Niesthrea ventralis ( Signoret, 1859 )

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 : 31

Niesthrea ventralis ( Signoret, 1859)

(urn:lsid: Coreoidea .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:452482) ( Figs. 5C , and 11C–D )

Corizus ventralis Signoret, 1859: 92 (original description); Stål, 1862: 307 (list), 1870: 223 (list, distribution); Walker, 1872: 23 (catalog); Distant, 1882: 171 (note, distribution), 1893: 378 (distribution); Uhler, 1886: 13 (checklist); Lethierry and Severin, 1894: 120 (catalog); Baker, 1908: 243 (note on synonymy and morphology).

Niesthrea ventralis: Chopra, 1973: 451 (description, distribution, lectotype designation); Göllner-Scheiding, 1983: 56 (catalog); Froeschner, 1989: 611 (list); Maes and Göllner-Scheiding, 1993, 20 [list]; Fowles et al., 2015: 621 (list, distribution); CoreoideaSF Team, 2018 (online catalog).

Diagnosis

This species is distinguished by the slender vertical parameres ( Fig. 11C ) with two distinct distal denticles, the broad median process with flared lateral processes narrowing distally, and the basally stout lateral processes. In addition, N. ventralis is usually marked with red spots and lines on the dorsum, there always is a small black lateral spot on abdominal segments 5–6, and often on segments 3 and 4 ( Fig. 5C ), and the labium extends beyond the base of abdominal segment III.

The parameres of N. ventralis are similar to those of N. choprai sp. nov. ( Fig. 6E ) and N. similis ( Fig. 10G ). The median lobe of this species, however, is deeply concave dorsally and the lateral processes are slender and more sharply acute apically, and the lateral lobe is broad basally in lateral view, whereas in N. choprai sp. nov. the median lobe is much less concave dorsally and the lateral processes are less slender and more blunt apically and the lateral lobe is much broader at the base, and in N. similis , the lateral processes of the median lobe are broadly rounded and the lateral lobe is much more slender. Also, N. choprai sp. nov. and N. similis lack the characteristic lateral black spots on the abdominal segments.

Figures

Fig. 5. (A)Adult male habitus image of Niesthrea vincentii (Westwood).(B) N.brevicauda Chopra,lateroventral view of male abdomen.(C) N.ventralis (Signoret), lateroventral view of male abdomen. (D) N. sidae (Fabricius), metathoracic scent gland.

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.

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. 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.