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Title: NOTES ON AND DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW PAMPHANTINAE, INCLUDING FOUR NEW SPECIES OF CATTARUS AND A REMARKABLE GENUS AND SPECIES (HETEROPTERA: LYGAEOIDEA: GEOCORIDAE).

Author
item SLATER, JAMES - UNIV. OF CT., STORRS, CT
item Henry, Thomas

Submitted to: Journal of New York Entomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The family Geocoridae is a small but important group of predatory true bugs. Members of the big-eyed genus Geocoris are well-known predators used in U.S. biological control programs. In this paper we describe four new species of Cattarus and provide an identification key to the eight known species, describe a remarkable new genus and species which resembles certain forest-inhabiting ants, and give new distribution records for two other poorly known species. Nothing is known of the habits of these true bugs, but their relationship to other geocorids, makes it possible that they are also at least partially predatory. Information provided in this paper increases our ability to recognize additional Neotropical true bugs and alerts other researchers particularly those working in tropical-crop systems, of potentially important species.

Technical Abstract: Four new species of the cattarine genus Cattarus Stal are described (C. erwini from Peru, and C. nigritus, C. pseudoculatus, and C. pallidus from Ecuador); Phaeax balteatus Distant and P. formicarius (Distant) are redescribed and formally transferred to Cattarus; C. stysi Slater is redescribed; the new myrmecomorphic cattarine genus Zacryptocattarus and new species waorani are described from Ecuador; and new distribution records are given for the pamphantines Parapamphantus erikae Brailovsky from Ecuador and Venezuela and Tropicoparapamphantus amazonicus Brailovsky from Ecuador and Peru. Dorsal photographs of all species (except C. insignis Stal) and dorsal illustrations of the adults of C. formicarius, C. stysi, and Z. waorani and its model ant species (Zacryptocerus pavonii), and a key to the eight species of Cattarus are given to facilitate identification.