Halosalda minuta Vinokurov, Luo & Lü, 2012

Vinokurov, Nikolai N., Luo, Zhaohui & Lü, Zhaozhi, 2012, Studies of true bugs of Xinjiang, western China. I. Leptopodomorpha: shore bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Saldidae), Zootaxa 3336, pp. 51-61 : 53-60

Halosalda minuta Vinokurov, Luo & Lü , sp.n.

(Figs. 2–12, 18, Table 1)

Differential diagnosis. Recognized by the small body size (2.7–3.1 mm), narrow frons ( Fig. 3 ), narrow flattened lateral margin of pronotum, relatively long 2nd antennal segment (in male 1.47–1.52 x, in female 1.32–1.35 x as long as head width), and genital structures ( Figs. 7–11 ). Eastern Mediterranean H. coracina Cobben, 1985 is similar to the new species in dark body color and wing brachyptery, but can be distinguished from the latter by the larger body (see Table 3), wide frons (Fig. 13), and male genitalia structure (Figs. 14, 15).

Description. Small sized, semi-brachypterous, with oval, shining black body and large head. For measurements see Table 1.

Male. 2–2.2 × as long as width (Fig. 2).

Head. Large (0.84–0.85 x as wide as width of pronotum at base), eyes large, frons narrow, with fine scabrous sculpture, with very short erect setae visible at large magnification, mid frontal pale spots oblong and yellow ( Fig. 3 ). Vertex shining, distance between ocelli larger than diameter of one ocellus, preocellar spots round and white. Anteclypeus, mandibular, and maxillary plates, lateral swelling between eye and antennal socket yellowish-white to yellow. Labrum yellow or brownish-yellow. Labium long, almost reaching hind coxae, segment 2 (first visible) bright yellow, segment 3 dark brown and segment 4 yellow-brown. Antennae thin. Segment 1 thickened, with rare erect black spines, yellow to brown-yellow, ventrally with broad black stripe. Segment 2 slightly thickened near apex, yellow, with short black semierect setae. Segments 3 and 4 yellow-brown, with black, short, adpressed, and long erect setae.

Thorax. Pronotum black and shining, callus noticeably convex, with shallow transverse pit, separated from collar and posterior lobe by deep furrow. Lateral margins of pronotum flattened, slightly convex in middle, yellow, outer part with fine black edging. Scutellum shining, with setae similar to those on wing. Thoracic venter glossy, acetabulae 1 and 2 white.

Legs. Yellow-white, with short black setae. Coxae dark-brown. Fore femora ventrally with long brown stripe, middle and hind femora with short brown stripes near apex dorsally and on hind margins. Black spines on fore and middle tibiae thin and scarce, on hind tibia thick and long. Tarsal segment 3 apically darkened, claws yellow.

Wing. Clavus and corium shining, rugose, with rather dense short semierect black setae. Apex of clavus broadly yellow in pale specimens, with small unclear yellow spot in dark specimens. Endocorium black, exocorium yellow-white, with large black spot on distal half. Membrane noticeably reduced and coriaceus, cells whitish to yellow-brown, veins distinctive and dark brown.

Abdomen black and shining, with short, rather dense black setae.

Genitalia. Paramere stout, with wide body, processus hamatus thick and straight; processus sensualis prominent, low, with a few short thin setae; outer side with very long dark-brown rough setae ( Fig. 7, 8 ). Parandria narrow and parallel ( Fig. 9 ). Penisfilum of aedeagus forming 1.5 coils ( Fig. 10 ). Median endosomal sclerite as in Fig. 11 .

Female. 2–2.2 x as long as wide. Vestiture as in male.

Head 0.78–0.84 x as wide as width of pronotum at base. Anteclypeus, mandibular and maxillary plates yellowbrown; lateral swelling between eye and antennal socket black; labrum yellow-brown, with base and apex darkened; preocellar spot and mid spots on frons darkened. Antennal segment 1 black, segment 2 dirty yellow, segments 3 and 4 yellow-brown or dark brown. Labium surpassing middle or reaching hind coxae. Segment 2 yellow, segment 3 brown-black, segment 4 yellow-brown or brown-black.

Thorax. Flattened lateral margins of pronotum slightly convex and black, yellow near anterior corner. Prothorax black, in pale specimens with small yellow spot under posterior angles of pronotum. Acetabulae 1 and 2 yellow-brown or black with narrow yellow brown edge.

Wing. Hemelytra black or blackish-brown. In pale specimens apical part of clavus with narrow yellow spot, exocorium white, with midst large black spot ( Fig. 4 ). In dark specimens exocorium black, with narrow brown stripe in outer part, apical small yellow spot with fuzzy edges ( Figs. 5, 6 ). Membrane yellow-brown to dark-brown, in dark specimens with unclearly visible veins and small dark-brown spots.

13–17. – H. coracina : 13 – 14, – paramere; 17 – H. lateralis : – 17 – paramere), Cobben (1985).

head pronotum antennae Leg 3

Sex length width. of at at of at

Total Max Width Width vertex Frons narrowe Ocellus width Distance between Length Width collar Width base I II III IV Tibia Tarsus 3 2.7 1.24 0.82 0.26 0.22 0.04 0.06 0.30 0.50 0.98 0.22 0.54 0.42 0.4 1.32 0.6 3 2.86 1.28 0.88 0. 30 0.24 0.04 0.06 0.36 0.56 1.04 0.28 0.6 0.38 0.36 1.38 0.6 Ƥ 3.03 1.38 0.88 0.30 0.28 0.05 0.05 0.38 0.53 1.08 0.35 0.65 0.40 0.40 1.45 0.6 Ƥ 3.10 1.40 0.88 - 0.28 - - 0.43 0.58 1.10 0.35 0.65 0.38 0.38 1.48 0.7 Ƥ 3.13 1.58 0.88 0.30 0.28 0.05 0.05 0.45 0.58 1.15 0.30 0.65 0.40 0.40 1.53 0.6 Ƥ 3.18 1.6 0.9 0.30 0.28 0.05 0.05 0.40 0.58 1.15 0.30 0.68 0.43 0.43 1.55 0.65 Abdomen dark-brown to black, outer margin of abdominal tergites with narrow yellow edge. Pregenital plate black, with wide, dirty white stripe along outer margin ( Fig. 12 ).

Comparative notes. The type series of Halosalda minuta sp. n. was collected from the eastern part of the Tarim Depression. Specimens were collected in May in the desert about 80 km east of the closed salt lake Lop Nur (Lob-Nor).

The new species is close to H. coracina Cobben in the degree of wing brachyptery and domination of dark color on pronotum and hemelytra. A comparison of the new species, H. coracina , and H. lateralis Fall. (the latter is given according to Cobben 1985), is summarized in Table 2 .

Distribution. Lop Nur Natural Reserve, Eastern Xinjiang, China.

Biology. Bugs were collected near shallow ephemeral pools with grasses ( Fig. 18 ).

Etymology. The species is named because of its small size, which is not typical for the genus Halosalda Reut.

Material examined: Holotype (ɗ): CHINA: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: Xinjiang Lop Nur Nature reserve, K2 well (40°19’09.1’’N, 91°58’09.7’’E) 824 m a.s.l., 18.V.2010, Luo Zhaohui ( CAU).

Paratypes: CHINA: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: Xinjiang Lop Nur Nature reserve, K2 well (40°19’09.1’’N, 91°58’09.7’’E), 824 m a.s.l., 18.V.2010, Luo Zhaohui (3 Ψ, XIEG; 1 Ψ, CAU; 1 ɗ, ZISP).

H. minuta sp.n. H. coracina Cobben H. lateralis Fall.

1 specimens from Lake Sairam-Nur (Sailimu), Western Xinjiang, Boro-Horo Range (2070 m).

Macrosaldula jakowleffi (Reuter, 1891)

This species occurs in Central Asian mountains north of Altai. Distribution in China – Xinjiang (Aerjin mountain, Yaziquan) ( Chen 1996).

Macrosaldula bogdashana Luo & Vinokurov, 2011

This recently described species known only from Xinjiang ( Luo, Vinokurov 2011).

Material examined: 2 ɗ 1 Ψ, northern slope of the Bogda-Shan Range, Dayou vill. environs, 27 km south of Jimusaer, Weihugou R., about 1300 m a.s.l., 2.VI.2006 (Luo Zhaohui).

Macrosaldula roborowskii ( Jakovlev, 1889)

Known only from the South Xinjiang mountains, China ( Jakovlev, 1889; Chen, Lindskog, 1994).

The species was described from southern Xinjiang (oases Nia and Kerya). Type specimens are probably lost ( Cobben 1985). Three specimens (1 ɗ 2 Ψ) collected in the Tisnaf River at the altitude of 1500–2000 m a.s.l. are kept in the Zoological Institute RAS (S.-Petersburg).

Saldula arenicola arenicola (Scholtz, 1847)

Palearctic. The species was recorded from Xinjiang by Chen & Lindskog (1994).

Material examined: 2 ɗ, Wenquan, 1.VI.1990 (Wang Min); 1 Ψ, Fukang, 11.VII.2005 (Cui Jianxin); 1 ɗ, 2 Ψ, Aletai, 25.VII.2007 (Luo Zhaohui); 2 ɗ 1 Ψ, Luobupo, 29. V. 2010 (Luo Zhaohui); 1 Ψ, Wenquan Shenquan, 22.VII.2010 (Luo Zhaohui); 1 ɗ 2 Ψ, Kelan R., 20 km NE of Beitun (47°32'N; 87°54'E), 425 m, 29. VI. 2011 (N. Vinokurov); 9 ɗ 6 Ψ, Xiaodong Gou forest protection, 11 km N of Altai (47°56'N; 88°08'E), 1000–1100 m, 30. VI. 2011 (N. Vinokurov).

Saldula fucicola (J. Sahlberg, 1878)

Euro-Siberian, Central Asian mountains. In China known from Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia (Chen, Lindskog 1994; Li Hongwei et al. 2010).

Material examined: 2 Ψ, Altai, 25.VII.2007 (Luo Zhaohui); 1 Ψ, Wenquan Shenquan, 23.VII.2010 (Luo Zhaohui); 1 ɗ, Tian-Shan, Narat Range, Tekesi Kesang, 42°53'N; 81°46'E, 2200 m, 16. VII. 2011 (N. Vinokurov); Saldula melanoscela (Fieber, 1859)

Trans-Euroasian. The species was recorded from Xinjiang by Chen & Lindskog (1994).

Material examined: 12 ɗ, 10 Ψ, Bole Wenquan county, 1.VI.1990 (Wang Min); 1 Ψ, Wenquan, (44 0 59’05,1” N, 81 0 01’53,5” E), 1321m, 23.VII.2010 (Luo Zhaohui).

Notes. Two specimens of this species collected from China (Zhaqiu R., Kam, basin of Huanhe R., VI.1901, P.K. Kozlov leg.) are kept in the collection of the Zoological Institute RAS (St. Petersburg).

Saldula opacula (Zetterstedt, 1838)

Euro-Siberian, Central Asian mountains. The species was recorded from Xinjiang by Chen & Lindskog (1994). Material examined: 1 ɗ, Tacheng (Tarbagatai Range), 18.VII.2007 (Luo Zhaohui).

Saldula orthochila (Fieber, 1859)

Distributed in Europe and Western Siberia, isolated in Central Asian mountains from Turkmenistan (Ashkhabad) to Southeastern Kazakhstan, Eastern Kyrghyzstan, Western Mongolia and Kashmir ( Vinokurov, 2004). In China is known from Sichuan (Chen, Lindskog, 1994). So far has not been recorded from Xinjiang.

Material examined: 1 ɗ, 2 Ψ, Urumchi, Yaomo Mountain, 890 m, 12.VII.2005 (Luo Zhaohui); 2 ɗ, Qitai, 13.VIII.2006; 1 ɗ, Shihezi Nanshan, 26.VIII.2005 (coll. Shihezi Univ.).

Saldula pallipes (Fabricius, 1794)

Multiregional. Recorded here for the first time for Xinjiang.

Material examined: 1 Ψ, Mulei, 29.VII.1987 (Wang Min); 1 ɗ 1 Ψ, Changji, 12.VI.1988 (Wang Min); 1 Ψ, Xinjiang Buerjin, 21.VII.1989 (Wang Min); 1 ɗ, Wenquan, 3.V.1990 (Wang Min); 1 ɗ 1 Ψ, Wenquan, 1.VI.1990 (Wang Min); 5 ɗ 4 Ψ, Fukang, 11.VII.2005 (Cui Jianxin); 4 ɗ 2 Ψ, Qitai, 12.VIII.2006 (Luo Zhaohui); 1 Ψ, Fukang Desert, 11.VII.2007 (Luo Zhaohui); 1 ɗ, Yumin, 21.VII.2007 (Luo Zhaohui); 3 ɗ 6 Ψ, Altai, 25.VII.2007 (Luo Zhaohui); 1 ɗ, 4 Ψ,Wenquan Shenquan, 22.VII.2010 (Luo Zhaohui); 7 ɗ 2 Ψ, Xiaodong Gou forest protection, 11 km N of Altai (47°56'N; 88°08'E), 1000-1100 m, 30. VI. 2011 (N. Vinokurov).

Notes. In the collection of the Zoological Institute RAS (S.-Petersburg) the material is preserved from China (Nan Shan, upper sources of the Sulehe R., 1894, P.K. Kozlov leg.).

Saldula palustris (Douglas, 1874)

Multiregional. The species was recorded from Xinjiang by Chen & Lindskog (1994).

Material examined: 39 ɗ 19 Ψ, Borohoro Shan, Sailimu Lake (Sairam-Nur) (44 0 39’47,2” N; 81 0 15’53,5” E), 2073m, 24.VII.2010 (Luo Zhaohui, N. Vinokurov); 11 ɗ 5 Ψ, Shihezi Daquangou collector, 29.VII.2010 (Luo Zhaohui, N. Vinokurov); 3 ɗ 4 Ψ, Aweitan Resevior near rd 216, 22 km S of Altai (47°29'N; 87°51'E), 29.VI.2011 (Yang Hailin).

Saldula pilosella (Thomson, 1871)

Trans-Palearctic. The species was recorded from Xinjiang (Arjin, Yaziquan; Aketao, Aketashsi, Wyutake; Heitan County, Kashitashi) ( Chen 1996).

Material examined: 19 ɗ 29 Ψ, Fukang, 2 11.VII.2005 (Cui Jianxin); 2 Ψ, Borohoro Shan, Sailimu Lake (Sairam-Nur) (44 0 39’47,2” N; 81 0 15’53,5” E), 2073m, 24.VII.2010 (Luo Zhaohui, N. Vinokurov); 1 Ψ, Shihezi Daquangou collector, 27.VII.2010 (N. Vinokurov); 1 ɗ, Xiaodong Gou forest protection, 11 km N of Altai, (47°56'N; 88°08'E), 1000-1100 m, 30.VII.2011 (N. Vinokurov).

Saldula saltatoria (Linnaeus, 1758)

Holarctic. The species was recorded from Xinjiang by Chen & Lindskog (1994).

Material examined: 1 ɗ, Qitai, 13.VIII.2006 (Luo Zhaohui); 5 Ψ, Aletai, 25. VII.2007 (Luo Zhaohui); 2 ɗ. Wenquan Shenquan, 22.VII.2010 (Luo Zhaohui); 2 ɗ 1 Ψ, Tekesi Kesang, 26.VII.2010 (Luo Zhaohui); 3 ɗ 1 Ψ, Xiaodong Gou forest protection, 11 km N of Altai (47°56'N; 88°08'E), 1000-1100 m, 30. VI. 2011 (N. Vinokurov).

Saldula sibiricola Cobben, 1985

Distributed in Eastern Kazakhstan, Southern Siberia, and Western Mongolia ( Vinokurov, 2004). So far has not been known from China. The nearest localities of the species are in the northern slope of Jungarian Alatau Range, where this species inhabit forests near riversides and forestry canyons ( Cobben, 1985).

Material examined: 2 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Jimusaer, 2.VII.2006; 1 Ψ, Borohoro Range, Wenquan (44 ° 59’N; 81 ° 01’E), 1320 m, 23.VII.2010 (Luo Zhaohui).

Saldula xanthochila (Fieber, 1859)

South Palearctic. The species was recorded from Xinjiang by Chen & Lindskog (1994).

Material examined: 12 ɗ 10 Ψ, Bole, Wenquan county, 1.VI.1990 (Wang Min); 1 ɗ, Xiaodong Gou forest protection, 11 km N of Altai (47°56'N; 88°08'E), 1000-1100 m, 30. VI. 2011 (N. Vinokurov).

Salda littoralis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Holarctic. Distribution in China – Inner Mongolia, Sichuan (Chen, Lindskog, 1994; Li Hong-wei et al., 2008). Here recorded for the first time for Xinjiang. In the Narat Range (Tian Shan) the species is abundant in the boggy swales near the mountain river bed.

Material examined: 1 Ψ, Changji, Qitai, 10.VIIII.1987 (Wang Min); 13 ɗ 10 Ψ, Tian-Shan, Narat Range, Tekesi Kesang (42°53'N; 81°46'E), 2220 m, 16. VII. 2011 (N. Vinokurov).

Figures

FIGURE 18. Biotope of H. minuta sp. n. in region near lake Lop Nur: bugs occur near ephemeral grassy pools (photo by Yuan Lei).

FIGURES 3 – 12. H. minuta sp. n. (3 – head, 4 – 6 – eunomy of pronotum and hemelytra in female, 7, 8 – paramere, 9 – parandria, 10 – aedeagus, 11 – median endosomal sclerite, 12 – pregenital plate of female).

Tables

TABLE 2. Comparison of Halosalda minuta sp. n., H. coracina Cobben and H. latersalis Fall.

Body length 3	2.7–2.9	3.4–3.6	3.2–4.1
Ƥ	3.0–3.2	3.7–3.8	3.6–4.6
General coloration	type series dark specimens (figs. 4–6)	uniformly black, apex of wing often narrowly pale, pronotum entirely black, rarely with lateroventral pale streak	highly variable, but pale specimens predominating; extension of dark pattern on wing starting from sides.
Flattened lateral margin of pronotum	narrow, yellow only in male	black	wide, yellow in both sexes
Structure of forewings	Strongly shining, clearly rugose	Strongly polished, smooth, without any sculpture	weakly shining, clearly rugose
Texture of dorsum	as in H. lateralis	Without setae	With rather dense, regularly distributed, short decumbent setae
Ratio: width of head / 3 width of pronotum Ƥ	0.84–0.85 0.78–0.84	unknown	0.76–0.84 1 0.69–0.71
Length of antennae 2/ 3 width of head Ƥ	1.47–1.52 1.32–1.35	unknown	0.75–0.90 1 0.76–0.85
Width/length of 3 pronotum Ƥ	2.89–3.27 2.46–2.86	2.05–2.25 2.35–2.50	2.60–2.75 2.70–2.95
Antennal segment 2	entirely pale	dark brownish	often with dark line along outer side
Frons	narrow (Fig. 3)	wide (Fig. 13)	wide (Fig. 16)
Pale genitalia	paramere stout (Fig. 7)	paramere slender (Fig. 14)	paramere stout (Fig. 17)
Distribution	Xinjiang (Loipnur lake)	Mediterranean (NE Greece)	widely Palearctic