Symphylus caribbeanus Kirkaldy, 1909

Symphylus caribbeanus Kirkaldy Figs. 1–5

Taxonomy.— Guérin-Méneville (1857) described this species from Cuba as Scutellera (Pachycoris) obliqua , a name preoccupied by Pachycoris obliquus Germar, 1839 . Owing to homonymy, Kirkaldy (1909) renamed the species Symphylus caribbeanus . Certain of its color forms have been misidentified as Stethaulax marmoratus (Say) . Although Stethaulax and Symphylus have been suggested to be congeneric ( Hart and Malloch 1919, Barber and Bruner 1932), most workers have continued to maintain the genera as distinct ( Lattin 1964, Froeschner 1988, Eger and Baranowski 2002, Eger et al. 2015). The concept of Sy. deplanatus ( Barber 1914, Blatchley 1926) refers, in part, to Sy. caribbeanus not Herrich-Schaeffer 1837. Symphylus apparently is not monophyletic and is in need of revision ( Eger et al. 2015).

Recognition.—Key features of the adult of Sy. caribbeanus are the long, pointed head; the rounded anterolateral margins of the pronotum; the welldeveloped, relatively straight metathoracic scent-gland canal, with its apex separated from the anterior margin of the metapleuron by more than its width at the apex; the hammer-shaped parameres; and the posterior margin of sternite VII in females distinctly convex medially ( Lattin 1964, Eger and Baranowski 2002). Although St. marmoratus shares with Sy. caribbeanus a somewhat similar metathoracic scent-gland canal, it differs from the latter species by having a rounded head, the anterolateral margins of the pronotum carinate and reflexed; the parameres hook-shaped (uncinate); and the posterior margin of sternite VII in females shallowly concave or straight medially ( Lattin 1964, Eger and Baranowski ( Lattin 1964). Both species are included in Eger and Baranowski’s (2002) key to the Scutelleridae of Florida. The male genitalia of some species of Symphylus (and certain other Neotropical genera) are concealed ( Eger 1987), but that is not the case in Sy. caribbeanus .

As in many other pachycorine scutellerids ( Souza et al. 2012, Eger et al. 2015), Sy. caribbeanus varies substantially in coloration ( Figs. 1–3). Lattin (1964) delimited four types of intraspecific variation: (1) yellow-brown without dark markings (most common form), except for black punctures in short, transverse rows, especially in males, (2) similarly colored, but with two black spots on the scutellum; (3) similar to #2, but with a pale spot at the apex of the scutellum; and (4) a variegated pattern similar to that in St. marmoratus . The coloration of a male from South Carolina ( Fig. 1) is similar to the most common color form observed by Lattin (1964) and resembles a specimen from Leon County, Florida, posted on BugGuide (http://bugguide.net/node/ view/981742). Other adults from South Carolina have a fuscous, horseshoe-shaped pattern on the pronotum and scutellum ( Figs. 2, 3); the pattern in Fig. 3 is similar to that of a specimen from Cameron County, Texas (http://bugguide. net/node/view/855483). A specimen (♀) from Martin County, Florida, has two black scutellar spots (color morph #2 of Lattin 1964).

Certain color morphs of Sy. caribbeanus are striking ( Figs. 2, 3), but the distinct fuscous markings soon fade after adults are killed. Thus, the appearance of museum specimens can differ substantially from that of adults observed in the field.

Distribution.— Neotropical: In addition to the West Indies, Sy. caribbeanus also is known from Mexico and Central America ( Eger et al. 2015).

Previous U. S records : The first U.S. record was that of Barber (1914; as Sy. deplanatus Herrich-Schaeffer ) from Enterprise [Volusia County], Florida. Blatchley (1926) gave additional Floridian records of Sy. caribbeanus as Sy. deplanatus , a common Neotropical species that ranges from Mexico south to Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay ( Eger et al. 2015). Blatchley (1926) commented that Van Duzee (1917) had omitted the species (either as Sy. caribbeanus or Sy. deplanatus ) in cataloging the Hemiptera of North America north of Mexico, owing to confusion with the superficially similar St. marmoratus . Blatchley (1926) also added a Georgia record for Sy. caribbeanus (as Sy. deplanatus ) based on a USNM specimen from Ft. Valley (April 20, 1905) that had been sent to him as St. marmoratus . Lattin (1964), however, omitted Georgia from the U.S. distribution of Sy. caribbeanus and placed the Ft. Valley, Georgia, specimen under material examined for St. marmoratus . Specimens of St. marmoratus from Ft. Valley, collected in April (2♂, 3♀; no year), April 14, 1905 (1♂), and April 20, 1905 (1♂, 2♀), are in the USNM collection. Because Lattin’s (1964) dissertation represents an unpublished work, Froeschner (1988) continued to list the Georgia record, along with Florida and Texas in citing the U.S. distribution for Sy. caribbeanus (the Texas record was added by McPherson 1977).

New state from museum specimens: ALABAMA: Evergreen [Conecuh Co.], Aug. 5 [no year], Geo. McGreen colln., 1♂ ( USNM). MISSISSIPPI: Washington Co., Elizabeth , July 2012, R. Evans, sweep-net in sumac, Anacardiaceae , Rhus sp. , 5♂, 5♀ ( USNM). NORTH CAROLINA: Avery Co., Pisgah Natl. For., Prong Creek at Roseboro , 25- 26-V 1999, Malaise Trap, G.J. Steck & B.D. Sutton, 5♀ ( FSCA) .

New from current study: Georgia is reinstated to the known U.S. range of Sy. caribbeanus and South Carolina is added as a new state record.

Host plants.— Previous: The few known plant associations for Sy. caribbeanus were summarized by Eger et al. (2015): Mangifera indica L. ( Anacardiaceae ), Clusia major L. ( Clusiaceae ) (as C. rosea Jacq. ), Phaseolus lathyroides L. ( Fabaceae ), Salvia mellifera Greene ( Lamiaceae ), and Morella cerifera [L.] Small ( Myricaceae ) (as Myrica cerifera L.). Adults also have been collected from Lantana camara L. ( Verbenaceae ) in Cuba ( Krauss 1953) and Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi ( Anacardiaceae ) in Florida ( Cassani 1986).

New from current study: Adults ( Figs. 1–3) and nymphs ( Figs. 4, 5) were beaten from fruits of yaupon, Ilex vomitoria Aiton ( Aquifoliaceae ), in Charleston County, South Carolina. Nymphs and adults were found on fruits of Brazilian peppertree ( Schinus terebinthifolius ), in Florida. The adult from Georgia was collected from fruits of wax myrtle ( Morella cerifera ).

Specimens examined.— FLORIDA: Glades Co., Rt. 27, 17.5 km SE of Palmdale, 26 ° 50.85′N 81 ° ′12.06′W, 1 Apr 2017, 5–I, 2–III, 4♂, 2♀ ex Schinus terebinthifolius . Hendry Co., Rts. 27 & 80, 4 km W of Clewiston , 26 ° 45.32′N 80 ° ′58.78′W, 1 Apr 2017, 1♂ ex S. terebinthifolius. Lake Co., Jct. Co. Rd. 561 & Causey Rd., E of Rt. 27, 7 km N of Clermont, 28 ° 37.26′N 81 ° ′45.56′W, 1 Apr 2017, 2♀ ex S. terebinthifolius. Martin Co., Rt. 441, 3 km N of Port Mayaca, 27 ° 00.50′N 80 ° ′37.50′W, 31 Mar 2017, 2♀ ex S. terebinthifolius. Okeechobee Co., Rt. 441, Okeechobee, 27 ° 12.38′N 80 ° ′49.77′W, 31 Mar 2017, 1–I, 2–II, 2–III, 7–IV, 1–V, 2♂, 2♀ ex S. terebinthifolius. Polk Co., Rt. 27, 7.5 km S of Haines City, 28 ° 03.56′N 81 ° ′38.18′W, 30 Mar 2017, 1♀ ex Schinus terebinthifolius ; Rt. 27, 14.5 km S of Lake Wales , 27 ° 46.09′N 81 ° ′35.76′W, 1 Apr 2017, 1♂ ex S. terebinthifolius. GEORGIA: Chatham Co., Savannah, Armstrong State University , 31 ° 58.94′N 81 ° ′09.49′W, 9 Nov 2016, 1 ♀ ex Morella cerifera . SOUTH CAROLINA: Charleston Co., Rt. 17, Charleston (West Ashley area), USDA Vegetable Laboratory, 32 ° 47.74–75′N 80 ° ′03.87–04.11′W, 15 Nov 2016, 1–IV, 2–V, 2♀ ex Ilex vomitoria ; S of Rt. 17, Charleston (West Ashley), Clemson University Coastal Research and Education Center, 32 ° 47.45′N 80 ° ′04.08′W, 15 Nov 2016, 2♂ (1 teneral) ex I. vomitoria.