Hellicoides johni (Froeschner, 2000)

Hellicoides johni (Froeschner, 2000) View in CoL ( Fig. 6 View Fig )

Hellica johni Froeschner 2000: 166 ; Grazia & Schwertner 2015: 402; Dellapé 2016: 84; Coscarón 2017: 11.

Studied material. ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires (city), 1 male, 7479 ( MACN); 10 males, 6 females, 1 nymph ( I), 2 nymphs ( V), CABA, Res. Costanera Sur, 2-II-2019, De Biase - Carpintero, on Scirpus giganteus ( MACN) ; Buenos Aires (province), 1 male, Isla Talavera (Partido de Campana), 30-X-2004, Carpintero ( MACN) ; 1 male, 26949, San Isidro, Gemignani – Daguerre ( MACN) ; 5 males, 42109, Tigre, II-1938, De Carlo – Viana ( MACN) ; 1 male, same locality, M. J. Viana ( MACN) ; 2 males, same locality, 25.5- 1945, M. J. Viana ( MACN) .

Description. Male ( Fig. 6 A View Fig ). Measurements (n=5). Total length: 4.86 (4.94) 5.01; width: 2.67 (2.78) 2.91; head length: 0.90 (0.98) 1.02; width: 1.26 (1.27) 1.29; interocular space: 0.80 (0.81) 0.82; antennal segment lengths, I: 0.23 (0.26) 0.29; II: 0.37 (0.42) 0.48; III: 0.32 (0.33) 0.35; IV: 0.45 (0.50) 0.53; V: 0.59 (0.62) 0.64; pronotum length: 1.14 (1.23) 1.40; width at base: 2.65 (2.76) 2.91; scutellum length: 1.44 (1.51) 1.59; width: 1.47 (1.55) 1.62.

General coloration reddish-brown (in living specimens) or yellowish-brown (in dry specimens) dorsally, with basal lobe of pronotum darker; in some living or fresh specimens, extreme base of pronotum is reddish; with a characteristic whitish, transverse, well-delimited “H” on anterior lobe. Scutellum whitish with two light-brown blotches along base, and a light brown longitudinal medial band. A small, dark-brown longitudinal band in centre of each corium, which is continued as a long, sublateral stripe on each membrane. Ventral surfaces yellowish-brown, with a tapering, longitudinal, fuscous area of varying width on each side; some specimens may have abdominal venter dark brown, except for abruptly-delimited yellow lateral margins, as in the other members of the genus- complex.

Head. ( Fig. 5 D View Fig ). Wider than long (0.3 times), entirely covered by dense dark-brown punctures, which are distributed uniformly throughout, except for smooth, impunctate bands on internal margins between eyes and ocelli. Eyes small, prominent, rounded laterally, their mesial and basal margins straight, the juncture angulate. Ocelli rounded, larger than surface punctures, not contiguous with pronotum. Posterior margins of bucculae ending at level near middle of eyes. Labial segment I slightly surpassing posterior margins of bucculae, second segment longest, third segment shorter than second, but slightly longer than fourth; third and fourth segments smaller in diameter than observed in species of Hellica .

Thorax. Pronotum subquadrangular, more than two times wider than long; humeral angles round-ed; dorsal surface covered by dense, strong, brown punctures, except for characteristic H-shaped spot of anterior pronotal lobe, and two sublateral bands and extreme base near scutellum, smooth. Scutellum apically narrow, with a few disperse, brown punctures medially, and two small ivory calli, one on each humeral angle. Hemelytra slightly convex; clavi densely punctured; coria densely punctate; hemelytral membranes hyaline, each with a median brown stripe, and a few weak longitudinal veins. Thoracic sterna covered with dense, brown punctures interspersed with some smooth patches. Legs concolorous with body; tibiae and tarsi with broad, suberect, golden hairs on their inner margins, becoming much more dense towards their apical halves.

Abdomen. Connexival segments in dorsal and ventral views, concolorous with body. Genitalia: Pygophore punctured along lateral margins, setae along posterior margin grouped in loose patches; parameres broad, angular apically, with basal portions apically sharpened, acute, black; apices of parameres also sharpened, acute, pointing back and up ( Fig. 6 F View Fig ).

Female ( Fig. 6 B View Fig ). Measurements (n=5). Total length: 5.05 (5.44) 5.65; width: 2.76 (2.86) 3.05; head length: 0.95 (1.01) 1.06; width: 1.23 (1.28) 1.30; interocular space: 0.80 (0.83) 0.85; antennal segment lengths, I: 0.23 (0.26) 0.27; II: 0.37 (0.42) 0.46; III: 0.29 (0.31) 0.34; IV: 0.47 (0.50) 0.52; V: 0.56 (0.59) 0.61; pronotum length: 1.08 (1.17) 1.28; width at base: 2.63 (2.76) 2.98; scutellum length: 1.48 (1.57) 1.63; width at base: 1.51 (1.54) 1.61.

Similar to male in coloration. Pendergrast’s organs present, but small, not well-developed, slightly darker than rest of sternite ( Fig. 6 D View Fig ). Genitalia: “Last pregenital segment with posterior margin broadly concave, virtually transverse in middle third. Lateral end of second plate not covered by third genital plate ( Fig. 6 E View Fig ).” (Froeschner, 2000).

Distribution. ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires, Formosa. URUGUAY: Montevideo ( Fig. 7 View Fig ).

Host plant. Scirpus giganteus ( Cyperaceae ).

Discussion. See under genus.

Nymphs. There is only one nymph I and two nymphs V (see studied material). We believe, however, that it is interesting to give these measurements and descriptions since, even though we do not have enough material to see the variability, this is the first study that is made of the nymphs of this species.

First instar. Measurements (n= 1). Total length 1.26; width 0.95; length of head 0.54, width 0.71, interocular space 0.42; antennal segment lengths, missing; pronotal length 0.26, width at base 0.84.

Body oval.

Head: Dark brown, with large scattered punc-punctures. Eyes of silver color. Antennae and labium, pale brown. Paraclypei subtriangular, shorter than anteclypeus. Labium reaching the medium coxas.

Thorax: Pronotum dark brown, with lateral margins paler and legs whitish. Large scattered punctures: two transversal rows of punctuations on the anterior margin and one on the posterior margin. Pleural area dark brown with scattered punctuations. Legs whitish.

Abdomen: Mostly contracted, dark brown. The visible segments (1-3) with scattered rows of large punctures.

Fifth instar. ( Fig. 12 D View Fig ). Measurements (n= 2). Total length 2.95 (3.05) 3.16; width 2.26 (2.32) 2.37; length of head 0.58 (0.63) 0.68, width 1.06 (1.08) 1.11, interocular space 0.89 (0.95) 1.00; antennal segment lengths, I: 0.20 (0.23) 0.26; II: (0.45); III: 0.39 (0.40) 0.42; IV: 0.43 (0.45) 0.47; pronotal length 0.58 (0.69) 0.80, width at base 2.00 (2.03) 2.06.

Oval elongate.

Head: yellowish, with broad, longitudinal, light brown, medial line that narrows or disappears near middle of anteclypeus; subglabrous and homogenously punctured. Paraclypei as in adults, a slightly shorter than anteclypeus. Eyes small, prominent, rounded, greyish with a red line below each, posterolateral margins dark brown; primordia of ocelli red. Antennae pale brown; setae short, sparse on segments I and II, more abundant on segments III and IV; ratio of antennal segment lengths 1: 2.6: 2.2: 2.8. Labium pale brown with a red dot near its base, apex reaching hindcoxae.

Thorax: Pronotum light brown with two broad, dark-brown submedian longitudinal stripes, each with two medial light-brown circles; sparse and homogeneously punctured, subglabrous. Mesoand metatergum light brown, with dark brown stripes; punctured, subglabrous. Wing pads with similar stripes and punctures. Legs pale brown, a few short setae on femora and basal halves of tibiae, becoming more abundant, long on apical halves of tibiae and tarsi.

Abdomen: yellowish brown with intersegmental margins reddish, with short lines parallel to them of same color; densely punctured near lateral margins, along intersegmental sutures, and around scent glands, except area between scent glands; scent glands between segments III-IV, IV-V, V-VI and VI-VII: the first divided into two, more separated from remaining scent glands; second not divided, entire, somewhat wider than third, and last very small, non-functional. Abdomen with similar red lines as in dorsal view; punctures only along lateral margins; spiracles 2 to 8 sublateral; no visible setae. Ventrally pale brown, with two sublateral dark-brown stripes on pleural regions.

Discussion. Due to the distinct differences in shape, measurements, and coloration observed between the fifth instar nymphs of this species and Hellica nitida , we speculate that the immature forms present characters of high taxonomic value and as such, future projects on this family should include the study of immature forms.