Patanius, L H Rolston, 1987

Patanius , new genus

Type species. Patanius vittatus , new species.

Diagnosis. Juga contiguous before tylus,broadly soordehiscent, their lateral mar gins concave before anteocular projection. Interocular width about 3/% width ofhead across eyes. Imaginary line traversing head at posterior limit of reticulated part of both eyes passing before ocelli when dorsum of head horizontal ( Fig. 7). Antennae 4 - segmented, basal segment projecting past apex of head. Each buccula a large lobe directed anteroventrad ( Fig. 8). Basal segment of rostrum projecting beyondbucculae; rostral apex reaching beyond procoxae but not attaining mesocoxae.

Scutellum about 1 / 3longer than wide at base; width at distal end of frena about 3/ lo of basal width. Costal angle of each corium reaching last tergite before genitalia.

Anterior margin of propleura not produced. Ostiolar ruga on each side extending about 7 / lodistance from mesial margin of ostiole to lateral margin ofmetapleuron. Femora unarmed; tibiae weakly sulcate dorsally.

Prostemum nearly flat. Mesostemum somewhat tumid, scarcely carinatemesially. Metasternum obtusely produced with buttress anteriorly, posteriorly and laterally between each mesocoxa and metacoxae ( Fig. 9). Base of abdomen withoutmesial spine or tubercle.

Parameres absent.

Remarks. The absence of parameres is rare among pentatomoids, but among American pentatomines this characteristic is shared with an unnamed genus and with Rhyncholepta Bergroth , a genus containing two very similar species ( Becker and Grazia-Vieira, 1971).