Holcostethus Fieber 1860
Creators: name: Belousova, E. N.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2007
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Pentatomidae
Holcostethus

description: Genus HOLCOSTETHUS Fieber, 1860
Holcostethus Fieber, 1860: 79 [type species: Cimex sphacelatus Fabricius, 1794, by subsequent designation (Kirkaldy, 1909: 47)]; Ribes and Schmitz, 1992: 159–160.
Dryocoris Mulsant et Rey, 1866: 267 (nom. n. pro Holcostethus).
Diagnosis. Clypeus open. Head without sharp constriction before eyes. Aedeagus with 1 pair of conjunctive processes usually sclerotized at apices (Holcostethus s. str.), with narrow sclerotized median plates. Theca with small processes at sides.
Composition. The genus includes four species subdivided into the two subgenera Holcostethus and Enigmocoris subgen. n. differing in the structure of the parameres and in the sclerotization of apices of the conjunctive processes.
A KEY TO SPECIES OF THE GENUS
HOLCOSTETHUS FIEBER
1(6). Jugae as long as clypeus (Figs. 94, 95). Conjunc-tive processes of aedeagus sclerotized at apices. Parameres in form of overturn “L,” flat; hy-pophysis with tooth; uneven area of inner sur-face of paramere poorly developed (Figs. 50– 52). Spermatheca with spherical bulb bearing long processes projecting beyond proximal flange (Figs. 12, 13) ........ (Holcostethus s. str.).
2(5). Apex of pygofer with weak emargination (Fig. 64). Apices of parameres widened only in dorsal part, if at all (Fig. 51). Uneven area of inner surface of paramere poorly developed, finely granulate.
3(4). Sides of pronotum straight, with sharp pale costa deflexed upwards. Body larger (length 8.0–10.2 mm), dark. Hypophysis of paramere narrowed in middle, apex with developed dorsal part, tooth situated closer to center (Fig. 51). Spermathecal bulb small, with lateral appendages on processes (Fig. 12). Laterotergite IX strongly widened at apex (Fig. 100) ..................................................... ................ H. (H.) sphacelatus (Fabricius, 1794).
4(3). Sides of pronotum concave, with rounded pale costa not deflexed upwards. Body smaller (length 7–8.5 mm), pale. Hypophysis of paramere slightly narrowed in middle, not widened toward apex, with tooth at base (Fig. 50). Spermatheca with larger bulb, without lateral appendages on processes, latter frequently bifurcate at apex (Fig. 13). Laterotergite IX almost not widened at apex (Fig. 101) ............................ ....................... H. (H.) albipes (Fabricius, 1781).
5(2). Apex of pygofer with deep and sharp emargination (Fig. 65). Paramere symmetrically widened at apex, uneven area of inner surface of paramere more distinct, with coarser sculpture and large tooth at base (Fig. 52) ................................. ................................. H. (H.) evae (Ribes, 1986).
6 (1) Jugae slightly longer than clypeus (Fig. 41). Conjunctive processes of aedeagus not sclerotized at apices (Figs. 42, 43). Paramere large, smoothly curved; hypophysis wide, with tooth at apex; uneven area of inner surface of paramere well developed (Fig. 53) (Enigmocoris subgen. n.) ........ H. (E.) fissiceps Horváth, 1905.
description: Published as part of Belousova, E. N., 2007, Revision of the shield-bug genera Holcostethus Fieber and Peribalus Mulsant et Rey (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae) of the Palaearctic Region, pp. 701-739 in Entomological Review 87 (6) on page 729, DOI: 10.1134/s0013873807060085, http://zenodo.org/record/15003141