Canthophorus Mulsant & Rey 1866: 54

Canthophorus Mulsant & Rey 1866: 54 .

Type species by subsequent designation ( Reuter 1888: 404):

Cimex dubius Scopoli, 1763 .

Diagnosis

In external morphology, Canthophorus may be recognised by the combination of the following characters: pronotum, corium not including thin light stripe along their lateral margins [absent in C. coeruleus ( Reuter, 1902) ], legs and antennae unicolourly dark; body with blue or violet metallic luster (or very rarely without luster). Structure of aedeagus and female genitalia with unique characters among Sehirini : presence of unpaired sclerotised, rather long ventral lobe ( Figures 4 A View Figure 4 , 6 A –6 Y View Figure 6 ) [aedeagi in some species of Ochetostethus Fieber, 1860 with similar membranous short lobe]; first rami ( Figure 8 A, 8 C –8 Y View Figure 8 ) widening anteriorly; and spermathecal duct consisting of three parts: entirely sclerotised, short, slightly dilated proximal part, membranous, long, strongly widened, simple (without invaginated distomedian part) median part, and membranous, long, very thin distal part ( Figures 8 B View Figure 8 , 9 A View Figure 9 , 10 A, 10 D View Figure 10 , 11 A, 11 C –11 E View Figure 11 ) [spermathecal ducts in Crocistethus Fieber, 1860 and Tritomegas bicolor more similar to this type of structure and differing from it by median part subdivided into membranous proximomedian and short, sclerotised, invaginated distomedian parts, and also by long and thin basal part, in Crocistethus , membranous proximally].

Differential diagnosis

Canthophorus is distinguished by a shallow groove on the prosternum, with smooth, not lamellar and not carinate margins [vs. all genera and species examined except for Adomerus notatus and A. triguttulus ]; trapeziformly rounded head [vs. Sehirus Amyot & Serville, 1843 and Ochetostethus ]; presence of medial rib and absence of groove on mesosternum [vs. Ochetostethus and Ochetostethomorpha nollothensis Schumacher 1913 , according to Linnavuori’ s description (1993)]; absence of denticles on femora [vs. Ochetostethomorpha nollothensis , according to Linnavuori’ s description (1993)]; almost spherical eyes, less strongly protruding beyond lateral margins of head [vs. Legnotus Schiødte, 1848 ]; jugae contiguous in front of clypeus, with lateral margins considerably elevated above clypeus [vs. Adomerus Mulsant & Rey, 1866 except for A. aeneus ( Walker, 1867) n. comb., A. maculipes ( Mulsant & Rey, 1852) n. comb., A. variegates , Crocistethus , Lalervis Signoret, 1881 , Singeria , according to Wagner’ s description (1955), Tacolus Schouteden, 1910, and Tritomegas Amyot & Serville, 1843 ]; absence of light patches on legs, antennae, pronotum, scutellum and/or corium, excluding lateral margins of pronotum and corium [vs. Adomerus , Crocistethus , Lalervis , Ochetostethomorpha , according to the description of Linnavuori (1993) and Lis et al. (2014), Tacolus, and Tritomegas ]; shorter rostrum, not protruding beyond middle coxae [vs. Tacolus]; widely rounded, curved downward apex of scutellum and not shortened hemelytra [vs. Singeria , according to Wagner’ s description (1955)]. All species of Canthophorus , except for C. coeruleus and C. niveimarginatus Scott, 1874 , with light-coloured spots in anterior angles of ventrites IV–VII, like in Tritomegas [vs. Adomerus aeneus n. comb., A. maculipes n. comb., A. variegates , Crocistethus , Lalervis and Tacolus, having similar, but longer, merging or almost merging spots on ventrites V–VII], unlike Adomerus biguttatus , A. notatus , A. rotundus , and A. triguttulus , having continuous thin stripe on lateral margins of abdominal venter (as in C. niveimarginatus ), and in contrast to Adomerus congener and other genera of tribe having unicolour abdominal venter (as in C. coeruleus ). All species of Canthophorus , except for C. coeruleus , with contrasting light stripe along entire length of lateral margin of pronotum and along lateral margin of corium, except for its apex, as in Adomerus , Lalervis, Tacolus and Tritomegas (with the difference that the last two genera with stripe strongly not reaching apex of corium; Tritomegas sexmaculatus with stripe on lateral margin of pronotum strongly widening anteriad; and stripe in T. bicolor not extending beyond middle of lateral margin of pronotum), in contrast to Crocistethus waltlianus , Exosehirus Wagner, 1963 , and Legnotus having only light-coloured lateral margin of corium, and as distinct from Crocistethus basalis and other genera not having light-coloured strip on lateral margins of pronotum and corium. Remaining part of corium in Canthophorus without light spots [vs. Adomerus biguttatus , A. notatus , A. rotundus , A. triguttulus , A. variegates , Crocistethus , Lalervis and Ochetostethomorpha , according to Linnavuori (1993) and Lis et al. (2014), Tacolus and Tritomegas ].

Pygophore in Canthophorus is distinct from all studied genera, except for Lalervis , with long and strongly sloped posterior surface and with long dorsal infolding ( Figure 2 B View Figure 2 ). Posterior ventral margin of pygophore without notches ( Figure 2 A View Figure 2 ) [vs. Adomerus maculipes n. comb. ( Figure 2 E View Figure 2 ), Crocistethus , Lalervis and Tritomegas ]. Genital opening laterally with sclerotised denticles ( Figure 2 B View Figure 2 ) [vs. Crocistethus , Exosehirus and Tritomegas bicolor ]. Dorsal infolding sclerotised [vs. Adomerus triguttulus ], without desclerotised medial line [vs. Adomerus aeneus n. comb. ( Figure 2 D View Figure 2 ), A. maculipes n. comb. ( Figure 2 F View Figure 2 ), Crocistethus and Exosehirus ] and desclerotised area in middle of inner margin [vs. Adomerus and Tritomegas ], with distinct low and flattened tubercle on each side [vs. Adomerus , Exosehirus , Lalervis , Ochetostethus and Tritomegas sexmaculatus ]. Dorsal wall of pygophore with very narrow desclerotised line [vs. Crocistethus and Tritomegas ].

Corpus of paramere in Canthophorus ( Figure 3 A –3 M View Figure 3 ) long [vs. Adomerus , Exosehirus , Lalervis and Ochetostethus ], gradually and slightly widening distally [vs. Adomerus , Crocistethus , Exosehirus , Ochetostethus , Ochetostethomorpha , according to figures of Linnavuori (1993) and Lis et al. (2014), and Tritomegas ]. Sensory process short [vs. Adomerus , except for A. triguttulus , Sehirus , Singeria , according to Wagner’ s drawing (1955), and Tritomegas bicolor ], rounded [vs. Crocistethus , Lalervis , Legnotus and Ochetostethus ], not strongly dilated [vs. Exosehirus and Ochetostethus ] and not strongly narrowed [vs. Legnotus ], covered with sparse and rather short setae [vs. Adomerus , except for A. congener , Exosehirus , Legnotus , Sehirus , Singeria , according to Wagner’ s drawing (1955), and Ochetostethomorpha , according to figures of Linnavuori (1993) and Lis et al. (2014),]. Hypophysis rather short [vs. Adomerus , Exosehirus , Lalervis , Sehirus , Singeria , according to Wagner’ s drawing (1955), Ochetostethus , Ochetostethomorpha , according to figures of Linnavuori (1993) and Lis et al. (2014), and Tritomegas ], lying at an acute angle to paramere body axis [vs. Exosehirus ], flattened laterally [vs. Adomerus biguttatus and Lalervis ], not curved dorsally [vs. Legnotus and Ochetostethus ], without projection or triangular prominence before apex [vs. Adomerus aeneus , n. comb., A. congener , A. triguttulus , Crocistethus and Legnotus ], without denticles on inner margin [vs. Exosehirus ], without denticles [vs. Adomerus maculipes n. comb.] and setae [vs. Sehirus ] on outer margin, with pointed [vs. Adomerus biguttatus , Sehirus , Singeria , according to Wagner’ s drawing (1955), Ochetostethomorpha nollothensis , according to Linnavuori’ s drawing (1993), and Tritomegas ], not curved [vs. Crocistethus and Tritomegas bicolor ] apex.

Conjunctiva of aedeagus in Canthophorus ( Figures 4 A –4 C View Figure 4 , 5 A –5 E View Figure 5 ), without dorsal lobes [vs. Adomerus congener , A. maculipes , n. comb., Crocistethus , Lalervis , Legnotus , Ochetostethus and Tritomegas ]. Vesica narrow, with walls rather closely adjacent to ductus ejaculatorius and sclerotised ( Figure 4 D –4 H View Figure 4 ) [vs. Adomerus aeneus , n. comb. ( Figure 18 A –18 C View Figure 18 ), A. congener , A maculipes , n. comb. ( Figure 19 A –19 C View Figure 19 ), A. variegatus , Lalervis and Tritomegas ], not expanded [vs. Adomerus aeneus , n. comb., A. maculipes n. comb., A. notatus and A. rotundus ], with one branch [only in C. melanopterus ( Herrich-Schaeffer, 1835) ] unlike Adomerus biguttatus , A. triguttulus , Lalervis , Legnotus and Tritomegas , membranous as in Ochetostethus , in contrast to Sehirus morio and S. parens . Dorsoapical lobe of conjunctiva absent [vs. Adomerus ( Figures 18 A –18 C View Figure 18 , 19 A –19 C View Figure 19 ), Crocistethus and Lalervis ]. Dorsolateral lobes with acicular straight spicules ( Figure 7 A – 7 V View Figure 7 ) in contrast to all genera examined, except for Legnotus and Tritomegas . Canthophorus in structure of aedeagus is closest to Exosehirus and Sehirus , distinguished from them in completely membranous apical lobes of conjunctiva, more sclerotised vesica, and dorsolateral lobes directed dorsolaterad.

Paratergites IX in Canthophorus transverse, not extended forward like more or less wide plates ( Figure 8 A View Figure 8 ) [vs. Crocistethus and Ochetostethus ], not fused with gonocoxites II [vs. Crocistethus waltlianus , Legnotus , Ochetostethus and Tritomegas ]; outer ends of latter rather wide [vs. Adomerus aeneus n. comb. ( Figure 20 A, 20 B View Figure 20 ), A. congener , A. rotundus , A. triguttulus , Exosehirus , Sehirus and Tritomegas bicolor ]. Lateral parts of gonocoxites I lying under ventrite VII not very large [vs. Ochetostethus ]. First rami developed [vs. Adomerus biguttatus , Crocistethus and Legnotus ]; apices of gonapophyses I short [vs. Exosehirus , Ochetostethus , Sehirus and Tritomegas bicolor ]. Gonangulum developed [vs. Adomerus aeneus n. comb. ( Figure 20 A View Figure 20 ), A. biguttatus , A. maculipes n. comb. ( Figure 20 C View Figure 20 ), Crocistethus and Legnotus ]. Gonapophyses II present [vs. Crocistethus and Legnotus ], narrow and rather short; second rami absent [vs. Adomerus aeneus n. comb. ( Figure 20 A View Figure 20 ), A. maculipes n. comb. ( Figure 20 C View Figure 20 ), Adomerus variegates , Exosehirus , Ochetostethus , Sehirus and Tritomegas sexmaculatus ]. Triangulum without paired pouches [vs. Sehirus ] or deep transverse fold [vs. Adomerus aeneus n. comb. ( Figure 20 A View Figure 20 ), A. congener , A. maculipes n. comb. ( Figure 20 C View Figure 20 ), A. variegates and Tritomegas ]. Gynatrial sac without anterior pouches [vs. Adomerus aeneus n. comb. ( Figure 20 B View Figure 20 ), A. congener , A. maculipes n. comb. ( Figure 20 D View Figure 20 ), and A. variegates ]. Gynatrial cone relatively short [vs. Adomerus biguttatus , Exosehirus, Tacolus and Tritomegas sexmaculatus ], not widened apically [vs. Tacolus], not greatly diminished, and not surrounded by ring-shaped fold named here as torus [vs. Adomerus aeneus n. comb. ( Figure 20 B View Figure 20 ), A. congener , A. maculipes n. comb. ( Figure 20 D View Figure 20 ), A. rotundus and A. variegates ]. Spermathecal duct differentiated into parts [vs. Adomerus ( Figure 20 B, 20 D View Figure 20 ), except for A. biguttatus ] and consisting of three, not two parts [vs. Adomerus biguttatus , Lalervis , Legnotus , Sehirus ovatus, Tacolus , Tritomegas sexmaculatus and Ochetostethus ]; proximal part of duct sclerotised [vs. Adomerus biguttatus , Exosehirus , Lalervis , Legnotus , Sehirus morio , S. parens and Tacolus], short [vs. Crocistethus and Tritomegas bicolor ], not membranous basally [vs. Crocistethus ]; median part gradually widening to middle [vs. Exosehirus ], completely membranous, not sclerotised apically [vs. Sehirus morio and S. parens ], not subdivided into membranous proximomedian and short, sclerotised, invaginated distomedian subparts [vs. Crocistethus and Tritomegas ]. Spermathecal pump with flanges, capsule having not only subspherical distal part but also tubular proximal part [vs. Ochetostethus ]. Dorsal wall of gynatrial sac without sclerotised plate in front of gynatrial cone [vs. Adomerus triguttulus , Exosehirus , Lalervis and Sehirus ], without unpaired pouch anteriorly of [vs. Adomerus triguttulus ] and without unpaired pouch [vs. Adomerus aeneus n. comb. ( Figure 20 B View Figure 20 ), A. biguttatus , A. maculipes n. comb. ( Figure 20 D View Figure 20 ), A. notatus , A. variegates , Exosehirus , Sehirus and Tritomegas bicolor ] or paired pouches [vs. Adomerus rotundus ] just posterior to gynatrial cone. Posterior part of gynatrial sac with two lateral pouches [vs. Adomerus aeneus n. comb. ( Figure 20 B View Figure 20 ), A. biguttatus , A. congener , A. maculipes n. comb. ( Figure 20 D View Figure 20 ), A. variegates , Exosehirus , Legnotus picipes , Sehirus, Tacolus and Tritomegas ], without medial unpaired pouch [vs. Adomerus rotundus, Tacolus and Tritomegas ]. Ring sclerites present [vs. Ochetostethus ], almost always paired [vs. A. maculipes n. comb. ( Figure 20 C View Figure 20 )].

Description

Body oval, slightly widened behind middle, moderately convex, blackish or dark brown, glabrous, almost always with blue or purple metallic sheen.

Head transverse, moderately inclined. Preocular part of head widely rounded, flat in middle. Jugae contiguous in front of clypeus, with lateral margins rather curved upward so that clypeus not visible in lateral view, except for its base. Eyes large, spherical, not strongly protruding beyond lateral margins of head. Vertex convex. Dorsal surface head covered with thin dense punctuation; punctures on ventral surface of head slightly larger and deeper. Antennae unicolour dark brown or blackish. Bucculae moderately high, gradually decreasing posteriorly. Rostrum reaching middle coxae.

Thorax. Pronotum broader than long, convex. Pronotal lateral margins gradually convex, bordered by smooth, rounded yellowish rib widening anteriorly; only in C. coeruleus rib uniformly thin, of same colour as pronotal disc. Anterior angles of pronotum obtusely rounded, reaching outer margins of eyes. Posterior margin of pronotum gradually and evenly convex. Humeri widely rounded. Calli strongly smoothed; transverse depression on disс very shallow, smoothed. Punctuation rather dense, with points slightly larger and deeper than on dorsal surface of head.

Scutellum long, convex at base; its lateral margins slightly convex in basal part and slightly concave posteriorly. Apex of scutellum narrow, rounded, curved downwards. Punctuation on scutellum dense, slightly deeper than on pronotum.

Lateral margins of hemelytra convex, with smooth rounded yellowish ribs tapering posteriorly and not reaching posterior outer corner of corium; only in C. coeruleus , rib uniformly thin, of same colour as remaining part of hemelytron. Clavus and corium, excluding its lateral margin, unicolour, without any light patches. Posterior margin of corium slightly concave at inner and outer ends. Punctuation of corium as on scutellum. Membrane not or slightly projecting beyond apex of abdomen, uniformly brownish or whitish ( Figure 1 A –1 F View Figure 1 ).

Propleuron anteriorly coarsely punctate, posteriorly in sparser punctuation, with almost smooth posterior margin; meso- and metapleuron rather densely punctate, posterior margin of latter almost smooth. Prosternum with shallow, smoothed laterally, punctate groove, without medial carina; mesosternum convex, transversely finely rugose, without groove, with thin longitudinal carina; metasternum with narrow shallow groove, without carinae. Mesopleural evaporatorium wide and rather long, lying along entire mesopleural posterior margin. Metapleural evaporatorium large, slightly not reaching lateral margin of metapleuron, with rounded posterior margin. Ostiole of metathoracic scent gland transversely elongated. Peritreme thin, elevated, with matte surface, in all species, except for C. niveimarginatus , long, crescent-shaped; in latter species peritreme short and almost straight.

Legs uniformly dark brown or blackish.

Abdomen. Ventral surface densely and shallowly punctate. Anterior cones of ventrites IV–VII and anterior corners of corresponding laterotergites of connexivum with yellowish spots tapering posteriorly; in C. niveimarginatus , ventrites III/IV–VII and corresponding laterotergites with continuous yellowish stripe tapering anteriorly; in C. coeruleus , lateral margins of abdominal venter and connexivum without spots and stripes.

Pygophore ( Figure 2 A, 2 B View Figure 2 ) somewhat longer than wide or as long as wide, gradually widening apicad, skewed apically owing to shortened dorsal wall; at rest state, genital opening of pygophore completely invisible from outside. Lateral walls of pygophore slightly concave in middle of length. Ventral wall long, with shallow transverse impression along posterior margin. Dorsal wall short, convex, with very narrow desclerotised medial line. Lateral and dorsal walls smooth, ventral wall apically with very fine punctuation. Basal opening large, longitudinally oval. Posteroventral margin of pygophore slightly convex, almost straight, without notches. Lateral angles of pygophore almost rectangular, not protruding. Genital opening small, transversely oval, laterally reinforced with pair of strongly sclerotised acute denticles directed mediad. Ventral infolding rather short and sloped ventrad in medial part at acute angle to posteroventral margin of pygophore. Dorsal infolding entirely sclerotised, long in middle, separated from dorsal wall of pygophore by narrow desclerotised line. Surface of dorsal infolding rather densely covered with thin short setae directed posteriad. Lateral infolding wide, separated from dorsal infolding by shallow impressions lying just anterior to denticles reinforcing genital opening, with several setae in inner part. Subgenital plate posteriorly in form of high, narrowly parabolic transverse ridge with acute apex directed posteriad. Dorsal margin of this posterior ridge in middle with triangular denticle directed dorsally. Lateral ridges of subgenital plate parallel, widely spaced, declining to posterior ends connected to anterior ends of posterior ridge, and strongly elevating anteriorly.

Paramere ( Figure 3 A –3 M View Figure 3 ). Basal plate short and narrow, located at dorsal external side of paramere corpus, almost at right angle to its longitudinal axis. Corpus of paramere long, basally round in cross-section. In lateral view, corpus strongly narrowed in base, greatly widening distally, with concave ventral margin and almost straight dorsal margin; in dorsal view, slightly widening distally, with almost parallel lateral margin. Outer wall of paramere corpus along entire length with longitudinal rib curving to ventral margin distally. Sensory process short, broad at base, rounded apically, located apically at paramere corpus at obtuse angle to its longitudinal axis, and directed dorsoposteriad. Inner wall of sensory process sloped (so that latter triangularly narrowing apically in dorsal view), plane, with group of rather long setae; its ventral margin bordered by rib extending almost to middle of corpus length. Inner wall of paramere corpus ventral to this rib depressed in apical part. Hypophysis rather long, compressed laterally, extending from outer ventral wall of paramere corpus, directed posteroventrad and sharply curved mediad in middle. Basally hypophysis very wide, gradually narrowing to pointed, strongly sclerotised apex. Margins and surfaces of hypophysis smooth, without setae.

Aedeagus. Phallobase ( Figure 4 A View Figure 4 ) rather small, widening dorsally in lateral view, with short, apically pointed arms. Ventral processes rather long, narrow, directed ventrolaterad, with curved apices. Suspensory apodemes as long as basal plates of phallobase. Capitate processes rather large. Erection fluid pump long, narrow, slightly sclerotised apically.

Theca ( Figure 4 A View Figure 4 ) moderately long, attached to phallobase by ventral wall somewhat distal to base. Anterior wall (located anterior to phallobase) of theca convex, membranous. Basal tubercles rather large, slightly convex, completely membranous. Dorsal wall of theca convex, membranous, ventral wall concave in middle, lateral walls almost straight or slightly convex; ventral and lateral walls slightly sclerotised in middle, their other parts membranous except for two small isolated and weakly sclerotised patches in distal part of lateral walls. Conjunctiva ( Figure 4 A –4 C View Figure 4 ) cylindrical, rather long, curved ventrally at obtuse angle relative to longitudinal axis of aedeagus approximately in middle of length. Apical part of conjunctiva (distal to bend) slightly narrower than basal part. Ventral wall of conjunctiva with rather long ventral lobe lying somewhat basally of wall middle. Ventral lobe flattened, broad at base, tapering apically, directed towards base of aedeagus and pressed to ventral wall of conjunctiva in completely inflated state. Ventral, lateral walls and apex of ventral lobe sclerotised; shape of lobe apex species-specific. Sclerotisation of ventral lobe continuing distally on ventral wall of conjunctiva in form of rather wide sclerotised band not reaching conjunctival apex. Latter with two thin, more or less long, curved membranous apical lobes and long sclerotised tubular vesica lying between them. [This tube has a complex structure and consists of a conjunctival projection in base of the tube at its dorsal side and the vesica proper; the border between them is outwardly indistinguishable and extends inside the tube along its lateral walls (the membranous border is shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 E –4 H View Figure 4 ); for simplicity, the term vesica is accepted for the entire sclerotised tube here]. Vesica basally rather wide, arcuately curved towards base of aedeagus and almost straight in distal part, gradually tapering to thin apex with secondary gonopore located terminally. In C. melanopterus ( Herrich-Schaeffer, 1835) , vesica with membranous lateral branch approximately in middle of length ( Figure 4 E –4 H View Figure 4 ). Ejaculatory reservoir small, lying near base of vesica. Conjunctiva at dorsal side somewhat basal to middle of length with pair of rather large membranous dorsolateral lobes directed dorsolaterad. Apex of each dorsolateral lobe with spicule extending from end of narrow, more or less long basal plate bearing one or two denticles on opposite end in all species except for C. impressus ( Horváth, 1880) . Shape of spicules mainly species-specific.

Female terminalia ( Figure 8 A, 8 B View Figure 8 ). Paratergites VIII rather long medially, merged without distinct suture. Paratergites IX transverse, triangular, with widely rounded posterior angles, more or less elongated outer angles and convex ventral surfaces. Parts of gonocoxites I, lying in notch of sternite VII and visible from outside, with convex ventral surfaces and with inner margins slightly longer than posterior margins. Lateral parts of gonocoxites I, lying under sternite VII, weakly sclerotised, with broad, almost rectangular apodema near posterolateral angle of gonocoxite. Gonapophyses I shaped like folded membranous inflations of gynatrial vestibulum walls, extending along anterolateral margins of gonocoxites I, with short, pointed apices. First rami lying on ventral surfaces of gonapophyses I, long, very narrow in posterior part and widening anteriorly, almost reaching apices of gonapophyses I. Shape of anterior parts of first rami somewhat species-specific.

Gonocoxites II slightly sclerotised, transverse, tapering towards outer ends and widening mediad, not contiguous medially, with posterior inner angles widely rounded and posterior outer angles elongated into triangular processes continuing under paratergites IX as long sclerotised bands. Base of gonapophyses II in form of large triangular membranous plate (triangulum) widely rounded apically and separating vestibulum from gynatrial sac. Apices of gonapophyses II narrow, membranous, directed anteriad and each to other, lying on lateral margins of triangulum. Second rami absent.

Gonangulum shaped like narrow long plate anteriorly passing into first rami, posteriorly merged with outer angles of paratergites IX. Anterolateral angles of gonocoxites I with narrow triangular plate curved medially and attached to place of fusion of gonangulum and lateral angles of paratergites IX.

Gynatrial sac large, membranous, somewhat flattened dorsoventrally, conditionally subdivided into two parts. Anterior part looking like capacious thin-walled receptacle, slightly elongated anterior to posterior and widening anteriorly. Its anterior wall with two short triangular lateral projections. Common oviduct relatively narrow and short, coalescing with gynatrial sac anteriorly between these projections. Dorsal wall of anterior part of gynatrial sac anterior to middle with small membranous gynatrial cone [spermathecal opening into vagina by Pluot-Sigwalt & Lis (2008)]. Latter triangularly widened at base and narrow, with subparallel lateral walls apically. Spermathecal duct extending from extreme apex of gynatrial cone and consisting of three parts: short, somewhat dilated proximal part [proximal duct by Pluot-Sigwalt & Lis (2008)], simple (without invaginated distomedian part), very long, widening to middle median part [dilation of spermathecal duct by Pluot-Sigwalt & Lis (2008)], and very narrow, moderately long distal part; last two parts membranous, while proximal part sclerotised. Spermathecal pump [intermediate part of the spermatheca by Pluot-Sigwalt & Lis (2008)] normally developed, with rather equal flanges or with somewhat reduced proximal flange. Capsule of spermatheca [seminal receptacle by Pluot-Sigwalt & Lis (2008)] entirely sclerotised, consisting of tubular proximal and spherical distal parts, without any processes.

Posterior part of gynatrial sac rather short, separated from anterior part by transverse fold of dorsal wall. Posterior angles of gynatrial sac elongated and triangularly tapering; their ventral surfaces merged with lateral ends of gonocoxites II smoothly curved dorsomedially. Dorsal wall of gynatrial sac posteriorly sharply curved ventrad, forming its posterior margin lying between posterior angles. Ring sclerites thin, very large, lying on posterior and partly on ventral (passing into dorsal wall of triangulum) walls of posterior part of gynatrial sac; they are separate, although perhaps rarely merged anteriorly as figured for specimen from Sigmaringen (southern Germany) by Rieger (1997) [I have never met such merged ring sclerites; probably Rieger figured a rare case of teratism]. Posterior part of gynatrial sac always with a pair of membranous pouches lying posterior or anterior to posterior margin of gynatrial sac and having species-specific size and shape. In C. melanopterus , posterior pouches with shaped sclerites inside; sometimes internal walls of pouches in other species with formless sclerotised patches located irregularly.

Composition

I include seven species and six subspecies in the genus Canthophorus : C. coeruleus ( Reuter, 1902) , C. dubius ( Scopoli, 1763) with subspecies C. d. dubius and C. d. sanigarum n. ssp., C. impressus ( Horváth, 1880) with subspecies C. i. impressus and C. impressus hajastanicus n. ssp., C. melanopterus ( Herrich-Schaeffer, 1835) with subspecies C. m. contrarius ( Wagner, 1956), C. m. mariae n. ssp., and C. m. melanopterus [= C. m. niger ( Vidal, 1950) n. syn.], C. mixtus Asanova, 1964 with subspecies C. m. mixtus and C. m. hissaricus Asanova, 1964 n. stat., C. niveimarginatus Scott, 1874 and C. wagneri Asanova, 1964 with subspecies C. w. wagneri and C. w. hyrcanicus n. ssp. The species C. aeneus ( Walker, 1867) [= Sehirus fuscipennis Horváth, 1899 ] and C. maculipes ( Mulsant & Rey, 1852) are transferred to the genus Adomerus .