Aegaleus Stål, 1876
Aegaleus
Stål, 1876: 66, 99.
Aegaleus
(Paraegaleus) Kirkaldy, 1909: 134. (syn. by Leston, 1952)
Type Species:
Aegaleus:
Cimex lineatus Thunberg, 1822 (= Cimex divisus Herrich-Schäffer,
1840), by subsequent designation (Kirkaldy, 1909). Paraegaleus:
Antestia inermiventris StDl,
1865, by original designation.
Tribal Placement: This genus has
always been considered to be a close relative of Carvalhocoris and
Menida, both members of the Menidini.
Included Species:
bicinctus
(Germar, 1838)
divisus
(Herrich-Schäffer, 1840)
inermiventris
(Stål, 1865)
sparrmani (Stål,
1865)
varleyi Leston,
1952
Comments:
Leston (1952) described a new species, and provided a key to the known species.
I have found this key to be somewhat confusing, so I have developed my own key
(both keys are provided below). Also, there appears to be one more species
than there are names, so there may be at least one undescribed species.
Caution be noted that I have not examined any type material (except for one
paratype of A. varleyi
which is very distinct anyway), so it is possible that I have associated the
wrong names to the wrong taxa. This is my best guess as to the identities
of the taxa, based on the original descriptions, Leston's 1952 key, and
determination labels on various specimens. All known species occur in
southern Africa.
Also note that Kirkaldy (1909)
proposed the subgeneric name Paraegaleus for those species that lacked a
basal spine on the abdominal venter. I agree with Leston (1952) that most
of the species seem to be very closely related, regardless of whether the
abdominal venter is spined or not, and this subgeneric name serves little
purpose. I do, however, believe that
A. varleyi is quite
distinct from the remaining species, and perhaps should have a subgeneric or
generic name described for it.
Leston's 1952 key to the species of
Aegaleus
1
Venter spined at base |
2 |
-
Venter unspined at base |
4 |
|
|
2(1)
Scutellar markings consisting of a pale linear fascia within and
subparallel to the anterolateral and anterior margins, and a pale
posterior fascia, V-shaped |
bicinctus
(Germar) |
-
Scutellar markings pale and consisting of a fascia within and subparallel
to the lateral margins |
3 |
|
|
3(2)
Scutellar fasciae meeting at apex of scutellum |
varleyi Leston |
-
Scutellar fasciae separated at apex by a distance of twice the width of
the fasciae |
divisus (Herrich-Schäffer) |
|
|
4(1)
Scutellar markings consisting of a pale linear fascia within and
subparallel to the anterolateral and anterior margins, acutely angled, and
a pale posterior V-shaped fascia, rather widely divergent |
sparrmani (Stål) |
-
Scutellar fascia not so |
inermiventris (Stål) |
My key to the Species of Aegaleus
1
Ivory, impunctate, transhumeral band present; ivory markings on scutellum
impunctate, not forming complete V-shaped pattern |
2 |
-
Transhumeral ivory band lacking; pale markings on scutellum brownish,
punctate, forming complete V-shaped pattern with point of "V" on apex of
scutellum |
varleyi
Leston |
|
|
2(1)
General coloration brown with anterior half of pronotum contrastingly
fuscous; pronotal calli pale |
divisus
(Herrich-Schäffer) |
-
General coloration fuscous to black, anterior and posterior disks of
pronotum similar in color; pronotal calli fuscous, not pale |
3 |
|
|
3(2)
Abdominal venter with distinct, vertically compressed, basal spine |
bicinctus (Germar) |
-
Abdominal venter may be slightly produced or hump-like, but not with
distinct basal spine |
4 |
|
|
4(3)
Anterior margin of scutellum with complete pale, impunctate, ivory callus |
5 |
-
Anterior margin of scutellum with at most a small ivory spot medially |
inermiventris (Stål) |
|
|
5(4)
Abdominal venter at most only slightly and broadly hump-like basally;
scutellum longer and narrower, usually distinctly longer than coria, apex
narrowly rounded; posterior margin of pygophore with relatively narrow
emargination medially, margins on each side of medial emargination
substraight |
sparrmani (Stål) |
-
Abdominal venter obsoletely tuberculate basally; scutellum shorter and
broader, at most only slightly longer than coria, apex broadly rounded;
posterior margin of pygophore with relatively broad and shallow medial
margination, margins on each side of medial emargination sinuous |
new species 1 |
Reference:
Leston, D.
1952. Notes on the Ethiopian Pentatomidae (Hem.) III: The genus
Aegaleus Stål. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 88: 16.
David A. Rider
Associate Professor of Entomology
North Dakota State University
202 Hultz Hall
Fargo, ND 58105
E-Mail: David.Rider@ndsu.nodak.edu
Published by the Department of
Entomology
Prospective students may schedule a visit by calling 1-800-488-NDSU.
|