Germalus Stål, 1862

Kóbor, Péter, 2020, An overview of the big-eyed bug fauna of French Polynesia (Heteroptera Lygaeoidea: Geocoridae), Zootaxa 4743 (3), pp. 359-370 : 361-362

Germalus Stål, 1862

Type species: Henestaris kinbergi Stål, 1858 by subsequent designation

LSID: http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid:Lygaeoidea.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:488770

Notes. The author of present study had the opportunity to study Van Duzee’s (1932, 1935) types (BPBM) and to compare them with the original description, found that redescription was inadequate. Therefore, only additions (where applicable) to the original descriptions and brief diagnoses are provided. In the case of Germalus unicolor Montandon, 1907 and Germalus montandoni Bergroth, 1916 due to the uncertain status of the record ( Van Duzee 1935) or the species itself ( Bergroth 1916) and the ongoing revisionary works of the author only diagnoses and remarks are provided.

Key to Germalus species known from French Polynesia

1. Vertex corrugate, posterior margin of eyes wrapping around the anterior angles of pronotum. Corium with characteristic Sshape punctation in M-R region............................................ Germalus montandoni Bergroth, 1916

- Vertex smooth, posterior margin of eyes not touching anterior angles of pronotum. Corial punctation mostly arranged along veins.............................................................................................. 2.

2. Abdominal connexiva undecorated. Tarsal segment I of hind leg more than twice as long as segments II and III together........................................................................... Germalus unicolor Montandon, 1907

- Abdominal connexiva decorated with at least with pale irregular spots. Hind tarsal segment I less than twice as long as segments II and III together.................................................................................... 3.

3. Scutellar trifurcate carina with irregular reddish spot of various extent medially. Corial margin of clavus completely punctate, rarefying gradually toward claval commissure........................................... Germalus ashlocki sp. n.

- Scutellar trifurcate carina without reddish spot, at most infuscate. Corial margin of clavus imcompletely punctate or if punctation complete, not rarefying towards claval commissure...................................................... 3.

4. Eyes moderately erect in lateral view (dorsal margin of eyes reaching line of pronotal callosities). Thoracic pleurites and lateral part of abdominal connexiva without longitudinal band-like decoration............... Germalus costalis Van Duzee, 1932

- Eyes slightly or not erect in lateral view (dorsal margin of eyes not reaching line of pronotal callosities). Thoracic pleurites and lateral part of abdominal connexiva with longitudinal band-like decoration....................................... 4.

5. Dorsum with extended fuscous regions or “patches”......................................................... 6.

- Dorsum ochraceous with lesser, mostly pale brownish decorations............................................. 7.

6. Dorsum with irregular, pale fuscous “patches” on head, pronotum and hemelytron.... Germalus maculatus Van Duzee, 1932

- Lateral margin of pronotum and hemelytron with large, continuous fuscous regions... Germalus fuliginosus Van Duzee, 1932

7. Dorsal decoration of head and thorax consists of longitudinal line on vertex, extending from clypeus to line of ocelli and one rounded spot at each humeral angle. Puctation of thoracic dorsum sparse and slight, deeper punctures only present at scutellum..................................................................... Germalus infans Van Duzee, 1932

- Dorsum of head and thorax more decorate: longitudinal line on vertex reaching almost base of head, pronotum with irregular spots at callosities and posterior margin. Punctation of thoracic dorsum strong and dense.............................8.

8. Pronotum with impunctate longitudinal ridge medially. Punctures at corial margin of clavus reaching to half of length.............................................................................. Germalus robustus Van Duzee, 1935

- Pronotum without impunctate median ridge. Punctures at corial margin of clavus reaching to third of length..................................................................................... Germalus lateralis Van Duzee, 1932