Neochelonoderus talaus, 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 : 587-588

Neochelonoderus talaus n. sp.

( Fig. 4 )

Material examined. HOLOTYPE, male ( CNC): “ Tanzania, Pugu Hills / at reservoir S 6.91012° / E 39.09678°, 166m / 19.i.2013, sift 50 / V. Grebennikov leg. // CNCCOLVG / 0 0 0 0 5711 // CNCCOLVG / 0 0 0 0 5712 //”.

Diagnosis. The smallest species of the genus (body length 5.2), recognized and distinguished from other species by the unique combination of characters: transverse suture separating mtg II and III uninterrupted at middle, protruding genae spatuliform, head as long as wide, median ridge of mesonotum triangular.

Description. DNA barcode GenBank accession: KJ427725 (holotype). Body surface subglabrous, colouration ferrugineous; left foreleg, right middle leg and distal part of left antenna missing.

Head. As long as wide (1.2/1.2); spatuliform genae longer than antennomere I, slightly cleft at middle; antenniferous lobes with subparallel lateral margins, apex widely rounded, round tubercle at its base opposite to basolateral tubercle of clypeus; antennae 1.19x as long as width of head, length of antennomeres I/II/III/IV = 0.4/ 0.275/0.45/0.35; eyes exserted and substylate; postocular lobes with angulate lateral extension and 3 pairs of round tubercles visible from above.

Pronotum. Much wider than long (1.5/0.62); disk with 2 prominent round tubercles and 2 (1+1) elevated anteriorly converging sublateral ridges; lateral margins with round tubercle then carinate and converging anteriorly; carinate posterior margin terminating laterally in larger round tubercle, separated from disk by deep groove.

Mesonotum. About 3x as wide as long (1.85/0.6); lateral margins delimited by 2 round tubercles; median elevation triangular with longitudinal sulcus, sublateral conical tubercles prominent.

Metanotum. Posteriorly fused to mtg I, fusion line ill-defined; sublateral conical elevations prominent.

Mtg I+II. Fused but fusion line distinct; mtg I and mtg II medially elevated as part of continuous ridge reaching from mesonotum to mtg VI, with longitudinal impression at middle, laterally with deep apodemal markings; mtg II separated from mtg III by uninterrupted transverse suture.

Abdomen. Longitudinally elevated at middle with elongate depression, short median carina developed on mtg IV; lateral margins of deltg I+II carinate, posterolateral angles of deltg II–VII with round lateral tubercle.

Measurements. Body length 5.2; length of antennae 1.42; width of abdomen across tergite II 2.15, IV 2.2.

Etymology. This species epithet is a Latinized Greek mythical name of Talaus , an Argonaut, son of Bias and Pero; noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 4. Neochelonoderus. 3. N. cf basilewskyi, female from Irangi, DRC; 4. N. talaus n. sp., holotype male.