Corallocoris marksae ( Woodward, 1958 )

Polhemus, John T. & Polhemus, Dan A., 2012, Guide To The Aquatic Heteroptera Of Singapore And Peninsular Malaysia. Viii. Leptopodomorpha, Families Saldidae, Leptopodidae, And Omaniidae, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (2), pp. 329-341 : 333

Corallocoris marksae ( Woodward, 1958)

( Fig. 9 )

Omania marksae Woodward, 1958: 104

Omania samoensis Kellen, 1960: 495 ; syn. by Cobben, 1970: 66 Corallocoris marksae: Cobben, 1970: 66

Material examined. — SINGAPORE: 20 males, 20 females, Sentosa Island , large intertidal rocks, 14 Oct.1996, Cl 2216, coll. J. T . Polhemus & D. A. Polhemus ( JTPC) .

Diagnosis. — Tiny insects with coleopteriform hemelytra ( Fig. 9 ). Male length 1.15–1.45, maximum width (across hemelytra) 0.55–0.75; female length 1.50–1.60, maximum width (across hemelytra) 0.80–0.90. Colouration black, marked with bluish grey; head black, eyes and ocelli red; pronotum black, anterior collar pale bluish-grey; scutellum black, hemelytra black with a broad, pale bluish-grey transverse fascia centrally.

Distribution. — Originally described from Australia ( Woodward, 1958), with subsequent records from Samoa ( Kellen, 1960, as Omania samoensis ), New Caledonia, Malaysia, and Singapore ( Cobben, 1970). We have further specimens in hand from the Philippines (Luzon).

Discussion. — This species is unmistakable among the regional suite of Leptopodomorpha , given its small size, coleopteriform forewings, and black ground colour with a broad grey fascia across the hemelytra ( Fig. 9 ). Cobben (1970) provided detailed figures of the immatures, and of the adult leg structures and male and female genitalia.

Ecological notes. — Detailed notes on the ecological preferences of this species (as Omania samoensis ) in Samoa were provided by Kellen (1960), who noted: “The saldid adults and nymphs were found frequenting small holes and crevices in the volcanic rocks. Interestingly, only those rocks lying in a rather narrow band of the intertidal zone were inhabited; apparently the acceptability of a particular rock is greatly influenced by the moisture conditions obtained in the pores when they are exposed to sun at low tide. Those rocks lying at the broad extremes of the intertidal zone presumably are either too dry or too wet for habitation.”

Figures

Figs. 9, 10. Intertidal Leptopodomorpha, dorsal habitus: 9, Corallocoris marksae, specimen from Singapore, Sentosa Island, CL 2216; 10, Salduncula murphyi, specimen from Singapore, Labrador Park, CL 2055.