Ptilocerus Gray, 1831

Malipatil, M. B., 2018, First record of the genus Ptilocerus in the Australian Region, with the description of two new species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae), Zootaxa 4410 (1), pp. 177-189 : 178

Genus Ptilocerus Gray, 1831

Ptilocerus Gray, 1831: 34 . Type species by monotypy: Ptilocerus fuscus Gray, 1831 .

Ptilocerus: Malipatil (1985: 284) (in key); Maldonado Capriles (1990: 339) (catalogue); Rédei & Tsai (2011: 432) (diagnosis).

Redescription. Body elongate. Setae of head, antennae, pronotum, scutellum and hemelytra borne on tubercles (e.g., Fig. 1).

Head. Dorsum with swollen areas, broader across eyes than long (up to 1.5 times); ocelli present, raised above surface of head; antennae 4-segmented, covered with short and long series of setae, first and fourth segments subequal in length, second segment not produced beyond base of third, and third not beyond base of fourth.

Thorax. Pronotum about or slightly over two times as wide posteriorly as long, with longitudinal ridges on either side of midline, lateral margin carinate and particularly at posterolateral area broadly explanate and slightly upcurved, all margins with setae; scutellum triangular, margined with setae; legs moderately slender, hind tibiae slightly curved, with furry setae, hind tarsi 2-segmented, claws well developed; hemelytral corium with 3 distinct cells, membrane with 3 distinct longitudinal veins, the fourth vein (i.e. closer to posterior margin) faintly visible or altogether absent.

Abdomen. All spiracles ventral (e.g., Fig. 6 ). Dorsum with 2 small pairs of scent gland scars near median area between terga IV–V and V–VI (e.g., Figs. 7 & 8 ). Venter with trichome well developed (e.g., Fig. 5 ), structure and associated setae variable. Male paramere sickle-shaped (e.g., Fig. 10), with a few conspicuous long setae on outer margin; phallus with basal and apical portion of struts well developed (e.g. Fig. 11 ), latter long, whip-like.

Notes. This moderately large genus (currently with 19 described species) is heterogenous in that the included species show considerable variation in several characters, including the venation of the corium and membrane, colour markings of the membrane, as well as the shape and structures associated with the trichome. A thorough analysis of all the major morphological characters, including the molecular data, of all the species included in the genus Ptilocerus is required to decide whether the genus is monophyletic or is a complex of more than one genera.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Ptilocerus spangenbergi, male, ventral view, anterior part of body showing trichome (Tr).

FIGURE 6. Ptilocerus spangenbergi, paratype female, abdominal venter [Tr, trichome; 3 to 7, abdominal sterna].

FIGURE 7. Ptilocerus spangenbergi, paratype female, abdominal dorsum [2 to 8, abdominal tergites].

FIGURE 8. Ptilocerus spangenbergi, paratype female, enlarged part of abdominal tergites 4, 5 and 6 showing scent gland scars.

FIGURE 11. Ptilocerus spangenbergi, paratype male, phallus, lateral view [ba, basal acula; bp, basal plate; dsp, dorsal sclerotized plate; ped, pedicel; stra, apical portion of strut; strb, basal portion of strut].