Neomacrocoris bondelaufa Sites

Sites, Robert W. & Mbogho, Aaron Y., 2012, Revision of the African genus Neomacrocoris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae), Zootaxa 3555, pp. 1-39 : 6-9

Neomacrocoris bondelaufa Sites , NEW SPECIES

Figs. 1–6, 68

Description. Macropterous male. HOLOTYPE, length 8.72; maximum width 5.68. Paratypes (n = 10), length 8.24–8.72 (mean = 8.55); maximum width 5.20–5.60 (mean = 5.38). General shape elongate oval, widest across embolia (Fig. 1); overall coloration dorsally yellowish-brown anteriorly with dark scutellum and hemelytra; ventral surface mostly brown, legs and lateral part of propleura yellow.

FIGURES 1–5. Neomacrocoris bondelaufa n. sp. HOLOTYPE (1) habitus; (2) male genital capsule, size bar = 0.5 mm; (3) terminal abdominal terga of male; (4) medial lobes of 7th tergum of male, LL=left lobe, PS=pseudostrigil; (5) terminal abdominal sterna of female paratype including subgenital plate. Sizes are not proportionate among figures.

Head. Length 1.52, maximum width 2.34. Head yellow with dark brown spots, spots coalescent near posterior margin; projecting beyond eyes 10% of head length. Eyes dark brown; approximately twice as long as wide, length/width 1.10/0.60; inner margins slightly convergent in anterior half, lateral margins rounded; synthlipsis 1.12; vertex with visible posterior margin shallowly convex, meeting posteromedial corner of eye. Labrum yellowish-brown, transverse, broadly rounded distally, width/length 0.72/0.36. Maxillary plate yellow, narrow, elongate, extending approximately to half length of labrum, bordering sides of rostral base. Labium with three visible segments darkening distally from yellowish-brown basal segment to dark brown distal segment, short, extending 0.36 beyond labrum. Antenna short, hirsute, extending slightly beyond lateral margin of eye, relative lengths 5:10:13:10.

Thorax. Pronotum broad, highly convex, yellow; scattered brown maculation and dark brown punctation throughout disc; dark spots diminishing laterally; wide transverse band along posterior margin set off with irregular series of large, brown, longitudinally elongate spots, otherwise immaculate; with small punctures; maximum width 5.12, length at midline 2.36; posterior margin convex; lateral margins strongly convex, convergent anteriorly, distinctly explanate; posterolateral corners rounded; entire surface vaguely rugose; with pale, erect, setae. Scutellum black; punctate; with scattered, erect pale setae; width 3.28, length at midline 1.80; mesoscutum partially exposed behind pronotum only if head/pronotum are deflexed; lateral margins slightly convex. Hemelytra dark brown, subtly mottled with reddish-brown maculation; punctate; sparse, elongate, recumbent setae; length 6.48 (chord measurement). Clavus distinct, yellow at commissure. Embolium well delineated, lateral margin more strongly arcuate in posterior 1/6, anterior 5/6 of lateral margin yellowish, maximum width 0.76, length 2.64. Hemelytral membrane attaining tip of abdomen, venation not evident, membrane of underlapping wing (left) mostly pruinose. Hindwings well developed. Ventrally, prosternum with mid-ventral carina with shallow central channel, margins of channel with elongate golden hairs. Propleuron laterally with extensive yellow glabrous area extending 2/3 distance to mesal margin, black pruinose mesad of yellow glabrous area, mesally with elongate recumbent hairs on occlusal surface with coxa; propleura widely separated at midline. Mesosternum with medial carina with elongate golden-brown setae and series of 6–7 ventrally directed protuberances; meso- and metasterna mostly dark brown to black, pruinose.

Legs. All segments yellow except brown protarsus, meso- and metacoxae; profemur with scattered brown spots in posterior 2/3; anterior margin with dense pad of elongate, pale setae; protibia and tarsus with row of spatulate, pale setae on dorsal margin of flattened inner surface; single tarsal segment; claw minute; procoxa with patch of short, dark brown, peg-like setae on posterior surface; middle and hind coxae covered with short, pale, recumbent setae; metaxyphus with pronounced transverse and longitudinal carinae, thus resembling head of Phillips screwdriver directed posteroventrad; meso- and metafemora with posteroventral row of dark, peg-like spines becoming obsolete proximally; middle of posterior surface with row of short, pale setae; posterodorsal row of dark, peg-like spines; meso- and metatibiae with rows of stout reddish-brown spines, 2 transverse rows of long, stout spines at apex; meso- and metatibiae and tarsi with long, golden brown swimming hairs; claws slender, evenly curved, with basal tooth. Leg measurements as follows: foreleg, femur 2.28, tibia 1.56, tarsus 0.38; middle leg, femur 2.16, tibia 1.64, tarsomeres 1–3, 0.20, 0.38, 0.44; hind leg, femur 2.56, tibia 2.88, tarsomeres 1–3 0.20, 0.52, 0.60.

Abdomen. Connexiva III–VI exposed laterally beyond hemelytra, each yellow anteriorly, black posteriorly; margins of III–V smooth; III–VIII with dense fringe of pale setae becoming more prominent posteriorly; posterolateral angles of II–IV square, V–VII moderately acuminate. Tergum VII posterior margin with angle of lobe left of midline slightly obtuse, apex narrowly rounded; lobe right of midline (pseudostrigil) large, with strong dorsal reflexion (Figs. 3, 4), with dense mat of denticles on horseshoe-shaped caudal surface, caudal surface angled slightly dorsad. Tergum VIII with left lobe broadly digitate with rounded apex; right lobe spatulate, projected slightly dorsocaudad. Ventrally brown except narrow marginal glabrous band; densely covered with short, pale, recumbent setae; mediosternites with elongate, erect, pale setae. Laterosternites with glabrous areas on II–VII, less evident on VI–VII. Sternum IV with small midventral tubercle. Sternum V with concavity of posterior margin and mediosternite VI displaced asymmetrically to left. Genital operculum evenly rounded.

Genitalia. Pygophore brown, elongate setae generally scattered and with a dense brush posteriorly (Fig. 2). Parameres lacking. Phallosoma with basal oblique striations hidden behind pygophore; abrupt ventrodextral gibbosity; shaft extending obliquely to left to apex; apex bluntly pointed, with left side appearing flattened in dorsal view but actually open as broad, longitudinal channel in view from left, ventral side of channel lightly sclerotized and narrowly rounded, dorsal rim carinate (Fig. 2); sclerotized vesica distad of phallosoma.

Macropterous female. Paratypes (n = 10), length 8.64–9.20 (mean = 8.94); maximum width 5.52–5.92 (mean = 5.67). Similar to male in general structure and coloration with following exceptions: Abdominal mediosternites with glabrous, mostly pale patches widening posteriorly from triangular on V, quadrate on VI, elongate covering middle 1/2 of subgenital plate (VII); long pale setae especially dense near margin of pale areas. Subgenital plate broad basally, gradually narrowing to elongate, laterally cupped, tongue-like lobe in distal 1/3; lateral margins sinuate (Fig. 5); lateral fringe of elongate golden brown setae at base of elongate lobe; subgenital plate length at midline 1.62, width at base 1.58.

Diagnosis. This species is very similar to N. poissoni in configuration of the phallosoma and pseudostrigil, although the body is more ovate in N. bondelaufa than in Sudanese N. poissoni . West African specimens of N. poissoni are more similar to N. bondelaufa in body proportions. The phallosoma of N. bondelaufa is carinate on the dorsal margin of the apical rim, whereas in N. poissoni the dorsal margin appears rounded and thickened; the lightly sclerotized ventral surface of the apex is narrowly rounded in N. bondelaufa , whereas it is much larger, triangular, and acute in N. poisson i; and the right side of the shaft is relatively straight in N. bondelaufa whereas there is a pronounced angle in N. poissoni (Fig. 40). Presently, these two species are not known to overlap in distribution. Among other congeners, N. bondelaufa is nearly indistinguishable superficially from several species with which it co-occurs, including N. parviceps and N. handlirschi , without examination of male genitalia. However, fresh specimens of N. parviceps are reddish-orange on the abdominal sternum, whereas N. bondelaufa and N. handlirschi are brown. N. handlirschi generally is only slightly larger than N. bondelaufa , but the size ranges overlap. Until other diagnostic characters are discovered, females must be associated with males for identification using male genitalia. Specifically, the apex of the phallosoma has a strong gibbosity to the right and ventrally in N. bondelaufa and directly to the right in N. handlirschi , whereas it has an elongate flange to the right in N. parviceps . Further, the left side of the shaft of the phallosoma beyond the gibbosity is arcuate and the left side of the apex appears flattened in dorsal view in N. bondelaufa , whereas the shaft is straight and the flattening is on the distal margin in N. handlirschi . The apex appears flattened on the left side in dorsal view in N. parviceps .

Discussion. Although this species is distributed widely throughout the Rift Valley of western Tanzania ( Fig. 68 ), its distinction from its congeners of the region apparently was overlooked because of its superficial similarity. N. bondelaufa was collected syntopically with N. handlirschi at L-1202 and with N. parviceps at L-1157, 1164, 1182, and 1202. All three species were collected together in the Msanzi River in Rukwa Region (L-1202). The habitat in which these species occur is the densely vegetated margin of streams where current is minimal. Typically, specimens were collected in undercuts and dense vegetation with muddy substrate. Three specimens from southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo were examined in RMCA and one male from South Africa was among specimens donated to RWS from P. Reavell.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and is the Swahili word for rift valley. Specifically for the East African Rift Valley, the Swahili term is bondelaufa la afrika mashariki; however, the East African people invariably refer to it simply as bondelaufa . Correct pronunciation of the epithet is \bon-de-luh-OO-fuh\.

Repositories. The holotype and some paratypes are deposited in the Enns Entomology Museum, University of Missouri, U.S.A. Additional paratypes will be deposited in the USNM, NHMW, and RMCA.

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE 3: TANZANIA: Rukwa Region: Sau River at Kasunga, 08º03.444'S 31º30.112'E, 1795 m, 2 August 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, marginal dense vegetation in cattle pool of stream, L-1200. Paratypes: same data as holotype (183, 21Ƥ). Rukwa Region, Kapipula stream, 93 km N of Mpanda, 05º42.233'S 30º41.563'E, 1326 m, 30 July 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, stream wetland with dense emergent grasses, L-1186 (53, 8Ƥ). Kigoma Region: Kazuramimba, 05º00.155'S 30º00.971'E, 1082 m, 30 July 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, muddy pools of small stream with marginal vegetation, L-1182 (43).

Additional material examined. [ DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO]: Musee du Congo Belge, Elisabethville, 12-VI-1920, J. Sporcq / R. Poisson det., 1945: Neomacrocoris parviceps Montandon / ( RMCA, 13, 1Ƥ); Musée du Congo, Dilolo, -VIII-IX-1931, G. F. De Witte / R. Det. 5305 L / Neomacrocoris parviceps Mont. ( RMCA, 13). TANZANIA: Kagera Region: Karenge, 03º07.936'S 31º04.530'E, 1234 m, 27 July 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, shallow pools with heavy vegetation and cattle use, L-1157. Kigoma Region: W of Kibondo, Mpemvyi River, 03º44.028'S 30º41.945'E, 1225 m, 27 July 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, pooled areas of slow stream, L-1160; Luchugi River, 04º31.733'S 30º09.699'E, 1217 m, 27 July 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, small stream, L-1162; tributary to Kalembela River, 04º40.743'S 30º03.994'E, 1244 m, 27 July 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, irrigation canal, L-1163; Kalembela River, 04º40.813'S 30º03.964'E, 1249 m, 27 July 2010, marginal vegetation in slow current, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, L-1164; Kasulu prov., Bahuru Bulayo, 11.VI.1951, H. O. Backlund ( NMWC, 13). Mara Region: Ushashi, ca. 5 km N of Nyiendo, 02º00.540'S 33º55.241'E, 1344 m, 24 July 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, vegetated pond margins, L-1147. Mbeya Region: 1 km N of Nyenjele, Muwawa River, 08º55.289'S 32º21.583'E, 1448 m, 3 August 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, pool with overhanging grasses, L-1206. Rukwa Region: 110 km N of Mpanda, 05º37.745'S 30º36.039'E, 1295 m, 30 July 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, shallow creek with muddy bottom and marginal grasses, L-1185; 57 km N of Mpanda, stream between Masito & Ogala, 05º56.742'S 30º57.812'E, 1144 m, 30 July 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, slow stream, coarse roots at margin, L-1187; 20 km SW of Sumbawanga, Katuka River at Katuka, 08º06.641'S 31º31.786'E, 1858 m; 2 August 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, pools of stream and narrow channel with dense vegetation; L-1201; Msanzi River at Msanzi, 08º11.411'S 31º31.295'E, 1778 m; 2 August 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, rocks, mud, gravel, sand, marginal grasses, L-1202; Kamawe River at Puwi, 08º21.029'S 31º50.054'E, 1598 m; 3 August 2010, colls R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, clear stream, marginal vegetation, some rocks, L-1205. SOUTH AFRICA: Swaziland, Malolotja Res., dam at camp, 7-4-97 / 26o 09’S 31o 08’E, 1800 m.a.s.l. ( PRC, 13).

Figures

FIGURE 68. Collection records of Neomacrocoris bondelaufa n. sp. and Neomacrocoris vuga n. sp. in Tanzania.