Limnocoris inornatus Montandon

Rodrigues, Higor D. D. & Sites, Robert W., 2019, Revision of Limnocoris (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae) of North America, Zootaxa 4629 (4), pp. 451-497 : 462-465

Limnocoris inornatus Montandon

( Figs. 1B, 2C, 5, 6 E–F, 20A)

Limnocoris inornatus Montandon, 1898: 423–424 (original description).

Limnocoris inornatus: Champion 1901: 359 (commented catalog); Torre-Bueno 1906: 52 (catalog); Kirkaldy & Torre-Bueno 1909: 183 (catalog); La Rivers 1971: 75 (catalog); Herrera 2013: 227 (catalog); Nieser & López-Ruf 2001: 318–319 (catalog).

Diagnosis. The distal margin of the labrum is distinctly acuminate ( Fig. 5C). The mesosternal carina lateral margins of the fossa touch each other along midline, leaving only a small aperture at the posterior end ( Fig. 5C). The dorsal surface of the body is usually medium brown to dark brown, without a pale medial spot in the hemelytral membrane ( Fig. 5A).

Measurements (n = 5 males / 5 females). Body length 6.80–7.10/ 7.30–7.51, body width 5.10–5.25/ 5.25–5.50, synthilipsis 1.10–1.15/ 1.12–1.20, head length 1.10–1.20/ 1.10–1.20, head width 2.40–2.42/ 2.40–2.50, pronotum length on midline 1.40/ 1.45–1.50, pronotum width 4.50/ 4.51–4.70, scutellum length 1.10/ 1.10–1.20, scutellum width 2.40–2.50/ 2.30–2.50, hemelytra length 5.20–5.30/ 5.45–5.55.

Supplemental description. Maxillary plate tumescent anteriorly. Antenna not exceeding lateral margin of eye; pedicel quadrate; flagellomeres slender, not partially fused, with long setae. Propleura with pubescent area distinctly extended posteriorly along lateral margin; posterior margin convex medially ( Fig. 1B); posteromesal corner near prosternellum deflexed ventrally. Region between mesobasisternum and mesoepisternum with longitudinal row of elongate golden setae ( Fig. 5B, C). Metasternal carina with fossa rounded, slightly depressed medially; posterior margin excavated in lateral view ( Fig. 5E). Lateral margin of abdomen with minute serration; posterolateral corners of II–V narrowly rounded to right angled, not spinose; sterna with elongate golden setae generally dispersed, concentrated next to midline of segments III–V; sternum II with sinuous row of golden setae. Male: mediotergite VI with accessory genitalic process poorly developed; small notch on left side; posterior margin of mediotergite VII convex, with slight concavity medially; laterotergite VII with lateral and mesal margins subparallel ( Fig. 6E); lateral lobe of tergum VIII straight in anterior half of lateral margin; left medial lobe slightly directed laterally at apex, distal margin rounded; right medial lobe twisted in distal third ( Fig. 6F). Female: lateral margins of subgenital plate with tuft of elongate setae at mid-length ( Fig. 5D), posterior margin ranging from broadly rounded to narrowly acuminate; laterosternite VII with posterolateral corner slightly produced posteriorly.

Comparative notes. This species is morphologically similar to L. pygmaeus , where both species share the general morphology of the body, including the labrum, mesosternal carina, and female subgenital plate. The propleura pubescent area also is distinctly extended posteriorly along the lateral margin. Further, in L. inornatus , the body color is usually brown to dark brown, and the hemelytral membrane does not have a single, large, pale medial spot, whereas in L. pygmaeus the body color is usually light brown to yellowish, and the hemelytral membrane has a pale medial spot.

Distribution. Montandon (1898) mentioned only “ Guatemala ” for the type locality. Subsequently, Champion (1901) also recorded this species from Guatemala, from a locality named “Paso Antonio.” Our searches to pinpoint this locality were not successful. However, it is possible that this locality was a farm in the Department of Escuintla, southwestern Guatemala. In the present study, we record L. inornatus for the first time in Mexico (Chiapas, Nayarit, Oaxaca, and Sonora states), as well as provide detailed records in Guatemala (Baja Verapaz, El Progreso, Jutiapa, and Zacapa departments) ( Fig. 20A).

Published records. Guatemala ( Montandon 1898, Champion 1901).

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE ♀ brachypterous, GUATEMALA, Alte Sammlung, A.L. Montandon vend. 10.V.1907, Box Nr. HET 51 ( ZMUH).

Additional material examined. GUATEMALA, Baja Verapaz, 24 Km N Salama, 24.Mar.1946, R.R. Miller (1♂, 2♀, all macropterous, USNM) ; same data, except 20 Km Salama (3♂ macropterous, USNM) . El Progresso, El Progresso / Zacapa Dpts. border, Rt. RD-1, Tambor River , 5. June 2011, 14 °55.763’N, 89°49.092’W, 284 m, R.S. Zack collector (1♂, 1♀, all macropterous, UMC; 1♂, 1♀, all macropterous, 4 nymphs, WSU) ; 8 Km NE of Pro- gresso, 28.April.1946, R.R. Miller (1♂ macropterous, USNM) . Jutiapa, 20 Km W of Jutiapa, 13.March.1946, R.R. Miller (1♂, 1♀, all macropterous, USNM) . Zacapa, nr Aldea El Arenal, Rio San Diego , 14.85968”N, 89.74773”W, shallow, still area on river, 22.II.2015, R.S. Zack (3♂, 1♀, all macropterous, UMC) . MEXICO, Chiapas, Km 238, between Huixtla & Mapastepec, L-1353, 16 m, 15°10’47.4”N / 92°32’50.7”W, 20.V.2012, D. Reynoso-Velasco (1♂, 1♀, macropterous, UMC) ; Rio Huixtla at Huixtla, 31 March 2015, L-1899, colls. Reynoso-Velasco, Sites and Shepard , 64 m, 15°8.999'N, 92°27.077'W, gravel and rocks (4♂, 1♀, all macropterous, UMC) ; same locality ex- cept 1 April 2015, L-1901 (6♀, UMC; 1♀, MZUSP—all macropterous) ; Chapingo Dos, Rio Vado Ancho at Puente Vado Ancho , 15º14'15.8"N, 92º36'2.2 W ", 57 m, 1 April 2015, Sites & Reynoso-Velasco, cobble & filamentous algae, L-1902 (1♂, MZUSP; 3♀, UMC—all macropterous) . Nayarit, Los Sabinos, Mpio Del Nayar , 10.IV.1991, E. Barrera & J. Leon (1♂, 1♀, all macropterous, UMC) . Oaxaca, Juchitan, 17 miles E. Oaxaca, Slesnick field n° 40, 08.VII.1953, Univ. Kansas Mexican expedition (2 males, 3♀, all macropterous, UMC) . Sonora, Mpio. Quiriego, Tepahui , L- 1687, 26.December.2013, elev. 137, 27°23’27.3”N / 109°11’03.6”W, D. Reynoso-Velasco (1♂, 1♀, all macropterous, UMC) . NICARAGUA, Atlántico Norte, Tuburus, Miskito Indian Tasbaika, Rio Geo , 22-23 May 2003, 14 °16’36”N/ 85°10’40”W, coll. G. Camilo (1♂ UMC) .