New records of South American Peloridiidae (Homoptera: Coleorrhyncha)

Rev. Chilena Ent.
1991. 19: 71-75

NEW RECORDS OF SOUTH AMERICAN PELORIDIIDAE
(HOMOPTERA: COLEORRHYNCHA)

DANIEL BURCKHARDT' & DONAT Acosxi 2

ABSTRACT

New records are given for seven Chilean species of Peloridiidae and the published information on
South American species is summarised. The new material extends the known range of South Ameri-
can peloridiids considerably to the North. Distribution patterns of South American peloridiids are
briefly discussed.

RESUMEN

Se indican nuevos registros para siete especies de Peloridiidae y se resume la informacion bibliografica
existente acerca de las especies sudamericanas. El material estudiado amplia hacia el Norte, considera-
blemente, el rango geografico, hasta ahora conocido, de los peloridiidos sudamericanos. Se discute
brevemente los modelos de distribucion de los peloridiidos sudamericanos.

INTRODUCTION

Peloridiids are small, flattened bugs which live
in moist moss (Figs. 1, 2). Evans (1981) recog-
nised 25 species in 13 genera. The group is
restricted to the Southern hemisphere sho-
wing a typical antarctic distribution similar to
that of Southern Beech (Nothofagus, Betula-
ceae). Most of the biotopes in which these bugs
occur are temperate and subantarctic rain fo-
rests. Peloridiids are rarely collected as special
techniques are required sample them. Many
species are known from a single or few locali-
ties only, and little is known of their distribu-
tions.

The South American fauna comprises to
date the three monotypic genera Peloridium,
Pantinia and Kuscheloides, as well as Peloridora
with three species (China, 1962; Evans, 1981;
Cekalovic, 1986). Peloridium hammoniorum and
Peloridora kuscheli are known from several
localities whereas the remaining species are
recorded only from the type locality.

During a two months expedition to Chile in
December 1990 and January 1991, where par-
ticular emphasis on collecting forest litter
dwelling arthropods was given, we found
seven species of Peloridiidae represented by
over 560 specimens. A list of the recorded and
new localities of all South American species is
given below. A taxonomic treatment of the
material will be published elsewhere.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All the specimens were extracted from sifted
leaf litter samples using "Winkler/Moczarski"
eclectors (Besuchet et al., 1987). Unless stated
otherwise, the material was collected by both
authors (IX and X Regions) or by the senior
author (XII Region) and is deposited in the
Museum d'Histoire naturelle, Geneva, Swit-
zerland (MHNG), and the Museo Nacional de
Historia Natural, Santiago, Chile (MNNC).
Types from the Natural History Museum,
London, U.K. (BMNH) were studied.

Museum d'Histoire naturelle. Department d'Ento-
mologie. Case postale 434. CH- 1 2 1 1 Geneve. Switzerland.

"Zoologisches Institut. L'niversiial Zurich, Winterthu-
rerstr. 190. CH-8057 Zurich. Switzerland.

(Received: 22 August 1991. Accepted: 30 October
1991.)

LIST OF SPECIES
Peloridium hammoniorum Breddin

(Fig. 1)

Distribution. Recorded from Chile: XI Re-
gion, Province Aisen (Coyhaique); XII Re-

Rev. Chilena Ent. 19, 1991

gion, Province Magallanes (Punta Arenas, Se-
no Otway), Province Antarctica Chilena (Isla
Navarino, Isla Bertrand); and Argentina:
Chubut (V. del Lago Blanco) (China, 1962, all
records published up to this date are summa-
rised here; Cekalovic, 1986). The record of
Peloridiidae from Chile: XII Region, Provin-
ce Ultima Esperanza (Rio Rubens, Monte Al-
to) by Lanfranco (1977) probably concerns
Peloridium hammoniorum,

Material examined. Chile: 1 damaged
adult, IX Region, Province Malleco, Parque
Nacional Nahuelbuta, near "Administracion",
3750'S 7300'W, 1.100 m. 14-17.XII.1990,
mixed Nothofagus forest with Araucaria along
river, and pasture with shrubs, sifting of vege-
tational debris and moss; 1 $ , IX Region, Pro-
vince Cautfn, Parque Nacional Huerquehue,
between "Administracion" and Lago Chico,
3908'-10'S 7144'W, 800-900 m, 22-
24. XII. 1990, Nothofagus dombeyi-conifer fo-
rest, sifting of vegetational debris and moss;
19, 2 larvae, XII Region, Province Ultima
Esperanza, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine.
Lago Grey, 100 m, 12.1.1991, Nothofagus an-
tarctica forest, sifting of vegetational debris
and moss; 4 larvae, XII Region, Province Ulti-
ma Esperanza, Monte Alto, 52"05'S 71"55'W,
180 km NNW Punta Arenas, 400 m,
15.1.1991, Nothofagus pumilio forest, sifting of
vegetational debris and moss; 3, larvae, XII
Region, Province Magallanes, Reserva Nacio-
nal Parrillar, 5319'S 71"10'W, 300 m,
17.1.1991, Nothofagus betuloides forest, sifting
of vegetational debris.

Comment. China (1962) mentioned that
the specimen from Chubut may not be cons-
pecific with Peloridium hammoniorum. The pre-
sent material is insufficient to decide whether
there are any differences between the mate-
rial from the IX and X Regions and that of the
XI and XII Regions.

Peloridora kuscheli China
(Fig. 2)

Distribution. Recorded from Chile: IX Re-
gion, Province Cautin (Lago Caburgua); X
Region, Province Llanquihue (lake Llan-
quihue, Frutillar, 15 km west of Frutillar, Vol-

can Calbuco), Province Valdivia (Lago Calaf-
quen), Province Chiloe (Chepu); XI Region,
Province Aisen (mountain in the region of
Coyhaique, Puerto Chacabuco) (China, 1962;
Cekalovic, 1986).

Material examined. Chile: 1 6", 6 larvae, IX
Region, Province Malleco, Parque Nacional
Nahuelbuta, near "Administracion", 37"50'S
73"00'W, 1.100 m, 14-17. XII. 1990, mixed
Nothofagus forest with Araucaria along river,
and pasture with shrubs, sifting of vegetatio-
nal debris and moss; 46", 39, 88 larvae, IX
Region, Province Cautfn, Parque Nacional
Huerquehue, between "Administracion" and
Lago Chico, 39"08'-10'S 7144'W, 800-900
m, 22-24. XI 1 . 1 990, Nothofagus dombe^i-comfer
forest, sifting of vegetational debris and moss;
3cJ, 39, X Region, Province Osorno, Parque
Nacional Puyehue, Aguas Calientes, 40"40'S
72"20'W, 400-500 m, 31. XII. 1990-1. 1. 1991,
Valdivian lauriphyllous forest along river, sif-
ting of vegetational and alluvial debris, and
moss. Chile: Id, X Region, Province Llan-
quihue, Frutillar, 300 m, 23. IX. 1954, in soil
(C. Kuschel) (BMNH).

Burckhardt & Agosti: Records of South American Peloridiidae

Peloridora minuta China

Distribution. Recorded from Chile: X Region,
Province Valdivia (El Mirador) (China, 1962).
Material examined. Chile: 139, 109, X Re-
gion, Province Osorno, Parque Nacional
Puyehue, Aguas Calientes, 4040'S 7220'W,
400-500 m, 31. XII. 1990-1. 1. 1991, Valdivian
lauriphyllous forest along river, sifting of ve-
getational and alluvial debris, and moss; 56 ,
69, 22 larvae, X Region, Province Osorno,
Parque Nacional Puyehue, Aguas Calientes to
Antillanca, 40"45'S 7215'-20'W, 800 m,
2.1.1991, mixed Nothofagus forest with bam-
boo, sifting of vegetational debris and moss.
Chile: holotype <5 of P. minuta, X Region, Pro-
vince Valdivia, El Mirador, 1 .600 m, 5.1. 1957,
in soil (C. Kuschel) (BMNH).

Peloridora fioldgatei China

Distribution. Recorded from Chile: X Region,
Province Chiloe (Cerro San Pedro) (China,
1962).

Material examined. Chile: 59<3, 579, 89
larvae, X Region, Province Chiloe, Cucao, 30
km SW Castro, Parque Nacional Chiloe, near
"Administracion", 42"37'S 7408'W, 30 m, 4-
6.1.1991, degraded temperate rain forest, sif-
ting vegetational debris and moss; 19,1 larva,
X Region, Province Chiloe, Parque Nacional
de Chiloe, Rancho Grande, near Cucao,
42"33'S 74"02'W, 300-600 m, 4.1.1991, open
mixed Fitzrofa forest and peat bog, sifting of
vegetational debris and moss. Chile: paraty-
pes 1 6 , 19 of P. holdgatei, X Region, Province
Chiloe, Cerro San Pedro, 600 m, 8. XI. 1958
(G. Kuschel, Royal Soc. Exped.) (BMNH).

Peloridora spp.

Material examined. Chile: 138 larvae: X Re-
gion, Province Osorno, Parque Nacional
Puyehue, Aguas Calientes, 40"40'S 72"20'W,
400-500 m, 'SI. XII. 1990-1. 1. 1991, Valdivian
lauriphyllous forest along river, sifting of ve-
getational and alluvial debris, and moss.

Comment. So far no characters could be
found to determine Peloridora larvae to spe-
cies. As both P. kuscheli and minuta were found
at this locality the larvae cannot be associated
with adults.

Pantinia darwini China
(Fig. 2)

Distribution. Recorded from Chile: X Region,
Province Chiloe (Chepu) (China, 1962).

Material examined. Chile: 3ct, IX Region,
Province Cautin, Parque Nacional Huer-
quehue, between "Administracion" and lago
Chico, 3908'-10'S 7144'W, 800-900 m, 22-
24. XII. 1990, Nothofagus dombeyi-comfer fo-
rest, sifting of vegetational debris and moss;
1 9 , X Region, Province Chiloe, Cucao, 30 km
SW Castro, Parque Nacional de Chiloe, near
"Administracion", 4237'S 7408'W, 30 m, 4-
6.1.1991, degraded temperate rain forest, sif-
ting of vegetational debris and moss. Chile:
holotype d , paratypes 16", 1 9 , X Region, Pro-
vince Chiloe, Chepu, 42"S, 4-11.X.1958 (G.
Kuschel, Royal Soc. Exped.) (BMNH).

Pantinia sp.

Material examined. Chile: 36", 29, IX Region,
Province Malleco, Parque Nacional Nahuel-
buta, near "Administracion", 37"50'S
73"00'W, 1.100 m, 14-17. XII. 1990, mixed
Nothofagus forest with Araucaria along river,
and pasture with shrubs, sifting of vegetatio-
nal debris and moss.

Comment. The species differs from P. dar-
wini in the shape of the apical process of the
pygophor, the more pointed apical edges of
the pygophor, the more broadened parame-
res, and the different shape of the aedeagus.

Kuscheloides edenensis (China)

Distribution. Recorded from Chile: XII Re-
gion, Province Ultima Esperanza (Isla We-
llington).

Gen. sp.

Material examined. Chile: 1 cT, X Region, Pro-
vince Chiloe, Parque Nacional de Chiloe, Ran-
cho Grande, near Cucao, 42"33'S 74"02'W,
300-600 m, 4.1.1991, open mixed Fitzroya fo-
rest and peat bog, sifting of vegetational de-
bris and moss.

Comment. Based on the presence of a na-

men and the parallel sided, apically truncate
scutellum the species is related to Kuscheloides,
Peloridora and Pantinia. It differs from all

Rev. Chilena Ent. 19, 1991

three in the reticulate paranoia which are wit-

hout veins in Kuscheloides, and with two veins
in Peloridora and Pantinia.

Unidentified larvae

Material examined. Chile: 6, larvae, IX Re-
gion, Province Malleco, Parque Nacional
Nahuelbuta, near "Administracion", 3750'S
73"00'W, 1.100 m, 14-17.XII.1990, mixed
Nothofagus forest with Araucaria along river,
and pasture with shrubs, sifting of vegetatio-
nal debris and moss; 24 larvae, IX Region,
Province Cautin, Parque Nacional Huer-
quehue, between "Administracion" and Lago
Chico, 3908'-10'S 71"44'W, 800-900 m, 22-
24. XII. 1990, Nothofagus dombeyi-comfer fo-
rest, sifting of vegetational debris and moss.
Comments. So far no differences could be
found between the larvae of Peloridium and
Pantinia, so that the listed material cannot be
attributed to any of the genera.

CONCLUSIONS

The distribution of the South American pelo-
ridiids is summarised in Fig. 4, Peloridium ham-
moniorum is the most widely distributed species
occurring from Nahuelbuta National Park in
the North to Isla Navarino in the South. It is
the only species which has been found outside
Chile (Argentina: Chubut). Peloridora kuscheli
covers also a fairly large area which ranges
from Nahuelbuta National Park in the North
to the region of Coyhaique in the South. The
other species are more restricted in distribu-
tion.

The material from the Nahuelbuta Natio-
nal Park is interesting as it extends the known
range of South American peloridiids conside-
rably to the North. In several localities more
than one species were found together, and, in
particular, in the Puyehue National Park, two
congeneric species (Peloridora kuscheli and mi-
nuta) were collected. This indicates that at a
local scale geographical vicariance may have
been of minor importance as impetus to diver-
sification.

The area in which peloridiids occur corres-
ponds well with Pisano's (1966) zone of hygro-
morphic plant associations, and Schmithu-
sen's (1956) region of evergreen temperate
rain forests. The region with lauriphyllous

3f: Peloridium hammoniorum

Peloridora kuscheli
A Peloridora minuta
~~ Peloridora holdgatei
A Pantinia darwini
D Pantinia sp.
4" Kuscheloides edenensis
& Gen. sp.

Figure. 4. Known distributions of South American Pelori-
diidae.

evergreen rain forests between Temuco and
Chiloe (Fig. 3) has the largest diversity with 6
species of Peloridiidae. This area corresponds
more or less with Di Castri's (1968) "oceanic
region with mediterranean influence".

ACKNOWLEDCMENTS

We thank M.D. Webb (BMHN, London) for
the loan of material, P. Greenslade (Canberra)
and R. Fatindez (MHNC, Geneva) for com-
ments on the manuscript draft, and N. La-
voyer (Geneva) for preparing the map. Collec-

Burckhardt & Agosti: Records of South American Peloridiidae

ting permits for the National Parks were pro-
vided by CONAF (Corporacion Nacional Fo-
restal) which is gratefully acknowledged. Fo-
llowing persons kindly assisted in the field
work, provided valuable information or offe-
red their kind hospitality: D. Lanfranco L.
(Valdivia), J. Petersen C. (Punta Arenas), M.
Elgueta D. and A. Camousseight (Santiago),
L.E. Pena G. (Santiago), and the staff of the
National Parks of Nahuelbuta, Huerquehue,
Puyehue and Chiloe.

LITERATURE CITED

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for fungus and litter coleoptera. The Coleopterists
Bulletin, 41 (4): 392-394.

CEKALOVIC, T. 1986. Homoptera Peloridiidae: especies
chilenas y nuevos registros para P. hammoniorum \' P.
kuscheli. Bol. Soc. Biol. Concepcion, Chile, 57: 49-54.

CHINA, W.E. 1962. South American Peloridiidae (Hemip-
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Di CASTRI, F. 1968. Equisse ecologique du Chili. Biologie
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