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1256
Accepted by C. Schaefer: 15 May 2006; published: 10 Jul. 2006 1
ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)
Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press
Zootaxa 1256: 1–9 (2006)
www.mapress.com/zootaxa/
Taxonomic notes on the genus Epidaus Stål (Heteroptera:
Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from Vietnam, with the description of
a new species
XUAN LAM TRUONG1, 2, PING ZHAO1 & WANZHI CAI1, *
1Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100094, China.
E-mail: caiwz@cau.edu.cn
2 Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology, No. 18
Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Ha Noi, Vietnam. E-mail: txlam@iebr.vast.ac.vn
*Author for correspondence
Abstract
Four species of Epidaus Stål from Vietnam are recognized and keyed. Epidaus sexspinus Hsiao and
Epidaus longispinus Hsiao are reported for the first time from Vietnam. Epidaus bachmaensis
Truong, Zhao & Cai, sp. nov. is described and its dorsal habitus, head, pronotum, male genitalia,
and other diagnostic morphological features are illustrated.
Key words: Reduviidae, Harpactorinae, Epidaus, taxonomy, Vietnam, new species, new records,
key.
Introduction
Epidaus Stål is a medium-sized genus of the reduviid subfamily Harpactorinae with 23
described species in the world (Maldonado-Capriles, 1990). The genus was established by
Stål (1859) with the Philippine species Zelus transverses Burmeister, 1835 as type species.
Most species are distributed in the Oriental Region and only two species occur in the
Palaearctic Region. So far, only E. famulus Stål, has been reported from Vietnam (Truong,
2002). Our recent examination of Vietnamese reduviids resulted in the recognition of two
species hitherto unknown from this country, and a new species which we describe here.
Materials and Methods
This study is based on materials preserved in the American Museum of Natural History,
New York, USA (AMNH); the Entomological Museum of the China Agricultural
X.L. TRUONG ET AL.
2 © 2006 Magnolia Press
1256
ZOOTAXA University, Beijing, China (CAU) ; the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources,
Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology, Ha Noi, Vietnam (IEBR); and the
National Science Museum, Tokyo, Japan (NSMT). Male genitalia of the reduviids were
soaked in hot 10% KOH solution for approximately 5 minutes to remove soft tissue, rinsed
in distilled water, and dissected under a Motic binocular dissecting microscope. Dissected
genitalia were placed in vials with glycerin and pinned under the corresponding
specimens. All drawings were traced with the aid of a camera lucida. Measurements were
obtained using a calibrated micrometer. Morphological terminology mainly follows that of
Lent and Wygodzinsky (1979). All measurements are in millimeters.
Taxonomy
Genus Epidaus Stål
Epidaus Stål 1859: 193; Stål 1874: 9; Distant 1904: 371; Hsiao & Ren 1981: 498; Putshkov & Put-
shkov 1985: 42; Maldonado-Capriles 1990: 198; Putshkov & Putshkov 1996: 239. Type spe-
cies: Zelus transverses Burmeister, by subsequent designation.
Gastroplaeus Costa 1864: 140. Type species: Gastroplaeus flavopustulatus Costa 1864: 139. Syn-
onymized by Stål 1874: 22.
Diagnosis
Body medium to large sized. Head elongate, cylindrical, slightly shorter than
pronotum; postocular portion nearly twice as long as anteocular portion; antennae slender,
first segment subequal to profemur in length; spine or tuberculate process posterior to
antenna; first rostral segment slightly shorter than or subequal to second and third
segments combined. Anterior lobe of pronotum bulging, with sculpture; posterior pronotal
lobe with two spines or tubercles medioposteriorly; lateral pronotal angle produced as a
spine or tubercle; scutellum triangular, round or slightly acute at apex; profemur thicker
than meso- and metafemora, meso- and metafemora nearly of same thickness; hemelytron
extending beyond tip of abdomen. Abdomen slightly to moderately dilated laterally,
sometimes in males not dilated laterally.
Distribution
Oriental and Palaearctic regions.
Key to the Vietnamese species of genus Epidaus Stål
1. Posterior pronotal lobe without black transverse strip near posterior margin, body ven-
trally and dorsally with distinct white spots......................Epidaus famulus (Stål, 1904)
-. Posterior pronotal lobe with black transverse strip near posterior margin, body without
distinct white spots........................................................................................................2
2. Spine behind base of antenna longer than distance between spines; posterior lobe of
© 2006 Magnolia Press 3
EPIDAUS
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ZOOTAXA
head black; apex of scutellum slightly acute................. Epidaus sexspinus Hsiao, 1979
-. Spine behind base of antenna shorter than distance between spines; head of same
color; apex of scutellum round......................................................................................3
3. Middle portion of posterior pronotal lobe with two slender spines; posterior lateral
angles of third to fifth connexival segments without brownish red markings................
....................................................................................Epidaus longispinus Hsiao, 1979
-. Middle portion of posterior pronotal lobe with two very high and thick spines; poste-
rior lateral angles of third to fifth connexival segments with brownish red markings....
.......................................................Epidaus bachmaensis Truong, Zhao & Cai, sp. nov.
Epidaus famulus (Stål)
Endochus famulus Stål 1863: 27; Stål 1874: 23.
Epidaus famulus: Distant 1904: 372; Hsiao & Ren 1981: 499; Maldonado-Capriles 1990: 199; Put-
shkov & Putshkov 1996: 239.
Material examined
3
&
, 2
%
, Vietnam, Phu Tho Province, Xuan Son National Park, 500 m, 20. X. 2004,
Xuan Lam Truong leg (IEBR). 1
%
, Vietnam, Phu Tho Province, Xuan Son National Park,
500 m, 26. X. 2004, Xuan Lam Truong leg (IEBR). 1
&
, 1
%
, Vietnam, Phu Tho Province,
Xuan Son National Park, 500 m, 27. X. 2004, Xuan Lam Truong leg (IEBR).
Distribution
Burma, China, Malaya, Sumatra, Vietnam.
Epidaus sexspinus Hsiao
Epidaus sexspinus Hsiao 1979: 250; Hsiao & Ren 1981: 499; Maldonado-Capriles 1990: 199; Put-
shkov & Putshkov 1996: 240; Tomokuni 1999: 29.
Material examined
1
%
, Vietnam, Lao Cai Province, Sa Pa, 1500 m, 7-12.X.1994, A. Saito leg, at light
(NSMT).
Distribution
China, Japan, Vietnam.
Epidaus longispinus Hsiao
Epidaus longispinus Hsiao 1979: 251; Hsiao & Ren 1981: 499; Maldonado-Capriles 1990: 199;
Putshkov & Putshkov 1996: 239.
X.L. TRUONG ET AL.
4 © 2006 Magnolia Press
1256
ZOOTAXA Material examined
1
%
, Vietnam, Ninh Bluh Province, Cui Phuong, 29.IV.1998, Rherenstahl Wagenblag
leg (AMNH).
Distribution
China, Vietnam.
Epidaus bachmaensis Truong, Zhao & Cai, sp. nov.
(Figs. 1–14)
FIGURE 1. Epidaus bachmaensis Truong, Zhao & Cai, sp. nov.,
%
. Habitus. Scale bar = 3.33 mm
© 2006 Magnolia Press 5
EPIDAUS
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ZOOTAXA
Description
Coloration: Body mostly yellowish brown; head, antennae, rostrum, fore legs,
posterior lateral angles of fourth to sixth connexival segments reddish brown to brownish
red (Figs. 1, 5); eyes brownish red with dark irregular markings, ocelli light yellow;
abdomen beneath, four long spines on posterior pronotal lobe brownish black to black
(Figs. 1, 2, 5); coxa, pronotum (except long spines on posterior pronotal lobe), ventral and
lateral sides of thorax, markings of inner portion of third to seventh connexival segments
(Fig. 5) light brown to brown; posterior margin of pronotum, scutellum, corium,
connexivum (except posterior angles of fourth to sixth connexival segments) yellowish;
corium with some small wax-like spots; most of mid and hind legs, yellowish brown to
reddish brown; membrane and claw yellowish, semitransparent.
Structure: Body large and elongate. Body clothed with white, short, bent pubescence
and subvertical setae; first and second antennal segments with scattered oblique short
setae, third and fourth segments with dense oblique short setae; first rostral segment with
dense oblique short setae, second and third segments with sparse setae; legs clothed with
oblique short setae and subvertical long setae, ventral surface of fore leg with abundant
short erect setae; head, pronotum, scutellum, corium, lateral and ventral surface of thorax,
abdomen clothed with pubescence and subvertical long setae. Head cylindrical; processes
behind base of antennae short (Figs. 1, 2); first antennal segment longest and subequal to
or slightly longer than third segment, fourth segment shortest and slightly shorter than
second segment; eyes protruding laterally; ocelli widely separated; first rostral segment
slightly longer than second segment, third segment shortest (Fig. 2). Pronotum developed,
nearly as long as wide; collar processes spine-shaped produced anteriorly, round at apex;
middle longitudinal sulcus of anterior lobe deep at base; posterior pronotal lobe nearly
twice as long as anterior lobe; anterior margin concave, posterior margin nearly straight;
two large spines at middle of posterior part of posterior lobe very strong, erect and acute
(Figs. 1, 2); lateral pronotal angles spine-shaped produced laterally; posterior angles
round, slightly protruding; scutellum distinctly wider than long, with “Y”-shaped carina,
apex round; profemur thickest; third tarsomere slightly longer than first and second
tarsomeres combined. Abdominal connexivum expanded laterally, posterior angles of
fourth to sixth segments protruded (Figs. 1, 5). Discal cell of hemelytra longer than wide
and very small; base of inner cell wider than that of outer cell (Fig. 1). Abdominal tip of
female as shown in Fig. 3. Pygophore oblong, median pygophore process round and wide
(Figs. 6, 7, 8 ); paramere clavate and bent, sharp at apex, and subapical portion with long
setae (Figs. 9, 10); basal plate of phallus thin and curved, basal plate bridge thin, slightly
arched in middle; pedicel short and wide; phallosoma ovate in dorsal and ventral view
(Figs. 12, 13), and bent upwards at apex in lateral view (Fig. 11); dorsal phallothecal
sclerite warped upward at apical part, middle of distal margin feebly concave (Figs. 11,
12); struts fused at base and separated at apical 1/2, with two annular structures in middle,
slightly longer than half of phallus in resting condition (Fig. 12);
X.L. TRUONG ET AL.
6 © 2006 Magnolia Press
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ZOOTAXA
FIGURES 2–7. Epidaus bachmaensis Truong, Zhao & Cai, sp. nov., 2, 4–7,
%
, 3,
&
. 2, Head and
pronotum, antennae removed; 3, apical portion of abdomen; 4, apical portion of abdomen; 5,
abdomen; 6, apex of abdomen; 7, pygophore. 2, 5, 7, lateral view; 6, caudal view; 3, 4, ventral view.
Scale bar of 2, 3, 4 = 1.33 mm; of 5 = 2.00 mm; of 6 = 1.00 mm; of 7 = 0.67 mm.
© 2006 Magnolia Press 7
EPIDAUS
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ZOOTAXA
FIGURES 8–14. Epidaus bachmaensis Truong, Zhao & Cai, sp. nov.,
%
. 8, pygophore; 9, 10,
paramere; pygophore; 11, 12, phallus; 13, phallosoma; 14, struts. 8, 13, ventral view; 12, dorsal
view; 11, lateral view. Scale bar of 8 = 1.00 mm; of 9–13 = 0.75 mm; of 14 = 0.375 mm.
X.L. TRUONG ET AL.
8 © 2006 Magnolia Press
1256
ZOOTAXA Measurements [
%
(n=9) /
&
(n=4), holotype in parentheses]: Body length 23.11–24.57 /
25.71–26.42 (23.11); maximum width of abdomen 6.67–7.53/7.20–7.36 (6.67). Head
length 3.85–4.13/4.35–4.43 (4.13); length of anteocular portion 1.28–1.48/1.45–1.48
(1.48), length of postocular portion 1.92–2.07/2.1–2.14 (2.07); length of synthlipsis 0.59–
0.61/0.62–0.66(0.61); interocellar space 0.55–0.62/0.60–0.63 (0.62); length of antennal
segments I–IV= 12.71–12.85/12.85–13.01 (12.79), 4.41–4.85/4.71–4.85 (4.41), 10.57–
11.29/10.57–11.04 (11.29), 3.66–4.12/4.00–4.38 (3.66); length of rostral segments I–
III=2.28–2.38/2.48–2.52 (2.38), 1.64–1.90/1.72–2.01 (1.90), 0.64–0.69/0.71–0.73 (0.69).
Anterior pronotal lobe length 1.41–1.48/1.50–1.57 (1.48); posterior lobe length 3.00–3.14/
3.14–3.21 (3.14); thorax width 7.36–7.63/7.74–8.28 (7.36); scutellum length 0.69–0.78/
0.80–0.86 (0.69); hemelytron length 15.00–16.13/16.04–17.14 (16.13).
Material examined
Holotype,
%
, Vietnam, Dac Lac Province, 600 m, 18.VIII. 2003, Xuan Lam Truong leg
(IEBR). Paratypes, 1
&
, same data as for holotype (IEBR); 3
&
, 8
%
, Vietnam, Hue City,
Bach Ma National Park, 15.VIII.2005, Xuan Lam Truong leg (1
&
and 4
%
kept in IEBR, 2
&
and 4
%
kept in CAU).
Distribution
Vietnam (Dac Lac, Hue City).
Etymology
The specific name refers to the collecting locality.
Acknowledgements
W. Cai wishes to thank Dr. Randall T. Schuh of AMNH and Dr. Massaki Tomokuni of
NSMT for their kind help during his visits to their museums. We are deeply indebted to
Prof. Carl W. Schaefer of University of Connecticut for critical reading, and helpful
comments on the manuscript. This research is partly supported by grants from the National
Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 30370161, 30430100), the Natural Science
Foundation of Beijing (No. 6042014), the Chinese Postdoctoral Foundation (No.
2005037260) and the International Foundation for Science of Sweden (No. C/3790–1).
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ZOOTAXA
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