Review of the Neotropical genus Rhyncholepta with descriptions of three new species-group taxa (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomidae)

Abstract

The genus Rhyncholepta Bergroth, 1911 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae: Chlorocorini) is redescribed and five species-group taxa are recognized, keyed, their diagnostic characters illustrated, and the distribution reviewed. Among the five taxa, two species and one subspecies are recognized as new: Rhyncholeptagrandicallosagrandicallosa Bergroth, 1911 (Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname), Rhyncholeptagrandicallosacentroamericanasubsp. n. (Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama), Rhyncholeptahenryisp. n. (French Guiana), Rhyncholeptameinanderi Becker & Grazia-Vieira, 1971 (Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru), and Rhyncholeptawheelerisp. n. (Guyana). The structure of the male genital capsule was found to be the only reliable character for identifying species-group taxa. For this reason, a simultaneous application has been submitted to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to set aside the non-informative female lectotype of Rhyncholeptagrandicallosagrandicallosa and replace it with the male neotype suggested herein. Based on the available label data and our field experience, most of the specimens were collected by various types of light traps in or near dense forests. Adults can be collected throughout the year.

Phylogeny of the stink bug tribe Chlorocorini (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae) based on DNA and morphological data: the evolution of key phenotypic traits

“…The ambiguous position of Rhyncholepta may be explained by its highly autapomorphic features. The genus possesses several unique characteristics in the tribe, such as the body colour (after death), longer antennae, larger eyes, presence of an abdominal tubercle and several genital features (Becker & Grazia, 1971; Kment et al ., 2018). Some of these characteristics have been included in our analyses (e.g.…”

“…1); however, femoral projections are not found in Chlorocoris (Eger, 1978; Thomas, 1985). The genera Arvelius , Eludocoris and Rhyncholepta were later added to the group based on the presence of at least some of morphological features described as characteristic of the tribe, such as the humeral angles projected and the tapering apices of the juga (Becker & Grazia, 1971; Thomas, 1992; Greve et al ., 2013; Kment et al ., 2018; Rider et al ., 2018). However, these eight genera were only recently recognized formally as a distinct tribe within the Pentatominae (Rider et al ., 2018).…”

Phylogeny of the stink bug tribe Chlorocorini (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae) based on DNA and morphological data: the evolution of key phenotypic traits

“…The ambiguous position of Rhyncholepta may be explained by its highly autapomorphic features. The genus possesses several unique characteristics in the tribe, such as the body color (after death), longer antennae, larger eyes, presence of an abdominal tubercle, and several genital features (Becker & Grazia, 1971;Kment et al, 2018). Some of these characteristics have been included in our analyses (e.g.…”

“…1); however, femoral projections are not found in Chlorocoris (Eger, 1978;Thomas, 1985). The genera Arvelius, Eludocoris and Rhyncholepta were later added to the group based on the presence of at least some of morphological features described as characteristic of the tribe, such as the humeral angles projected and the tapering apices of the juga (Becker & Grazia, 1971;Thomas, 1992;Greve et al, 2013;Kment et al, 2018;Rider et al, 2018). However, these eight genera were only recently recognized formally as a distinct tribe within the Pentatominae (Rider et al, 2018).…”