Libiocoris heissi Bai, Yang & Cai

Bai, Xiaoshuan, Yang, Chunwang & Cai, Wanzhi, 2006, First record of the genus Libiocoris Kormilev 1957 (Heteroptera: Aradidae) from China, with the description of two new species, Zootaxa 1370, pp. 39-47 : 41-43

1. Libiocoris heissi Bai, Yang & Cai sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 , 3–7 )

Diagnosis: This species is most similar to L. indicus Heiss 1982 , but differs by abdominal spiracle II ventral and connexiva II and III completely fused ( Fig. 1 ) (vs. abdominal spiracle II lateral and connexiva II and III separated by thin sulcus in L. indicus Heiss ).

Description of female. Color: Body reddish brown to blackish brown, incrustation grayish brown. Eyes reddish.

Structure: Head, thoracic tergites and pleura, most of abdominal tergites, connexiva, lateral sides of third to sixth abdominal sterna, and seventh sternum covered with incrustation. Antenna and legs covered with adpressed setae ( Fig. 1 ). Head longer than wide across eyes; genae short, slightly notched anteriorly, reaching basal one-third of first antennal segment; clypeus strongly raised anteriorly, with tubercle near apex. Antenniferous tubercles short, dilated, apices acute, divergent anteriorly. Eyes small, convex laterally. Postocular tubercles widely rounded and reaching outer side of eyes; postocular borders behind tubercles straight and converging. Vertex with Y-shaped granulate carinae; infraocular callosities large, ovate, separated from medial carinae by deep sulci. Antenna 2.24 times as long as width of head across eyes; first segment stout, clavate; second and third cylindrical, third pendunculate at base; fourth fusiform and pilose at apex ( Fig. 5 ). Rostrum short, rostral groove broad, deep, closed posteriorly ( Fig. 4 ). Pronotum 2.6 times as wide as long; collar narrow; anterolateral angles produced forward beyond collar as 2 (1+1) large, blunt lobes; disc with subtriangular median carina, without sulci; laterad of median carina disc with 2 (1+1) small callosities, and further laterad irregular carinae; posterior margin of pronotum slightly convex posteriorly, separated from mesonotum by deep furrow. Mesonotum wider than pronotum; separated from metanotum by 2 (1+1) thin sulci laterally; across meso- and metanota medially with elongate, rhomboid ridge, subrounded anteriorly and truncate posteriorly, without sulci; laterad of median ridge disc with 6 (3+3) longitudinal ridges, lateral border granulate. Metanotum wider than mesonotum; separated from tergum I by a slightly sinuate thin sulcus; laterad of median ridge with 6 (3+3) longitudinal ridges, lateral border granulate, similar to those on mesonotum. Legs long, slender, without spines, preapical comb on fore tibia present, femur subcylindrical, claws with fine pulvilli ( Fig. 6 ). Tergum I fused with tergum II, disc with 2 (1+1) tubercles separated medially by a wide, deep depression; tergum II wide, sloping posteriorly and sideways, forming 2 (1+1) large, ovate plates flanking median depression. Central dorsal plate subrectangular, consisting of terga III to VI; moderate carina raised medially on tergum III, pentagonal elevation on tergum IV, tapering ridge on terga V and VI; laterad of median ridge with a usual pattern of large and small callous spots. Connexiva slightly reflexed; deltg II and III completely fused, others separated by fine sulci; posterolateral angles of deltg II to VII progressively protruding; paratergites dentiform; terminal part of abdomen as in Figs. 1 , 7 . Abdominal spiracle II ventral, III–VIII lateral and visible from above. Prosternum raised medially and with irregular carinae on elevation medially; meso- and metanota and sternum II flattened medially, without sulci. Sterna III to VI raised along posterior border, depressed along anterior border, and with triangular, smooth spots medially, flanked by 2 (1+1) large, transversely ovate depressions, these bearing 2 (1+1) round callous spots; more laterad 4 (2+2) smaller round callous spots.

Measurements [in mm, Ψ (n=1)]. Body length 5.5; maximal width of abdomen 3.0. Length head (including neck) 0.98, width 0.88. Length pronotum 0.52, width 1.35. Width mesonotum 1.71; width metanotum 2.24. Length antennal segments I–IV = 0.68, 0.31, 0.68, 0.31.

Type material: Holotype: Ψ, China, Hainan, Baisha, 8. IX.2005, L. S. Chen leg. ( CAU).

Etymology: We dedicate this interesting species to Dr. Ernst Heiss for his excellent contributions to our knowledge of world aradids.

Distribution: China (Hainan).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Libiocoris heissi sp. nov. Ψ, holotype. Habitus. Scale bar = 0.695 mm.

FIGURES 3 – 12. 3 – 7, Libiocoris heissi sp. nov.; 8 – 12, Libiocoris sinensis sp. nov. 3, 4, 8, 9, Head, antennae partly removed; 5, 10, right antenna; 6, 11, apex of right fore tibia with comb and tarsus; 7, 12, abdominal segments V – VIII. 5, 10, dorsal view; 3, 6, 8, 11, lateral view; 4, 7, 9, 12, ventral view. Scale bar of 3 – 5, 7 – 10, 12 = 0.5 mm; of 6, 11 = 0.25 mm.