The genus Acroleucus Stål, 1874, belonging to the subfamily Lygaeinae (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae), contains 40 species (Brailovsky 1977, 1980, 1984; Brailovsky & Barrera 1984; Slater 1992). It is a Neotropical genus ranging from Mexico to Argentina, and is characterized by having the callus of the anterior pronotal lobe interrupted by longitudinal depressions flanking a distinct median carina. In México 5 species have been recorded. In this paper we add 2 new species, include a synoptic treatment for previously known taxa, and provide new distribution and host plants records for some species.

Habitat.--Very little is known about the habitat requirements of the species of Acroleucus. Some species are collected on the foliage of Solanum nigrum L., and Solanum nudum H. B. M. (Solanaceae), on Ipomoea sp. (Convolvulaceae), and Camellias (Theaceae), while others are associated with Tillandsia dasyliriifolia Baker, Tillandsia violacea (Baker), Tillandsia oaxacanaL. B. Sm., and Hechtia podantha Mez (Bromeliaceae).

All measurements are given in mm. Repositories for specimens and abbreviations given in the text are as follows: Colección Entomológica del Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D.F. (UNAM), Colección Entomológica del Instituto de Ecología A.C., Jalapa, Veracruz (IEXA), and Texas A&M University, Collage Station, TX (TAMU).

Acroleucus brevicollis (Stål)

Acroleucus bromelicola Brailovsky

Acroleucus calvatus Brailovsky and CervantesNEW SPECIES (Fig. 6)

Types.--Holotype female: México: Chiapas, 31 mi SE Comitan, 18-19 Jun 1965, H. R. Burke, J. R. Meyer, and J. C. Schaffner (TAMU). Paratypes: 2 females: same data as holotype (TAMU, UNAM).

Description.--Female (holotype). Dorsal coloration: Head yellowish hazel except for 2 short reddish brown irregular transverse marks restricted to the interocellar space; antennal segments I to IV reddish brown; pronotum yellowish orange with 2 large, irregular pale to dark brown spots at posterior lobe and transverse line; scutellum reddish brown to dark brown, middle third of apical half yellowish orange; clavus dark brown, claval commissure yellow; corium dark brown, costal margin and apical angle yellow; hemelytral membrane ocher, and apical margin widely hyaline. Ventral coloration: Head including the bucculae pale yellowish orange; juga and rostral segments I, III and IV dark orange hazel; rostral segment II yellowish hazel; propleura shiny orange with pale brown spot near middle third; prosternum yellowish white; mesopleura pale to dark brown, with anterior margin, posterior margin and acetabulum dark to pale yellowish white; mesosternum dark yellowish white, and transverse line pale to dark brown; metapleura pale to dark brown, tinged with orange hazel marks, and anterior margin, posterior margin, and acetabulum pale to dark yellowish white; metasternum reddish orange; ostiolar peritreme yellowish white; coxae, and trochanters yellow; femora pale brown, tinged with orange hazel, and basally yellow; tibiae and tarsi reddish brown; abdominal sterna and genital plates pale brown, except middle third of sterna, posterior margin of sterna VI and VII, and pleural margins yellow.

Structure.--Rostrum reaching posterior margin of abdominal sternite III; rostral segment I reaching anterior margin of prosternum.

Variation.--(1) Fore femur entirely pale brown, tinged with orange hazel. (2) Mesosternum brown, anterior and posterior margins yellow, and transverse line black. (3) Metasternum brown, with posterior margin yellow. (4) Posterior margin of abdominal sterna III to V yellow.

Male--Unknown.

Measurements (n = 1).--Female. Head length 1.05; width across eyes 1.60; interocular space 0.95. Length of antennal segments: I, 0.45; II, 1.25; III, 1.15; IV, 1.40. Pronotum: Total length 1.25; maximum width across anterior lobe 1.50; maximum width across posterior lobe 2.50. Scutellar length 1.00; width 1.27. Total body length 8.18.

Discussion.--This new species is related to A. orinocoensis Brailovsky, in having the coxae and trochanters yellow, hemelytral membrane ocher, with apical margin widely hyaline, head dorsally yellow with reddish brown to pale brown marks, restricted to the interocellar space and transverse line, and antennal segment IV black to reddish brown. In A. orinocoensis the pronotum, clavus, corium, prothorax, and metathorax are entirely yellow and the antenniferous tubercle dark brown to black. In A. calvatus the pronotum, clavus, corium, prothorax, and mesothorax are not entirely yellow, and the antenniferous tubercles are yellowish orange.

Etymology.--From the Latin, calvata, meaning smooth.

Acroleucus nexus Brailovsky and Barrera

Acroleucus signaticollis Stål

Acroleucus tensus Brailovsky and CervantesNEW SPECIES (Figs. 2, 4-5, 7-8)

Types.--Holotype male: México: Oaxaca, km. 56, road Oaxaca-San Migue Sola de Vega, 1 Jul 1990, E. Barrera and A. Cadena (UNAM). Paratypes: 9 males, 7 females: same data as holotype (UNAM). 1 female: Oaxaca, Municipio Tlacolula, San Juan Guelavia, 16°58’00”N, 96°32’57”W, 1600 m, 31 Dec 2004, H. Brailovsky and E. Barrera (UNAM). 16 males, 11 females: Oaxaca, 17 km SE de Huajuápan de León, 29 Jun 1996, E. Barrera and H. Brailovsky (UNAM). 2 males, 2 females: Oaxaca, Pochutla-Pluma Hidalgo, 3 Jun 1987, E. Barrera, F. Arias, and L. Cervantes. (UNAM). 1 female: Oaxaca, 2 km SW, El Camarón, 12 Jul 2000, E. Barrera, A. Ibarra, and C. Mayorga (UNAM). 2 males, 2 females: Guerrero, Atoyac-Nueva Delhi, Rio Santiago, 21 Apr 1988, A. Cadena, M. Garcia, and L. Cervantes (UNAM). 3 males, 1 female: Guerrero, Zihuaquio, 15 Apr 1988, L. Cervantes, M. Garcia, and A. Cadena (UNAM). 1 male: Michoacán, km 93 Uruapan-Playa Azul, Finca El Manguito, 1300 m, 26 May 1988, L. Cervantes and A. Cadena (UNAM). 1 male: km 90 Patzcuaro-La Huacana, 1400 m, 1 Jun 1988, L.Cervantes and A. Cadena (UNAM). 11 males, 12 females: Hidalgo, 5 km NE Pachuca, 24 Feb 1990, E. Barrera and H. Brailovsky. Collected in Hechtia podantha Mez (Bromeliaceae) (UNAM). 1 male, 2 females: Hidalgo, San Miguel Regla, Hueyapan, and Peña del Aire, 24 Feb 1990, 7-8 Jun 1990, H. Brailovsky and E. Barrera (UNAM). 1 male, 1 female: Hidalgo, Zimapan, 26 Mar 1997, H. Brailovsky (UNAM). 1 male: Queretaro, Jalpan de Amoles, 1180 m, 21°11’69”N, 99°37’84”W, 5 Nov 1997, E. Barrera and G. Ortega-León (UNAM). 3 males, 4 females: Guanajuato, Yuriria, 13 Mar 1997, E. Barrera and H. Brailovsky (UNAM). 2 females: Puebla, Coscatlan, 1050 m, 5 Jul 1979, 8 Sep 1979, E. Barrera and G. Ortega-León (UNAM). 1 female: Puebla, 6 km NW Teontepec, 1900 m, 14 Jul 1999, H. Brailovsky and E. Barrera (UNAM). 2 females: Puebla, 2.5 km SW de Zapotitlan, 1490 m, 13 Jul 1999, E. Barrera and H. Brailovsky (UNAM). 2 males: Puebla, 2 km N Calipan, 18 Mar 1993, E. Barrera (UNAM). 2 males: Puebla, San Juan Raya, 19 Jan 1992, H. Brailovsky, E. Barrera, C. Mayorga, and G. Ortega-León (UNAM). 1 female: Puebla, Atexcoco, 12 Mar 1994, E. Barrera and C. Mayorga (UNAM). 1 male, 1 female: Puebla, Axusco-Petlanco, 5 Nov 1988, E. Barrera, R. Barba, and L. Cervantes (UNAM). 1 female: Chiapas, Reserva El Ocote, 29 Apr-3 May 1993, E. Barrera (UNAM). 1 female: km 6 Motozintla-Siltepoc, 8 Jul 1988, A. Cadena (UNAM). 3 males, 5 females: Tamaulipas, Jaumave, el Salto, 1111 m, 23°21’23”N, 99°30’54”W, 12 May 2007, H. Brailovsky, E. Barrera and L. Cervantes (IEXA, UNAM). 1 male: Tamaulipas, Ciudad Victoria, Balcón de Moctezúma, 1000 m, 23°35’08”N, 99°11’10”W, 13 May 2007, H. Brailovsky, E. Barrera and L. Cervantes (UNAM).

Description.--Male (holotype). Dorsal coloration: Head pale yellowish orange, except black apex of tylus, and juga; antennal segments I to IV dark brown; pronotum dark brown with narrow brownish ocher anterolateral margins; scutellum and clavus brown; corium brown with costal margin yellow; hemelytral membrane pale brown, apical border narrowly hyaline (difficult to see). Ventral coloration: Head yellow except brown to black bucculae; rostral segments I to IV brownish hazel; thorax brown; mesosternum transversely yellowish hazel; ostiolar peritreme dark yellow tinged with pale brown marks; coxae yellow with basal third orange hazel; trochanters yellow; femora brown, basal third yellow; tibiae pale brown; tarsi brown, except each basal segment with anterior third dark yellow; abdominal sterna pale brown, pleural margins yellow; pygophore pale brown.

Structure.--Rostrum reaching anterior margin of abdominal sternite III; rostral segment I extending to anterior border of prosternum. Genital capsule: circular in cross section; inner space with lateral arms wide opened and robust; space between arms with “V” concavity slightly pronounced (Fig. 2). Paramere: shaft robust; posterior projection well developed, thick, subconical; anterior projection elongate, slender; spur apically acute, clearly directed upward (Fig. 4).

Female.--Color and habitus similar to male holotype. Spermatheca: bulb moderately broad; tube extremely elongate, slender and complexly coiled (Fig. 5).

Variation.--(1) Pale to dark brown color of pronotal disk, scutellum, clavus and corium eventually black. (2) Head dorsally pale yellow, except black apex of tylus and juga. (3) Humeral angles yellow. (4) Ostiolar peritreme yellowish white to pale brown, suffused or not with yellow marks. (5) Inner border of clavus, and claval commissure yellow to brown.

Measurements (n = 10).--Male (female). Head length 0.63 (0.71); width across eyes 0.92 (1.01); interocular space 0.60 (0.65). Length of antennal segments: I, 0.22 (0.25); II, 0.62 (0.68); III, 0.54 (0.59); IV 0.78, (0.83). Pronotum: Total length 0.68 (0.72); maximum width across anterior lobe 0.83 (0.93); maximum width across posterior lobe 1.46 (1.64). Scutellar length 0.57 (0.62); width 0.77 (0.88). Total body length 4.62 (5.17).

Discussion.--This new species is related to A. nexus Brailovsky, in having the bucculae, and scutellum pale brown to black, the hemelytral membrane pale to dark brown with apical border narrowly hyaline and difficult to see, coxae yellow with basal third orange hazel, and trochanters yellow. In A. nexus the head dorsally is shiny orange, except tylus, juga, and distinct black median longitudinal stripe, femora entirely reddish orange, rostrum reaching posterior margin of abdominal sternite III, corium black with costal margin narrowly yellow, and mesosternum with transverse line shiny brown to black. In A. tensus the head dorsally is yellowish orange except black apex of tylus and juga, femora brown with the basal third yellow, rostrum reaching anterior margin of abdominal sternite III, corium brown with costal margin widely yellow, and mesosternon with transverse line yellowish hazel.

Etymology.--From the Latin tensus, referring to the narrow general shape of the species.

Acroleucus tullus (Stål)