Visiting the neotropics: a new country record and a new species in the flat bug family Aradidae (Heteroptera)

ZOOBANK: https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DC019772-DD23-4E85-A526-D27B1C5CC736 ANNALES MUSEI HISTORICO-NATURALIS HUNGARICI Volume 117 Budapest, 2025 pp. 65–73 DOI: https://doi.org/10.53019/AnnlsMusHistNatHung.2025.117.65 HU-ISSN 0521-4726 (print) ISSN 2786-1368 (online) published: 2025. 06. 30. arrived: 2025. 04. 29. Visiting the neotropics: a new country record and a new species in the flat bug family Aradidae (Heteroptera) Tamás Vásárhelyi Hungarian National Museum Public Collection Centre – Hungarian Natural History Museum, Department of Zoology, H–1088 Budapest, Baross u. 13., Hungary. E-mail: [email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1103-0454 Abstract – The author reports on the Argentinean occurrence of the species Iralunelus bispinosus Kormilev, 1960, previously known only from Brazil, based on a female specimen collected by Ödön Kovács in 1971. Furthermore, he describes a new wingless flat bug heteropteran from the 2003 collectings of Jenő Kontschán taken in Hispaniola (Dominica) under the name Aglaocoris ovalis sp. nov. With eight figures. Key words – Aneurinae, Argentina, apterous, Carventinae, Dominica, Neotropical Region, rarity INTRODUCTION Subsequent to the discovery of apterous Aradidae by Miller (1938), many species were described upon specimens deposited in various collections worldwide. Drake & Maldonado (1955) erected the genus Aglaocoris for A. natalii, and later Drake (1956, 1957) described five species, which were checklisted by Drake & Kormilev (1958). Two further species were discovered by Kormilev (1968) and Grillo-Ravelo (1988). Heiss (2018) remarked, that apterous Aradidae seem to be rare and in general species have a restricted distribution area. This is especially true for species of Aglaocoris, found in the Caribbean Islands, seeming endemic to individual islands, represented only by a single specimen or a short series of specimens. Exceptions are A. natalii Drake & Maldonado, 1955 (62 specimens from the same locality), and A. orientalis GrilloRavelo 1988 (two+ four type specimens from two different localities in the same region). From island of Hispaniola (with independant states Dominican Republic and Haiti) so far two Aglaocoris species are known: A. rectangularis Usinger et Matsuda, 1959 and A. drakei Kormilev, 1969 (Perez-Gelabert 2008). Vásárhely T. 66 Annls Mus. hist.-nat. hung. 117, 2025 In the Aradidae collection of the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, there are several hundreds of unidentified specimens, originating from various geographic regions, including the Neotropics. During the elaboration of the material an important faunistic record has been found for Argentina, and a hitherto undiscovered species from Dominica. The present paper reports on these findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS Exoskeletal structures were studied and drawings were made using an Opton 47 50 52 – 9901 microscope supported by a drawing apparatus. Photographs of the specimen at hand were made by the author in HNHM using a NIKON D7200 digital camera mounted with AF–S Micro Nikkor 105 mm 1:2.8 ED objective (operating software: Helicon Remote v. 4.4.4), stacked photos were rendered using Helicon Focus v. 8.2.2 software. Unicality of the specimen prevented author from dissecting and clearing the body, with the result, that some morphological features remained difficult to interpret. When providing label data, lines are separated by /, while different labels on the same pin are separated by //. In the formula of relative lengths of antennal joints 50.7 scale units = 1.0 mm. Abbreviations for morphological terms: deltg = dorsal external laterotergite (connexivum); PE = posterior-exterior. Abbreviation for depositories: HNHM = Hungarian National Museum Public Collection Centre – Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, USNM = National Museum of Natural History, Washington. RESULTS Subfamily ANEURINAE Douglas & Scott, 1865 Iralunelus bispinosus (Kormilev, 1960) (Figs 1–3) Aneurus bispinosus Kormilev, 1960: 93–94. Material – Holotype female and “allotype” male specimens studied on good quality photos provided by the depositor USNM (Figs 1–2). Additional specimen: one female, “Argentina / Delicia // 17.IX.1971. / leg. Kovács Ö.”, deposited in the Hemiptera collection of HNHM. Remarks – The species was described on the basis of a female (holotype) specimen. The male was described later, and the species was transferred to subgenus Iralunelus by Kormilev (1979: 342). The male specimen, erroneously considered as allotype of A. bispinosus by the author, bears the identification Neotropical Aradidae 67 Annls Mus. hist.-nat. hung. 117, 2025 label with Kormilev’s handwriting: “A. bispiniceps” (obviously a lapsus calami). Paratergites on segment VII are present in the male while absent in females; nevertheless remnants of parasternites, not separated by a clear suture, are found in females (Fig 3). This fact is mentioned by Contreras (2014), whose photos are not clear enough, therefore photos provided by USNM are published here (Figs 1– 2). The species was described from Brazil and has not been reported from other countries so far. Its discovery in northeastern Argentina represents a new country record. Figures 1–3. Iralunelus bispinosus (Kormilev, 1960) type documentation and morphological details. 1 = USNM holotype female; 2 = USNM male (photo: Alyssa Seeman) (scale bar is added using the measurements given by Contreras 2014); 3 = HNHM female, NW Argentina, tip of abdomen in ventral view (enlarged). 1 3 2 1 mm Vásárhely T. 68 Annls Mus. hist.-nat. hung. 117, 2025 Subfamily CARVENTINAE Usinger, 1950 Aglaocoris ovalis sp. nov. (Figs 4–8) Type material – Holotype: female, “REP. DOMINICA, La Vega / Constanza, wet Pinus forest, / 2040 m, at the edge of // escarpment. N slope (25°) / N18°49.762’ W70°41,556’ / 20. XI. 2003. leg. Kontschán”, specimen cardmounted, deposited in the Hemiptera Collection of HNHM (Figs 4–5). Diagnosis – Body oval (widest across segment IV); under greyish incrustation shiny reddish-brown, deltgs dark brown except reddish-brown glabrous spots; with sporadic short pilosity, which is, nevertheless, standing out of incrustation. Lateral margin of proand mesonotum each with two lobes (bifid). Tergal plate with even punctuation around glabrous areas. Figures 4–5. Aglaocoris ovalis sp. n. type documentation. 4 = HNHM holotype, female, in dorsal view; 5 = ditto, in ventral view. Scale as indicated. Description – Head relatively small, about 1.7 times as wide as long. Antenniferous and postocular tubercles laterally almost reaching lateral level of eyes. Anterior process reaching about 1/3 of antennal joint I, genae anteriorly bent downwards, sligthly surpassing clypeus; latter dorsally elevated on anterior part, transversally rugose; posterior part and vertex elevated above level of lateral surface of head. Antenniferous tubercles strong, directed dorsoanterolaterally, tip pointed. Eyes with long stylus, narrower than eyes. Postocular tubercles originating well behind eyes, cylindric, with blunt apex, directed dorso-posterolaterally. Hind border of head strongly narrowing towards neck. 4 5 1 mm Neotropical Aradidae 69 Annls Mus. hist.-nat. hung. 117, 2025 Antennae and protuberances on head with dense pilosity. Antennae long, joint I club-shaped, II and III subcylindrical, III distinctly stylate, IV fusiform, relative length of joints I to IV as 43:25:43:23 (Fig. 7). Rostrum arising from a slit-like opening, reaching to end of wide rostral groove, latter with 5 transversal coarse furrows. Pronotum with distinct, protruding collar. Anterior and posterior borders forming wide V, parallel with each other. Lateral border bifid. Dorsal surface with elevations and with posteriorly widening and deepening median fossa. Mesonotum distinctly wider and longer than pronotum, but the general appearance similar to pronotum, including bifid lateral borders. Median longitudinal ridge elevated, anterior apex rounded, reaching slightly above posterior margin of pronotum, widening posteriorly, continuous towards abdominal plate. Mesoand metanotum completely fused with the first two abdominal tergites, but their border marked by evenly punctuated groove, borders of first two abdominal tergites uncertainly also marked by not so even punctuation. Lateral border of metanotum with a narrow, horizontal keel. Trochanter and femur seem to be separated, moving as if fused. Promesoand metasternum completely fused, together with abdominal sterna I+II+III, medially as well as laterally to the legs, borders marked by transversal grooves and partly by punctuation. Pretarsus with pulvilli bristle-like, tip slightly flattened, reaching near to tip of claws. Abdomen wide, with barrel-shaped central tergal plate formed by entirely fused tergite III–VI. Medial part on tergite IV–VI elevated above surface of the plate. Deltgs II–III completely fused, IV–VII well separated from each other. Inner border of deltgs III–VI forming slight S. Lateral borders of V–VII straight or arcuate, with similar keels as on metanotum, these outgrows expand to ventral side, PE angles increasingly protruding caudally, deltg VII even forming a triangulate process. Tergite VII elevated in middle, posterior border straight. Segment VIII partially protruding on the holotype; position of segment VIII–IX corrected on the dorsal, but not on the ventral view drawing. Ventrites I–III completely fused to thoracic sterna, these ventrolaterotergites also fused. Ventrolaterotergites I–VI separated from ventrites by sharp groove, but they seem to be fused. Ventrolaterotergite VII not separated by such groove from ventrite VII, which is ventrally represented by two triangular plates, positioned lateral to segment VIII, removed from each other. 1st valvifers of segment VIII opened on the specimen, ovipositor is visible. Spiracles II–IV ventral, not far, and increasingly closer to lateral border, V ventrolateral, clearly visible from above, VI–VII lateral, on flat tubercle, VIII subapical, on lateral tubercle on margin of segment (Figs 6, 8). Measurements – Holotype female: length of head 1.01 mm, width of head 1.78 mm, length of pronotum 0.59 mm, width of pronotum 2.15 mm, length of median ridge 1.71 mm, width of mesonotum 2.96 mm, width of metanotum 3.43 mm, maximum width of abdomen 3.96 mm across segment IV, width of Vásárhely T. 70 Annls Mus. hist.-nat. hung. 117, 2025 abdomen across segment VI 3.27 mm, across segment VII 2.12 mm, length of tergal plate 2.35 mm, total length of body 7.17 mm. Etymology – The name ovalis refers to the general shape of the body, for distinguishing the species from several congeners with general “rectangular” appearance. Figures 6–8. Aglaocoris ovalis sp. n. morphological details. 6 = HNHM holotype female, habitus; 7 = same, left antenna; 8 = same, tip of abdomen in ventral view, with protruded position of segment VIII. Scale as indicated. Discussion – Fusion of abdominal tergite III to IV–VI and ventrite III to I–II and the thoracic sternum was reported for three Aglaocoris species (A. comes Drake, 1956, A. vicinus Drake, 1957 and A. clarkei Drake, 1957). The fusion was not reported by Drake & Maldonado (1955) in the description of the genus, neither by Usinger & Matsuda (1959), who treated the genus and described a new species; nor by Grillo-Ravelo (1988), although fused abdominal ventrites were mentioned. The character state is advanced in an evolutionary line from free segments (flexibility) towards fusions and consequent rigidity of body in apterous Aradidae. The species is alone in the genus in having bifid lateral border of both proand mesonotum. Only A. vicinus Drake, 1957 is described (without figures) within the genus as having bifid lateral margin of only the pronotum. The description of A. vicinus has a clear statement: “without tubercle or protuberance just back of each eye, strongly narrowed behind eyes to neck”, which may indicate, that this species belongs to Eretmocoris Harris et Drake, 1944 rather than to Aglaocoris. The three Aglaocoris species, which are reported from the island Hispaniola, can be distinguished by the combination of the following character states. 6 7 8 1 mm Neotropical Aradidae 71 Annls Mus. hist.-nat. hung. 117, 2025 character state A. drakei A. ovalis A. rectangularis Female body length under 6 mm over 7 mm over 7 mm Anterior process of head strongly narrowing than borders parallel strongly narrowing than borders parallel continuously narrowing Anterior margin of head between anterior process and antenniferous tubercles (a trend is visible) cut out deep, almost to basis of eye-stalk least cut out less cut out Antennal joint I is longer than II 1.44 times more than 1.70 times more than 1.70 times Antennal joints II–IV III and IV missing III is more than 1.5 times as long as II or IV equilongous Lateral border of pronotum angular behind the middle with two lateral lobes angular behind the middle Lateral border of mesonotum one lobe angular anterior to the middle, then subparallel posteriorly with two lateral lobes one lobe angular anterior to the middle, then subparallel posteriorly Lateral borders of abdomen subparallel from segment II to V subparallel from segment II to V subparallel from segment II to VI Paratergite VIII not surpassing segment IX surpassing tip of segment IX surpassing tip of segment IX Body length / width ratio 2.00 2.09 2.27 (measured upon drawing) * Acknowledgements – The author is most grateful to Dr. Thomas Henry and Alyssa Seeman, (USNM) for providing photos of I. bispinosus, Dr. Dávid Rédei (National Chung Hsing University, Taichung for his invaluable help in correcting the Aneurus part of the manuscript, to Prof. Dr. Ernst Heiss Tiroler Landesmuseum, Innsbruck, for helping with a literature, to Ms. Anna Á. Somogyi and to Ms. Aranka Grabant (HNHM), for their assistance while preparing photographs and drawings of the specimen. Vásárhely T. 72 Annls Mus. hist.-nat. hung. 117, 2025 REFERENCES Contreras E. F. 2014: Biodiversidad de Aradidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera): revisión taxonómica y análisis cladístico del género Iralunelus Štys. – PhD Thesises, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 219 pp. Drake C. J. 1956: New Neotropical genera and species of apterous Aradidae (Hemiptera). – Journal of Washington Academy of Science 46: 322–327. Drake C. J. 1957: New apterous Aradidae (Hemiptera). – Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 70: 35–42. Drake C. J. & Kormilev N. A. 1958: Concerning the apterous Aradidae of the Americas (Hemiptera). – Annals of the Entomological Society of America 51: 241–247. Drake C. J. & Maldonado J. 1955: New apterous aradids from Puerto Rico. – Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 45: 289–294. Grillo Ravelo H. 1988: Los aradidos (Heteroptera) de Cuba I, Subfamilia Carventinae. – Universidad Central de las Villas, Santa Clara, 113 pp. Heiss E. 2018: New genera, species and records of apterous Carventinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae) from Puerto Rico. – Zeitschrift der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Österreichischer Entomologen 70: 25–41. Heiss E. 2019: New genera and species of apterous Carventinae (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Aradidae) from Lesser Antilles. – Linzer biologische Beiträge 51: 69–82. Kormilev N. A. 1968: Notes on Aradidae in the U.S. National Museum V. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). – Proceedings of the United States National Museum 125(3651): 1–16. Kormilev N. A. & Froeschner R. C. 1987: Flat bugs of the world. A synonymic list (Heteroptera: Aradidae). – Entomography Publications, Sacramento, California, 246 pp. Miller, N. C. E. 1938: A New Subfamily of Malayisian Dysodiidae (Rhynchota). – Annals and Magazine of Natural History 11: 498–510. Perez-Gelabert D. A. 2008: Arthropods of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti): A checklist and bibliography. – Zootaxa 1831: 1– 530. Usinger R. L. & Matsuda R. 1959: Classification of the Aradidae. – British Museum (Natural History), London, 410 pp.  Neotropical Aradidae 73 Annls Mus. hist.-nat. hung. 117, 2025 Látogatás a neotrópikus területeken: új országadat és új faj az Aradidae kéregpoloska családban (Heteroptera) Vásárhelyi Tamás Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum Közgyűjteményi Központ, Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum, Állattár, 1088 Budapest, Baross u. 13., Magyarország. E-mail: [email protected] https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1103-0454 Összefoglalás – A szerző az eddig csak Brazíliából ismert Iralunelus bispinosus Kormilev, 1960 faj argentínai honosságát bizonyítja, Kovács Ödön által 1971-ben gyűjtött nőstény példány alapján. Továbbá Kontschán Jenő 2003-as hispaniolai (Dominika) gyűjtéséből leírja a tudományra új szárnyatlan kéregpoloska fajt Aglaocoris ovalis sp. nov. néven. Nyolc ábrával. Kulcsszavak – Aneurinae, Argentína, Carventinae, Hispaniola, Neotrópikus faunabirodalom, ritkaság, szárnynélküliség ÁBRAMAGYARÁZATOK 1–3. ábra. Iralunelus bispinosus (Kormilev, 1960) 1 = USNM holotípus nőstény; 2 = USNM hím (méret Contreras 2014 alapján); 3 = HNHM nőstény, Északnyugat-Argentína, a potroh csúcsa ventrális nézetben (nagyítva) (1– 2. ábra fotó: Alyssa Seeman). 4–5. ábra. Aglaocoris ovalis sp. nov. típus dokumentáció. 4 = HNHM holotípus, nőstény, dorzális nézetben; 5 = ugyanaz, ventrális nézetben (méret a jelzet szerint). 6–8. ábra. Aglaocoris ovalis sp. nov. típus dokumentáció és morfológiai részletek. 6 = HNHM holotípus nőstény, habitus; 7 = ugyanaz, bal csáp; 8 = ugyanaz, a potroh csúcsa ventrális nézetben, a VIII. szelvény kiemelkedő helyzetével (méret a jelzet szerint).