PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH.
124(1), 2022, pp. 66–74
TWO NEW SPECIES OF HOPLININE STILT BUGS (HETEROPTERA: 
BERYTIDAE: GAMPSOCORINAE) FROM BRAZIL, WITH NEW 
COUNTRY RECORDS FOR THREE OTHER SPECIES
Thomas J. Henry
Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United 
States Department of Agriculture, c/o National Museum of Natural History, 
Smithsonian Institution, P. O. Box 37012, Washington, DC, USA 20013-7012 
(e-mail: thomas.henry@usda.gov; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0653-7728; urn: 
lsid:zoobank.org:author:AE9BFF29-C17E-428E-8181-A5CCCCAC0132)
Abstract.—The hoplinine stilt bugs (Heteroptera: Berytidae: Gampsocorinae) 
Hoplinus cincospinus Henry, new species from Minas Gerais, Brazil, and 
Parajalysus brunneus Henry, new species from Pará, Brazil, are described. A diag-
nosis, description, and digital images of the adult and selected structures are provided 
for each species and a revised key to the species of Hoplinus and a partial key to the 
species of Parajalysus are given to aid identification. New country records are given 
for Parajalysus punctipes Van Duzee, P. tenuicornis Henry, and P. verucosus Štusák.
Key Words: Insecta, Hemiptera, Pentatomomorpha, true bugs, Lygaeoidea, 
distribution
DOI: 10.4289/0013-8797.124.1.66
The family Berytidae is a small group and Pronotacantha Uhler, with seven spe-
of lygaeoid Heteroptera, comprising cies (Henry 1997, Dellapé and Henry 2021). 
about 180 species worldwide and 58 spe- While sorting undetermined material in the 
cies in the Western Hemisphere, sepa- University of California, Riverside’s insect 
rated into three subfamilies (Berytinae, collection and the U.S. National Museum of 
Gampsocorinae, and Metacanthinae) and Natural History, I discovered two new spe-
six tribes (Henry and Froeschner 1998, cies from Brazil, one belonging in Hoplinus 
Henry et al. 2015, Dellapé and Henry and another in Parajalysus. In this paper, I 
2021). In the New World, the gampsoco- provide descriptions of these newly discov-
rine tribe Hoplinini is the largest group, ered species. Photographs of the holotypes 
with 10 genera and 39 species (Henry and selected morphological structures are 
1997, Dellapé and Carpintero 2007, Henry provided and an updated key to the species 
and Wall 2019, Henry and Dellapé 2021, of Hoplinus and a partial key to the species 
Dellapé and Henry 2021). of Parajalysus are given to facilitate iden-
Prior to this study, the genus Hoplinus tification. New country records are given 
Stål represented the third largest genus of the for Parajalysus punctipes Van Duzee, 
tribe, with six species (Henry 2002), behind P. tenuicornis Henry, and P. verucosus 
only Parajalysus Distant, with 12 species, Štusák.
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VOLUME 124, NUMBER 1 67
Materials and Methods scutellar spine (Fig. 3 versus Henry 1997: 
Color images were captured using a fig. 44), and from H. strigosus, in having 
Visionary Digital imaging system that five lateral and three median pronotal 
includes an Infinity Optics K2 long-dis- spines (Figs. 3, 4) rather than three lateral 
tance microscope affixed to a Canon EOS and two median spines.
40D digital SLR camera. A Dynalite Henry (2002) erred in describing 
M2000 power pack and Microptics H. paulai as having the “lateral [pronotal] 
ML1000 light box provided illumination margin with 5 spines…,” but correctly indi-
and image stacks were montaged using cated “4 lateral spines” in the key (couplet 5, 
Helicon Focus 4.2.1. Color photos and second rung). A restudy of the holotype and 
illustrations were edited using Adobe the long series of paratypes confirms that 
Photoshop CS5. H. paulai has only four lateral prono-
Abbreviations for depositories listed in tal spines. Thus, H. cincospinus is dis-
this paper are tinguished from H. paulai by the fusiform 
UCR (University of California, Riverside; (Fig. 2) rather than globose antennal seg-
D. Yanega) ment IV (Henry 2002: fig. 2), and the five 
USNM ([United States] National (Figs. 3, 4) rather than four (Henry 2002: 
Museum of Natural History, Washington, fig. 4) lateral pronotal spines.
DC; T. J. Henry) Description.—Holotype female: Length 
Lsids registered in ZooBank (http:// 4.00 mm. General coloration yellowish 
zoobank.org) and in the Lygaeoidea Species brown to brown; glabrous except for a 
File world catalog (http://Lygaeoidea. few simple setae on head. Head: Length 
SpeciesFile.org) (Dellapé and Henry 0.59 mm, width 0.35 mm, interocular 
2021) are provided. width 0.21 mm; brown, meson with one 
long spine on posterior lobe, two long 
Hoplinus cincospinus Henry, new spines on frons, and two short spines on 
species clypeus, side of head in front and behind 
each eye with a short carina; lower sides 
http://zoobank.org:act:DB00F9C2-0874- and ventral surface with a few short, 
442A-BDF5-9DE0C0EE1937 simple setae. Labium: Length 1.34 mm. 
http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid:Lygae- Antenna: Segment I, length 2.08 mm, 
oidea.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:516295 yellow to pale yellowish brown, with 
(Figs. 1–4) evenly spaced brown bands becoming 
Diagnosis.—This new species is recog- less distinct distally; II 0.88 mm, yellow-
nized by the generally slender body, the ish brown with four or five brown bands; 
elongate fusiform antennal segment IV, III 1.36 mm, pale yellowish brown, with 
the five lateral and three median prono- apex white; IV width 0.07 mm, length 
tal spines (Figs. 3, 4), and the hemelytra 0.56 mm, black with apex white, fusi-
lacking spines along the veins (Figs. 1, 2). form. Pronotum: Length 0.75 mm, basal 
Hoplinus cincospinus is most similar width 0.61 mm; anterior lobe quadrate, 
to H. paulai Henry, H. scutellatus Henry, each lateral margin with a distinct carina 
and H. strigosus Henry, based on the rel- ending in a short anterior tubercle, mostly 
atively slender body form and the lack of impunctate, with a few punctures around 
spines on the hemelytral veins. It differs calli, with two long, diverging spines 
from H. scutellatus by the larger size (4.00 near anterior margin; posterior lobe deeply 
mm versus 2.52 mm or less) and shorter and evenly punctate, lateral margin with 
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68 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 1, 2. Hoplinus cincospinus new species, holotype ♀. 1, Dorsal habitus. 2, Lateral habitus.
five long erect spines, meson with three lengths: Pro- 1.24 mm; meso- 1.40 mm; 
long erect spines, area between lateral and meta- 2.16 mm. Tibial lengths: Pro- 1.46 
mesal spines with two much smaller erect mm; meso- 1.72 mm; meta- 2.88 mm.
spines. Scutellum: Spine long, slender, and Male: Unknown.
curved, length about 0.46 mm. Hemelytron: Etymology.—The specific epithet is 
Macropterous, membrane fully developed, from the Portuguese and Spanish words 
veins prominent but not raised or thickened; “cinco,” meaning five, combined with 
middle of corium with a relatively large “spinus,” to denote the five spines along 
brown blotch, apex with a vague brown each lateral margin of the posterior pro-
spot between each pair of veins. Ventral notal lobe.
surface: Thoracic sterna dark brown; abdo- Host.—Unknown.
men pale yellow, segment II darker brown. Distribution.—Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Ostiolar evaporative area (Fig. 4): Dark Type material.—Holotype ♀, Brazil, 
brown, tubercle whitish. Legs: Pale yellow- Minas Gerais, UFMG Campus, Pampulha, 
ish brown; femora and tibiae with evenly Belo Horizonte, 19°52'S, 43°58'W, Nov. 
spaced, narrow, brown bands. Femoral 1997, D. Yanega (UCR).
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VOLUME 124, NUMBER 1 69
Figs. 3, 4. Hoplinus cincospinus new species, holotype ♀. 3, Head and pronotum, dorsal aspect. 4, Head and 
pronotum, lateral aspect.
Key to the Species of Hoplinus 3. Scutellar spine long, reclining, parallel 
1. Hemelytra armed with spines along to hemelytra, extending almost to apex 
veins, including costal margins  ....... 2 of abdomen; size small, about 2.50 
– Hemelytra unarmed  ......................... 3 mm long; Costa Rica and Mexico  ......  
2. Abdomen with distinct setigerous  ...........................H. scutellatus Henry
tubercles; lateral margin of prono- – Scutellar spine short, erect, hardly 
tum usually with four erect spines in extending beyond apex of scutellum; 
brachypterous forms; each hemelytron size larger, 3.50 mm or longer  ......... 4
with four rows of spines; northwestern 4. Hemelytra broadly rounded, veins 
Mexico and western United States......  modified into high thickened ridges; 
 ........................... H. echinatus (Uhler) head with six median spines; Peru  .....  
– Abdomen without tubercles, at most  ....................H. wygodzinskyi (Stusák)
with fine transverse striations; lateral – Hemelytra narrow and elongate, veins 
margin of pronotum with only three not modified into high ridges (Fig. 1); 
erect spines in brachypterous forms; head with five or fewer median spines 
each hemelytron with only three rows   ......................................................... 5
of spines; Chile  ..................................  5. Antennal segment IV globose, about 
 ................ H. spinosissimus (Signoret) three times longer than wide; posterior 
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70 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
lobe of pronotum with four lateral spines; Description.—Holotype male: Length 
Minas Gerais, Brazil  ....H. paulai Henry 5.52 mm. General coloration yellowish 
– Antennal segment IV fusiform, eight brown; glabrous with only a few scattered 
times or more longer than wide; pos- setae on abdomen. Head: Length 1.02 
terior lobe of pronotum with three or mm, width 0.62 mm, interocular width 
five lateral spines  ............................. 6 0.36; yellowish brown. Labium: Length, 
6. Posterior pronotal lobe with three lat- segments I-III 1.68 mm; segment IV miss-
eral and two median spines; Paraná, ing. Antenna: Yellowish brown, segment 
Brazil  ...................H. strigosus Henry I with apex and indistinct bands darker 
– Posterior pronotal lobe with five lat- brown, segments II and III dark brown, 
eral and three median spines; Minas segment IV black, linear; segment I, 
Gerais, Brazil   ....................................  length 3.70 mm; II, 1.85 mm; III, 1.60 
 .....H. cincospinus Henry new species mm; IV 1.60 mm. Pronotum: Length 
1.26 mm, basal width 1.02 mm; brown to 
Parajalysus brunneus Henry, new species yellowish brown; anterior lobe laterally 
http://zoobank.org:act:A03383CC-E6F5- and around base of spine impunctate, 
4B61-A84A-CF50CF17D035  punctate anteriorly and along posterior 
http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: edge, spine length 0.64 mm; posterior 
Lygaeoidea.speciesfile. lobe evenly punctate, median and lat-
org:TaxonName:516296 eral carinae yellow, spines dark brown, 
(Figs. 5–8) humeral spine length 0.68 mm, median 
spine 0.94 mm. Scutellum: Yellowish 
Diagnosis.—This species belongs to brown, globose tubercle yellow, with 
the group of four species of Parajalysus a short decurved spine. Hemelytron: 
having a linear (Fig. 5) rather than spin- Hyaline, inner corial margin narrowly 
dle-shaped fourth antennal segment. In dark brown. Ventral surface: Yellowish 
Henry (1997), it runs to P. tenuicornis brown. Ostiolar evaporative area (Fig. 
Henry in couplet 4 of the Parajalysus 8): Yellowish brown, central tuber-
key. It is distinguished from P. grandis cle whitish. Legs: Uniformly yellowish 
Henry in lacking a tubercle on the frons brown, including apices of femora; tib-
(Figs. 7, 8); from P. papillatus Henry in iae and femora with distinct dark brown 
lacking setigerous, white tubercles on the spots. Femoral lengths: Pro- 2.24 mm, 
pronotum (Fig. 7); from P. nigrocephalus meso-2.76 mm, meta- 3.84 mm. Tibial 
Henry by the brown (Figs. 5–8), rather lengths: Pro- 2.08 mm, meso- 3.12 mm, 
than black head and pronotum and the meta- 5.15 mm. Genitalia: Unique male 
shorter fourth antennal segment that is holotype not dissected.
subequal in length to segment III; and Female: Unknown.
from P. tenuicornis by the smaller size Etymology.—The specific epithet “brun-
(5.52 mm vs. 7.50 mm or more), the more neus” is used to denote the uniformly 
uniformly yellowish-brown general color- yellowish-brown color of this species.
ation, the brown rather than black prono- Host.—Unknown.
tal spines, the distinctly spotted tibiae and Distribution.—Known only from Belém, 
femora (Figs. 5, 6), with the clavate femo- Pará, Brazil.
ral apices concolorous with the remainder Type material.—Holotype ♂ [Brazil], 
of the segments, rather than contrastingly Pará, Belém, Aug. [19]53, Duret coll. 
fuscous or black as in P. tenuicornis. (USNM).
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VOLUME 124, NUMBER 1 71
Figs. 5, 6. Parajalysus brunneus new species, holotype ♂. 5, Dorsal habitus. 6, Lateral habitus.
New Parajalysus Records the United States (Henry 1997) and, more 
recently, reported from Guatemala (Zack 
Parajalysus punctipes Van Duzee, 1933 et al. 2022). Costa Rica is a new country 
http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: record.
Lygaeoidea.speciesfile. Specimens examined.—2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 
org:TaxonName:479879 COSTA RICA, Alajuela Prov., road 
through Bosque del Paz, Bajos El Toro, 
Distribution.—Previously known from 10°, 12.11′N, 084°19.13′W, 1475 m, 25 
Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and June 2003, S. H. McKamey (USNM).
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72 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 7, 8. Parajalysus brunneus new species, holotype ♂. 7, Head and pronotum, dorsal aspect. 8, Head and 
pronotum, lateral aspect.
Parajalysus tenuicornis Henry, 1997 of lichenous and bryophytic plants in terre 
firme forest, Lot 1487, Trans T-9 (USNM).
http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: 
Lygaeoidea.speciesfile.
org:TaxonName:479877 Parajalysus verucosus Stusák, 1971
http://lsid.speciesfile.org/
Distribution.—Previously known from 
urn:lsid:Lygaeoidea.speciesfile.
Panama (Henry 1997). Ecuador is a new 
org:TaxonName:479876
country record.
Specimen examined.—1 ♂, ECUADOR, Distribution.—Previously known from 
Orellana Prov., Reserva Ethnica Waorani, 1 Brazil (Henry 1997). Bolivia is a new 
km S. Ocone Gare Camp, Trans. Ent., 10 Feb. country record.
1996, 216.3 m, 00°39′10″S, 76°26′00″W, Specimen examined.—1 ♀, BOLIVIA, 
T. L. Erwin, et al., insecticidal fogging of Dept. Santa Cruz, Prov., Andres Ibáñez, 
mostly bare green leaves, some covering Potrerillos, del Guenda, 17°40′S, 63°27′W, 
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VOLUME 124, NUMBER 1 73
370 m, 5–8 Dec. 2008, T. J. Henry, S. spines brown to dark brown, anterior 
Lingafelter, and D. Windsor (USNM). spine straight; femora, including cla-
vate apices, yellowish brown, with 
Key to the Species of Parajalysus with numerous, distinct, dark brown spots; 
Linear Fourth Antennal Segments Pará, Brazil  ........................................  
 ....................P. brunneus, new species
1. Fourth antennal segment linear, uni-
formly slender throughout, as long or 
longer than segment III  .................... 2 Acknowledgments
– Fourth antennal segment spindle I thank Douglas Yanega (UCR) for lend-
shaped, always thicker at middle than at ing the specimen of H. cincospinus and 
apex or base, never as long as segment Alyssa Seemann (Systematic Entomology 
III [See Henry (1997) for continuation Laboratory, ARS, USDA, c/o USNM) 
of key to species with spindle-shaped for the digital images of the new species. 
fourth antennal segments]  ................ 6 Pablo Dellapé (Museo de La Plata, La 
2. Frons with a distinct, blunt tubercle, Plata, Argentina) and A. G. Wheeler, Jr. 
most easily visible in lateral aspect; (Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA) 
Peru  .........................P. grandis Henry kindly reviewed the manuscript. Mention 
– Frons without a blunt tubercle, at most of trade names or commercial products in 
medially carinate or ridged but appear- this publication is solely for the purpose of 
ing smooth in lateral aspect  ............. 3 providing specific information and does 
3. Pronotum with numerous, small, white, not imply recommendation or endorse-
setigerous tubercles; Panama  ...............  ment by the USDA. The USDA is an equal 
 .............................P. papillatus Henry opportunity provider and employer.
– Pronotum without setigerous tubercles 
 .......................................................... 4 Literature Cited
4. Dorsum of head and pronotum uni-
formly black; antennal segment IV Dellapé, P. M. and D. L. Carpintero. 2007. Cusco-
hoplininus pagoreni: a new genus and species 
longer than combined lengths of anten- of Hoplinini stilt bug from Peru (Heteroptera: 
nal segments II and III; Amazonas, Berytidae). Revista de Biología Tropical 55: 
Brazil, and Peru  .................................  673–676.
 ......................P. nigrocephalus Henry Dellapé, P. M. and T. J. Henry. 2021. Lygae-
– Dorsum of head and pronotum brown oidea Species File. Version 5.0/5.0. http://
Lygaeoidea.SpeciesFile.org. [Last accessed 
to yellowish brown; antennal segment 24 August 2021.].
IV shorter than combined lengths of Henry, T. J. 1997. Monograph of the stilt bugs, 
antennal segments II and III  ...........  5 or Berytidae (Heteroptera), of the Western 
5. Larger species, length 7.90 mm or Hemisphere. Memoirs of the Entomological 
longer; head with a dark stripe behind Society of Washington 19: 1–149.
each eye; pronotal spines black, anterior Henry, T. J. 2002. Review of the stilt bug ge-
nus Hoplinus, with the description of a new 
spine curved posteriorly at apex; fem- species and notes on other Hoplinini (Heter-
ora uniformly brown or with only a few optera: Berytidae: Gampsocorinae). Journal 
small indistinct spots, clavate apices fus- of the New York Entomological Society 110: 
cous; Costa Rica, Panama  ......................  182–191.
 ...........................P. tenuicornis Henry Henry, T. J. and P. M. Dellapé. 2021. Revision 
of the Neotropical stilt bug genus Metajalysus 
– Smaller species, length 5.52 mm; head Štusák (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Berytidae), 
uniformly yellowish brown, without a with descriptions of three new species. Zoo-
dark stripe behind each eye; pronotal taxa 4958: 690–701.
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Henry, T. J. and R. C. Froeschner. 1998. Catalog (Heteroptera) of the Neotropics. Springer Sci-
of the stilt bugs, or Berytidae, of the world ence, Dordrecht. 901 pp.
(Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Contribu- Stusák, J. M. 1971. A new species of Parajalysus 
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30(4): 1–72. dae). Acta Entomologia Bohemoslovaca 68: 
Henry, T. J. and M. A. Wall. 2019. Bajacan- 149–152.
thus immaculatus: a new hoplinine genus and Van Duzee, E. P. 1933. Characters of twenty-four 
species of stilt bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: new species of Hemiptera of the Galapagos 
Berytidae) from Baja California Sur, Mexico, Islands and the coast of Central America 
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Henry, T. J., P. M. Dellapé, and A. S. de Pau- erra. 2022. Annotated checklist of the stilt 
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