Micronecta tarsalis Chen, 1960

Figs 21G, 25E–H

Micronecta tarsalis Chen, 1960: 114, figs 1–5, 12–13 (type locality: Sri Lanka).

Micronecta tarsalis – Fernando 1964: 608–609, figs 28, 43 (diagnosis). — Wróblewski 1967: 231, 238–239 (record Vietnam); 1968: 776 (checklist); 1972a: 40, 50, figs 46, 53 (descriptive notes, key). — Nieser & Chen 1999: 79, 81–82, fig. 16 (remarks, distribution). — Nieser 2000: 287, fig. 43 (key); 2002b: 266, 270, fig. 15 (key, diagnosis).

Diagnosis

Body length 1.8–2.1. Pronotum longer than median head length. Dorsum generally yellowish brown. Pronotum with an indistinct dark brown stripe. Hemelytron with four broken longitudinal brown stripes, sometimes indistinct; embolium with four dark spots (Fig. 21G).

Males: palar claw parallel sided, proximally straight, with a pointed pre-apical tooth, apex hooked (Fig. 25E). Median lobe of sternite VII with short, angular apex and two long setae. Free lobe: both angles angularly obtuse, posterior margin straight, lateral side strongly expanded, convex with ca 14 long setae (Fig. 25F). Left paramere: shaft slender, pre-apically curved and slightly twisted, apex narrowly rounded; basal lobe short and subovate (Fig. 25H). Right paramere: shaft evenly curved, distal fourth tapering towards pointed apex (Fig. 25G).

Material examined

VIETNAM – Quang Nam Prov. • 1 ♂; Duy Xuyen District, My Son temple complex; 15°44.885′ N, 108°07.351′ E; Apr. 2017; T.D. Chu leg.; MS1706; ZVNU • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Duy Xuyen District, My Son temple complex; 15°46.228′ N, 108°07.155′ E; Apr. 2017; T.D. Chu leg.; MS1723; ZVNU .

Distribution

Vietnam: Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh (Wróblewski 1967); first record for Quang Nam. The record by Tran et al. (2011) from Hanoi was a misidentification, those specimens belong to M. jaczewskii . Other countries: Sri Lanka, southern India, Sulawesi (Nieser 2002b).

Remarks

Micronecta tarsalis is the only species in this genus that has the palar claw modified with a distinct apical hook and a pointed pre-apical tooth. This character state in this species does not match that in any known subgenus of Micronecta . The shape of the free lobe is also unique for this species. The left paramere of M. tarsalis is somewhat similar to that of M. polhemusi . The right paramere of this species is similar to that of M. fugitans .