Neochelonoderus Hoberlandt, 1967

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 : 582

Genus Neochelonoderus Hoberlandt, 1967

Type species: Chelonoderus basilewskyi Hoberlandt, 1956

Redescription. Apterous, medium sized species 5.2–8.1 in body length. Body elongate oval ( Figs. 1–8 ), surface dull with tubercles, ridges and pattern of apodemal markings on abdomen.

Head. Longer than, or as long as, width of head between lateral margins of eyes; genae projecting anteriorly over clypeus, reaching apex of antennomere I, apices of variable shape; antennae slender, antennomere I clubshaped and thickest, II shortest, III longest, IV pyriform with pilose apex; antenniferous lobes prominent, projecting anterolaterally; eyes small, substylate; postocular lobes rounded or angulate adherent to eyes or exserted, posteriorly constricted to narrow neck with usually 2 pairs of larger round tubercles, posterior ones at lower level; vertex with 2 rows of round tubercles and smooth ovate callosities laterad; labium arising from slit-like atrium, as long as head, labial groove closed posteriorly.

Pronotum. Subrectangular, wider than long; collar ring-like; disk with 2 (1+1) median large round vertical tubercles separated by longitudinal groove and 2 (1+1) sublateral round tubercles of similar size ( Figs. 7, 8 ), or elongate ridges of same height ( Figs. 1–6 ); posterolateral angles with round tubercle.

Mesonotum. Strongly transverse, triangularly produced posteriorly, separated from metanotum by distinct suture; disk with median elevation which continues as ridge along thorax and abdomen, flanked but separated by deep groove and by 2(1+1) vertical tubercles.

Metanotum. Consisting of 2(1+1) ovate sclerites with median roundish elevations, triangularly extending toward median elevation where they meet; posterior margin ill-defined and fused to mtg I.

Mtg I+II. Mtg I medially raised and fused to mtg II, fusion marked by ill-defined transverse suture. Mtg II fully separated from tergal plate (mtg III) ( Figs. 2 , 4 , 7, 8 ) or medially fused ( Figs. 1 , 3 , 5, 6 ), then with rhomboidal median depression extending from mtg II–III.

Abdomen. Tergal plate with longitudinal ridge carinate on mtg IV, depressed on mtg III, V–VI; lateral parts with deep apodemal impressions, deltg II and III not fused, separated by suture, surface of deltg III–VII with 2 apodemal impressions and sublateral carinae or tubercles, tergite VII of female deeply depressed at middle, raised posteriorly ( Figs. 2 , 3 , 6 , 8 ); tergite VII of males medially raised for reception of globular posteriorly conical pygophore ( Figs. 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 ).

Venter. Metathoracic scent gland canal openings oval with carinate margins, visible from above; spiracles II– VII placed far from lateral margins of vltg II–VII, VIII terminal on ptg VIII visible from above.

Legs. Femora moderately incrassate at middle; tibiae cylindrical, tarsi 2-segmented, claws with setiform curved pulvilli.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Neochelonoderus. 1. N. basilewskyi, holotype male (from Hoberlandt 1956); 2. N. straeleni, holotype female (from Hoberlandt 1967).

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

FIGURES 5 – 6. Neochelonoderus. 5. N. areius n. sp., holotype male; 6. N. areius n. sp., paratype female.

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