Empicoris aeneus

Tatarnic, Nikolai J., Wall, Michael A. & Cassis, Gerasimos, 2011, A systematic revision of the Australian ploiarioline thread-legged assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae), Zootaxa 2762, pp. 1-30 : 17-20

Empicoris aeneus n sp.

Figs. 12 A–E, 13

Material examined. HOLOTYPE. AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 1 ɗ, Tantawangalo Mtn, near Candelo, 36.8o S 149.7o E, 11 May 1988, B.J. Day & D. K. McAlpine (AM). PARATYPES. AUSTRALIA: Australian Capital Territory: sex unknown, Blundell’s, 35.3o S 148.9o E, 12 January 1931, A.L. Tonnoir ( ANIC). Tasmania: 1 ɗ (AM). Victoria: 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Toorloo Arm, Lakes Entrance, 37.9o S 147.9o E, 22 July 1964, D.H. Colless ( ANIC).

Diagnosis. Diagnosed by the following combination of characters: general copper colour; anteocular and postocular regions of head subequal in length; discal cell 3.5– 4 X longer than wide; parameres broadly elliptical; posterior margin of pygophore with acute bilobed projection on ventral rim ( Fig. 12 E).

Description. Body length 4.8mm

Colour. As in Figures 12 A, B and E. Body mostly stramineous/testaceous. Head stramineous; AI stramineous with numerous testaceous annulations along length; AII stramineous with testaceous annulations basally, apical half brown; AIII brown with stramineous basal annulation; AIV brown. Labium stramineous with testaceous markings; LI stramineous with one basal testaceous annulation; LII testaceous basally becoming stramineous; LII stramineous basally becoming testaceous. Pronotum: anterior lobe more or less testaceous throughout; posterior lobe stramineous with white carinae, single testaceous spots on both sides of midline of posterior margin. Remain- der of thorax testaceous. Spines on scutellum and metanotum testaceous basally becoming hyaline. Forecoxae mostly pale-stramineous with vague subapical testaceous annulation. Meso- and metacoxae stramineous. Foretrochanter stramineous with testaceous apex. Forefemora with basal 2/5th testaceous, remainder with alternating stramineous and testaceous annulations, distal annulation stramineous. Meso- and metafemora mostly stramineous with nine evenly spaced testaceous annulations, subapical annulation equal in length to apical stramineous annulation. Foretibia stramineous with two brown submedial annulations, basal annulation testaceous. Proximal half of meso- and metatibia stramineous with multiple dark narrow annulations, distal portion becoming brown. Foretarsus mostly testaceous, TI stramineous. Meso- and metatarsi testaceous. Forewings as in Figure 12 A. Abdomen mostly testaceous, SI brown, spine of T2 (first visible) brown, spiracles white, S8 with stramineous posterior margin.

Texture and Vestiture. Head dorsally mostly covered in hyaline pile, decorated laterally with loose bands of pile; bare patterns on anteocular and postocular regions obscured; AI with long limber setae; labium with scattered short setae. Thorax decorated dorsally and laterally with loose bands of pile. Lateral tumid areas of anterior lobe of pronotum with “mushroom body” like structures. Forecoxae and forefemora with long setae. Foretibia covered in shorter spine-like setae with two distinct rows borne on small tubercles on ventral surface. Meso- and metacoxae with long setae. Meso and metafemora with minute spines. Meso- and metatibia with spine-like setae basally becoming denser apically. Abdominal venter medially nude along anterior margins of S3-S6, remainder of venter with network of short velutinous silken setae enclosing very small circular nude areas, no long setae associated with nude patches.

Structure. As shown in Figures 12 A–E. Anteocular region slightly larger than postocular region, elevated with depressed V-shaped area dorsally. Postocular region subglobose, somewhat dorsally compressed with depressed “ Y ”-shaped area. Interocular groove deep, arching only slightly posteriorly. Labium strongly bent between LI and LII, relative lengths 1:0.6:0.6. Pronotum constricted before midpoint; anterior lobe bilaterally divided by a deep pit in the disc; posterior lobe almost two times longer than anterior lobe, laterally with 1+1 well-developed carinae running entire length of lobe. Scutellum semicircular with median raised triangular area supporting spine. Metanotum U-shaped with large spine. Forecoxae elongate, cylindrical. Forefemora elongate, fusiform, posteroventral and anteroventral series similar in structure. Foretarsus 2-segmented, second segment 2.2 times larger than first. Meso- and metacoxae globose. Meso- and metafemora thin, elongate, cylindrical. Meso- and metatibia thin, elongate, cylindrical, arching distally. Meso- and metatarsi 3-segmented, segments approximately equal in length.

Distribution. Known from eastern south-central Australia ( Fig. 13 ). Etymology. The specific epithet aeneus (from the Latin, meaning made of copper) refers to the copper colouring and lustre of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Empicoris aeneus. A. Forewing. B. Hindleg. C. Head and prothorax (colouration not shown). D. Posterior margin of pygophore. E. Foreleg.

FIGURE 13. Distribution of species of Empicoris species in Australia.