Thyanta (Argosoma) testacea (Dallas)

Thyanta (Argosoma) testacea (Dallas)

Figs. 169- 183, Map 2

Pentatoma testacea Dallas, 1851: 250 ; Walker, 1867:289.

Thyanta testacea: Stal, 1872:35 ; Berg, 1878:23, Lethierry and Severin, 1893: 148; Kirkaldy, 1909:95.

Thyanta casta (of authors, not Stal): Uhler, 1893:705; Uhler, 1894b:l 74.

Thyanta signoreti Ruckes, 1956:65-66 , fig. 7. NEW SYNONYMY.

Diagnosis. General color green to brown, rarely with rubiginous transhumeral markings.

Outer jugal margins subparallel for middle third of distance from eyes to apex ( Fig. 170). Anterolateral pronotal margins straight to slightly concave; humeral angles rounded to angulate, usually produced beyond base of adjacent coria by about onehalf width ofeye ( Fig. 169). Pronotal cicatrices immaculate. Ostiolar canals acuminate apically. Posterolateral abdominal angles not marked with black or only minutely so; postspiracular black spots absent (sometimes evident in brown form).

Basal plates in caudoventral view with mesial margins convex, separated basally; posterior margins convex ( Fig. 181). Distal end of sclerotized rod slightly swollen subapically, narrowed apically ( Fig. 182); spermathecal duct greatly swollen below proximal flange, carrot-shaped ( Fig. 183). Posterior margin of pygophore broadly and shallowly U-shaped in caudal view ( Fig. 177); slightly concave in lateral view ( Fig. 180). Each paramere apically acute in both medial and ectal views ( Figs. l 71, 173); concave surface oriented more dorsad than mediad; roughened spiculate area on lateral surface circular ( Fig. 172). Aedeagus with dorsomedial lobe apparently absent ( Fig. 175).

Types. Dallas (1851) described Pentatoma testacea from "S. America" without designating a holotype or paratypes, and it is not possible to determine how many syntypes he had. Only 12 syntype was located and is here designated lectotype. It has the following label data: (a) " Type " (b) "40 3.30 809" [ventral surface] (c) "36. PENTATOMA TESTACEA ," [dorsal surface], "hil. 136, pl. 1, f. 5. Sign." [ventral surface]. The lectotype, which is conserved in the British Museum ofNatural History (London), was examined.

Ruckes (1956) described T. signoreti from 1 ~ and 322 from Colombia. The holotype and two paratypes were examined and do not differ in any significant way from T. testacea. The holotype is conserved in the Naturhistorisches Museum (Vienna, Austria).

Distribution. Lesser Antilles and northern South America ( Map 2).

Specimens examined. 113 specimens collected during every month of the year; deposited in: AMNH, BMNH, CU, EGER, INHS, LACM, LHR, TAMU, USNM. COLOMBIA: Cundinamarca: Guayabetal ; Melgar . Magdalena: La Jagua, 80 km S Valledupar ; Pueblo Bello, 45 km W Valledupar, Sierra Nevada de S. Marta ; Santa Marta . Tolima: Honda . VENEZUELA: Mesa de Playa . Amazonas: Gualtibo ; Puerto Ayacucho . Apure: San Fernando . Aragua: 5 km NW Colonia Tovar ; El Limon ; Maracay ; Rancho Grande . Bolivar: km 107 El Dorado Santa Elena . Carabobo: Mariara ; Naguanagua . Distrito Federal: Serrania El Avila . Guiirico: Calabozo ; Hato El Samon er . El Punzon Las Mercedes ; Hato Las Lajas . Lara: 12 km N Cubiro ; Torrellero . Merida: 5 km NW Timotes . Miranda: ElJarillo Agua Fria . Monagas: Caripito ; Jusepin ; Maturin ; 42 km SE Maturin . Nueva Esparta: El Robledar ; Las Marites ; Salamanca . Portuguesa: Aparicion . Sucre: Cumana . Trujillo: Cd de las Mesa de Esnujaque ; Puerta . SURINAM: Mairmost Plantation . Para: Zanderij I., Boven .

Comments. Thyanta testacea can be reliably identified only by an examination of the male genitalia. The apically spinose parameres curving gently dorsad will separate it from all other congeners except T. patruelis . The chin-like protuberance on the posteroventral surface of the pygophore is somewhat less prominent in T. testacea than in T. patruelis. There does seem to be a geographical separation of the two species with T. testacea restricted to northern South America and the Lesser Antilles and T. patruelis occurring from northeastern Brazil and southern Peru southward.