Niesthrea agnes 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 : 7

Niesthrea agnes Chopra, 1973

(urn:lsid: Coreoidea .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:452503) ( Figs. 3A and 6A–B )

Niesthrea agnes Chopra, 1973: 455 (original description); Göllner-Scheiding, 1983: 53 (catalog); Froeschner, 1989: 611 (list, distribution); Pall and Coscarón, 2012: 1458 (catalog); Melo and Montemayor, 2014: 454; Melo and Montemayor, 2015: 5–6 (distribution); Fowles et al., 2015: 620 (list, distribution); CoreoideaSF Team, 2018 (online catalog).

Diagnosis

Niesthrea agnes is distinguished by the relatively slender, vertical parameres ( Fig. 6A ) that lack distinct inner denticles, the broadly rounded median lobe with the apex weakly concave or indented and only the base constricted, the subequal height of the parameres and the median lobe, and the broad, apically rounded lateral lobe ( Fig. 6A and B ). The labium extends to the base of abdominal segment III. The male genitalia of this species are most similar to those of N. fenestrata , known only from Chile. The parameres ( Fig. 8E ) of N. fenestrata are similar but slightly broader, the median lobe is broader and more quadrate with the apex straight and without any indentation, and the lateral lobe ( Fig. 8F ) is distinctly more slender and more tapered apically. In addition, N. agnes is smaller (5.23– 5.70 mm), pale brown to brown with distinct small red spots dorsally, and the labium extends only to the apices of the hind coxae, whereas N. fenestrata is considerably larger (6.98–8.16 mm), usually strongly dark red with dark red dorsal spots showing through on palest specimens, and the labium extends well beyond the hind coxae to the base of abdominal segment III.

Figures

Fig. 3. Adult male habitus images of Niesthrea spp. (A) N. agnes Chopra. (B) N. brevicauda Chopra. (C) N. choprai, sp. nov. (D) N. conicoloba, sp. nov. (E) N. dentata Chopra. (F) N digna Chopra. (G) N. fenestrata (Signoret). (H) N. flava Grillo and Alayo. (I) N. josei Göllner-Scheiding.

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. 8. Niesthrea male genitalia.(A–B) N. dentata Chopra:(A) Ventral view.(B) Lateral view.(C–D) Niesthrea digna Chopra:(C)Ventral view.(D) Lateral view.(E–F) N. fenestrata (Signoret): (E) Ventral view. (F) Lateral view. (G–H) N. flava Grillo and Alayo: (G) Ventral view. (H) Lateral view.