Brailovskylus mexicanus Eger, 2017

Eger, J. E., 2017, Brailovskylus mexicanus, a new genus and species from Mexico and Central America (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae: Pachycorinae), Dugesiana 24 (2), pp. 251-256 : 252-253

Brailovskylus mexicanus Eger , new species

http://zoobank.org/4FF89EBF-4CB7-453E-8134- 564EBE7F7D82

Dorsal color light brown with dense dark brown punctures, these rather evenly distributed, but denser on head. Color pattern variable; males relatively uniformly colored, sometimes with large dark macule on each lateral margin of scutellum ( Fig. 2 ); females typically with dark inverted horseshoe-shaped pattern on pronotum and extending onto scutellum, and invariably with pale apical scutellar macule ( Fig. 1 ). Venter light brown with dark punctation and usually without maculation ( Fig. 5 ). Body length ♂ 9.72 (8.80-10.45), ♀ 10.69 (10.00-11.45).

Head uniformly light brown with dense dark brown punctures evenly distributed ( Fig. 6 ). Head length ♂ 2.38 (2.15-2.55), ♀ 2.58 (2.40-2.90); head width ♂ 3.41 (3.10-3.60), ♀ 3.54 (3.10-3.90); interocular width ♂ 2.03 (1.85-2.15), ♀ 2.15 (2.00-2.40); interocellar width ♂ 1.19 (1.00-1.30), ♀ 1.29 (1.1-1.5). Antennae light brown, apical half of third and most of fourth and fifth segments darker. Length of antennal segments 1: ♂ 0.57 (0.50-0.60), ♀ 0.58 (0.50-0.65); 2: ♂ 0.74 (0.65-0.85), ♀ 0.73 (0.70-0.80); 3: ♂ 0.69 (0.60-0.80), ♀ 0.72 (0.70-0.80); 4: ♂ 1.10 (1.00-1.30), ♀ 1.13 (1.00-1.25); 5: ♂ 1.21 (1.10-1.40), ♀ 1.21 (1.05- 1.35). Rostrum light brown, segment 4 usually darker; length of rostral segments 1: ♂ 0.82 (0.70-0.95), ♀ 0.90 (0.80-1.00); 2: ♂ 1.6 (1.40-1.75), ♀ 0.1.73 (1.5-2.1); 3: ♂ 0.90 (0.80-1.10), ♀ 1.00 (0.90-1.25); 4: ♂ 0.87 (0.80-0.90), ♀ 0.96 (0.90-1.10)

Anterior margin of pronotum shallowly concave, anterolateral margins slightly and uniformly convex, posterolateral margins sinuous, posterior margin straight or slightly concave. Pronotum length ♂ 3.22 (2.8-3.6), ♀ 3.45 (3.20-3.90); pronotum width ♂ 6.46 (5.60-7.00), ♀ 6.97 (6.40-7.70). Legs light brown with dark brown macules, tarsi darker apically, tibiae sulcate for entire length.

Scutellum reaching end of abdomen, leaving most of exocorium exposed. Scutellum length ♂ 6.04 (5.40-6.80), ♀ 6.77 (5.80-7.40); scutellum width ♂ 5.46 (4.80-6.00), ♀ 5.95 (5.40-6.70).

Posterior margin of genital cup broadly convex on either side of moderately deep central concavity ( Fig. 8 ). Cup with elevated ridge on either side and with parameres oriented against lateral wall. Parameres with shank long and cylindrical, apical portion somewhat quadrate, with two lobes, posterior lobe broad and acute, anterior lobe with small tooth ( Fig. 15 ). First pair of conjunctival appendages oval, slightly sclerotized with sclerotized tooth on apical lateral margin, second pair elongate, membranous proximally, with large acute sclerotized horn apically ( Figs. 12-14 ).

Eighth gonocoxae simple, posterior margins relatively straight, angled posteriorly, rounded and contiguous mesally; ninth laterotergites simple, contiguous, not surpassing posterior margin of tenth sternite; eighth laterotergites also simple, posterior margins broadly convex ( Fig. 7 ).

Type Material. HOLOTYPE: H. Brailovsky A., Estacion de Biologia Chamela, Jalisco, Noct., 7-IX-79 (♀ UNAM).

PARATYPES: (17♂♂, 17♀♀) 1) México: Oaxaca, Parque Nacional Huatulco, Est. El Sabanal , 109 msnm, 15°48’10”N, 96°11’0904”O, T.L. 1, 02-06-2005, S. Zaragoza, 2) Colección del Instituto de Biologia, UNAM. México, D.F. (♂ UNAM); 1) Estacion de Biologia Chamela-Jalisco , México, VIII-81, A. Pescador, 2) Colección del Instituto, de Biologia, UNAM., México, D.F. (♂ UNAM); 1) MEXICO: Jalisco, Cuitzmala 290msnm, 22-23/1995, Col. G. Nogueiras, 2) Colección del Instituto de Biologia, UNAM., México, D.F. (♂ UNAM); Mozimba, Acapulco , Guerrero, México, 14-III-80 / W. Lopez (♂ UNAM); MEXICO: Jalisco, Est. Biol. Chamela , 12-XII-1988, I Ramirez (♂ UNAM); COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, Parque nacional Santa Rosa, Río Poza Salada , 10.799 N, 85.652 W, 24.vii.1987, el. 10 m / Holzenthal, Morse, Clausen (♂ UNAM); Aqua Cera , 40 km west Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mex. VI-21-87 (♂ DBT); MEXICO: Guerrero: 46 km. N. Chilpancingo (K54) 580m. 4/ 6Aug77, E. Fisher, P. Sullivan (♂ DBT); 1) MEXICO: Chiapas, El Aguacero , elevation 680m, vi-17-18-1990, 2) collector: W. B. Warner (2♂♂ DBT); MEXICO: OAXACA, BAHIAS HUATULCO , 2-3 JULY 1989, D. THOMAS, J. BURNE (2♂♂ DBT); MEXICO: Chiapas, El Aguacero 16 Km., W. Ocozocautla, 15-VI-87, D. B. Thomas Coll. (♂ DBT); MEXICO: Chiapas, Aguacero , 10-VI-1986, D. B. Thomas (♂ DBT); GUATEMALA: Zacapa Dept., Sierra de las Minas, Santa Clara, Marble Quarry Rd. NE of Teculutan , N15°02.64’, W89°40.13’, 575 m, 17 May 2006, Kristen N. Landolt (♂ JEE); H. Brailovsky A., Estacion de Biologia Chamela Jalisco, Noct., 24-VII-76 (♂ UNAM); H. Brailovsky A., Estacion de Biologia Chamela Jalisco, Noct., 9-VIII-75 (♀ UNAM); H. Brailovsky A., Estacion de Biologia Chamela Jalisco, Noct., 1-IX-75 (♀ UNAM); H. Brailovsky A., Estacion de Biologia Chamela Jalisco, Noct., 30-IX-77 (♀ UNAM); MEXICO: JALISCO Estacion de Biologia Chamela , 25-IX-85 R.A. Usela (♀ UNAM); M. A. Mvrrola [?], Chamela , Jalisco, 1-IV-77 (♀ UNAM); 1) México: Chiapas, Rizo de Oro 1-VII-1999, A. Ibarra M. Balcazar, 2) Colección del Instituto de Biologia, UNAM., México, D.F. (♀ UNAM); 1) México: Jalisco, Tuxcacuesco, El camichin , 853msnm 03-04-VII-2013, G. Nogueira, 2) Colección del Instituto de Biologia, UNAM., México, D.F. (♀ UNAM); MÉXICO: Guerrero, Zihuatenajo km 16, Zihuatanejo Lázaro Cárdenas , 23 msnm 17/XI/2006, 17°43’41” N 100°36’25” W. G. Ortega, C. Mayorga, L. Cervantes (♀ UNAM); 1) Finca Jenny , 30 km N. de Liberia, Prov. Guana. COSTA RICA, 240m. 1-6 NOV 1994 E. Araya, L_N_317150_363700 #4429, 2) COSTA RICA INBIO, CR1002 193490 (♀ INBio); 1) Finca Jenny , 30 km N. de Liberia, Prov. Guana. COSTA RICA, 240m. 2-24 ENE, 1995 E. Araya, L_N_317150_363700 #4792, 2) COSTA RICA INBIO, CR1002 143961 (♀ INBio); GUATEMALA: Zacapa, rd. to San Lorenzo , mv + bl, 14 Oct 2006, R. Turnbow (♀ UGA); MEXICO: Jalisco, Chamela 1/ 8-X-85, F. D. Parker, T. L. Griswold (♀ UGA); MEXICO: CHIAPAS, CHICOASEN , 1 JUNE 91, S. ASHE, RATCLIFFE, THOMAS (♀ DBT); GUATEMALA: Suchitepequez, Volcan Atitla Finca Tarrales , 14°31.37”N, 91°08.17”W, 755 meters elevation, Kristen N. Landolt, 3 June 2005 (♀ JEE); COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, Río Poza Salada , 10.799 N, 85.652 W, 24.vii.1987, el. 10 m, Holzenthal, Morse, Clausen (♀ JEE); COSTA RICA: Guanac: OTS Palo Verde Sta. , 10°21’N 85°21’W, 4/ 6-VII-76 EMFisher (♀ DBT).

Etymology. There may be more descriptive or inventive specific epithets, but most of the specimens of this species are from Mexico, and because Harry Brailovsky has contributed tremendously to the study of Mexican Heteroptera it seemed appropriate to have the name ‘ mexicanus ’ associated with the type species of a genus named after him.

Comments. Nothing is known of the biology of this species. Some labels bear the word ‘Noct.’ which I assume indicates collected at night, possibly at light and the label on a single specimen from Guatemala read ‘mv + bl’ which I assume indicates mercury vapor and black light.

Figures

Figures. 1-5. Brailovskylus mexicanus. Figs. 1-2 dorsal view, Fig. 1 female, Fig. 2 male; Fig. 3 lateral view; Fig. 4, meso- and metapleura showing ostiolar peritreme; Fig. 5, ventral view, female. Dimensional lines equal 1.0 mm.

Figures. 6-12. Brailovskylus mexicanus. Fig. 6 head; Fig. 7 female genital plates (la8 = eighth laterotergites, la9 = ninth laterotergites, gc8 = eighth gonocoxites); Fig. 8 male genital cup, dorsal view (p = parameres); Fig. 9 ventral view of male genital cup at termination of abdomen; Fig. 10 female internal genitalia (sd = spermathecal duct, dv = spermathecal diverticulum); Fig. 11 spermathecal pumping region (b = spermathecal bulb, pf = proximal flange, df = distal flange); Fig. 12 aedeagus, lateral view. Dimensional lines equal 1.0 mm.

Figures. 13-15. Brailovskylus mexicanus. Figs 13-14, aedeagus, Fig. 13 dorsal view, Fig. 14 ventral view (v = vesica, ca1 = first conjunctival appendages; ca2 = second conjunctival appendages, mpl = median penal lobe); Fig. 15 paramere, ental view (al = anterior lobe, pl = posterior lobe). Dimensional lines equal 0.1 mm.