Ptilomera tigrina Uhler
Creators: name: Raruanysong, Sajeemat
name: Vitheepradit, Akekawat
name: Sites, Robert W.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Gerridae
Ptilomera
Ptilomera tigrina

description: Ptilomera tigrina Uhler
Figs. 22, 23, 36, 37
Ptilomera tigrina Uhler 1860: Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 230.
Ptilomera harpyia Schimdt 1926: Entomol. Mitt. 15: 65.
Ptilomera tigrina: Polhemus 1991, J. Kans. Entomol. Soc. 439 (synonymy).
Diagnosis. Ptilomera tigrina males can be recognized by the apex of the central lobe of the proctiger approximately even with the posterior tips of the lateral wings of the proctiger (Fig. 22). Males of P. jariyae and P. tennaserim have the apex of the central lobe well-exceeding the posterior tips of the lateral wings (Figs. 16, 20). Females of P. tigrina can be distinguished by a well developed ventrolateral lobe of abdominal segment VII (Fig. 37), which is obscure or absent in P. j a r i y a e (Fig. 31), and by straight connexival spines (Fig. 36), which are strongly curved and crossing in P. tennaserim (Fig. 34).
Discussion. This species has been previously recorded from throughout Thailand (Hungerford & Matsuda 1965, Andersen 1967a, Polhemus 2001, Vitheepradit & Sites 2007) and is the most common and widely distributed species of Ptilomera in Thailand (Vitheepradit & Sites 2007). This species exhibits high morphological variation among populations in Indochina (Polhemus 2001), which also has been observed among populations within the Tennaserim Mountain Range. In several streams in Kanchanaburi Province where this species occurred in the absence of congeners, we found numerous exuviae on leaves of aquatic plants hanging above the water surface of the stream. Therefore, members of this species were capable of climbing onto these leaves to molt. Another evidence of the climbing ability of this species was observed at Jok Kradin Waterfall in Kanchanaburi where the insect was found clinging to the near-vertical rock face of the waterfall well above the waterline. In Kanchanaburi, winged specimens of this species were collected from a pan light trap.
Material examined. THAILAND: Chumphon Province: Amphur Tha Sae, Ban Rub Rod, gravel stream with algae, 10°46’N 99°03’E, 102 m, 24-IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-365 (1 male, 3 females); Amphur Tha Sae, Ban Meung Thong, 10°50’N 99°11’E, 98 m, 19-V-2003, Vitheepradit and Ferro, L-546 (2 males); Kanchanaburi Province: Amphur Thong Pha Phum, Heuy Koeng Kra Wia, 14º55'N 98º40'E, 325 m, 11-IV-2002, UMC and CMU teams, L-331 (4 males, 4 females); Amphur Thong Pha Phum, Heuy Ou Long, stream, 14°46'N 98°40'E, 139 m, 11-IV-2002, UMC and CMU teams, L-332 (3 males, 1 female); same locality, 12-V-2003, Vitheepradit, Prommi and Ferro, L-525 (2 males, 4 females); same locality, 5-VI-2006, Sites, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-919 (2 males, 3 females); same locality, 3-XII-2010, KU team, C-12 (1 male, 1 female); Thong Pha Phum Reforestation Station, Nam Tok Pong Kra Dang Nga, 14°31'N 98°37'E, 203 m, 12-IV-2002, UMC and CMU teams, L-334 (4 males, 3 females); Amphur Sai Yok, Thong Pha Phum Reforestation Station, Mae Nam Noi, 14°31'N 98°37'E, 204 m, 12-IV-2002, UMC and CMU teams, L-335 (4 males, 2 females); same locality, 10-IV- 2003, UMC and CMU teams, L-462 (9 males, 5 females); Amphur Thong Pha Phum, Huey Pak Kog, gravel stream, 14°39'N 98°32'E, 184 m, 12-IV-2002, UMC and CMU teams, L-336 (2 males, 6 females); same locality, 8- IV-2003, Sites, AV, Prommi and Setaphan, L-455 (6 males, 4 females); Amphur Sangkhla Buri, Heuy Li Jia, gravel stream, 15°04'N 98°33'E, 169 m, 13-IV-2002, UMC and CMU teams, L-338 (9 males, 4 females); same locality, 12- V-2003, AV, Prommi and Ferro, L-526 (18 males, 5 females); same locality, 5-VI- 2007, Sites, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-917 (12 males, 8 females); same locality, 26-V-2004, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-718, (6 males, 10 females); same locality, 26-XI-2010, KU team, C-9 (4 females); Amphur Sangkhla Buri, Heuy Kob, gravel stream, 15°13'N 98°22'E, 289 m, 13-IV-2002, UMC and CMU teams, L-339 (2 males, 2 females); Amphur Sangkhla Buri, Heuy Song Ka Lia, gravel stream 15°13'N 98°26'E, 204 m, 13-IV-2002, UMC and CMU teams, L-340 (5 males, 2 females); stream 3 km SW Int. Hwy 3199 x 3457, 14°12'N 99°12'E, 89 m, 15-IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-343 (1 male); Amphur Thong Pha Phum, Heuy Ka Yaeng at Ban Padsadoo Klang, stream, 14°33'N 98°34'E, 296 m, 9-IV-2003, Sites, Vitheepradit, Prommi and Setaphan, L-457 (32 males, 20 females); same locality, 26-V-2003, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-718 (28 males, 19 females); same locality, 25-XI-2006, KU team, C-7 (7 males); Amphur Thong Pha Phum, Heuy Ka Yaeng at Ban Pa Jam Mai, stream, 14°35'N 98°34'E, 247 m, 9-IV-2003, Sites, Vitheepradit, Prommi and Setaphan, L-458 (6 males, 9 females); Huey Pak Kog near Thong Pha Phum National Park, gravel stream, 14°38'N 98°31'E, 206 m, 9-IV-2003, Sites, Vitheepradit, Prommi and Setaphan, L-460 (4 males, 2 females); same locality, 25-XI-2006, KU team, C-6 (1 male, 1 female); Amphur Thong Pha Phum, Heuy Koeng Kra Wia, stream, 14°55'N 98°40'E, 325 m, 12-V-2003, Vitheepradit, Prommi and Ferro, L-527 (2 males, 1 female); Thong Pha Phum NP, Amphur Thong Pha Phum, Jog Kradin Waterfall, 14º41.170'N 98º22.890'E, 661 m, 4-VI-2006, Sites, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-916 (1 male, 3 females); same locality, 25-XI-2006, KU team, C-5 (4 males); same locality, 23-I-2013, KU team, C-258 (1 male); Heuy Clity, 14º57.717'N 98º54.552'E, 674 m, 26-XI-2010, KU team, C-10 (1 male); same locality, 22-I-2013, KU team, C-256 (1 male); Salak Phra WS, Heuy Mae Pla Soi, 14º34.085'N 99º12.210'E, 181m, 3-XII-2010, KU team, C-14 (5 males); Chaloem Rattanakosin NP, Tarnngen-Tarntong Waterfall, 14º39.707'N 99º 18.355'E, 326 m, 4-VIII-2011, C-64 (4 males, 3 females); same locality, pan light trap, 5-VIII-2011, C-65 (2 males, 3 females); Lum Klong Ngu NP, Nangkruan Waterfall, 14º54.306'N 98º 43.539'E, 605 m, 22-I-2013, KU team C-257 (1 female); Sa Lak Phra WS, Heuy Lam Sa Dong, 8- II-2013, KU team, C-261 (7 males, 3 females); Sa Lak Phra WS, Heuy Mae Pla Soi, 8-II-2013, KU team, C-262 (4 males, 2 females); Phetchaburi Province: Amphur Tha Yang, Mae Nam Phetchaburi on Hwy 3499, 12°55'N 99°51'E, 39 m, 19-IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-354 (3 males, 5 females); Stream 16 km NE of Ban Yang Chum on Hwy 3410, 12°45'N 99°36'E, 140 m, 19-IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-355 (2 males, 1 female); Kaeng Ka Chan NP, Pranburi stream at Ban Krang, 12°48.037’N 99°26.557’E, 380 m, 28-V-2004, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-721 (2 males); Prachuap Khiri Khan Province: Amphur Hua Hin, stream from irrigation dam at Ban Pa La Ou, 12°31'N 99°30'E, 164 m, 20-IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-357 (6 males, 6 females); Amphur Hua Hin, Tumbon Heuy Pheung, Ban Sak Yai, stream, 12°30'N 99°34'E, 121 m, 21-IV- 2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-358 (3 females); Amphur Hua Hin, Tumbon Aow Noi, 3 km N int. Hwy 3463 x 4, stream from irrigation dam, 12°55'N 99°43'E, 65 m, 21-IV-2002,Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-359 (2 males, 1 female); Amphur Kui Buri, Forest Plantation Station, gravel & rock stream, 12°04'N 99°43'E, 147 m, 22- IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-360 (4 males, 2 females); Amphur Bang Saparn, Tumbon Tong Mongkol, Moo Ban Tong Mongkol, 11°14'N 99°22'E, 73 m, 23-IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-362 (7 males, 8 females); Amphur Bang Saphan, Tumbon Tong Mongkol, creek from Nam tok Sai Koo, 11°14'N 99°20'E, 73 m, 23- IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-364 (1 male, 2 females); Amphur Hua Hin, Tumbon Heuy Pheung, Ban Sad Yai, stream, 12°29'N 99°34'E, 114 m, 16-V-2003, Vitheepradit and Ferro, L-537 (1 male, 4 females); Amphur Kui Buri Forest Plantation Station, 12°04'N 99°37'E, 117 m, 17-V-2002, Vitheepradit and Ferro, L-540 (11 males, 2 females); same locality, 29-V-2002, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-725 (2 males, 1 female); Amphur Bang Saphan, stream from Kha On WF, 11°26'N 99°26'E, 117 m, 18-V-2003, Vitheepradit and Ferro, L-544 (8 males, 10 females); Amphur Bang Saphan, Sai Koo Waterfall, 11°14'N 99°20'E, 73 m, 18-V-2003, Vitheepradit and Ferro, L-545 (3 males, 1 female); Kaeng Krachan NP, stream at Bankrang, 12º48'N 99º26'E, 380 m, 20-V-2012, KU team, C-154 (4 males, 5 females); Kaeng Krachan NP, Pa La Ou Waterfall, 12°32’N 99°27’E, 319 m, 28-V-2004, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-722 (1 male); Nam Tok Heuy Yang NP, Heuy Yang Waterfall, 11°37’N 99°36’E, 127 m, 21-V-2006, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-969 (1 female); same locality, 29-V-2004, Vitheepradit and Prommi, L-727 (3 males, 1 female); Ratchaburi Province: Amphur Suan Phueng, Nam Tok Kao Chan, 13°31'N 99°14'E, 159 m, 17-IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-349 (4 males); Amphur Suan Phueng, 9 km SW Suan Phueng, stream, 13°30'N 99°17'E, 156 m, 17-IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-350 (2 males, 1 female); Amphur Suan Phueng, 11.6 km SSE Suan Phueng, stream, 13°28'N 99°15'E, 185 m, 17-IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-351 (1 male, 4 females); Amphur Suan Phueng, 14.6 km SSE Suan Phueng, stream, 13°28'N 99°15'E, 183 m, 17-IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-352 (1 male); Amphur Pak Tho, Tumbon Yang Hak, unnamed creek, 13°19'N 99°33'E, 200 m, 18-IV-2002, Vitheepradit and Kirawanich, L-353 (9 males, 2 females); Amphur Suan Phueng, Nam Tok Kao Chan, 13°31'N 99°14'E, 210 m, 14-V-2003, Vitheepradit, Prommi and Ferro, L-530 (5 females); same locality, 13-XII-2012, C-87 (2 males, 5 females); Amphur Suan Phueng, Huey Nam Sai WF, 13°35'N 99°12'E, 204 m, 14-V-2002, Vitheepradit, Prommi and Ferro, L-531 (1 male, 1 female); Amphur Suan Phueng, Kangsommaw, 13º24.537'N 99º16.748'E, 183 m, 13-XII-2012, KU team, C-86 (4 males); Heuy Kog Moo, 13º27.786'N 99º15.210'E, 198 m, 13-XII-2012, KU team, C-88 (5 males, 1 female); Subtoei Waterfall, 13º23.324'N 99º22.426'E, 216 m, 14-XII-2011, KU team, C-89 (1 male, 3 females).
description: Published as part of Raruanysong, Sajeemat, Vitheepradit, Akekawat & Sites, Robert W., 2014, Key to the species of Ptilomerinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae) of Thailand and review of the fauna of the Tennaserim Mountain Range, pp. 101-117 in Zootaxa 3852 (1) on pages 108-109, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3852.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/230500