Heniartes jaakkoi Wygodzinsky, 1947

Gil-Santana, Hélcio R. & Forero, Dimitri, 2010, Taxonomical and biological notes on Neotropical Apiomerini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae), Zootaxa 2331, pp. 57-68 : 63-65

Heniartes jaakkoi Wygodzinsky, 1947

( Figs. 22–27 ; 30–39)

Heniartes australis Wygodzinsky, 1947 , NEW SYNONYMY

Discussion: A small population of an unidentified species of Heniartes Spinola, 1837 were observed in a restricted area in Nova Friburgo, Brazil. The population included males and females with a conspicuous color variation on the corium, from nearly all black to completely orange-reddish ( Figs. 22–24 ). Males with darker corium showed black markings in the pygophore, including a pair of vertical dark stripes ( Figs. 25–26 ) whereas the brighter ones showed the pygophore almost clear ( Fig. 27 ). The median process of the pygophore of these male specimens is intermediate between the ones figured for H. jaakkoi and H. australis (see Wygodzinsky 1947: 22–23, figs. 13, 23).

Many specimens of both species, studied and identified by Wygodzinsky, were reexamined ( Figs. 28–31 ), including the holotypes of both species, female “allotypes” and some additional paratypes. These types were originally deposited in the “Instituto de Experimentação Agrícola (I.E.E.A.)” in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil ( Wygodzinsky 1947; Zikán & Wygodzinsky 1948). This collection does not exist anymore, but the specimens are now deposited at the MNRJ.

Wygodzinsky (1947) differentiated H. jaakkoi and H. australis based on the pygophore structure and coloration. Red and with shorter and more divergent apical process in H. jaakkoi , and with a pair of median longitudinal stripes and with apical process relatively long, almost parallel, in H. australis ; whereas the parameres and aedeagus were found to be indistinguishable between these two species ( Wygodzinsky 1947). Males of the specimens examined from Nova Friburgo exhibit both coloration patterns on the pygophore, as well as an intermediate color pattern. The shape of the posterior process of the pygophore seems also to be intermediate too. The homogeneous parameres and aedeagus as described by Wygodzinsky (1947), together with the findings related here, point to the synonym proposed.

Coloration features have been considered constant among group of species of Heniartes by Wygodzinsky (1947). The key for the species of Heniartes presented by Wygodzinsky (1947) divides large group of species into two categories: 1) the ones which present the apex of corium black, like the membrane or, 2) the apex of the corium reddish or yellowish, like the remainder of the corium. It became implicit that Wygodzinsky (1947) believed there would not be intra-specific variation in this character.

Biological data: TACHINIDAE EGGS: Six individuals had eggs of Tachinidae , probably near the genus Trichopoda Berthold, 1827 (Phasiinae) , attached to their bodies, mainly in the region of scutellum, pronotum and fore third of hemelytra, and mesopleural region ( Figs. 22–23, 32–33 ). A male and a female showed only one egg ( Figs. 22–23 ); one female with two eggs; one male two eggs, including one on sternites; one male with five eggs, wheras the most affected male presented 11 eggs ( Fig. 32–33 ), two of them on each mesopleura. Specimens of H. jaakkoi were kept in individual containers and observed until they died. From just one specimen a single fly pupa appeared, but no adult emerged from it. As no fly larvae or pupae emerged from the male with the greater number of eggs attached (11), three days after its death, a ventral incision was made to examine both the thoracic and abdominal cavities ( Fig. 33 ), but any larvae or parasite was found. It was also observed that the holotype of Heniartes australis has a Tachinidae egg attached in its pronotum ( Fig. 28 ).

Sticky substance: First, second and third instar nymphs ( Figs. 34–36 ) were observed in the laboratory, and kept without access to vegetal substances or other external resinous material. Both adults ( Fig. 22 ) and more developed nymphs fed on Meliponini bees. It was observed that when they emerged from eggs or exuvia, their legs are dry without any sticky substances ( Fig. 34 ), which appeared after some hours and covered the fore legs and body ( Figs. 35, 36 ). This might be indicative that the sticky substance might be produced by the integument. Contrary to our observations are Wygodzinsky’s (1947) on the same species, in which he noted that first instar nymphs were not able to produce resin, unlike adults, which produced abundant resin that coated their legs. Controlled rearing of this species may clarify if the resin found on the nymphs is acquired from the eggs or the exuviae, or if the insects produce it themselves.

Distribution: Heniartes jaakkoi was described from a few localities in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in Brazil, whereas H. australis was described from localities in the states of Paraná and São Paulo ( Wygodzinsky 1947). The specimens examined here from Nova Friburgo are within the distributional range of H. jaakkoi and supports the hypothesis of the synonymy between H. jaakkoi and H. australis .

Type specimens examined: HOLOTYPE MALE: BRAZIL, Rio de Janeiro, Itatiaia, Fazenda Penedo, II- 1943, [genitalia in mounting, vial], Wygodzinsky leg./ “ Heniartes jaakkoi Wygod. ” Wygodzinsky, det./ Holotypus [red label].[ MNRJ]. HOLOTYPE MALE (OF SYNONYM): BRAZIL, São Paulo, Campos da Serra, Cabeçeira do Rio M´boy Guaçu, 25.XII.1940, F. Lane [leg.], [genitalia in mounting, vial]/“ Heniartes australis Wygod., Wygodzinsky , det./ Holotypus [red label].[ MNRJ]. PARATYPES: BRAZIL, 1 female, Rio de Janeiro, Itatiaia, Fazenda Penedo, 700 m, V-1943, Wygodzinsky leg., “Allotypus”, “ Heniartes jaakkoi” Wygodzinsky det. [ MNRJ]; 1 male, 09-III- [19]34, W. Zikán leg., [ MNRJ]; 1 male, 17-IX-1942, “ Heniartes jaakkoi” Wygodzinsky det., W. Zikán leg. [ MNRJ]; Angra dos Reis, 1 male [without pygophore], XII-1932 [ MNRJ]. PARATYPE (OF SYNONYM): BRAZIL, São Paulo, Campos da Serra, Cabeçeira do Rio M´boy Guaçu, 25-XI- 1940, F. Lane leg., “ Heniartes australis” Wygodzinsky det. [ MNRJ].

Other specimens examined: BRAZIL, 1 male, Rio de Janeiro, Itatiaia, Fazenda Penedo, 15-V [?]-1949, Wygodzinsky leg. [without pygophore] [ MNRJ]; 7 males, 3 females, three nymphs, Nova Friburgo, 22°17´S 42°29´W, 1049 m, XII-2008, II/ III-2009 [ MNRJ].

Figures

FIGURES 22 – 33. 22 – 27. Heniartes jaakkoi; 22 – 23. live specimens, dorsal view; 22. male; 23. female; 24. female, dorsal view; 25 – 27. male pygophore, posterior view. 28 – 29. Heniartes australis; 28. male holotype; 29. female “ allotype ” [paratype]. 30 – 33. Heniartes jaakkoi; 30. male holotype; 31. female “ allotype ” [paratype]; 32 – 33. male with 11 tachinid eggs; 32. dorsal view; 33. ventral view.

FIGURES 34 – 39. 34 – 37. Heniartes jaakkoi, live nymphs; 34. first instar nymph; 35. second instar nymph; 36. third instar nymph feeding upon wet cotton. 37 – 38. Heniartes productus, male; 37. dorsal view; 38. posterior view of abdomen and pygophore. 39. Heniartes scutellatus, female, dorsal view.