Podisus awajun Brugnera, 2024

Brugnera, Ricardo, Sampaio, Vinícius, Campos, Luiz Alexandre & Grazia, Jocelia, 2024, Searching for the identity of Podisus Herrich-Schäffer, 1851 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): examination of type specimens leads to taxonomic updates and description of five new species, Insect Systematics & Evolution 56 (1), pp. 64-89 : 14-15

Podisus awajun Brugnera , sp. nov.

( Fig. 7 )

ZooBank: https://www.zoobank.org/45B6ADA5-F845-4B4B-B8C6-20711EEDBE69

Type material. Holotype: ♂ Peru: Amazonas Dept. Pte. Childo, Km 321 on SN, Rd. to San Lorenzo , 18-20-X, 2012, 2363 m // S 05°49’54.1” W 078°00’03.4” J.E. Eger, coll. ( JEE) .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the ethnic group known as “Awajún” or “Aguaruna” native inhabitants of Amazonian rainforests in Loreto, Amazonas, San Martin, and Cajamarca departments, Peru. Noun in apposition.

Differential diagnosis. Podisus awajun sp. nov. is similar to Podisus tinctus (Dallas) , both characterized by the unpunctured band following the anterolateral margins of the pronotum, the long abdominal spine (reaching or surpassing the mesocoxae), and the distinct dark spots in the legs. Their differences are the coloration of the spiracles, which is distinctly dark in P.tinctus and concolorous in P. awajun ; the coloration of antennae, which is dark red in P.tinctus and yellowish in P.awajun ; and the male parameres, spatulated in P.tinctus and bifurcated in P.awajun .

Description. Coloration: Head, pronotum, and scutellum are light yellow, coria are light yellow with reddish areas on lateral and posterior regions. Black punctures are present on all of these surfaces. Antennae and the labium are light yellow. Ventral surface is light yellow, with inconspicuous and concolorous punctures. Anterolateral margins on pronotum are pale yellow and unpunctured. Humeri are orangish. Legs are light yellow, with black spots mainly in the femur and tibiae. hemelytral membranes are fumose. Connexival segments are pale yellow, without punctures. Head: Mandibular plates and clypeus subequal in length. Outline of mandibular plates densely punctured. Proportions of antennomeres: 1 <2> 3 <4> 5. Apex of labiomere 4 surpasses the posterior margin of mesocoxae. Proportions of labiomeres: 1 <2> 3 <4. Thorax: Anterior angle of pronotum is projected, and anterolateral margins are slightly crenulated. Humeri extend beyond lateral margin of coria, are acute and laterally projected. Peritreme of ESES is ruga-shaped, reaching half of metapleural width. Evaporatorium surrounding peritreme, not reaching the metapleural outer margin. Apex of choria reaches urosternite VI, and hemelytral membranes surpass posterior abdominal margin. Abdomen: Urosternite III has a cone-shaped spine, which reaches the anterior margin of mesocoxae. Male genitalia: Pygophore trapezoidal. Imaginary line across the posterolateral angles wider than the base. Posterior opening triangular. Dorsal rim concave. Inferior layer of ventral rim concave, superior layer sinuous. Head of parameres bifurcated, the left branch thin and acute apically, right branch robust and rounded apically. Pseudoclaspers with distinct spine-like ornamentation.

Female: unknown.

Comments. The parameres of P. awajun are distinct from all other Podisus species, though similar to the ones described and illustrated by Thomas (1992: 86 and Fig. 81) for Podisus volxemi (here considered a junior synonym of P.crassimargo ): “The paramere has a long, chisel-shaped ectal arm and a much shorter ental arm”. In addition, Thomas (1992: 86) identified the species as “a form occurring in the Andean region [Ecuador]”, which is compatible with the region where the holotype of P.awajun was collected. We believe that the specimen(s) identified by Thomas as P.volxemi possibly pertain to the new species P.awajun .

Distribution. Peru (Amazonas), Ecuador? ( Fig. 11 ).

Measurements. Total length: 7.9; head length: 1.4; head width: 2.0; pronotum length: 1.9; pronotum width: 5.0; scutellum length: 3.0; scutellum width: 2.5; abdominal length: 4.8; abdominal width: 4.3; length of antennomeres: I 0.4; II 1.5; III 0,9; IV 1.1; V 0.7; length of labiomeres: I 1.0; II 1.2; III 0.8; IV 0.6.

Figures

Fig. 7. Holotype of Podisus awajun sp. nov. (a–d) Habitus in dorsal, ventral, lateral and dorso-anterior view; (e) thoracic external scent efferent system (ESES); (f–h) pygophore in dorsal, posterior and ventral view. Abbreviations: (dr) dorsal rim; (ilvr) inferior layer of ventral rim; (pa) paramere; (pc) pseudoclasper; (slvr) superior layer of ventral rim. Scales: (a–b) 2 mm; (c–d) 1 mm; (e) 0.5 mm; (f–h) 0.2 mm.

Fig. 11. Geographic distribution of the new species of Podisus Herrich-Schäffer, 1851.