Lattinidea Rider and Eger, 2008

Lattinidea Rider and Eger , new genus

( Figs. 1, 3–10)

Lattinidea conforms to the generic description of Mormidea given by Rolston (1978). The following diagnosis will separate it from Mormidea .

Diagnosis.—Rostrum extending onto second visible abdominal sternite. Anterolateral pronotal margins provided with large tooth just before anterior angle. Evaporative areas of metapleura impunctate. Genital cup with deep, wide, semicircular emargination from ventral view ( Fig. 5); tubercle present on each lateral wall. Theca oblong, with two sclerotized digitiform processes; conjunctiva simple, membranous. Spermathecal pump convoluted ( Fig. 10).

Type species.— Cimex geographicus Fabricius, 1803 .

Material examined.— Brazil: Rondonia, 62 km SE Ariquemes nr. Fzda. Rancho Grande , 6-15-XII-1990, D. A. Rider & J. E. Eger (2 ³³ 1 ♀, DAR) ; Rondonia, 62 km SE Ariquemes , 13–25 Apr 1992, W. J. Hanson (1 ♀, JEE) ; Teffe , Dec. 8, 1919, H.S. Parish Collector (1 ♀, DAR) . Colombia: Amazonas, W a los lagos Vereda San Sebastian, Leticia , 10-V-1992, A. Saenz (1 ³ 1 ♀, JEE) ; Amazonas, Amacayacu Nat. Pk., San Martin , Malaise Trap, III.8 –12.2000, M. Sharkey (1 ³, JEE) . Costa Rica: Golfito , VII.26.1981, B. K. Dozier, collector (2 ³³, FSCA) . Ecuador: Prov. Napo, vic. Puerto Misahuali, 1,650–1,900 ft., 6-19- IX-1998, J. E. Eger, coll. 1 ° 2 ' 4.2 ̎ S lat., 77 ° 39 ' 49.2 ̎ W long., Coll. on Clidemia sp. (16 ³³ 4 ♀♀, JEE) GoogleMaps . French Guiana: Amazone Nature Lodge, 30 km SE Roura on Kaw Rd. , 10-18-IV-2007, D. G. Hall & J. E. Eger, coll. (1 ³ 1 ♀, JEE) . Panama: Bocas del Toro, Pr. 2 km WSW Chiriqui Grande , 6.viii.1999, 08 ° 56 ' 45 ̎ N, 82 ° 08 ' 13 ̎ W, J.C. Schaffner (1 ³ 1 ♀, JEE) ; Pan., Cerro Jefe, 7-18- 1995, C. W. & L. B. O’Brien (1 ³ 2 ♀♀, JEE) . Peru: Loreto Dept., Exploronapo Camp on R. Sucusari nr. R. Napo, 12- 19-III-1988, J. E. Eger, coll., Coll. on Clidemia sp. (1 ³ 2 ♀♀, DAR; 18 ³³ 13 ♀♀, JEE) . Venezuela: Exp. Territ. Amazonas Puerto Ayacucho , Mar. 12–23, 1950, J. Maldonado Capriles Coll. (1 ³, DAR) .

Comments.— Lattinidea appears to be more closely related to Sibaria Stål , Ladeaschistus Rolston and some species of Euschistus , subgenus Mitripus Rolston , based on the structure of the genital cup, theca and associated structures, and the convoluted spermathecal pump. It is easily separated from these genera by the rounded superior surfaces of the tibiae (sulcate in the other genera) and by the lack of preapical femoral spines (present in Ladeaschistus and Sibaria ). In addition, the rostrum rarely reaches the second visible abdominal sternite in the other genera.

In addition to the characters given in the key, Mormidea differs from Lattinidea by the following characters: tooth on anterolateral pronotal margins, if present, located at angle, not before it; lateral walls of genital cup lacking tubercle; theca short, compressed, lacking sclerotized digitiform thecal lobes, conjunctiva variously modified and sclerotized; spermathecal pump lacking convolutions.

One of us ( JEE) collected adults and immatures of Lattinidea geographica along the Sucusari River near Iquitos, Peru, and in the vicinity of Puerto Misahuali, Ecuador, on Clidemia sp. , family Melastomataceae , a broadleaf plant. They were observed feeding on this plant and could not be found on any other plants in the area, including numerous species of grasses. This is almost certainly a host plant for L. geographica.

Rolston (1978) reported the distribution of L. geographica as ‘‘much of the drainage area of the Amazon River and its tributaries.’’ Specimens examined from Panama and Costa Rica indicate that the distribution of this species extends at least into Costa Rica.

It is with great pleasure that we name this and the following new genus in honor of John Lattin, in recognition of all the encouragement and training he has provided for many young heteropterists, and for the contributions he has made towards heteropteran systematics. The genus is feminine.

This species was described and illustrated by Rolston (1978) in his monograph of the genus Mormidea ; a redescription is not presented here, but additional illustrations are provided.