Saldula opacula ( Zetterstedt, 1838 )

Li, Zihe, Li, Hongjiao, Bu, Wenjun & Ye, Zhen, 2025, Taxonomic review of Saldula (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Saldidae) from China, Zootaxa 5666 (4), pp. 451-488 : 466-468

Saldula opacula ( Zetterstedt, 1838)

( Figs 10 , 27 )

Salda opacula Zetterstedt, 1838: 268 . Acanthia opaqula Reuter, 1891: 155 Saldula opacula : Van Duzee (1916: 50); Kiritshenko, 1951: 95; Cobben, 1960: 254; Chen & Zheng, 1987: 395; Vinokurov, 1988: 752; Chen & Lindskog, 1994: 408; Lindskog, 1995: 130; Vinokurov et al., 2012: 59; Vinokurov & Kment, 2015: 377; Vinokurov et al., 2018: 135.

Chinese common name: DZLJãø.

Material examined. CHINA: Heilongjiang: 1 female, Daxing’anling Prefecture, Jiagedaqi distinct, Yingshanhong Scenic Spot, 50.3916°N, 124.0957°E, 384 m, 19 July 2021, Zhen Ye leg. (NKUM); 3 males, 3 females, Heihe city, Nenjiang city, Gaofeng Forest Park, 49.0986°N, 125.2488°E, 336 m, 20 July 2021, Zhen Ye leg. (NKUM); 1 female, Daxing’anling Prefecture, Jiagedaqi distinct, Ganhe National Wetland Park, 50.3916°N, 124.0957°E, 380 m, 19 August 2023, Mu Qiao leg. (NKUM). Inner Mongolia: 1 male, 1 female, Wulanchabu city, Lamadongwan, 40.5714°N, 110.5089°E, 1425 m, 11 July 2023, Yuqi Zai leg. (NKUM); 1 female, Kalaqin Banner, Ma’anshan Mountain, 41.8723°N, 118.7711°E, 896 m, 23 August 2021, Zhen Ye leg. (NKUM); 3 males, 3 females, Ke’erqin Youyiqianqi Banner, Lüshui Breeding Farm, 46.4617°N, 120.3141°E, 769 m, 11 July 2021, Zhen Ye leg. (NKUM); 3 males, 3 females, Zalantun city, Xiushui Mountain Villa, 48.0742°N, 121.7013°E, 344 m, 21 July 2021, Mu Qiao leg. Hebei: 1 male, Baoding city, Laiyuanhu Lake, 39.3401°N, 114.7251°E, 782 m, 23 July 2023, Zhen Ye leg. (NKUM); 1 female, Chengde city, Weichang county, Jinlongtan Lake, 41.925°N, 117.812°E, 994 m, 29 August 2015, Zhen Ye leg. (NKUM). Shanxi: 1 female, Datong city, Sangganhe National Wetland Park, 39.9216°N, 113.5848°E, 947 m, 22 July 2023, Chen Liu leg. (NKUM). Gansu: 1 female, Zhangye city, Zhangye National Wetland Park, 38.9734°N, 100.4443°E, 1463 m, 7 July 2023, Zihe Li leg. (NKUM). Xinjiang: 3 males, 3 females, Altai Prefecture, Habahe county, Baishahu Lake, 48.0074°N, 85.8731°E, 366 m, 23 July 2023, Zihe Li leg. (NKUM); 1 male, 3 females, Tacheng Prefecture, Emin county, G219 National Highway, 46.7829°N, 83.8295°E, 787 m, 22 July 2023, Zihe Li leg. (NKUM); 2 males, 2 females, Bayinguoleng Prefecture, G218 National Highway, Kaiduhe River, 41.9625°N, 86.6333°E, 982 m, 13 July 2023, Zihe Li leg. (NKUM); 2 males, Bayinguoleng Prefecture, Bohu county, Bositenghu Lake, 41.8640°N, 86.7330°E, 1050 m, 13 July 2023, Zihe Li leg. (NKUM). Sichuan: 3 males, Butuo county, Xixiba, 2600 m, 20 August 1983, Zuopei Ling leg. (NKUM). Yunnan: 2 males, 1 female, Yuxi city, Yuanjiang county, Wangxiangtai Nature Reserve, 2010 m, 17 August 2006, Ming Li leg. (NKUM); 1 male, Pu’er city, Lancang county, Ankang village, G124 National Highway, 23.2334°N, 99.7340°E, 800 m, 21 April 2023, Zihe Li leg. (NKUM).

Diagnosis. Body relatively slender, dorsum with short pubescence ( Fig. 10a ). Head short and wide, antennomeres

II–IV black; mandibular plates mainly black, transverse swelling, maxillary plates and anteclypeus yellowish to pale-yellowish, labrum yellowish with black margins, labiomeres III+IV mainly yellowish-brown; preocellar spots small, nearly circular. Pronotum short and wide, lateral margin nearly straight; hemelytra with dark and pale stripes, additionally with few circular, white, vague spots ( Fig. 10b–e ); legs mainly yellowish, femora with dark stripe on ventral side and dark spots on lateral side, tibiae mainly yellowish, infuscate apically, tarsomeres mainly yellowish, tarsomere III of each leg infuscate apically. Male paramere relatively stout, dorsal side with long hairs, posterior side with a tooth-like process on the level of processus sensualis, apex of processus sensualis with a small tuft of short setae ( Fig. 10f–h ); parandria sclerotized weakly, with blunt apex, outer margin and inner margin parallel ( Fig. 10i ); median endosomal sclerites V-shape, with rounded apex. Female subgenital plate with a blunt apex, apical half pale.

Comparative notes. Saldula opacula is similar to S. lindskogi . For comparative notes between these two species, see under S. lindskogi .

Habitats. Saldula opacula can occupy multiple riparian habitats. Recently collected material from Xinjiang was found on the vegetated bank of a lake.

Distribution in China. S. opacula is widely distributed in China, including Heilongjiang ( Chen & Lindskog 1994, Vinokurov et al. 2018), Inner Mongolia ( Wang & Li 2012), Hebei (new record), Shanxi (new record), Gansu (new record), Xinjiang (Vinokuorv et al. 2012, Vinokurov 2015, Vinokurov et al. 2018), Sichuan ( Chen & Lindskog 1994, Vinokurov et al. 2018), Yunnan ( Chen & Lindskog 1994, Vinokurov et al. 2018).

General distribution. Widely distributed across Holarctic ( Schuh et al. 1987, Lindskog 1995, Larivière & Larochelle 2018, Vinokurov et al. 2018).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Saldula opacula. a, dorsal habitus, scale=2.0 mm; b–e, variation of hemelytra, scale=2.0 mm; f–h, different views of paramere, scale=0.2 mm; i, parandria, scale=0.2 mm.

FIGURES 25–30. In situ photographs of Saldula species. (25) S. arenicola arenicola; (26) S. nobilis; (27) S. opacula, photo by Beichen Zhang; (28) S. pallipes; (29) S. recticollis; (30) S. saltatoria.