Hermatobates weddi, China, 1957

Luo, Jiuyang, Chen, Pingping, Wang, Yanhui & Xie, Qiang, 2019, First record of Hermatobatidae from China, with description of Hermatobates lingyangjiaoensis sp. n. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), Zootaxa 4679 (3), pp. 527-538 : 528-529

Key to the species of the Hermatobates weddi species group

Modified from Andersen & Weir (2000) and Polhemus & Polhemus (2012).

1. Posteromedial process on male metasternum slightly depressed, bearing few papillae; length: male 3.2 mm, female 3.2–3.3 mm; Malay Peninsula and Singapore.................................................... H. singaporensis Cheng

– Posteromedial process on male metasternum prominent, easily visible, quadrate or trapezoidal in shape, bearing numerous papillae ( Figs. 5 , 13–14 )............................................................................... 2

2. Male metasternal process parallel-sided, at least on apical half................................................. 3

– Male metasternal process trapezoidal, with lateral margins convergent, never parallel-sided...........................4

3. Male metasternal process with margins convergent in basal half, then parallel-sided in distal half, posterior margin bidentate with small points at posterolateral angles, papillae on process small and inconspicuous (see illustrations in Andersen & Weir: 2000, fig. 30; Polhemus & Polhemus 2012, fig. 19); length: male 3.3–3.7 mm, female 3.5–3.7 mm; Chesterfield Islands................................................................................. H. armatus Andersen & Weir

– Male metasternal process tongue-like and quadrate, with margins parallel along entire length, posterior margin slightly bilobate but not possessing small points at posterolateral angles, papillae on process large and prominent (see illustrations in Polhemus & Polhemus 2012, figs. 2C, 3C); length: male 3.3–3.7 mm, female 3.5–3.7 mm; Philippines, Palau and northern New Guinea............................................................................ H. marchei Coutière & Martin

4. Fore tibia beyond basal curve with a large gap and then two stout, truncate teeth separated by a notch; male with metasternum tumid posteriorly; median metasternal process distinctly removed from posterior margin of metasternum and angling outward (see illustration in Polhemus & Polhemus 2012, fig. 2E); female middle femur with, ~14 very small black teeth along ventral margin; length: male 3.4–4.0 mm, female 3.6–3.8 mm; eastern New Guinea, D’Entrecasteaux Islands and Louisiade Archipelago..................................................................... H. kula Polhemus & Polhemus

– Fore tibia basal portion beyond curve with a low, weakly bidentate protuberance followed by a distinct tubercle; male with metasternum sloping posteriorly to base of genital segment; median metasternal process on a ridge at apparent posterior margin of metasternum ( Figs. 5 , 13–14 ); female middle femur with at most 12 very small black teeth along posterior margin, or with such teeth reduced to spinules and barely evident.............................................................5

5. Male apices of styliform processes on abdominal segment 8 with less produced and curved (Figs. 17,19); female middle femur with ~12 very small black teeth along posterior margin ( Fig. 12 ); length: male 3.2–3.8 mm, female 3.3–3.4 mm; Xisha Islands......................................................................... H. lingyangjiaoensis sp. n.

– Male apices of styliform processes on abdominal segment 8 strongly produced and curved (see illustration in Polhemus & Polhemus 2012, figs. 6A, 6B); female middle femur with at most 7 very small black teeth along posterior margin, or with such teeth reduced to spinules and barely evident................................................................ 6

6. Male fore tibia with inner margin bearing a row of small tubercles leading to a small black tooth about two-thirds distance from base to apex; papillae on medial metasternal process large and scattered; female with posterior margin of middle femur bearing only a few tiny, inconspicuous black teeth along ventral margin; length: male 3.4–4.0 mm, female 3.3–3.5 mm; Australia and southwest insular Pacific.................................................................... H. weddi China

– Male fore tibia with inner margin bearing a row of small tubercles extending about two-thirds remaining distance to apex; papillae on medial metasternal process smaller and more numerous; female with posterior margin of middle femur bearing a row of ~7 small black spines on basal half; length: male 4.0– 4.2 mm, female about 3.6 mm; Ryukyu Islands.............................................................................................. H. schuhi Polhemus & Polhemus

Figures

FIGURES 5–6. Metathorax and abdomen of Hermatobates lingyangjiaoensis sp. n. in ventral view. 5, male holotype; 6, female paratype.

FIGURES 13–14. Scanning electron micrographs of posteroventral process on male metasternum of Hermatobates lingyangjiaoensis sp. n.

FIGURES 7–12. Right fore legs and right middle legs of Hermatobates lingyangjiaoensis sp. n. 7, fore leg (moderately incrassate male); 8, fore leg (less incrassate male); 9, fore leg (female); 10, middle leg (moderately incrassate male); 11, middle leg (less incrassate male); 12, middle leg (female).