Neomacrocoris schaeferi Sites

Sites, Robert W. & Mbogho, Aaron Y., 2012, Revision of the African genus Neomacrocoris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae), Zootaxa 3555, pp. 1-39 : 27-29

Neomacrocoris schaeferi Sites , NEW SPECIES

Figs. 47–50

Description. Macropterous male. HOLOTYPE, length 7.92; maximum width 5.32. General shape elongate oval, widest across embolia (Fig. 47); overall coloration dorsally yellowish brown anteriorly with dark scutellum and hemelytra; ventral surface mostly brown; legs, laterotergites, and lateral part of propleura yellow.

Head. Length 1.48, maximum width 2.28. Yellow with dark brown spots, spots coalescent near posterior margin; projecting beyond eyes 11% of head length. Eyes dark brown; approximately twice as long as wide, length/ width 1.00/0.54; inner margins nearly parallel, lateral margins rounded; synthlipsis 1.18; 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, darker along ventral margin, 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 0.34 beyond labrum. Antenna short, hirsute, extending slightly beyond lateral margin of eye, relative lengths 5:8:8:8.

FIGURES 47–50. Neomacrocoris schaeferi n. sp. HOLOTYPE (47) habitus; (48) male genital capsule, size bar = 0.5 mm; (49) terminal abdominal terga; (50) medial lobes of 7th abdominal tergum. Sizes are not proportionate among figures.

Thorax. Pronotum broad, highly convex, yellow; scattered brown punctation in central 2/3 with dark brown to black, more widely scattered maculation in lateral 1/3; anteromedial depression at large U-shaped brown area; wide transverse band along posterior margin set off with irregular series of brown, longitudinally elongate spots, otherwise immaculate; with small punctures; maximum width 4.88, length at midline 2.22; posterior margin approximately straight where it abuts scutellum, rounded laterally; lateral margins strongly convex, convergent anteriorly, distinctly explanate; posterolateral corners rounded; entire surface vaguely rugose; with scattered pale setae. Scutellum dark brown; punctate; with scattered thin setae; width 3.00, length at midline 1.60; mesoscutum partially exposed behind pronotum with head/pronotum deflexion; lateral margins slightly convex. Hemelytra medium brown, subtly mottled with reddish brown maculation; punctate; sparse, elongate, recumbent and erect setae; length 5.52 (chord measurement). Clavus distinct, yellow at commissure. Embolium well delineated, lateral margin evenly convex throughout, anterior 2/3 yellowish, maximum width 0.74, length 2.14. Hemelytral membrane broken, but attaining tip of abdomen, venation not evident, membrane of underlapping wing (left) mostly pruinose. Hindwings well developed. Ventrally, prosternum with thin mid-ventral carina. 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 protibia and tarsus, 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 flattened inner surface; single tarsal segment; claw minute; 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; spines of mesofemur becoming obsolete proximally, those of metafemur consistently developed; 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 1.52, tarsus 0.38; middle leg, femur 2.08, tibia 1.72, tarsomeres 1–3, 0.10, 0.30, 0.34; hind leg, femur 2.42, tibia 2.88, tarsomeres 1–3 0.18, 0.44, 0.50.

Abdomen. Connexiva III-VI exposed laterally beyond hemelytra, each yellow anteriorly, brown 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 acuminate. Tergum VII posterior margin with lobe left of midline papilliform, devoid of denticles; lobe right of midline large, transverse, directed caudad (Fig. 50), with dense mat of denticles on ovate caudal surface, indentation in lateral 1/3 of dorsal surface. Tergum VIII with left lobe triangular with broadly rounded posteromedial corner; right lobe broadly spatulate, offset dorsad from lateral lobe. Ventrally brown except narrow marginal glabrous yellow band; densely covered with short, pale, recumbent setae; mediosternites with elongate, erect, pale setae. Sternum V with posterior margin concave 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. 48). Parameres lacking. Phallosoma with basal oblique striations hidden behind pygophore; abrupt ventral gibbosity extending on both sides of shaft; gibbosity narrowing and continuing distad on right side, widening again 1/3 distance from apex; apex with rounded dorsal rim and opening to left, with expansive ventral surface extending to left (Fig. 48); sclerotized vesica distad of phallosoma (separated from phallosoma during removal from abdomen).

Female. Unknown

Diagnosis. This species differs from N. parviceps by the inner margins of the eyes being nearly parallel. The synthlipsis at the anterior corners is 98% of the interocular width at the posterior corners, whereas in N. parviceps the anterior convergence is more evident and synthlipsis is 81–92% the width of the posterior corners. Also, the pronotum has an anteromedial depression whereas it is convex in N. parviceps . Structure of the phallosoma is the most obvious diagnostic attribute with the gibbosity extending on both sides of the shaft.

Discussion. This specimen was among the unidentified naucorid holdings in The Natural History Museum - London along with several similar specimens from the same locality of Namanve Swamp, Kampala, Uganda. Only after examination of the phallosoma did it become obvious that this was an undescribed species and was different from the other Namanve Swamp specimens, which are N. parviceps . The right foreleg of the specimen was missing and the right hindleg is detached and is in glycerin with the genitalia and abdominal terminalia.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of our colleague Carl W. Schaefer, University of Connecticut, who kindly provided RWS with sound advice, counsel, and editorial comments over many years.

Repository. The holotype is housed in The Natural History Museum - London.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: UGANDA: Namanve Swamp, Kampala, 30 iii 1933, G.L.R. Hancock, B.M. 1933-585 / NA.14, 30.3.33 / Pres. by Imp. Inst. Ent., B.M. 1933-585 ( BMNH, 13).