Calyptobates andaman Polhemus & Polhemus, 1994

Jehamalar, E. Eyarin & Chandra, Kailash, 2014, On the genus Calyptobates Polhemus & Polhemus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae) from India with description of a new species and a key to the species of World, Zootaxa 3873 (3), pp. 285-292 : 286-290

Calyptobates andaman Polhemus & Polhemus, 1994

( Figs. 1A–D , F–L)

Calyptobates andaman Polhemus & Polhemus, 1994: 338 (type locality: South Andaman Island, India).

Material examined. INDIA, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andaman district, South Andaman , A stream on Guptapara junction, 72 ft, 11°34.448’ N, 92°39.969’ E, 6.iii.2012, 3 ♂ (apt.), 2 ♂ (mac.), 4 ♀ (apt.), 3 nymphs, Coll. E. Eyarin Jehamalar, (Reg. No. 3533/H15); South Andaman , Kalatang near Shoalbay, 45 ft, 11°47.790’ N, 92°42.711’ E, 14.iii.2012, 4 ♂ (apt.), 2 ♀ (apt.), 1 nymph, Coll. E. Eyarin Jehamalar, (Reg. No. 3534/H15).

Diagnosis. Occurs in both apterous and macropterous forms, mostly in apterous form, apterous male body length range 1.51–1.85 (n=5), body width 0.65–0.71 (n=5); apterous female length range 1.88–2.14 (n=5), width 0.84–0.88 (n=5). Mesosternal dark mark not reaching the posterior transverse dark mark, sides of the mark not parallel; mesopleural mark broad and reaching acetabula in male, posteriorly broken in female ( Fig. 1C ); mesonotum with two widely separated longitudinal yellow stripes ( Figs. 1A, B ), these variable in width, divergent posteriorly, width at middle, range 0.02–0.06 in males, 0.04–0.11 in females (n=5); metanotum and abdominal tergites I–V of female with grayish pruinosity ( Fig. 1B ); tip of the lateral process of proctiger curving slightly inwardly ( Fig. 1 H); endosomal sclerites of male as in Figs. 1 I–K; female gonapophyses as in Fig. 1 L.

Distribution: Andaman Islands, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India.

Calyptobates rajani sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 E, 2A–M)

Material examined. Holotype (apterous male): INDIA, ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS, Nicobar District, Great Nicobar Island, Govind Nagar, Ring Road, 7°00.075’ N, 93°54.594’ E, alt. 40 ft, 13.xi.2010, Coll. E. Eyarin Jehamalar.

FIGURES 2A–M. Calyptobates rajani sp. nov. (A, C, E, F, H–L: male; B, D, G, M: female): A, B and E, dorsal view; C and D, lateral view showing mesopleura; F and G, ventral view; H, genital capsule, lateral view; I, proctiger, dorsal view; J, pygophore, parameres and endosoma, ventral view; K, endosoma, dorsal view; L, endosoma, lateral view showing sclerites; M, gonapophyses and proctiger, ventral view (abs—auxillary basal sclerite, as—apical sclerite; ba—basal articulatory apparatus, bs—basal sclerite; ds—dorsal sclerite; dsp—dorsal sclerite projection; en—endosoma; G-I—first gonapophysis; G-II—second gonapophysis; ls—lateral sclerite; pa—paramere; pr—proctiger; py—pygophore; vs—ventral sclerite).

Paratypes: 4 ♂ apt., 2 ♀ apt., same data as for holotype; 1 ♂ apt, 2 ♀ apt., Chingen Village stream, 6°58.473’ N, 93°55.548’ E, alt. 38 ft, 8.xi.2010; 10 ♀ apt., forest stream behind Tsunami Shelter, 6th km Govind Nagar, 7°00.255’ N, 93°54.165’ E, alt. 208 ft, 28.xi.2010; 1 ♂ apt., 15 ♀ apt., Chingen Village pond, 7.xii.2010; 3 ♂ apt., 8 ♀ apt., Lakshmi Nagar, 6°56.028’ N, 93°52.882’ E, alt. 114 ft, 22.iii.2012; 3 ♂ apt., 20 ♀ apt., Sastri Nagar, 6°48.352’ N, 93°53.297’ E, alt. 180 ft, 24.iii.2012; 6 ♂ apt., 5 ♀ apt., Chingen Village, 6°58.390’ N, 93°55.612’ E, alt. 15 ft, 29.iii.2012; 2 ♂ apt., 2 ♀ apt., Nature Trail, 6°59.954’ N, 93°52.149’ E, alt. 619 ft, 30.iii.2012; 2 ♂ apt., 3 ♀ apt., School-Line, Govind Nagar, 7°00.192’ N, 93°54.067’ E, alt. 11 ft, 1.iv.2012; 1 ♂ apt. Galathea tributary, 16th km Bridge, 6°58.896’ N, 93°51.867’ E, alt. 205 ft, 22.iii.2012; 1 ♂ mac., Afra Bay, 7°10.874’ N, 93°44.093’ E, alt. 124 ft, 14.iv.2012. All the materials were collected from Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, Great Nicobar Island, India, by E. Eyarin Jehamalar.

Repository. The type specimens are deposited in the CEL, ZSI, New Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Holotype Reg. No. 3535/H15 and Paratypes Reg. No. 3536/H15 to 3546/H15.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to Dr. Rajkumar Rajan, Scientist-D, MBRC, ZSI, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, for his moral support.

Diagnosis. Calyptobates rajani sp. nov. can easily be distinguished from all other known species of the genus by the presence of a fringe of long hairs on the posterior margin of the hind trochanter of females ( Fig. 1 E). The hind trochanters in the female converge on each other (Figs. 2B, G) while in males they are overlapped over the sides of the 8th abdominal tergite (Figs. 2A, F), when the specimens are dry.

Description. Apterous male (holotype measured; range of five specimens given in parentheses for some characters): (Figs. 2A, C, F, H–L). Body length 1.83 (1.73–1.98); body width (across mesoacetabula) 0.72 (0.67–0.73).

Colour. Dorsum of body dark brown to black with yellow marks on head, pronotum and mesonotum; base of head with U-shaped yellow mark; pronotum with dome-shaped yellow mark; mesonotum with broad yellow stripe slightly divergent posteriorly; metanotum and abdomen completely dark brown to black (Fig. 2A). Venter of body dark brown to black except prosternum and mesosternum, yellow; head venter yellowish brown; mesosternal anteromedian mark indistinct, if prominent then highly variable, not fused with the posterior transverse dark mark, which is sometimes poorly defined medially; mesopleura completely pale yellow (Figs. 2C, F). Base of first antennal segment, coxae and trochanters of all legs, basal half of fore femur and base of mid femur yellow (Fig. 2F).

Structural characters. Body fully covered with minute black hairs except on a few areas of mesonotal yellow stripe. Head length 0.33, width 0.56, minimum interocular width 0.23; eye length 0.27, eye width 0.15; antennal length I–IV 0.48, 0.35, 0.31, 0.27, first antennal segment slightly curved, last segment stouter than the preceding segment, antennal segments without any characteristic setae; rostrum reaching to middle of fore trochanter; head lateral region in front of eyes with a few long setae and basolateral region with a few setae and a long seta which surpasses eye laterally.

Pronotal length 0.22, width 0.50, prosternal length 0.20; mesonotal length equal to width of head, 0.56, with two broad longitudinal yellow stripes, width of yellow stripe 0.21 (0.12–0.21), (measured medially), mesosternal length 0.89; metanotum sometimes appearing fused with first two abdominal tergites, but separation distinct in alcohol and in some dry specimens, metanotal length 0.17, metasternal length 0.08. Fore femur slightly stouter than mid femur and slightly curved; fore tibia slightly broad posteriorly; mid femur distinctly shorter than mid tibia and shorter than hind femur, mid femur dorsal region with three trichobothria (two at base and one at subapex); hind femur dorsal region with five trichobothria distributed throughout, closer near base; hind coxa and trochanter overlapped on sides of abdominal tergite VIII, in dry (Figs. 2A); tarsal segments of hind legs fused; metasternum well developed, crescent shaped, omphalium slightly visible in alcohol, located on middle of metasternum. Leg measurements: Range is given in parenthesis (n=5). Fore femur length 0.67 (0.59–0.67), width 0.11 (0.11–0.13); fore tibial length 0.45 (0.37–0.45); fore tarsus I 0.05 (0.03–0.05); fore tarsus II 0.16 (0.15–0.18); mid femur length 1.28 (1.24–1.37), width 0.11 (n=1); mid tibia 1.72 (1.60–1.89); mid tarsus I 0.56 (0.48–0.58); mid tarsus II 0.44 (0.34–0.45); hind trochanter length 0.21 (0.19–0.23); hind femur length 1.50 (1.36–1.54), width 0.06 (n=1); hind tibia 0.52 (0.45–0.52); combined length of hind tarsus I and II 0.27 (0.25–0.27); abdominal tergites parallel beyond segment III, sternite VIII clothed with long grey hairs, facing outwardly except median hairs; combined length of metanotum and abdomen 0.69, length of abdominal tergites I–IX 0.111, 0.077, 0.036, 0.045, 0.063, 0.047, 0.049, 0.149, 0.011; combined length of sternites II to VII 0.21, sternite length II–IX 0.017, 0.015, 0.019, 0.020, 0.027, 0.101, 0.219, 0.032. Tip of lateral process of proctiger straight and pointed (Figs. 2H, I); outer margin of paramere deeply excavated (Fig. 2J); endosomal sclerites as in Figs. 2K, L.

Macropterous male (Fig. 2E), n=1. Body length 2.01 (measured up to tip of abdomen dorsally, apical part of wings broken), width (across mesoacetabula) 0.76; antennal length I–IV 0.52, 0.37, 0.32, 0.32; pronotum anterior region with a diamond-shaped yellow median mark, pronotal lobe length 0.85, width 0.76. Other characters similar to holotype.

Apterous female (Figs. 2B, D, G, M). Body length 1.92, range 1.87–2.11 (n=5), width (across mesoacetabula) 0.78, range 0.78–0.85 (n=5). Colour and structural characters similar to holotype with the following exceptions:

Structural characters. Head length 0.36, width 0.60, minimum interocular width 0.27; eye length 0.26, eye width 0.16; antennal shorter than males, antennal length I–IV 0.31, 0.27, 0.27, 0.29. Pronotal length 0.21, width 0.49, prosternal length 0.22; mesonotal length 0.75, with two broad longitudinal yellow stripes, width of stripes 0.14 (0.11–0.14), (measured medially), mesosternal length 0.97; metasternal length 0.11. Legs measurements: Range is given in parenthesis (n=5). Fore femur length 0.62 (0.61–0.68), width 0.08 (0.07–0.09); fore tibial length 0.44 (0.43–0.48); fore tarsus I 0.05 (0.04–0.06); fore tarsus II 0.19 (0.19–0.21); mid femur length 1.26 (1.26–1.46), width 0.12 (n=1); mid tibia 1.81 (1.74–2.07); mid tarsus I 0.62 (0.58–0.73); mid tarsus II 0.47 (0.47–0.55); hind trochanter posteriorly bluntly produced with fringe of hairs ( Fig. 1 E), hind trochanter length 0.29 (0.26–0.29); hind femur inner basal margin with short fringe of hairs, hind femur length 1.49 (1.49–1.64), width 0.07 (n=1); hind tibia 0.52 (0.50–0.57); combined length of hind tarsus I and II 0.29 (0.29–0.30); abdominal venter circular (Fig. 2G), segment IX (=proctiger) very small visible from ventral, but sternite VIII retracted into preceding segment; dorsal abdominal length including metanotum 0.67; combined length of abdominal tergites III–VII 0.28, length of abdominal tergites II–IX 0.115, 0.050, 0.054, 0.067, 0.062, 0.046, 0.078, 0.056; sternite length II–VII 0.038, 0.035, 0.035, 0.041, 0.063, 0.182, sternum length IX 0.044. Gonapophyses as in Fig. 2M.

Comparative notes. C. rajani sp. nov. can be readily distinguished from all the other known species of the genus by the presence of a setal fringe on the hind trochanter and the convergence of the hind trochanters in the female, when observed in dry mounted specimens (Figs. 2A, B, F, G). Superficially C. rajani is similar to C. andaman Polhemus & Polhemus from Andaman Islands, however it can be easily differentiated by the following characters: mesopleura without any dark stripes in C. rajani (Figs. 2C, D), but in C. andaman with a broad dark stripe on the mesopleura ( Fig. 1C ); metanotum and abdominal tergites I–V of female with greyish pruinosity in C. andaman ( Fig. 1B ), but such pruinosity absent in C. rajani ; tip of lateral process of male proctiger slightly inwardly curved in C. andaman ( Fig. 1 H) but straight in C. rajani (Fig. 2I); outer margin of male paramere deeply excavated in C. rajani (Fig. 2J), but almost straight in C. andaman ( Fig. 1 I); posterior part of the ventral sclerite of the endosoma lapped over the basal sclerite in C. andaman ( Fig. 1 H), whereas the posterior part of the ventral sclerite is not lapped over basal sclerite in C. rajani (Fig. 2L).

Figures

FIGURES 1 A – D, F – L. Calyptobates andaman (A, D, F – K: male; B, C, L: female): A, B and F, dorsal view; C, lateral view showing mesopleural stripe; D, abdominal segment VIII, ventral view; E, abdominal segment VIII and genitalia, ventral view; F, macropterous form; G, genital capsule, lateral view; H, proctiger, dorsal view; I, pygophore, parameres and endosoma, ventral view; J, endosoma, dorsal view; K, endosoma, lateral view showing sclerites; L, gonapophyses and proctiger, ventral view. E, Calyptobates rajani sp. nov. female hind trochanter, ventral view, showing fringe of long hairs (abs—auxillary basal sclerite, as—apical sclerite; ba—basal articulatory apparatus, bs—basal sclerite; ds—dorsal sclerite; dsp—dorsal sclerite projection; en—endosoma; G-I—first gonapophysis; G-II—second gonapophysis; ls—lateral sclerite; pa—paramere; pr—proctiger; py—pygophore; vs—ventral sclerite).