Nanoplinthisus Wagner 1963
Creators: name: Sweet, Merrill H.
name: Slater, James A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2004
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Lygaeidae
Nanoplinthisus

description: Subgenus Nanoplinthisus Wagner, 1963
As stated in the introduction, the placement of the following groups in Nanoplinthisus is provisional pending further study of Plinthisus on a worldwide basis.
ERICAE SPECIES­GROUP
Plinthisus (Nanoplinthisus) ericae n. sp.
Figs. 3, 4 12, 22, 32, 43, 57, 58, 72, 88, 89, 104, 116
Description. Brachypterous male (Fig. 4). Pronotum and exposed abdominal terga dark red­brown; explanate pronotal margins somewhat lighter. Head and scutellum chocolate to nearly black. Hemelytra a contrasting bright orange­tan. Ventral and pleural areas, profemora and suffused areas on meso­ and metafemora castaneous to red­brown. Posterior lobe of metapleuron, acetabula of meso­ and metapleura, coxae, trochanters, tibiae and tarsi yellowish. Antennae yellowish­brown. Body surface shining. Head, pronotum, scutellum, prosternal collar, proepimeron and hemelytra coarsely and very densely punctate; punctures on hemelytra large, deep and discrete. Scutellar punctures somewhat anastomosing, giving surface a granulose­rugulose appearance. Exposed abdominal terga finely pebbled; connexiva linear­rugulose. Body and appendages clothed with short, sparse, decumbent, sericeous hairs. Trichobothriumlike pair of setae on vertex (Fig. 12) relatively stout, short, 0.06 long, 0.13 apart, 0.03 from eye; no other head, tibial, and thoracic setae. [Abdomen (Fig. 38) with one trichobothrium on each side of meson of sternum 3, none on sternum 4; anterior trichobothrial hairs of sterna 5 and 6 very long, posterior hairs on sternum 5 short, oblique and directly (0.04) below spiracle; only one posterior hair on 6; dorsal hair of sternum 7 long, ventral hair short.]
Head (Fig. 12) only slightly declivent, subacuminate, lightly convex, nearly flat across vertex. Tylus almost attaining distal end of 1st antennal segment. Tylus lightly convex, width 0.05, length 0.12. Tylar sutures incised, converging caudad. Juga nearly flat, apices pointed. Lorum elevated into a shining bar below jugal suture. Antenniferous tubercles very short, invisible from above; insertion of antenna just in front of and below level of eye. Eye with posterior ridge of cuticle broadly in contact with anterolateral pronotal angle. Eye trichobothria absent. Eye relatively large, oval, of about 100 facets; eye length 0.06, height 0.10. [Ocelli minute, nearly invisible, visible only in cleared specimens.] Bucculae low, anteriorly less (0.02) than 1/2 width of labial segment 1 (0.05), becoming ridges at level of juga, ridges terminating caudad in a truncated broad "V" at base of head. Telescoped posterior portion of head slightly swollen ventrally, length 0.12. Visible head length 0.22, width 0.30; interocular space 0.19, height above eyes 0.01, below eyes 0.03, preocular distance 0.10. Pronotum subquadrate, evenly arcuate laterad; anterior margin deeply concave; posterior margin very shallowly concave; lateral margins narrowly but distinctly explanate.
Pronotum broadest at anterior 1/3, evenly narrowed caudad, maximum pronotal width as great as width across hemelytra. Posterior lobe very weakly evident. Dorsum of anterior lobe moderately convex, height above lateral margin 0.10. Pronotal median length 0.44, posterior lobe length 0.08; maximum width 0.54, width across humeri 0.52; [dorsal collar length 0.05 (cleared)]. Scutellum gently tumid; length 0.20, width 0.32. [Mesoscutum not sulcate, nor exposed laterad, nor continuous with mesepisternum.] Hemelytron (Fig. 4) pad­like, clavus and corium fused; hinge present; no membrane remnant. Caudal (distal) hemelytral margin straight, at right angle to longitudinal body axis, but with caudo­lateral corner slightly expanded and posteriorly curved covering entire 4th abdominal tergum laterally, and barely reaching onto antero­lateral angle of tergum 5; posterior 1/3 to 1/4 of 4th tergum exposed mesally. Hemelytra slightly convex laterad (Fig. 4); lateral margin of hemelytron sharply carinate­explanate, uplifted, narrowly clasping lateral margin of pterothorax (Fig. 14). Hemelytral length 0.48, maximum width 0.32; commissure length 0.26; distance from posterior margin of hemelytra to apex abdomen 0.46. [Metanotum well­sclerotized, but not extending caudad of scutellum. Metathoracic wing (Fig. 32) reduced, oval; width 0.079, length 0.125. Stridulitrum sclerite width 0.042, length 0.059, bearing 17 equisized semicircular teeth, the more posterior (distal) teeth in rows of three. (In female brachypter, metathoracic wing absent.)] Proepisternum (Fig. 12) obliquely striate­grooved; posterior lobe of proepimeron compressed. Propleural pore distinct, closer to prosternal collar sulcus than propleural sulcus. Above scent area mesepimeron and metepisternum ecarinate below groove that receives hemelytron. Metathoracic scent gland auricle (Fig. 32) directed caudad for most of its length, apex sharply angled cephalad as a short obtuse hook. Granulose scent area swollen as compared with metapleural flange, covering ventral 6/7 of mesepimeron and metepisternum. Metapleural flange set off by distinct sulcus from metepisternum; posterior margin of flange slightly sinuate. Prosternum (Fig. 12) gently arched, ventral collar relatively wide, set off by distinct groove continuous with groove below explanate pronotal margin; prosternum length 0.31, collar length 0.11; proxyphus distinctly carinate, pointed, and granulose. Mesosternum shiny, tumid; mesoxyphus with apex rounded, margined with ridges which extend to coxae. Metasternum moderately tumid, granulose; metaxyphus narrowly truncate. [Metacoxal bridges narrow, complete (very delicate in female). Mesendosternite short, with apex splayed­stellate; mesendotergite long, slender, trumpet­shaped, apex nearly reaching short mesendosternite.]
Abdomen maximum width 0.66, length 0.74. Abdominal terga gently convex, caudal margin of tergum 7 rounded (Fig. 43), extending well caudad of connexivum 7. [Abdominal sternal sutures 2–3, 3–4 and 4–5 dovetailed (Fig. 44); suture 4–5 bent slightly cephalad at level of trichobothria. (In female, sterna 4–5 free, intersegmental margin straight.) Spiracle 5 nearer (0.05) to posterior margin of sternum than are other spiracles (Fig. 38); spiracle 8 absent in male and female. Tergum 2 (Fig. 43) short, fused mesally to tergum 1, width 0.49. Plectrum small, dark, width 0.06, length 0.06; striae anteriorly 0.8 µ apart, posteriorly becoming 0.9 µ apart. Tergum 3 narrow, anterior margin inflexed, strongly carinate along posterior margin. Tergal sutures 4–5 and 5–6 slightly dovetailed; sutures curving caudad so that tergum 6 is shorter than either tergum 4, 5, or 7. Maximum width of terga 0.55; medial lengths: 1­0.12, 2­0.02, 3­0.01, 4­0.15, 5­0.16, 6­0.08, 7­0.19. Scent gland scar widths: 3–4: 0.12, 4–5: 0.13, 5–6: 0.15. Terga 4–7 inflexed and grooved laterad to receive mesal margin of connexivum. Narrow epipleurite only on segment 4 in male, absent on other segments. Connexivum moderately wide; hypopleurite widths: 2­0.02, 3­ 0.05, 4­0.07, 5­0.07, 6­0.07, 7­0.05; lengths: 2­0.03, 3­0.06, 4­0.12, 5­0.17, 6­0.22, 7­0.15. Hypopleurites 2 and 3 nearly fused; hypopleurite junctions of 4–5 and 5–6 moderately oblique, others transverse. Tergum 7 and sternum 7 with lateral shelf­like ridges to receive segment 8 and genital capsule. Sternum 7 with very weak anterior apodemes, 0.13 apart. Genital capsule (Figs. 57 & 58) posteriorly flattened, width 0.15; dorsal opening as wide as clasper opening; parandria slender. Epiproct desclerotized, faint; paraprocts c­shaped, nearly meeting ventrad (Fig. 57); anal sclerites small, united laterad. Clasper (Fig. 72) shank quadrate with small tooth on outer projection; blade short, straight, lateral on shank. Phallus (Figs. 88 & 89) with short gonoporal process, the basal 2 coils with membranous sleeve, 3rd and 4th coils with distinct narrow distal helicoid sclerite, distal coil slender. Sperm reservoir large; wings L­shaped, directed distad; holding sclerites broad. Dorsum of phallotheca unsclerotized, venter sclerotized. (In female, terga 1 and 2 lightly sclerotized. Tergum 3 relatively long (0.10), inflexed cephalad, transversely carinate along posterior margin. Epipleurites 3–6 present, narrowed caudally. Tergum 7 fused caudally with hypopleurite 7; hypopleurite 7 distinctly broadened caudad. Tergum 8 with posterior margin slightly rounded, 2 anterior submesal sutures meet and end well before caudad margin. Tergum 9 very short, straplike with, with slender medial anterior apodeme; epipleurite 9 broad with no apodeme; hypopleurite 9 partly cleft vertically. Valvula length 0.37. Spermatheca (Fig. 103) with hemispherical bulb; sclerotized distal duct short and curved; unsclerotized basal duct relatively short.)]
Profemur (Fig. 115) incrassate, length 0.40, width 0.18; convex above and below; armed beneath with 2 sharp spines close together on distal 1/3. Protibia slightly bent, armed beneath with 5–6 small tubercles in row; outer posterior corner of distal end armed with two small spines close together; protibial length 0.29, distal width 0.07. Row of 2 spurs on both meso­ and metatibia; metatibia length 0.44, medial width.04; metatarsomere lengths: I 0.09, II 0.04, III 0.06. Labium extending between, but at most only slightly exceeding procoxae; 1st segment not attaining base of head; labial segment lengths: I 0.16, II 0.17, III 0.11, IV 0.10. Antennal segments moderately thick, segments 2 and 3 slightly clavate; 1 and 4 spindle­shaped, width.04; antennal segment lengths: I 0.10, II 0.16, III 0.14, IV 0.18. Total body length 1.52.
Macropterous form (Fig. 3). (same locality as holotype) Head, pronotum and scutellum dark chocolate brown, nearly black. Clavus and corium light yellowish­tan but marked with dark red­brown to chocolate on inner 1/2 of clavus, particularly near base, as a large irregular suffused area at apical corial angle extending from apex midway along apical margin and nearly to level of apex of claval commissure; a second elongate suffused stripe along puncture row in area of cubital vein to basal 1/4 of corium. Membrane sordid white with a very large suffused smoky brown median spot. Coarsely punctate, with short decumbent hairs as in brachypters. Clavus with 3 complete rows of punctures and an additional incomplete row on distal 1/2 between inner and median rows. Ocellus much larger (dia. 0.03), than in brachypter. Head length 0.25, width 0.34; interocular space 0.21. Pronotum with greatest breadth across humeri; lateral margins distinctly sinuate in area of transverse impression that is present only laterally. Pronotal length 0.40, width anterior lobe 0.60, width across humeri 0.70. Scutellar length 0.31, width 0.41. Commissure length 0.20. Midline distance apex clavus to apex corium 0.38; midline distance from apex corium to apex membrane 0.48. Corium and membrane broad, completely covering abdominal tergum. Corium explanate, acute laterally; apical corial margins straight. Membrane broadly rounded at apex, slightly exceeding end of abdomen. Metathoracic wing stridulitra much as in Fig. 20; cubital stridulitrum 0.18 long, 0.19 basad of hamus (M), with 15 semicircular 10–13 µ wide teeth in 7 rows of 2–3 teeth in distal half of sclerite. Membrane stridulitrum in postcubital sector an oval sclerite, 0.06 x 0.10, bearing 35 semicircular teeth 7–10 µ wide, in 8 rows of 3–6 teeth. Labial segment lengths: I 0.18, II 0.16, III 0.12, IV 0.13. Antennal segment lengths: I 0.10, II 0.19, III 0.16, IV 0.20. Total body length 1.80.
Material Examined. HOLOTYPE: Brachypterous male. SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Province: 28 mi. SE Hermanus, Nat. Res., 2.II.1968 (J. A. & S. Slater, T. Schuh, M. H. Sweet). In National Collection of Insects, Pretoria, South Africa.
PARATYPES: 30 m 57 f B, 1 m 4 f M, same data as holotype. 24 m 28 f B, 2 m 4 f M, Cape Province: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town, 29.IX.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 19). 8 m 12 f B, 5 m 1 f M, same locality, 29.I.1968 (S.S.S.S.). 11 m 8 f B, 1 f M, Table Mt., West Table, 3,500, 12.X.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 27–29). 5 m 4 f B, 1 m 2 f M, same locality, 24.I.1968 (S.S.S.S.). 1 m B, Red Hill, Cape Peninsula, 900, 4.XII. 1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 95). 1 m B, 1 f M, Cape Point Nat. Res., 250', 5.XII.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 96). 23 m 24 f B, 4 m 2 f M, Dutoit's Kloof, 10 mi. W. Worcester, 875', 23.X.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 49). 2 m M, Dutoit's Kloof Pass Summit, 2648', 13 X.1967 (M.H. Sweet no. 52). 18 m 13 f B, 11 m 9 f M, 4 mi. W. Gydo Pass, 10 mi. N. Ceres, 3600', 17.X.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 37). 1 m B, same locality 26.I.1968 (S.S.S.S.). 23 m 16 f B, Bain's Kloof, 1300', 20.X.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 45). 22 m 17 f B, 1 m 2 f M, Michell's Pass, Ceres, 1500' 16.X.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 33). 1 m M, same locality, 25.I. 1968 (S.S.S.S.). 2 m 6 f B, Tradouw's Pass, 10 mi. N. Swellendam, 900', 15.XI.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 72). 3 m 4 f B, 1 f M, Cedarberg Pass, 3100, 6.XI.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 68). 2 f B, 10 m 3 f M, Swartberg Pass, 5000' 10 mi. N. Oudtshoorn, 19.XI.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 82). 1 m 1 f M, Swartberg Pass, 4200' 23 mi. N. Oudtshoorn, 19.XI.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 83). 1 m B, Fern Kloof Nat. Res. Hermanus, 3.II. 1968 (S.S.S.S.). 4 m 11 f B, 28 mi. SE. Hermanus, Nat. Res., 2.II.1968 (S.S.S.S.). 14 m, 12 f B, East Knysna Head, Knysna, 200', 22.XI.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 90). 7 m 18 f B, Shaw's Mt. Pass Summit, S. of Caledon, 3.II.1968 (S.S.S.S.). 1 m 1 f B, Outiniqua Pass Summit, S. of Oudtshoorn, 7.II.1968 (S.S.S.S.). 1 f B, 6 mi. E. Plettenberg Bay, El. 500', 12.II.1968 (S.S.S.S.). 1 m B, 22 mi. W. Grahamstown, 15.II. 1968 (S.S.S.S.). In National Collection of Insects, Pretoria, J. A. Slater and M. H. Sweet collections.
Variation. There is some color variation in the brachypters of the type series. The pronotum, particularly the large anterior lobe, is frequently dark chocolate brown and concolorous with the head and pronotum. The hemelytra are frequently not as bright tan as in the holotype, but are often suffused with chocolate although usually, at least in part, somewhat lighter than the other dorsal areas. In some specimens, the lateral pronotal margins tend to become sinuate posteriorly rather than evenly tapering. A few specimens have three rather than two distinct spines on the profemora.
There is considerable variation in the hemelytral color of the macropterous specimens. Some individuals have the dark brown areas very extensively developed so that the wing has the appearance of being dark red­brown with yellowish stripes; in others the clavus and corium are chiefly yellowish brown with vaguely defined darker areas.
These variations in brachypters and macropters, however, represent individual, not population variations. Moreover, examination of the genitalia of specimens from different parts of the range showed no significant differences, so this taxon probably represents a single variable species.
Etymology. The specific name is the genitive of Erica, the classical Latin and Greek name for the heaths. The genus Erica, on which seeds this species feeds, is abundant and remarkably diverse in the Cape Region, where it includes over 1,000 species.
Discussion. P. ericae appears to have no close relatives and forms a monotypic species­group essentially restricted to the Cape biotic region. On the basis of its transversely truncate hemelytra and lack of any remnant of a membrane, together with its small size and only 2–3 spines beneath on the profemur (Fig. 116), P. ericae fits best Wagner's (1963) definition of the subgenus Nanoplinthisus, but as indicated in the key, it forms a distinct species­group. Unlike some of the other species­groups, and despite it existing in largely brachypterous populations, the Erica group appears to consist of one species widely dispersed in the Cape Region.
FYNBOSI SPECIES­GROUP
Included species: Plinthisus (Nanoplinthisus) fynbosi n. sp., P. (N.) muticus Slater.
Plinthisus (Nanoplinthisus) fynbosi n. sp.
(Fig. 5, fig. 13, 23, 33, 44, 60, 61 73, 74, 90, 91, 106, 117)
Description. Brachypterous male. Dorsum of head and thorax dark red­brown; venter brighter red­brown. Abdomen chocolate. Tibiae, tarsi and antennae pale yellowish. Body surface strongly shining, appearing largely impunctate. Posterior lobe of pronotum, prosternal collar, hemelytron and scutellum very finely punctate; dorsal pronotal collar weakly differentiated by fine micropunctures. Nearly glabrous but with inconspicuous very short scattered decumbent sericeous hairs on dorsum and thorax; longer hairs on abdominal sternum. Antennae clothed with pale semi­erect hairs about as long as width of antennae (0.04). Long trichobothriumlike seta on eye, antenniferous tubercle, outside proximal surface of protibia, lateral margin of pronotum 1/4 distance (0.10) from humeral corner, pair on vertex 0.12 long 0.12 apart, 0.05 from eye (fig.13); shorter seta on eye, gena, and pair on tylus. [Abdominal sterna with 2 trichobothria on each side of venter of 3, 1 weak trichobothrium on 4 (more distinct in female); anterior trichobothrial hairs on 5 and 6 and dorsal hair of posterior pairs very long (0.15), these pairs oblique, directly below spiracles on 5 and 6 and close (0.02) to posterior margins of sterna; pair on 7 of equal length, with an apparent shorter supplementary trichobothriumlike hair.]
Head (fig. 13) strongly declivent anteriorly, moderately convex across vertex. Tylus extending to distal 1/4 of 1st antennal segment. Tylus nearly flat, narrowed posteriorly, length 0.09, width 0.06. Tylar sutures lightly incised. Juga slightly convex, apices sharply pointed. Lorum shining; gena transversely, finely rugulose. Antenniferous tubercles very short, invisible from above; antennal insertions at front margin of and below level of eye. Eyes nearly touching anterolateral pronotal angles. Eye ovoid, small, of about 40 facets; eye height 0.10, length 0.08. Ocelli absent. Bucculae low, height less (0.025) than width of labial segment 1; very short, becoming ridges at apex of jugum; ridges flaring posteriorly and terminating in a broad "U", just before base of head. Venter of head flattened, telescoped posterior portion of head not enlarged, length 0.10. Visible head length 0.21, width across eyes 0.32; interocular space 0.21, height above eye 0.03, below eye.0 3, preocular distance 0.10.
Pronotum subquadrate, broadest across anterior 1/3, slightly arcuate laterad; lateral margins sharply and narrowly carinate to almost narrowly explanate; anterior margin shallowly concave; posterior margin straight. Dorsal collar and posterior lobe weakly set off by fine punctures. Dorsum of anterior lobe gently arched, height above margin 0.04. Pronotum medial length 0.36, posterior lobe length 0.07; maximum width 0.46, width across humeri 0.44; [dorsal collar length 0.03 (cleared)]. Scutellum flat; length 0.16, width 0.30. [Mesoscutum not set off from scutellum by sulcus but laterally continuous with mesepisternum.] Hemelytron (Fig. 5) pad­like, clavus and corium indistinguishably fused; basally fused with mesoscutum; no membrane remnant. Caudal (distal) margin of hemelytra truncate, straight, with lateral corners beveled, extending caudad only to anterior portion of abdominal tergum 4. Lateral margins of hemelytra moderately arcuate, rounded, ecarinate, broadly clasping lateral margins of pterothorax (Fig. 33). Hemelytron length 0.36, maximum width 0.30; width across hemelytra (0.60) broader than maximum pronotal width; commissure length 0.21; distance posterior margin of hemelytra to apex of abdomen 0.40. [Metanotum short, pale, weakly sclerotized, much exceeded caudad by scutellum. Metathoracic wing (Fig. 33) very reduced, ovoid, width 0.04, length 0.05, consisting entirely of stridulitrum sclerite which bears 13 equisized teeth in three staggered overlapping rows. (In female, metanotum membranous; hind wing absent.)] Posterior lobe of proepimeron weakly set off by compression. Propleural pore (fig. 13) extremely small, midway between propleural sulcus and collar sulcus. Distinct carina along dorsal margin of mesepimeron and metapleuron below deep groove that receives down­wrapped lateral margin of hemelytron (Fig. 23). Metathoracic scent gland (Fig. 23) auricle (au) small, directed caudad almost to margin of scent area, apex rounded, slightly produced. Granulose scent area (sa) extending over ventral 2/3 of metepisternum and adjacent lightly produced area of mesepimeron. Metapleural flange set off by weak sulcus from metepisternum; posterior margin slightly concave. Prosternum (fig. 13) gently convex, length 0.31; ventral collar narrow, length 0.06, set off by weak sulcus not continuous with sulcus along dorsal margin of proepisternum. Mesosternum anteriorly weakly carinate and finely punctate; posteriorly distinctly tumid. Metasternum slightly excavated. Each xyphus acute and sharply pointed. [Metacoxal bridges complete, very narrow and delicate. Mesendotergite slender, with cup­shaped apex remote from short incurved mesendosternite.]
Abdomen ovoid, maximum width 0.55, length 0.55. Terga moderately arched; connexivum tilted sharply up laterad; caudal margin of tergum 7 truncate, not extending caudad of connexivum 7. [Sutures of sterna 3–4 and 4–5 incised; suture 4–5 slightly bent cephalad at level of trichobothria. (In female, sterna 4–5 free; intersegmental margin nearly straight.) Spiracles of segments 5 and 6 much nearer (0.03) to posterior margin of segments than are other abdominal spiracles; spiracle 7 evidently absent, but spiracle 8 present. Terga 1 and 2 (Fig. 44) pale, relatively narrow, width 0.33. Plectrum dark, sclerotized, especially laterad; width 0.07, length 0.04; finely striate, striae 0.6 µ apart. Tergum 3 relatively long with low carina along posterior margin. Tergal sutures 4–5 and 5–6 not dovetailed; sutures curving caudad so that tergum 6 is shorter than tergum 4, 5 or 7. Maximum width of terga 0.47; medial lengths: 1­0.04, 2­0.01, 3­0.06, 4­0.13, 5­0.13, 6­0.08, 7­ 0.09. Scent gland scar widths: 3–4: 0.13, 4–5: 0.09, 5–6: 0.10. Terga 4–7 inflexed and grooved laterad to receive mesal margin of connexivum. Epipleurites 4–6 thread­like; 3 a very small, curved sclerite. Connexivum relatively narrow, hypopleurite widths: 2­0.05, 3­ 0.05, 4­0.05, 5­0.05, 6­0.06, 7­0.03; lengths: 2­0.2,6 3­0.07, 4­0.16, 5­0.13, 6­0.16, 7­0.14. Hypopleurite junctions 3–4 and 6–7 moderately oblique, others nearly transverse. Tergum 7 and sternum 7 with complete shelf­like internal flanges to receive segment 8 and genital capsule. Sternum 7 with very weak anterior apodemes, 0.14 apart. (In female, tergal suture 6–7 fused, incomplete mesally (Fig. 50) in contrast (Fig. 49) with the complete suture uniting terga 6–7 other species.) Genital capsule (Figs. 60 & 61) width 0.17; posterior rim transversely carinate; parandria slender, pointed. Epiproct and paraprocts slender (Fig. 60); anal sclerites slender, paired. Clasper (Figs. 73 & 74) flattened, shank quadrate with a small tooth on outer projection, a broad sharp spine on inner projection; blade short, straight, lateral on shank. Phallus (Figs. 90 & 91) with gonoporal process short, of 3 slen­ der coils, very short membranous sleeve on basal coil; no helicoid process. Sperm reservoir small; wings narrow, L­shaped, directed distad; holding sclerites slender, small. Phallotheca laterally unsclerotized, with wide ventral sclerotized surface, and 2 small dorsal sclerites. (In female, tergum 1 and 2 membranous. Tergum 3 relatively long (0.10), flat, with thin carina along posterior margin. Epipleurite 3 absent; 4–6 wider. Abdominal terga 6 + 7 medially fused. Tergum 8 flat, posterior margin slightly concave, with 2 submesal anterior sutures that meet caudad at posterior margin. Tergum 9 very short, strap­like, with slender medial anterior apodeme; epipleurite 9 larger, with short, pointed apodeme; hypopleurite 9 vertically divided. Valvula length 0.26. Spermatheca (Fig. 105) with subspherical bulb; sclerotized distal duct thick, short, with intermediate swelling; unsclerotized basal duct slender, short.)]
Profemur (Fig. 117) prominently incrassate, length 0.31, width 0.16; convex above and below; mutic. Protibia slightly bowed; undersurface armed with small tubercles; distal end enlarged, with larger outer (posterior) thorn­like spine and small inner (anterior) spur; protibial length 0.28, distal width 0.08. Mesotibia with 2 rows of 2 small spurs; metatibia with row of two spurs; metatibial length 0.29, medial width 0.025; metatarsomere lengths: I 0.09, II 0.04, III 0.06. Labium extending between mesocoxae; 1st segment almost attaining base of head; labial segment lengths: I 0.17, II 0.15, III 0.12, IV 0.14. Antennal segments 1, 2 and 4 fusiform, 3 slightly clavate; segments relatively thick, width 0.05, lengths: I 0.10, II 0.18, III 0.14, IV 0.20. Total body length 1.30 mm.
Material Examined. HOLOTYPE: Brachypterous male. SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Province: Cape Town, Table Mt., 24.I. 1968 (J. A. & S. Slater, R.T. Schuh, M.H. Sweet). In National Collection of Insects, Pretoria, South Africa.
PARATYPES (all brachypterous): 8 m, 8 f, same data as holotype. 21 m, 10 f (2 m, 2 f dissected), same locality as holotype, 3500', 12.X.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 27 and 28). 37 m, 43 f, Cape Province: 1 m 5 f, Lion's Head, Cape Town 11–13.VII.1920 (R.E. Turner), Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Town, 29.IX.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 19). 2 f, same locality, 400', 6.XII.1967 (M.H. Sweet no. 101). 6 m, 7 f, same locality, 29.I.1968 (S.S.S.S.). 9 m, 19 f, Cape Point Nat. Res., Cape Point, 450', 15.IX.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 3). 15 m 13 f, same locality, 11.X.1967, (M. H. Sweet no. 26). 5 m, 4 f, same locality, 3.XII.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 98). 10 m, 5 f, same locality, 250', 5.XII.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 96). 1 m, 1 f, same locality, 7.XII.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 99). 2 m, Red Hill, Cape Peninsula, 900, 15.IX.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 2). 13 m, 15 f, Tafelberg Rd, Capetown, 1200', 9.X.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 25). 1 m 5 f, 2 miles N. Muizenberg, Cape Peninsula, 500', 16.IX.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 12). 35 m 23 f, Muizenberg Mt., Cape Peninsula, 200', 8.X.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 23). 3 m 5 f, same locality, 925', 9.XII.1967 (M. H. Sweet no. 106). In J. A. Slater and M. H. Sweet collections.
Etymology. The specific name fynbosi is the genitive of the Afrikaans name fynbos, for the shrubby vegetation—macchia or chaparral—characteristic of the Mediterranean climate biome area of the Cape of South Africa to indicate that this species is characteristic of the Cape fynbos or macchia.
Discussion. P. fynbosi is most closely related to P. muticus Slater from which it is distinguished by its smaller size, (1.3 versus 1.5 mm), and yellow, rather than brown antennae and legs. The eyes of P. muticus are relatively smaller so that the interocular width is threefourths of the width of head across eyes (0.30: 0.89) as compared to P. fynbosi in which the interocular width is two­thirds of the width of head across eyes (0.21: 0.32). The spermatheca (Fig. 105) and the clasper (Figs. 73 & 74) of P. fynbosi are distinctly different in shape from that of P. muticus (Fig. 75).
P. fynbosi and P. m u t i c u s are members of a difficult complex of similar species, some allopatric, some sympatric, all of which are represented by entirely brachypterous specimens. If we had not studied the populations in the field and reared them in the laboratory, we would not have been aware of the diversity of the P. fynbosi complex because of the remarkable uniformity of the general body morphology — many of the species are essentially sibling species. Several specimens that Slater (1964) mentioned but excluded from the type series of P. muticus probably represent other species of this complex. While the genitalia are distinctive, the color patterns are somewhat variable, probably as a consequence of different degrees of tanning. In the laboratory newly moulted adults remain relatively pale in color for some time and achieve their fully dark coloration only after several days. Caution is therefore necessary. We include in the type series of P. fynbosi only the dark specimens from the Cape Peninsula. (An undescribed pale yellow species is also in the area.) We name this group after P. fynbosi because of the abundance of this species and its near relatives in the Cape macchia or fynbos of South Africa.
There are at least five other species of this species­group in the Cape biotic area, with extensions (P. muticus) into the Drakensberg. We place the Fynbosi group in Wagner's (1963) subgenus Nanoplinthisus because the hemelytron is transversely truncate and lacks a membrane; the body size is under 1.8 mm; and the profemur is mutic.
PENINSULARIS SPECIES­GROUP
description: Published as part of Sweet, Merrill H. & Slater, James A., 2004, An analysis of species­groups of the genus Plinthisus Stephens (Hemiptera: Rhyparochromidae) in the Ethiopian Region with the description of eight new species, pp. 1-56 in Zootaxa 533 on pages 17-26, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.157231