry Cassis & Loren Vanags, 2006, Jewel Bugs of Australia (Insecta, Heteroptera, Scutelleridae), Denisia 19, pp. 275-398 : 375-378

Lampromicra senator ( FABRICIUS 1803) ( Figs 1d , 21h , 28e , 40 , 41 )

Teytra senator FABRICIUS 1803: 131 (n.sp.) Scutellera dux KIRBY 1818: 474 (n.sp.); STÅL 1873: 15 (synonymy) Scutellera corallifera MACLEAY 1827: 466 (n.sp.); STÅL 1873: 15 (synonymy) Scutellera basalis GRAY 1832: 223 (n.sp.); STÅL 1873: 15 (synonymy) Tectocoris binotata WESTWOOD 1837: 15 (n.sp.); STÅL 1873: 15 (synonymy) CallipHara binotata : GERMAR 1839: 129 (new combination) Callidea senator : GERMAR 1839: 121 (new combination); DALLAS 1851: 22 (list); VOLLENHOVEN 1863: 25 (list) PHilia senator : SCHIÖDTE 1842: 284 (new combination); MAYR 1866: 23 (as PHilya senator ); STÅL 1868: 10 (list); LETHIERRY & SEVERIN 1893: 23 (catalogue; synonymy); BREDDIN 1900: 140 (description); KIRKALDY 1901: 52 (distribution); SCHOUTEDEN 1904: 30 (list); SCHOUTEDEN 1907: 108 (list) Scutellera aurantiacomaculata BLANCHARD 1849 : pl. 4 fig. 1 (n.sp.); STÅL 1873: 15 (synonymy); MCDONALD & CASSIS 1984: 555 (synonymy) Scutellera metallica MONTROUZIER 1855: 94 (n.sp.); STÅL 1873: 15 (synonymy); MCDONALD & CASSIS 1984: 555 (synonymy) Callidea femorata WALKER 1867: 38 (n.sp.); LETHIERRY & SEVERIN 1893: 23 (incertae sedis); MCDONALD & CASSIS 1984: 555 (synonymy) Callidea curtula WALKER 1867: 39 (n.sp.); DISTANT 1899: 51 (synonymy with Callidea femora-ta ); LETHIERRY & SEVERIN 1893: 48 (incertae sedis); MCDONALD & CASSIS 1984: 555 (synonymy) Callidea collaris WALKER 1867: 40 (n.sp.) DISTANT 1899: 51 (synonymy with Callidea femorata ); LETHIERRY & SEVERIN 1893: 48 (incertae sedis); MCDONALD & CASSIS 1984: 555 (synonymy) Callidea aureocincta WALKER 1867: 40 (n.sp.); DISTANT 1899: 51 (synonymy with Callidea femorata ); MCDONALD & CASSIS 1984: 555 (synonymy) Callidea erytHrina WALKER 1867: 44 (n.sp.). New Synonymy Tectocoris croesus VOLLENHOVEN 1868: 176 (n.sp.); STÅL 1873: 15 (synonymy) PHilia fulgurans STÅL 1873: 15 (n.sp.); DISTANT 1888: 476 (note); LETHIERRY & SEVERIN 1893: 22 (catalogue); SCHOUTEDEN 1904: 30 (list); MC-DONALD & CASSIS 1984: 555 (synonymy) PHilia senator croesus : TRYON 1982: 14 (New Guinea; Queensland) PHilia femorata : DISTANT 1899: 35 (new combination); SCHOUTEDEN 1904: 30 (list) Lampromicra senator : FROGGATT 1902: 318 (new combination); DISTANT 1904: 276 (note); FROGGATT 1907: 327 (biology); KIRKALDY 1909: 300 (catalogue); HORVÁTH 1919: 307 (description); SZENT-IVANY & CATLEY 1960: 256 (distribution); MCDONALD 1961: 175-176, 184, figs 5-8 (male genitalia); MCDONALD & CASSIS 1963b: 232, figs 8,9 (female genitalia); MCDONALD 1963c: 277 (larval morphology); KUMAR 1964: 41 (male genitalia); KUMAR 1965: 41 (morphology); BLACK 1968: 573 (distribution); MONTEITH 1982: 534 (aggregation); JAVAHERY et al. 2000: 492 (biology); CASSIS & GROSS 2002: 596 (catalogue) PHilia insignis SCHOUTEDEN 1904: 297 (n.sp.); BERGROTH 1908: 140 (list); MCDONALD & CASSIS 1984: 555 (synonymy) Lampromcira senator metallica : SCHOUTEDEN 1907a: 108 (type) PHilia croesus : SCHOUTEDEN 1907b: 45 (list) Lampromicra fulgurans : KIRKALDY 1909: 300 (new combination; catalogue) Lampromicra insignis : KIRKALDY 1909: 300 (new combination; catalogue)

Diagnosis: Lampromicra senator is recognised by the following combination of characters: dorsum densely setose ( Figs 1d , 28e ); body mostly iridescent green ( Fig. 28e ); AI orange, AII(a)-AIV fuscous; anterior margin of scutellum most often with broad elliptoid callus (usually orange) ( Fig. 1d ); femora orange; lateral margins of abdominal venter impunctate ( Fig. 21h ); lateral margins of abdominal venter orange, remainder iridescent green ( Fig. 21h ); apex of CAII(M) perpendicular and elongate; and, CAIII heavily sclerotized, arcuate.

Description: Body moderate size, males 10-12 mm, females 10-13 mm.

Colouration. Body mostly iridescent green to purplish-blue, with orange markings, sometimes with copper-iridescence ( Figs 1d , 28e ). Head: uniformly iridescent green; lorum sometimes with copper tinge; gula yellow to orange; antennae, AI orange, AII-AIV fuscous. Labium: ventral surface fuscous, dorsal surface mostly orange-brown. Pronotum: mostly iridescent green, sometimes with purple tinge; callosite region often with copper iridescence ( Figs 1d , 28e ). Thoracic pleura: iridescent green, often with copper-iridescence; peritreme iridescent green, evaporative areas matt black. Thoracic sterna: uniformly fuscous. Scutellum: mostly iridescent green, sometimes with purple tinge; anterior callus mostly orange, sometimes concolorous with remain-der of scutellum ( Figs 1d , 28e ). Hemelytra: endocorium iridescent green; membrane black. Legs: coxae, trochanters and femora orange; tibiae, tarsi and pretarsi black. Pregenital Abdomen: venter mostly iridescent green, with lateral margins orange, with Vshaped inner outline; sometimes venter more orange medially, with iridescent green, sublateral band ( Fig. 21h ). Terminalia: mostly iridescent green, sometimes with copper tinge.

Texture. Dorsum with dense distribution of moderately deep punctures; medial regions of pronotal callosite region and anterior callus of scutellum impunctate ( Fig. 28e ). Thoracic pleura: moderate distribution of deep punctures. Pregenital Abdomen: venter mostly with moderate distribution of shallow punctures, laterally impunctate ( Fig. 28e ).

Vestiture. Dorsum and abdominal venter with dense distribution of elongate, semi-erect pale setae; thoracic pleura with scattered setae ( Figs 1d , 28e ). Antennae: AI-AII(a) sparsely setose; AII(b)-AIV with dense distribution of short, semi-erect setae. Legs: ventral surface of femora densely setose, with elongate setae; tibiae and tarsi densely setose.

Structure. Antennae: AI & AII(a) subequal in length; AIV longest segments, a little longer than AIV; AIIII-AIV flattened. Labium: reaching posterior margin of abdominal SIV; LI shortest segment, LII longest segment. Male Genitalia: pygophore with broad setal patch on dorsal margin of genital opening; parameres with short hook-shaped apex; phallotheca with moderately large subapical thornlike processes; aedeagus: ejaculatory apparatus with convoluted ventral conducting canal, 8-10 convolutions, ejaculatory reservoir elliptoid, dorsal conducting canal broad; ductus vesica Sshaped, extending beyond conjunctival appendages in resting position; CA I absent; CAII(L) with large hook-shaped lobal sclerite; CAII(M) distally perpendicular, with large sub-elliptoid lobal sclerite with basal and apical serrations, variable in shape, tapered to rounded apically; CAIII arcuate, heavily sclerotised, separated. Female Terminalia: large, biplanar; paratergites VIII small, subtriangular, medially tapered; paratergites IX small, subelliptical; gonocoxae I large, medially swollen; weakly concave laterally. Spermatheca: fecundation canal elongate; reservoir large, oval; distal fecundation canal elongate; proximal and distal flanges present; bulb small, elliptoid.

Measurements. MCDONALD & CASSIS 1984: Table 4.

Type material examined: Callidea femorata WALKER : Holotype, ‘ Ceram’ , ‘B.M. Hem. Type No. 445’ ( BMNH) ; Callidea curtula WALKER : Lectotype, ♀, ‘ Ké’ , ‘Wallace’, ‘Saunders 65-13’, ‘B.M. Hem. Type No. 444’ ( BMNH ; here designated); Callidea collaris WALKER : Lectotype, ♂, ‘ Dor’ , ‘Wallace’, ‘B.M. Hem. Type No. 446’, ‘Saunders 65-13’ ( BMNH ; here designated); Callidea collaris WALKER : Paralectotypes, ♀, same data as lectotype ( BMNH ; here designated), ♂, ‘ Ké’, ‘ Callidea collaris WALK. Cat. ’ ( BMNH ; here designated), ♂, ‘ Cer’ ‘ Callidea collaris WALK. Cat. ’, ‘Saunders 65- 13’ ( BMNH ; here designated), 1♂ 1♀, ‘ Ter’ ‘ Callidea collaris WALK. Cat. ’, ‘Saunders 65-13’ ( BMNH ; here designated; male pygophore missing); Callidea aureocincta WALKER : Lectotype, ♀, ‘ Salwatty’ , ‘B.M. Hem. Type No. 443’ ( BMNH ; here designated); Callidea erytHrina WALKER: Holotype, ♀, ‘ North Austr.’, ‘ Vict. R. Depart .’, ‘B.M. Hem. Type No. 458’ ( BMNH) . Callidea curtula was described from two specimens; from the following locations, ‘a. Aru’ and ‘b. Ké’. Only the former specimen was found and has been designated as the lectotype. Callidea aureocincta was described from two specimens, as follows: ‘a. New Guinea. Presented by W.W. Saunders Esq.’ and ‘b. Salwatty. From Mr Wallace’s collection’. The latter specimen has been designated as the lectotype. A specimen was found that had the following label data: ’59-58, Dory, New Guinea’, ‘ Callidea collaris WALK. Cat. ’ and ‘Paratype’. In the syntypical series of Callidea collaris , there is no mention of a specimen from New Guinea. We have refrained from designating this specimen as a paralectotype of either Callidea collaris or C. aureocincta .

Other material examined: Queensland: 1♂, Rockhampton , 12 January 1973, MS Moulds ( AM) ; 1♂ 2♀♀, Flinders Island, 2 June 1923, C Hedley ( AM) ; 3♂♂ 1♀ Almaden, WD Campbell ( AM) ; 1♂, Clermont, July 1928, KK Spence ( AM) ; 1♀ 1 larva, Carnarvon Gorge National Park, Track 7-8, 1 December 1993, G Cassis, ex Breynia ( AM) ; 1♂, Heathlands, 11°14’S 142°35’E, 9 December 1992, P Zborowski & K Halfpapp, ex Leptospermum ( ANIC) ; 16♂♂ 18♀♀, Louis Creek, SW Adels Grove , 8 October 1963, R Lossin ( AM) ; 1♂, 15 km W Paluma, A Sundholm & J Bugeja, 16 January 1989 ; 3♂♂ 2♀♀, Boolburra, 12 January 1968, G Hangay ( AM) ; 7♂♂ 12♀♀, Foleyvale Arboretum Reserve , 20-25 January 1968, G Hangay ( AM) ; 5♂♂, Expedition Range , 1 January 1968, G Hangay ( AM) ; 3♂♂ 4♀♀, Expedition Range, 5 May 1945, TW Gamble ( AM) ; 2♂♂ 2♀♀, Wild Horse Creek , 30 January 1968, G Hangay ( AM) ; 1♂, Mt Surprise, 23 February 1988, G O’Reilly ( AM) ; New South Wales: 1♀, Mt Ousley, Wollongong , 27 December 1967, RB Lachlan ( AM) ; 1♂ 2♀♀, 30 km W Fairview, NW Laura , 7 November 1979, MS & BJ Moulds, ex sandstone outcrop ( AM) ; Western Australia; 16♂♂ 17♀♀, Kimberley district, Black Rock Pool , 18km N of Victoria Hwy, G Cassis and R Silveira, 24 May 1999, ex Adiantum aetHiopicum ( AM) ; 5♂♂ 7♀♀, Kimberley district, Middle Springs , 16.6 km N Victoria Hwy, 24 May 1999, G Cassis and R Silveira, ex Ficus leucotricHa ( AM) ; 1♂ 2♀♀, Beagle Bay, M Granney ( AM) ; 2♀♀, Jeremiah Hills, on Carlton Hill Station , near KJ-8, 14 July 1989, N Poulter ( AM) ; Northern Territory: 6♂♂ 5♀♀, Armstrong River , near Top Springs, 16°41’09“S 132°03’25“E, 9 January 2001, MS & BJ Moulds ( AM) ; 3♂♂ 1♀, Mann River, Central Arnhem Land , 12°28’24“S 134°8’58“E, 20 July 1993, P Taçon ( AM) .

Distribution: Lampromicra senator is broadly distributed in northern Australia, and is commonly encountered in tropical regions of Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It is also more broadly distributed on the eastern seaboard, extending as far south as Wollongong in New South Wales ( Fig. 41 ).

Host plants and biology: Lampromicra senator is found on many plants ( Table 1 ). MCDONALD (1963c) described aspects of its biology, reporting its primary host as Breynia oblongifolia . We have found it on a number of species of Ficus ( Table 1 ), as well as additional fig species from a recent field trip to north Queensland, that are not recorded here. In The Kimberley district of Western Australia, we found this species in aggregations on a fern ( Table 1 ), at the beginning of the dry season, indicating a possible aestivating site.

Remarks: MCDONALD & CASSIS (1984) established an extensive synonymy for Lampromicra senator , recognising significant polymorphism in colour and male genitalia. We confirm in this work, that the condition of CAII(M) exhibits significant and continuous variation within and between populations. The apex of CAII(M) is elongate and strongly perpendicular to its base, with various sclerotizations. The shape of the apex but is not indicative of species limits, as it varies from a subtriangular process to being rounded apically, and sometimes with subapical projections. MCDONALD & CASSIS (1984: Figs 54-58) illustrated these variations of CAII(M). In the main, other components of the aedeagus are uniform within the species. The colour of L. senator also varies considerably, although the predominant colour morph is iridescent green, with the anterior callus of the scutellum orange. Within some populations, the orange scutellar callus is absent, and the scutellum is uniformly iridescent green. There is also variation in the colour of the callosite region (iridescent green to iridescent copper) and the pregenital abdominal venter (mostly iridescent green with orange lateral margins to mostly orange, with sublateral band of iridescent green). Extralimital populations have colour patterning not seen in Australian populations. However, the male genitalia do not show any discontinuities between these populations.

None-the-less, in considering the extent of the morphological polymorphism and widespread geographic distribution of L. senator , it would be desirous to reinvestigate the synonymy of the extralimital junior synonyms ( Scutellera iridescenta , Callidea femorata , Callidea curtula , Callidea collaris , Callidea aureocincta , Tectocoris croesus and PHilia fulgurans ) using molecular data. In keeping with this broad conception of the species, we have synonymised another of WALKER’ s names, Callidea erytHrina, which has the orange scutellar callus, and a mostly purple dorsum, the latter a recurrent artefact of preservation.

Figures

Fig. 1: Examples of Australian Scutelleridae species and their host plant species (a) adult aggregation of Calliphara regalis (b) Cantao parentum on Mallotus philippensis (c) Choerocoris paganus on Dodonaea viscoca (d) Lampromicra senator on unidentified host plant (e) Scutiphora pedicellata on unidentified host plant (f) Tectocoris diophthalmus on Brachychiton acerifolius.

Fig. 21: Colouration of Abdominal Venter in Australian Scutellerinae (a) Calliphara dimidiata cruenta (b) Calliphara imperialis (c) Calliphara nobilis (d) Calliscyta stalii (e) Cantao parentum (f) Lampromicra aerea (g) Lampromicra regia (h) Lampromicra senator (i) Scutiphora pedicellata.

Fig. 28: Habitus of Australian Scutellerinae (a) Cantao parentum, Oi (b) Scutiphora pedicellata, ♀ (c) Lampromicra aerea, Oi (d) Lampromicra regia, Oi (e) Lampromicra senator, Oi. Scale bars = 1mm.

Fig. 40: Male genitalia of Lampromicra aerea (a) pygophore, dorsal view (b) paramere, lateral view (c) aedeagus, lateral view (d) aedeagus, ventral view. Abbreviations: C = crown of right paramere; CAII(L) = second conjunctival appendage, lateral branch; CAII(M) = second conjunctival appendage, medial branch; CAIII = third conjunctival appendage; DS(D) = ductus seminis dorsalis; DS(P) = ductus seminis proximalis; Er = ejaculatory reservoir; GO = genital opening; Pt = phallotheca; Pt(P) = process of phallotheca; S = stem of paramere; Sg = secondary gonopore; SP = setose patch; V = vesica; VCC = ventral conducting canal of ejaculatory apparatus; VM = ventral margin of genital opening.

Fig. 41: Distribution of Lampromicra species.