Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 84. (Budapest 1992)

Štusák, J. M.: Two new species of Pneustocerus Horváth, 1905, with a list of already known species (Heteroptera, Berytidae)

width of head 0.55-0.64, distance between eyes 0.35-0.38, length of antenna 10.97-11.74 ((LTLTILTV = 4.895.19:2.89-3.06:2.13-2.30:1.06-1.19), length of pronotum 1.40-1.49, width of pronotum 0.98-1.06, length of hemelytron 4.34-4.63, width of hemelytron 0.98-1.06, length of legs: leg femur tibia tarsus anterior 2.89-3.53 3.32-3.44 0.64-0.68 middle 3.32-3.70 3.66-3.83 0.68-0.72 posterior 5.36-5.65 6.87-7.16 0.72-0.74 There are no substantial differences in size and proportions between male and female except proportions of antennái segments (see above - description of antennae). Holotype, male: Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Gardens, 9.IV.1941, leg. H. M. PENDLEBURY, at light (ex F.M.S. Museum), B.M. 1955-354. - Paratypes: Kuala Lumpur, 12.11.1931, 1 female (B.M. 1955-354); 4.II.1931, 1 male; Kedah Peak, 3,300 ft., 23.III.1928, 1 female; Selangor, Bukit Kutu, 3,500 ft., 12.III.1931, 1 female. All specimens leg. H. M. PENDLEBURY, at light (ex F.M.S. Museum). "Mal. C. A." (= Malaya, Central Area?), leg. SAUNDERS, 65.13,1 female. - Holotype and paratypes are deposited in British Museum (Natural History). Distinguishing notes: The new species is very easily distinguishable from all the hitherto known Pneustocerus species by the length of its 1st labial segment which is the longest; it is minimally as long as ventral portion of head reaching to or slightly beyond anterior margin of prothorax in difference from the others. It differs also in having whole legs (including apical clavae of femora) and whole antennae (including apical portion of 4th antennái segment) intensively piceus. Antennae are slightly shorter (1.6-1.8 times longer than body) in the new species in difference from the others (1.9-2.1 times longer than body). Taprobanus DISTANT, 1911, syn. n. to Pneustocerus HORVÁTH, 1905 The genus Pneustocerus HORVÁTH was erected for P. nigricornis HORVÁTH, 1905 (New Guinea). A further species, P. brevispina HORVÁTH, 1922 was described later from Borneo and also recorded from the Philippines (Negros I.) (STUSÁK 1968). Holotypes of both species are deposited in the Hungarian Natural History Museum in Budapest. The genus Taprobanus Distant was described for T. gravefyi DISTANT, 1911 from Sri Lanka and later recorded also from North and South India (DISTANT 1918). Holotype of this species is deposited in the British Museum (Natural History). While studying types of the above mentioned species, kindly lent from the collections of the British Museum (Natural History) and from the Hungarian Natural History Museum, it has been ascertained that there are, indeed, three different species but no differences at the generic level between Pneustocerus and Taprobanus were found. Therefore, Taprobanus DISTANT represents only a synonymum to Pneustocerus HORVÁTH, and T gravetyi DISTANT must be transferred to Pneustocerus HORVÁTH. These conclusions can be reviewed as follows: Pneustocerus HORVÁTH, 1905: 59; BERGROTH, 1914:178; GROSS, 1950: 322. Tabrobanus DISTANT, 1911: 105, syn. n.; 1918: 173. BERGROTH, 1914: 179. STUSÁK, 1971: 245. Type species: Pneustocerus nigricornis HORVÁTH, 1905. Species included: P. brevispina HORVÁTH, 1922 (Borneo, Philippines) P. gravetyi (DISTANT, 1911), comb. n. (Sri Lanka, India) P malayanus sp. n. (Malaya) P. nigricornis HORVÁTH, 1905 (New Guinea) P. vicinus sp. n. (New Guinea)