Dicyphus geniculatus ( Fieber, 1858 )

Konstantinov, Fedor V. & Neimorovets, Vladimir V., 2021, Bryocorinae Baerensprung, 1860 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) of European Russia and the Caucasus: synopsis and key to species, Zootaxa 4920 (3), pp. 301-338 : 309-310

Dicyphus geniculatus ( Fieber, 1858)

Figures 2 , 8 , 10

Brachyceroea geniculata Fieber, 1858: 343 .

Material examined. ARMENIA: Shirak Province, Akhuryan Municipality, Karmrakar , 1♀ 18 VI 1955, Loginova . Syunik Prov., Lichk-Tashtun [Lichk], 1♂ 16 VI 1953, Tryapitsyn . AZERBAIJAN: Nakhchivan Autonomous Rep., Garmachath [Germachata], 1♀ 27-30 VI 1937, Ryabov. CRIMEA: Simferopol Distr., Privolnoe, 1♀ 25 VI 1907, 1♀ 1♂ 4 VII 1907, W. Pliginsky. Alushta, Mts range Babugan, Cosmo-Damianovsky Monastery, 1♂ 12 VI 1933, Lukyanovich. Simferopol distr. , Eni-Sala [Chaikovskoe], 1♂ 8 VI 1907, Kiritshenko. NAGORNY KARABAKH : Shusha, 1♀ 12 VI 1933, Lukyanovich. RUSSIA: Ingushetia: Egochkal [Egikhal] near Dzheyrakh, 1♀ 9 VIII 1927, Kiritshenko .

Diagnosis. Recognized by the following combination of characters: total length male 3.4–3.9, female 3.4–3.9; head dorsally dark brown, with narrow, posteriorly widening ivory bands along eyes; antennal segment II entirely dark brown; calli dark brown, disc of pronotum behind calli brown to dark brown, rugose, with minute punctures; scutellum ivory, with wide dark brown longitudinal spot along midline; tibial spines dark brown, without spots at bases ( Fig. 2 ); spatulate apex of left paramere gradually curved, with dorsal crest terminating at midpoint of apical process ( Fig. 10 ).

This species is most similar to D. globulifer in size, body proportions, coloration, and vestiture. However, D. globulifer may be easily distinguished by the presence of dirty orange midline between calli, the distinctly rugose and heavily punctured disc of pronotum behind calli, and by the shape of the left paramere with long dorsal crest and strongly curved spatulate apex.

Distribution. The species is known from the southern Europe, spanning east to Ukraine and Mersin Prov. of Turkey ( Wagner 1974; Lodos et al. 2003). In the Caucasus, the species was known only from Nakhichevan Prov. of Azerbaijan (vicinity of Ganja). Here we report it from Armenia and Ingushetia Republic of Russia for the first time.

Host and habitat. In Italy, this species was sampled from Salvia glutinosa L. ( Lamiaceae ) and Digitalis grandiflorum Miller (Scrophulariaceae) (Ingeno et al. 2008).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Dorsal habitus images of Dicyphus (Brachyceroea) spp. Dicyphus (B.) albonasutus Wagner, 1951, Dicyphus (B.) geniculatus (Fieber, 1858), Dicyphus (B.) digitalidis Josifov, 1958, Dicyphus (B.) globulifer (Fallén, 1829), and Dicyphus (B.) montandoni Reuter, 1888.

FIGURE 8. Images of genital capsule and aedeagus of Dicyphus and Nesidiocoris spp. Dicyphus (B.) albonasutus Wagner, 1951, Dicyphus (B.) geniculatus (Fieber, 1858), Dicyphus (B.) globulifer (Fallén, 1829), Dicyphus (B.) digitalidis Josifov, 1958, Dicyphus (B.) montandoni Reuter, 1888, Dicyphus (D.) epilobii Reuter, 1883, and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter, 1895).

FIGURE 10. Images of parameres of Dicyphus (Brachyceroea) spp. Dicyphus (B.) albonasutus Wagner, 1951, Dicyphus (B.) geniculatus (Fieber, 1858), Dicyphus (B.) globulifer (Fallén, 1829), Dicyphus (B.) digitalidis Josifov, 1958, and Dicyphus (B.) montandoni Reuter, 1888.