Xenobates argentatus, Andersen, 2000

Zettel, Herbert, Laciny, Alice & Bongo, Juvy P., 2021, The genus Xenobates (Hemiptera: Veliidae) in the Philippines: overview and description of two new species, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 61 (1), pp. 221-230 : 230

Xenobates argentatus complex

( Figs 7, 8 , 12, 16 )

Notes. The Xenobates argentatus complex comprises all those Philippine species that are lacking long setae on the extensor side of the mesofemur ( Fig. 16 ). In the Philippine species, the silvery pilosity of the dorsal surface is strongly extended. In the wider X. argentatus group we can include X. solomonensis Lansbury, 1989 from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, X. caudatus Andersen & Weir, 1999 from Papua New Guinea, X. major Andersen & Weir, 1999 and X. spinoides Andersen & Weir, 1999 from Australia, X. pictus Andersen, 2000 from the Malay Peninsula and Borneo, and X. maculatus Andersen, 2000 from Borneo. In the Philippines, at least six morphologically very similar species belong to the X. argentatus complex. They have either allopatric or sympatric distributions, the latter indicating that they are biological species. Species distinction in the archipelago can be chiefly based on small differences in the primary and secondary sexual characteristics of males. Aඇൽൾඋඌൾඇ (2000) also recorded X. argentatus (type locality: Phuket Island, Thailand) from the Philippines (Palawan and Mindanao). However, after recognizing the complexity of very similar, locally distributed species, the identification of these populations is preliminary.

Distribution of the X. argentatus group. Widely distributed from southern Thailand to the Solomon Islands. Probably no distributional limit in the Philippines, although the entire genus is presently unknown from the north of Luzon and the offshore islands in the north of the country (but this might be due to lack of sampling, because there are mangrove habitats in these areas). So far, we have seen records from 15 islands and islets (in alphabetical order): Bantayan, Bayagnan, Bohol, Burias, Cebu, Hikdop, Leyte, Luzon, Olango, Pacijan, Palawan, Polillo, Ponson, Samar, and Siquijor.

Figures

Figs 5–8. Habitus of 5, 6 – Xenobates murphyi Andersen, 2000 and 7, 8 – Xenobates cf.argentatus Andersen, 2000 from Cebu; (5, 7 – males, 6, 8 – females).

Figs 9–26. 9–12 – antennae (males): 9 – Xenobates nypicola sp. nov., 10 – X. riedli sp. nov., 11 – X. murphyi Andersen, 2000, 12 – X. cf. argentatus Andersen, 2000. 13–16 – mesofemur (males): 13 – X. nypicola sp. nov., 14 – X. riedli sp. nov., 15 – X. murphyi Andersen, 2000, 16 – X. cf. argentatus. 17–20 – metafemur: 17–18 – X. nypicola sp. nov. (17 – male, 18 – female); 19–20 – X. riedli sp. nov. (19 – male, 20 – female). 21–22 – parameres: 21 – X. nypicola sp. nov., 22 – X. riedli sp. nov. 23–24 – abdominal venter of males, oblique ventrolateral view: 23 – X. nypicola sp. nov., 24 – X. riedli sp. nov. 25–26 – posterior portion of abdomen of females, dorsal view: 25 – X. nypicola sp. nov., 26 – X. riedli sp. nov. All drawings to the same scale, except for parameres. Pilosity schematic, in Figs 25 and 26 only characteristic long setae drawn.