The King's Lace Bug Recaredus rex Distant, 1909 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae): Systematic Position, First Palaearctic and Afrotropical Records, and Ecological Niche Modelling.

Abstract

Simple SummaryLace bugs (Tingidae) are known for their spectacular bodily appearance; the pronotum and hemelytra of the adult specimens are lacelike, with a delicate network of areolae that resemble lace. The species are phytophagous and always feed on a specific plant or groups of closely related plants. Therefore, they are recognised as mono- or oligophagous bugs, whose feeding activities may cause significant injury to plant pods and leaves. Lace bugs are distributed worldwide and reported in all continents except Antarctica. Although most of the lace bug species are distributed in a particular zoogeographical region, some genera are widely known from the Holarctic region. However, species with a Palaeotropical distribution are scarce. In this study, based on new records and ecological niche modelling, we indicate that Recaredus rex, one of the most enigmatic lace bugs, has a possible Palaeotropical distribution. Moreover, we hypothesise that R. rex is an oligo- or polyphagous species. In addition, the systematic position of the genus Recaredus is discussed.The systematic position and actual distribution of Recaredus rex, for a long time one of the most enigmatic lace bug genus and species, is very obscure because only the type specimen and three other individuals from India are known to date. In the present paper, we report the first records of R. rex from the Palaearctic region (Iran) and tropical Africa (Ghana). Based on the occurrence localities and climatic variables, we predict potentially useful ecological niches for this species using Maxent software. The areas with the best environmental conditions for R. rex indicated in our studies suggest its possible Palaeotropical distribution. Moreover, we regard these results as a good starting point for further searches for specimens of this species. This might help verify the hypothesis of the broad Palaeotropical distribution of R. rex and its oligo- or polyphagy. In addition, the lace bug genus Recaredus, based on the diagnostic characteristics provided for the tribe Acalyptaini, and the structure of aedeagus, is transferred from the tribe Ypsotingini to the Acalyptaini. A key to all genera currently included in the latter tribe is also provided.