Neomacrocoris vuga Sites

Sites, Robert W. & Mbogho, Aaron Y., 2012, Revision of the African genus Neomacrocoris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae), Zootaxa 3555, pp. 1-39 : 34-37

Neomacrocoris vuga Sites , NEW SPECIES

Figs. 61–68

Description. Macropterous male. HOLOTYPE, length 11.52; maximum width 8.16. Paratypes (n = 2), length 10.88–11.04 (mean = 10.96); maximum width 7.46–7.60 (mean = 7.53). General shape rounded and highly convex, widest across embolia (Fig. 61); moderately large for the genus, overall coloration dorsally yellowish-brown anteriorly with dark brown scutellum and hemelytra; ventral surface mostly brown, legs and lateral part of propleura yellow.

Head. Length 2.00, maximum width 3.12. Yellow with dark brown spots; projecting beyond eyes 12% of head length. Eyes dark brown; twice as long as wide, length/width 1.44/0.72; inner margins slightly divergent, lateral margins rounded; synthlipsis 1.68; vertex with visible posterior margin shallowly convex, meeting posteromedial corner of eye. Labrum yellowish-brown, transverse, broadly rounded distally, width/length 1.02/0.52. 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 0.56 beyond labrum. Antenna short, hirsute, extending slightly beyond lateral margin of eye, relative lengths 5:12:11:10.

Thorax. Pronotum broad, highly convex, yellow; extensive dark brown maculation anteromedially, scattered small brown spots throughout disc (Figs. 61, 66), larger darker spots laterally and in transverse row ¼ distance from posterior margin; dark, immaculate, punctate strip posterior to transverse row of dark spots; maximum width 7.40, length at midline 3.44; posterior margin weakly convex; lateral margins strongly convex, convergent anteriorly, distinctly explanate; posterolateral corners rounded; entire surface vaguely rugose; with pale, erect setae. Scutellum dark brown to black; punctate; with short, erect setae; width 4.40, length at midline 2.48; mesoscutum partially exposed behind pronotum only if head/pronotum are deflexed; lateral margins nearly straight. Hemelytra dark brown, subtly mottled with medium brown maculation, punctate, sparse erect setae, length 8.16 (chord measurement); clavus distinct, lighter posteriorly to yellow commissure; embolium well delineated, evenly arcuate laterally, anterior 2/3 of lateral margin yellowish, maximum width 1.20, length 3.52; 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 with extensive yellow area laterally extending halfway to mesal margin, glabrous laterally, pruinose mesally; propleura widely separated mesally, mesosternum with medial carina crested with elongate golden-brown setae; meso- and metasterna mostly dark brown, pruinose.

FIGURES 61–65. Neomacrocoris vuga n. sp. HOLOTYPE (61) habitus; (62) male genital capsule, size bar = 1.0 mm; (63) medial lobes of 7th abdominal tergum of male; (64) 8th abdominal tergum of male; (65) terminal abdominal sterna of female paratype including subgenital plate. Sizes are not proportionate among figures.

Legs. All segments light yellowish brown except meso- and metacoxae and trochanters slightly darker; profemur generally covered with brown spots; anterior margin with dense pad of elongate, pale setae; protibia with sparse, spatulate, pale setae on flattened inner margin; 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, dark, recumbent setae; metaxyphus with pronounced transverse and longitudinal carinae, thus resembling head of Phillips screwdriver directed posteroventrally; meso- and metafemora with brown spots on dorsal and ventral surfaces; posteroventral row of dark, peg-like spines; sparse posterodorsal row of pale, elongate setae; 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 3.04, tibia 2.44, tarsus 0.48; middle leg, femur 3.04, tibia 2.44, tarsomeres 1–3, 0.24, 0.46, 0.52; hind leg, femur 3.60, tibia 4.68, tarsomeres 1–3 0.26, 0.78, 0.72.

Abdomen. Connexiva III–VII exposed laterally beyond hemelytra, each yellow anteriorly, dark brown posteriorly; margins smooth, bearing fringe of gold setae; posterolateral angles of II–IV bluntly square, V–VII slightly acute, not produced. Tergum VII posterior margin with lobe left of midline narrowly rounded; lobe right of midline (pseudostrigil) large, robust, directed caudad (Fig. 63), with dense mat of denticles on reniform caudal surface. Tergum VIII with narrow, digitate left lobe; broadly falcate right lobe (Fig. 64). Ventrally orange-brown except narrow marginal glabrous band; densely covered with short, dark, recumbent setae; mediosternites with elongate, erect, dark setae. Glabrous areas evident on laterosternites II–VI. 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. 62). Parameres lacking. Phallosoma with basal oblique striations hidden behind pygophore; expanded abruptly on right side forming flange; flange irregularly reducing in width apically; rounded subapical lobe extending dorsosinistrad; acuminate apical process directed to left (Fig. 62); sclerotized vesica distad of phallosoma.

Macropterous female. Paratypes (n = 6), length 11.04–11.84 (mean = 11.49); maximum width 7.60–8.08 (mean = 7.81). Similar to male in general structure and coloration with following exceptions: Sterna IV–V with midventral tubercles. Abdominal mediosternites with pale, nearly glabrous patches widening posteriorly from triangular on V, quadrate on VI, elongate covering middle 1/3 of subgenital plate (VII); long dark setae especially dense near margin of pale areas. Subgenital plate broad basally, narrowing abruptly at midlength to elongate, laterally cupped, tonguelike lobe; posterior corners of broad basal part produced (Fig. 65); fringe of elongate golden brown setae at curvature in pale area; subgenital plate length at midline 2.32, width at middle of elongate lobe 0.96.

Diagnosis. This species is large and ovate as are N. karimii and N. vaneyeni , but it can be diagnosed readily by the male genitalia. Specifically, the apex of the phallosoma is strongly and sharply hooked to the left, and a subapical rounded lobe extends dorsally and to the left. The female subgenital plate is broad and has a strong midlateral projection before narrowing to the distal spatulate process.

Etymology. This species is named for Vuga Junction in the Usambara Mountains near Mombo, adjacent to the stream in which it was collected. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition.

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 and NHMW.

Discussion. This species occurred syntopically with N. parviceps at the type locality. Sweeping dense submerged vegetation along the margins of a small stream yielded nine adults and many immatures at the type locality ( Figs. 66, 67 ) and another site further upstream approximately 600 m higher in the mountains ( Fig. 68 ). This species superficially is similar to N. karimii , which is known from the same general area of the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania, and N. vaneyeni from the Democratic Republic of Congo. N. vuga also is known from southern Kenya.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE 3: TANZANIA: Tanga Region, river from Soni to Mombo, 2 km E of Vuga Junction, 04º 52.040'S, 38º 20.906'E, 460 m, 14 August 2010, colls. R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, grassy overhangs in rocky stream, L-1253. PARATYPES, same data as holotype (13, 2Ƥ); river from Soni to Mombo, Karense, 1 km E of Soni, 04º 50.284'S, 38º 22.355'E, 1051 m, 14 August 2010, colls. R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, vegetated overhangs and undercuts, L-1254 (13, 4Ƥ).

Additional material examined. TANZANIA: Tanga Region, W. Usambara Mts. 38 22E, 4 44S, 10 Aug 1996, 5100 ft, P. Cresswell, creek ( CMNH, 1Ƥ). KENYA: Museum Leiden, Taita Hills, Wusi; no jk 143, 29.XI.1974, ca 850 m, J. Krikken & A. L. van Berge Henegouwen, 3o27'S – 38o21'E / rivulet in cult. area ( RMNH, 13); Museum Leiden, E. le Moult, Kenya Nairobi, Ngong-Forest, Br. O, Afrika ( RMNH, 13, 2Ƥ).

Figures

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

FIGURES 66 – 67. Neomacrocoris vuga n. sp. (66) live specimen photographed out of water on natural substrate, (67) dense, submerged, marginal vegetation habitat in the river from Soni to Mombo near Vuga Junction, the type locality.