Niesthrea similis Chopra, 1973

Melo, María Cecilia & Henry, Thomas J., 2019, Revision of the New World Scentless Plant Bug Genus Niesthrea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Rhopalidae), with Descriptions of Six New Species and a Key to the Species, Insect Systematics and Diversity 3 (5), No. 9, pp. 1-36 : 29

Niesthrea similis Chopra, 1973

(urn:lsid: Coreoidea .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:452484) ( Figs. 4G and 10G–H )

Niesthrea similis Chopra, 1973: 452 (original description); Göllner- Scheiding, 1983: 56 (catalog); Froeschner, 1989: 611 (list); Melo et al., 2011: 16 (checklist); Pall and Coscarón, 2012: 1459 (catalog); Melo and Montemayor, 2014: 454 (checklist); Dellapé et al., 2015: 8 (list); Melo and Montemayor, 2015: 8–9 (distribution); Fowles et al., 2015: 621 (list, distribution); Melo et al., 2017: 495 (list); CoreoideaSF Team, 2018 (online catalog).

Diagnosis

This species is distinguished by the slender, vertical parameres ( Fig. 10G ) with two distal denticles on the distal half, the flared median lobe with rounded lateral processes, the long slender lateral lobes that rise well above the level of the parameres, and the labium that extends to the base of abdominal segment III.

The parameres are most similar to those of N. choprai sp. nov. ( Fig. 6E ) and N. ventralis ( Fig. 11C ) in having two distinct denticles or teeth on the inner side. Niesthrea similis differs in having a broadly flared median lobe with rounded lateral processes, and long, slender lateral lobes, whereas N. choprai sp. nov. and N. ventralis have the lateral processes of the median lobe distinctly pointed rather than rounded and the lateral lobes are strongly broadened at their base.

Figures

Fig. 4. Adult male habitus images of Niesthrea spp. (A) N. lateroloba, sp. nov. (B) N. louisianica Sailer. (C) N. parvaloba, sp. nov. (D) N. pictipes (Stål). (E) N. rostrata, sp. nov. (F) N. sidae (Fabricius). (G) N. similis Chopra. (H) N. truncata, sp. nov. (I) N. ventralis (Signoret).

Fig. 10. Niesthrea male genitalia. (A–B) Niesthrea pictipes (Stål): (A) Ventral view. (B) Lateral view. (C–D) N. rostrata, sp. nov.: (C) Ventral view. (D) Lateral view. (E–F) N. sidae (Fabricius): (E) Ventral view. (F) Lateral view. (G–H) N. similis Chopra: (G) Ventral view. (H) Lateral view.

Fig. 6. Niesthrea male genitalia. (A–B) Niesthrea agnes Chopra: (A) Ventral view.(B) Lateral view. (C–D) N. brevicauda Chopra:(C)Ventral view. (D) Lateral view. (E–F) N. choprai, sp. nov.: (E) Ventral view. (F) lateral view.(G–H) N. conicoloba, sp. nov.: (G) Ventral view. (H) Lateral view.

Fig. 11. Niesthrea male genitalia. (A–B) N. truncata, sp. nov.: (A) Ventral view. (B) Lateral view. (C–D) N. ventralis (Signoret): (C) Ventral view. (D) Lateral view. (E–F) N. vincentii (Westwood): (E) Ventral view. (F) Lateral view.