Neochelonoderus hoberlandti, Heiss, Ernst & Grebennikov, Vasily, 2015

Heiss, Ernst & Grebennikov, Vasily, 2015, Review and three new species of the flat bug genus Neochelonoderus Hoberlandt, 1967 from East Africa (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae), Zootaxa 3947 (4), pp. 581-589 : 586-587

Neochelonoderus hoberlandti n. sp.

( Figs. 7, 8 )

Material examined. Holotype, male ( CEHI): “ Zambia 4.11.0 2 / Solwezi / 50–100 km West / lg. Wachtel.. Paratype, female ( CEHI): “ Zambia NW Prov. / Mufumbwe to Kasempa / 22 XI 2003 / K.Werner & Smrz.

Diagnosis. Larger species (body length 7.1–8.1), recognized and distinguished from other species by the more slender subparallel habitus, the shape of genae and the structure of median ridge extending from mesonotum to mtg.VI.

Description. Body surface subglabrous and colouration ferrugineous ( Fig.7 ) or matte and dark brown ( Fig.8 ).

Head. Distinctly longer than wide (1.8/1.47); genae finger-like and converging anteriorly leaving wide cleft between them; antenniferous lobes diverging anteriorly, apex narrowly rounded, with small tubercle at base of inner face; antennae long and slender, 1.4x as long as width of head, antennomeres I/II/III/IV = 0.575/0.35/0.7/ 0.45; eyes oval, exserted and stylate; rectangular carinate expansion of postocular lobes separated anteriorly from eye and posteriorly from round basal tubercle by deep incisions.

Pronotum. Strongly transverse (2.05/0.77); disk with 4 prominent conical tubercles; lateral margins angularly expanded and carinate; transverse carina of posterior margin interrupted at middle by deep median groove, lateral apices formed by large round tubercles.

Mesonotum. Disk with narrow subparallel ridge with longitudinal sulcus, laterally depressed and 2 small conical tubercles; lateral margins raised and granulate.

Metanotum. Posteriorly fused to mtg I; median ridge narrow extending to posterior margin of mtg II split by longitudinal furrow; disk deeply depressed laterally of median ridge, oval rugosities moderately elevated.

Mtg I+II. Fused but fusion line discernible; disks depressed laterally; mtg II separated from tergal plate and mtg III by distinct transverse suture.

Abdomen. The split median ridge continues on mtg III, followed by narrower keel on mtg IV, surface of median elevation widened on mtg IV and depressed on mtg V–VI; lateral margins of deltg carinate and granulate with row of larger tubercles along inner side of deltg II and III, posteroexterior angles of deltg II laterally protruding, those of deltg V–VII with round tubercles.

Female. Similar to male but of larger size ( Fig. 7 ); tergite VII depressed at middle, carinate and elevated posteriorly; tergite VIII bilobate, narrow tergite IX protruding posteriorly.

Measurements. Holotype male: body length 7.1 length of antennae 2.07; width of abdomen across tergite III 2.7, V 2.8. Paratype female: body length 8.1; head l/ w 1.95 /1.65; pronotum l/ w0.9 /2.15; length of antennae 2.22, antennomere I/II/III/IV = 0.6/0.35/0.8/0.47; ratio length of antennae / width of head 1.35; width of abdomen across tergite III 3.4, V 3.45.

Etymology. This interesting species is dedicated to the late Ludvik Hoberlandt, who recognized this genus and contributed significantly to the knowledge of African Aradidae .

Discussion. Although the geographical distance between the localities of the two type specimens is about 180 km, the similar peculiar body structures argue for their assignment to the same species.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 8. Neochelonoderus. 7. N. hoberlandti n. sp., holotype male; 8. N. hoberlandti n. sp., paratype female.