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Title: Cymapamphantus valentineorum, a new genus and species of Pamphantinae (Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea: Geocoridae) from the British Virgin Islands, with a checklist of the species and keys to the tribes and genera of the subfamily

Author
item Henry, Thomas

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2013
Publication Date: 10/6/2013
Citation: Henry, T.J. 2013. Cymapamphantus valentineorum, a new genus and species of Pamphantinae (Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea: Geocoridae) from the British Virgin Islands, with a checklist of the species and keys to the tribes and genera of the subfamily. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 115(4):392-401.

Interpretive Summary: Big-eyed bugs, recognized by their large, often kidney-shaped or stalked eyes, are a worldwide group of largely predatory true bugs. Many are among the most important predators in U.S. agricultural ecosystems, feeding on the eggs and larvae of coexisting pest species. The feeding habits of the pamphantine bugs treated in this paper, however, are not well understood. Review of the known genera of this subfamily suggests that at least some may feed on plants. A new genus and species is here described to provide names for a forthcoming faunal study of the true bugs of the Caribbean Region. This new bug brings the total known for the subfamily to 11 genera and 22 species. Color photographs and an identification key are provided to assist in recognizing the tribes and genera. This information will be of interest to a broad range of scientists working on the relationships and feeding habits of predaceous bugs.

Technical Abstract: The new genus and new species Cymapamphantus valentineorum, belonging to the geocorid subfamily Pamphantinae, is described from one brachypterous male and six brachypterous females taken on Guana Island, British Virgin Islands. A dorsal habitus illustration, dorsal and lateral photographs of the male and female, a diagnosis, and description of C. valentineorum are provided to help distinguish this new Caribbean bug from other New World pamphantines. A checklist of the species, the first keys to the tribes and genera, and a color photograph of a representative species of each genus of the New World Pamphantinae are provided.