Hybotinae (Diptera, Empidoidea, Hybotidae) from the Dominican Republic: new records and description of new species

Hybotinae is being recorded for the first time to Dominican Republic where the subfamily becomes represented by the genera Euhybus Coquillett, 1895, Neohybos Ale-Rocha & Carvalho, 2003 and Syneches Walker, 1852. Euhybus and Neohybos occur exclusively in the Americas, and Syneches is cosmopolitan. Six new species are described and illustrated: Euhybus martiniensis sp. nov., Neohybos cinereus sp. nov., N. longicornis sp. nov., N. pruinosus sp. nov., N. setosus sp. nov. and Syneches dominicanus sp. nov.. Identification keys are provided for the species of the three hybotine genera registered in West Indies. The following species are recorded for the first time from the Dominican Republic: Syneches inversus Curran, 1928, S. pallidus Wilder, 1974 and S. vineus Wilder, 1974. The previously unknown female of S. inversus is described.

A possible territorial or recognition behavior of Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas) (Heteroptera, Coreidae)

The coreid Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas, 1852) is commonly found in corn (Zea mays L.) fields in Brazil, and it has been observed flying and landing on objects or persons near these fields. During January, 1995, this behavior was studied in corn plantations. Results indicated that the bugs concentrated on objects (plastic cylinders traps) introduced into their habitat and that their number increased during the first 24 hs. However, as time passed (8 days), this possible territorial or recognition behavior gradually decreased, and tended to disappear.

Comparative description of the immature stages of two very similar leaf footed bugs, Holymenia clavigera (Herbst) and Anisoscelis foliacea marginella (Dallas) (Hemiptera, Coreidae, Anisoscelini)

Holymenia clavigera (Herbst, 1784) and Anisoscelis foliacea marginella (Dallas, 1852) (Hemiptera, Coreidae) present a remarkable similarity regarding egg and nymphal morphology. On the contrary, their adult stages are remarkably different. This study describes and compares the immature stages of these two coreid species. Excepting for the last instar and the shape of the hind tibia from third to last instar, nymphs of both species were identical in their gross morphologies and ultrastructures. However, H. clavigera was significantly larger than A. foliacea marginella in all stages. Thus, we suggest that these species may have evolved through evolutionary convergence, parsimony between the immature stages after speciation, Müllerian mimicry or genetic drift.

The species of membracids described by C. Berg and M. Spinola classified in Sundarion Kirkaldy (Hemiptera, Cicadomorpha, Membracidae)

Pyranthe acaciae Berg, 1883 and Hemiptycha chilensis Spinola, 1852 are reinstated in Sundarion Kirkaldy, 1904 (formerly in synonymy of Callicentrus bonasia (Fabricius, 1775) (Centrotinae, Nessorhinini)). Pyranthe frustratoria Berg, 1883 (also formerly considered as synonym of Callicentrus bonasia) becomes a new synonym of Sundarion flavomarginatum (Fairmaire, 1846).