Stenogeocoris Montandon, 1913 was described to include S. horvathi based in one specimen from Córdoba Province, Argentina. The type specimen is lost and there are no records or additional material since the Montandon’s description; thus, the identity of this taxon has remained uncertain until now. In this contribution, we redescribe the genus Stenogeocoris and the species S. horvathi, based on male and female specimens, including characters from the male genitalia, and compare Stenogeocoris with the other Neotropical genera.Stenogeocoris Montandon, 1913 fue descripto para incluir a S. horvathi basado en un espécimen de Córdoba, Argentina. El ejemplar tipo está perdido y no hay registros o material adicional desde la descripción de Montandon. Por lo tanto, la identidad de este taxón ha permanecido incierta hasta ahora. En esta contribución, se redescribe el género Stenogeocoris y la especie S. horvathi, basado en especímenes macho y hembra e incluyendo caracteres de la genitalia del macho. Además se compara Stenogeocoris con los otros géneros neotropicales.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Dellapé, Gimena

Dellapé, Pablo Matías

Martínez, Fernando Joaquín

Iheringia Série Zoologia

English

El Servicio de Difusión de la Creación Intelectual

Diagramação e XML: www.editoraletra1.com
Iheringia, Série Zoologia, Porto Alegre, 105(2):245-251, 30 de junho de 2015
Iheringia, Série Zoologia
DOI: 10.1590/1678-476620151052245251
The rediscovery of Stenogeocoris horvathi Montandon (Heteroptera, 
Geocoridae) in Argentina
Pablo M. Dellapé1,4, Gimena Dellapé1,2,4 & Fernando Martínez3,4
1. División Entomología, Museo de la Plata, UNLP, Paseo del Bosque s/nº (B1900FWA), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. (pdellape@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar) 
2. Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral (CONICET), Blvd. Brown 2915 (U9120ACD), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
(gimenadellape@gmail.com, fjmartinez@cenpat.edu.ar)
3. Instituto Patagónico Para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales (CONICET)
4. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)
ABSTRACT. Stenogeocoris Montandon, 1913  was described to include S. horvathi based in one specimen from Córdoba Province, Argentina. The 
type specimen is lost and there are no records or additional material since the Montandon’s description; thus, the identity of this taxon has remained 
uncertain until now. In this contribution, we redescribe the genus Stenogeocoris and the species S. horvathi, based on male and female specimens, 
including characters from the male genitalia, and compare Stenogeocoris with the other Neotropical genera.
KEYWORDS. Lygaeoidea, Geocorinae, redescription, Chubut Province.
RESUMEN. El redescubrimiento de Stenogeocoris horvathi Montandon (Heteroptera, Geocoridae) en Argentina. Stenogeocoris Montandon, 
1913  fue descripto para incluir a S. horvathi basado en un espécimen de Córdoba, Argentina. El ejemplar tipo está perdido y no hay registros o material 
adicional desde la descripción de Montandon. Por lo tanto, la identidad de este taxón ha permanecido incierta hasta ahora. En esta contribución, 
se redescribe el género Stenogeocoris y la especie S. horvathi, basado en especímenes macho y hembra e incluyendo caracteres de la genitalia del 
macho. Además se compara Stenogeocoris con los otros géneros neotropicales. 
PALABRAS CLAVE. Lygaeoidea, Geocorinae, redescripción, Provincia del Chubut.
The Geocoridae, or big-eyed bugs, are a worldwide 
group comprising 27 genera and about 280 species (Henry, 
2009, 2013; Malipatil, 2012; Rengifo-Correa et al., 
2013; Henry et al., in press). The Geocorinae, one of the 
five subfamilies in which the Geocoridae are separated, 
occur in all zoogeographic regions, and the Neotropical 
geocorines are represented by four genera: Isthmocoris 
McAtee, 1914, Ninyas Distant, 1882, Geocoris Fallén, 
1814, and the monotypic Stenogeocoris Montandon, 1913 
(Henry et al., in press).
The species Stenogeocoris horvathi was described 
by Montandon (1913) based on one specimen from 
Córdoba Province, Argentina. The type specimen is lost and 
there are no records or references to additional specimens 
since Montandon’s description, thus the identity of the taxon 
remained uncertain until now (Dellapé, 2014).
In this contribution, we redescribe S. horvathi 
and compare Stenogeocoris with the other Geocorinae 
Neotropical genera. Photographs of collecting areas, the 
adult male and female, and illustrations of the male genitalia 
are included.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The specimens were sampled using pitfall traps 
consisted of open plastic containers, with a capacity of 1000 
ml and 12 cm of diameter and  filled with 300 ml of 30% 
ethylene glycol. Trap contents were collected after 15 days 
and fixed in 70% ethyl alcohol (Cheli & Corley, 2010).
Color images were captured using a digital camera 
(Micrometrics 391CU, 3.2 m) mounted on a Nikon 
SMZ1000 stereomicroscope. Multiple focal planes were 
merged using Micrometrics SE Premium 4 software. The 
genital structures were dissected under a stereomicroscope, 
cleared in a 10% KOH aqueous solution, washed in 
distilled water, and preserved in vials with glycerin. All 
measurements are in millimeters.
The following acronyms are used for specimen 
depositories cited in this paper: MLP (Museo de La Plata, 
Buenos Aires, Argentina) and CNP-CE (Entomological 
Collection, Instituto Patagónico Para el Estudio de los 
Ecosistemas Continentales, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, 
Argentina). 
RESULTS
Stenogeocoris Montandon, 1913
Type species: Stenogeocoris horvathi Montandon, 
1913, by monotypy.
Redescription. Body elongate; shagreened; head 
coriaceous; pronotum, scutellum and hemelytra coarsely 
punctuate. Eyes not strongly stylate but large and reniform, 
about one-quarter of length overlapping pronotum. Ocular 
suture absent. Ocellus closer to inner margin of eyes than 
medial line on vertex. Clypeus with a complete median 
sulcus. Transverse arcuate groove on base of clypeus 
absent. Rostral segment II shorter than III. Pronotum 
subquadrangular, without a differentiated collar; pronotal 
lateral margins weakly carinated. Hemelytra staphylinoid, 
with clavus and corium fused and indistinguishable. 
Dellapé et al.246
Diagramação e XML: www.editoraletra1.com
Iheringia, Série Zoologia, Porto Alegre, 105(2):245-251, 30 de junho de 2015
Abdominal sterna I to III not fused.
Discussion. Stenogeocoris seems to be related to 
Geocoris, a large and worldwide genus, with about 127 
species (Baranowski & Slater, 2005), that appears to 
be a composite of several genera or subgenera (Readio & 
Sweet, 1982; Baranowski & Slater, 2005). 
Stenogeocoris shares with Geocoris the presence of 
a complete median sulcus on clypeus; the rostral segment 
II shorter than III, the absence of claval commissure, the 
basal three abdominal sterna not fused, and with many of 
the species actually included in the genus the semistylate 
eyes, overlapping and in contact with the anterior angles 
of pronotum. The elongate body, about three times longer 
than wide, and the subquadrangular pronotum, wider at 
the level of and slightly constricted behind the calli allows 
separation of Stenogeocoris from Geocoris. 
When establishing Stenogeocoris, Montandon 
(1913) compared the genus with Stenophthalmicus (Costa, 
1875), an Old World genus of elongate, depressed species, 
having a less expanded scutellum, but pointed out that the 
shorter body and more cylindrical pronotum distinguished 
Stenogeocoris. 
The strongly stylate eyes and a rostrum with segment 
II longer than III in Isthmocoris, and the clypeus with only 
a weak sulcus, the well-developed claval commissure, and 
the often fused basal three abdominal sterna in Ninyas, 
will distinguish these two genera from Stenogeocoris. 
Henry et al. (in press) presented a key to separate the four 
Neotropical genera of Geocorinae. 
Stenogeocoris horvathi Montandon, 1913
(Figs 1-13)
Redescription, male. Body elongate (Figs 1-3), 
about three times longer than wide, total length 3.95. 
Head: length 0.66, width 1.31, with short silvery pilosity; 
interocular space 0.69; ocelli small, located closer to 
anterior margin of pronotum than eye; juga reduced and 
triangular; buccula rounded anteriorly, in dorsal view visible 
on either side of clypeus, buccular juncture rounded near 
base of rostrum. Antenna with silvery setae more abundant 
distally, relatively short, scapus the shortest article, barely 
surpassing apex of clypeus, distiflagellomere the largest, 
fusiform, abruptly narrowing at apex; antennal length: 
scapus 0.22, pedicellus 0.53, basiflagellomere 0.41, 
distiflagellomere 0.70. Rostrum extending to mesocoxae 
(Fig. 2); rostral length: I 0.52, II 0.36, III 0.47, IV 0.34. 
Pronotum, scutellum and hemelytra glabrous. Pronotum 
subquadrangular, length 0.76, maximum width 0.91, at level 
of pronotal calli; abruptly narrowing anteriorly and slightly 
narrowing behind calli; lateral margins weakly carinate; 
pronotal calli well separated by a central punctured area. 
Scutellum longer than wide, length 0.66, width 0.61; with 
a central elevated area prolonged posteriorly into a faint 
carina. Hemelytra staphylinoid, not reaching posterior 
margin of tergum III, length 1.07; claval commissure absent, 
clavus and corium fused and indistinguishable, with raised 
callouses along claval area and an impunctate posterior 
fringe. Pleurae (Fig. 3) coarsely punctate; auricle raised 
and rounded, evaporative area reduced to surrounding 
areas of auricle. Legs unarmed, pilose, with long setae 
ventrally on femora, restricted to proximal half on meso 
and metafemora. Abdomen with sparse, short, silvery 
setae, longer ventrally; maximum abdominal width 1.41.
Genitalia: pygophore with dorsal aperture as seen in 
Figs 4-5, declivent posteriorly (Fig. 5). Parameres: blade 
curved (Figs 6, 8) and strongly angled (Figs 7, 9), shank 
with inner projection directed basally. Aedeagus (Figs 10-
12): ejaculatory reservoir with wings directed backward, 
processus gonopory extremely long with many coils. 
Coloration. General coloration black, except the 
areas as follows: apex of clypeus, juga and a small area 
before antenniferous tubercles pale brown (forming a 
fringe from eye to eye), buccula outline whitish. Antenna 
light brown, tinged with red, distiflagellomere lighter. 
Rostrum brown. Hemelytra fuscous, with raised calli on 
claval area and distal fringe whitish. Acetabular areas, 
auricle, and metaepisternum dorsally whitish. Prosterna 
light brown. Prosterna and propleura delimiting a lighter 
collar-like area. Legs: femora brown except apices paler, 
rest of legs light brown. 
Female (Fig. 13): similar to male in all aspects. 
Abdomen wider. The female collected along Punta Ninfas 
Road has the whitish areas less evident and reddish tonalities 
on the antenna and legs.
Measurements (female from Península Valdés 
and from Punta Ninfas Road respectively): Total length, 
4.19-3.99. Head length, 0.78-0.71; width, 1.49-1.44. 
Intercocular space, 0.88-0.82. Pronotal length, 0.80-0.80; 
width, 1.10-1.03. Scutellar length, 0.74-0.72; width, 0.73-
0.68. Hemelytra length, 1.21-1.15. Antennal length: scapus 
0.23-0.23, pedicellus 0.60-0.54, basiflagellomere 0.48-
0.47, distiflagellomere 0.73-0.74. Rostral lenght: I 0.50-
0.54, II 0.40-0.36, III 0.48-0.46, IV 0.37-0.36. Maximum 
abdominal width 1.57-1.47.
Material examined: ARGENTINA, Chubut: Península Valdés 
(Res. San Pablo, 42°41’57.94”S, 64°11’58.14”W, 83 m asl), ♂, 11.II.2010, 
F. Martínez col. (MLP); Península Valdés (Res. San Pablo, 42°37’48.25”S, 
64°10’18.25”W, 70 m asl), ♀, 11.II.2010, F. Martínez col. (MLP); Puerto 
Madryn (Camino a Punta Ninfas, 42°50’09.73”S, 65°01’19.80”W, 124 
m asl), ♀, 26.III.2011, N. Martínez Román col. (CNP-CE). 
Remarks. According to Slater (1975) classification 
on wing development in lygaeids (sensu lato), the short 
forewings of S. horvathi, not reaching the posterior margin 
of tergum III and with clavus and corium fused, correspond 
to the staphylinoid type, with the only difference being 
that the forewings overlap somewhat on the midline more 
than meeting evenly. 
Although there are several species with some degree 
of brachyptery in the Geocoridae, the modified staphylinoid 
forewings of S. horvathi are unusual within the family. 
Slater (1977) stated that this type of wing reduction is 
present in geophile or ground-inhabiting lygaeoids, a likely 
habitat for S. horvathi as suggested by our three specimens 
The rediscovery of Stenogeocoris horvathi Montandon... 247
Diagramação e XML: www.editoraletra1.com
Iheringia, Série Zoologia, Porto Alegre, 105(2):245-251, 30 de junho de 2015
Figs 1–3. Stenogeocoris horvathi Montandon, male. 1, dorsal view; 2, ventral view; 3, lateral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.
collected in pitfall traps. Presumably, it is a predator as are 
other members of the subfamily (Schuh & Slater, 1995).
Collecting sites. All specimens were collected in 
northeastern Chubut Province, Argentina (Figs 14, 15). The 
annual mean temperature is 13.7 °C and the average annual 
precipitation is 188 mm, with a high mean interannual 
variation (Dellapé & Cheli, 2007).
Two specimens were collected in the Reserva de 
Vida Silvestre San Pablo de Valdés, located in southwestern 
Península Valdés. One female was collected in a shrub 
steppe (Fig. 16) dominated by Chuquiraga avellanedae 
Lorentz (Asteraceae), Lycium chilense Miers ex Bert. 
(Solanaceae), Schinus johnstonii Barkley (Anacardiaceae) 
and Menodora robusta (Benth.) A. Gray (Oleaceae). The 
plant canopy has a random patchy structure formed by 
clumps of shrubs and perennial grasses [Nasella tenuis 
(Phil.) Barkworth and Poa ligularis Nees ex Steud 
(Poaceae)] on a matrix of bare soil or sparse vegetation 
(Burgi et al., 2012). The male specimen was collected in a 
dwarf-shrub steppe (Fig. 17) dominated by Hyalis argentea 
D.Don ex Hook. & Arn. (Asteraceae), with isolated shrubs 
of Suaeda divaricata Moq. (Chenopodiaceae), Chuquiraga 
avellanedae, Lycium chilense, and patches dominated 
by Cyclolepis genistoides Gillies ex D.Don (Asteraceae) 
Dellapé et al.248
Diagramação e XML: www.editoraletra1.com
Iheringia, Série Zoologia, Porto Alegre, 105(2):245-251, 30 de junho de 2015
or Baccharis divaricata Hauman (Asteraceae) (Burgi 
et al., 2012). The soil in this vegetation community is 
composed of sand deposits derived from sandy beaches 
and transported inland by prevailing westerly winds (DEL 
VALLE et al., 2008).
An additional female was collected 15 km 
southeast of Puerto Madryn city (Punta Ninfas Road). 
The vegetation is a shrubland of Larrea spp. and Stipa 
spp. (Fig. 18), characteristic of the southern portion of 
the Monte Phytogeographic Province (León et al., 1998). 
Figs 4–12. Stenogeocoris horvathi Montandon, male genitalia. 4-5, Pygophore: 4, dorsal view; 5, lateral view. 6-9, Right paramere: 6, outer view; 
7, lateral view; 8, inner view; 9, lateral view. 10-12, Aedeagus: 10, 12, anterior view; 11, antero-lateral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.
The rediscovery of Stenogeocoris horvathi Montandon... 249
Diagramação e XML: www.editoraletra1.com
Iheringia, Série Zoologia, Porto Alegre, 105(2):245-251, 30 de junho de 2015
Fig 13. Stenogeocoris horvathi Montandon, female, dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.
DELLAPÉ et al.250
Diagramação e XML: www.editoraletra1.com
Iheringia, Série Zoologia, Porto Alegre, 105(2):245-251, 30 de junho de 2015
Fig 14–18. Study area. 14-15, Collecting sites (white squares). 16, shrub steppe. 17, dwarf-shrub steppe of Hyalis argentea. 18, vegetation characteristic 
of the southern portion of the Monte Phytogeographic Province.
The rediscovery of Stenogeocoris horvathi Montandon... 251
Diagramação e XML: www.editoraletra1.com
Iheringia, Série Zoologia, Porto Alegre, 105(2):245-251, 30 de junho de 2015
Vegetation covers 40–60% of the area and has a random 
patchy structure formed by shrub clumps encircled by 
grasses, grass patches, and bare soil (Bisigato & Bertiller, 
1997). This last area was severely affected by wildfire in 
2001 (Hardtke et al., 2015).
Acknowledgements. We thank to N. Martínez Román and G. H. 
Cheli for help during the fieldwork and to Reserva de Vida Silvestre San 
Pablo de Valdés - Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina for access to the 
study areas. We thank to Elöd Kondorosy (Pannon University Georgikon 
Faculty, Hungary) and Mária Tóth-Ronkay (Hungarian Natural History 
Museum, Hungary) for their help in the search of the Montandon’s type 
of S. horvathi. We also thank Thomas Henry (Systematic Entomology 
Laboratory [SEL], ARS, USDA, c/o National Museum of Natural History, 
Washington, DC) for the critical reading of the manuscript. 
REFERENCES
Baranowski, R. M. & Slater, J. A. 2005. The Lygaeidae of the West 
Indies. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 402:1-
266.
Bisigato, A. J. & Bertiller, M. B. 1997. Grazing effects on patchy dryland 
vegetation in northern Patagonia. Journal of Arid Environments 
36:639-653.
Burgi, M. V.; Marino, A.; Rodríguez, M. V.; Pazos, G. & Baldi, R. 
2012. Response of guanacos Lama guanicoe to changes in land 
management in Península Valdés, Argentine Patagonia: conservation 
implications. Oryx 46:99-105.
Cheli, G. H. & Corley, J. C. 2010. Efficient Sampling of Ground-
Dwelling Arthropods Using Pitfall Traps in Arid Steppes. Neotropical 
Entomology 39:912-917.
Dellapé, P. M. 2014. Lygaeoidea. In: Roig-Juñent, S.; Claps, L. E. 
& Morrone, J. J. eds. Biodiversidad de Artrópodos Argentinos. 
San Miguel de Tucumán, INSUE. v. 3, p.421-438.
Dellapé, P. M. & Cheli, G. H. 2007. A new species of Anomaloptera 
Amyot & Serville from Patagonia (Hemiptera: Lygaeoidea: 
Oxycarenidae). Zootaxa 1528:65-68.
Del Valle, H. F.; Rostagno, C. M.; Coronato, F. R.; Bouza, P. J. & 
Blanco, P. D. 2008. Sand dune activity in north-eastern Patagonia. 
Journal of Arid Environments 72:411-422.
Hardtke, L. A.; Blanco, P. D.; Del Valle, H. F.; Metternicht, G. I. & 
Sione, W. F. 2015. Semi-automated mapping of burned areas in semi-
arid ecosystems using MODIS time-series imagery. International 
Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 
38:25-35.
Henry, T. J. 2009. Biodiversity of Heteroptera. In: Foottit, R. & Adler, 
P. eds. Insect biodiversity: Science and society. Oxford, Blackwell, 
p.223-263.
_____. 2013. Cymapamphantus valentineorum, a new genus and species 
of Pamphantinae (Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea: Geocoridae) from the 
British Virgin Islands, with a checklist of the species and keys to the 
tribes and genera of the subfamily. Proceedings of the Entomological 
Society of Washington 115:392-401.
Henry, T. J.; Dellapé, P. M. & Silva  P. A da. The Big-Eyed Bugs, Chinch 
Bugs, and Seed Bugs (Lygaeoidea). In: Panizzi, A. & Grazia, J. 
eds. True Bugs (Heteroptera) of the Neotropics. London, Springer 
(in press).
León, J. C. R.; Bran, D.; Collantes, M.; Paruelo, J. M. & Soriano, A. 
1998. Grandes unidades de vegetación de la Patagonia extra andina. 
Ecología Austral 8:125-144.
Malipatil, M. B. 2012. Australocorinae, a new subfamily of Geocoridae 
(Hemiptera: Heteroptera, Lygaeoidea) from Australia, with 
descriptions of a new genus and two new species. Zootaxa 3554:75-
88.
Montandon, A. L. 1913. Nouvelles formes de Geocorinae appartenant 
aux collections du Muséum national Hongrois. Annales Historico-
Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici 11:211-219. 
Readio, J. & Sweet, M. H. 1982. A review of the Geocorinae of the United 
States of the 100th Meridian (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae). Miscellaneous 
Publications of the Entomological Society of America 12:1-91.
Rengifo-Correa, L.; Brailovsky, H.; Henry, T. J. & Morrone, J. J. 
2013. Phylogenetics and evolutionary morphology of the Neotropical 
true bug genus Epipolops (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Geocoridae). 
Systematic Entomology 39:127-140. 
Schuh, R. T. & Slater, J. A. 1995. True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera: 
Heteroptera): Classification and Natural History. Ithaca and 
London, Cornell University Press. 337p.
Slater, J. A. 1975. On the biology and zoogeography of Australian 
Lygaeidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) with special reference to the 
southwest fauna. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 
14:47-64.
_____. 1977. The incidence and evolutionary significance of wing 
polymorphism in lygaeid bugs with particular reference to those of 
South Africa. Biotropica 9:217-229.
Received 15 February 2015. Accepted 22 June 2015
ISSN 0073-4721 Article available in www.scielo.br/isz


El redescubrimiento de <i>Stenogeocoris horvathi</i> Montandon (Heteroptera, Geocoridae) en Argentina

http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/bitstream/handle/10915/86516/Documento_completo.pdf?sequence=1

El redescubrimiento de <i>Stenogeocoris horvathi</i> Montandon (Heteroptera, Geocoridae) en Argentina

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

El Servicio de Difusión de la Creación Intelectual