Mesovelia kumaria, Chandra, 2017

Chandra, Kailash, 2017, Three new species of Mesovelia Mulsant & Rey (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Mesoveliidae) from India, Zootaxa 4312 (2), pp. 368-380 : 373-376

Mesovelia kumaria sp. nov.

( Figs. 2A–M )

Material examined. Holotype (apterous male): INDIA, TAMIL NADU, Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil , Scott Christian College , Pond , 60 m, 08°10’58.2’’ N, 077°24’20.3’’ E, 22.x.2012, Coll. E.E. Jehamalar & Ahila. Paratypes. 1 apt . ♀, same locality data as for holotype; 1 mac-da ♂, Pallenvilai Village , 30 m, 08°18’03.49’’ N, 077°12’54.67’’ E, 7.i.2016, Coll. E.E. Jehamalar, Issac and Hallings.

Repository. The type specimens are deposited in the CEL, ZSI, New Alipore , Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Holotype Reg. No. 5679/H15 and Paratypes Reg. No. 5680/H15 to Reg. No. 5681/H15.

Etymology. Mesovelia kumaria is named after Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu commonly called as Kumari, where the species was collected.

Diagnosis. Mesovelia kumaria can be distinguished from congeners by its pale yellowish brown, almost bare and shiny body ( Figs. 2A, B ), absence of spines on the flexor region of the male fore femur, flexor region of the mid femur at most with a single spine ( Fig. 2D ), presence of widely spaced and very small spinose setal tufts on the eighth abdominal sternum of the male ( Fig. 2G ), the peculiarly-shaped male paramere ( Fig. 2K ) and deep median excavation of the male proctiger ( Fig. 2J ).

Description. Apterous male (holotype). ( Figs. 2A, D, F, H–K ). Body length 2.15; body width at metanotum 0.63, body width at tergum IV 0.61.

Colour. Pale yellowish brown; body sparsely clothed with minute pale brown setae; head medially with brown longitudinal impression, eyes black; antenna yellowish brown gradually darkened from base to apex, claws, setose spines on appendages black ( Figs. 2A, B ); femora of all legs shiny and pale; pair of short spinose tufts on abdominal sternum VIII dark brown to black ( Fig. 2G ); membranous area on antennal segment IV with brown annulated marks; frontoclypeal region brown; fourth rostral segment black except base brown.

Structural characters. Frontoclypeal region without any characteristic setae ( Fig. 2E ), base of eye with ocular seta, head with three pairs of trichobothria, head with thick medium-sized seta near anterior margin of eye, head between anterior margin of eye and middle pair of trichobothria with two setae, head adjacent to eye with single seta; interocular region smoothly convex ( Fig. 2A ). Head length 0.30, head width across eyes 0.53, minimum interocular width 0.18, eye length 0.22, eye width 0.14. Antennal tubercle well developed, sub-apical setose spine of first antennal segment rubbed off but with impression of single setose spine, fourth antennal segment annulated medially (more evident in alcohol). Length of anterior pair of trichobothria 0.13. Lengths of antennal segments I– IV 0.31, 0.30, 0.55, 0.63; rostrum reaching base of hind coxa.

Pronotal length 0.25, width 0.58; mesonotal length 0.22, width 0.60; metanotal length 0.14, width 0.63. Lengths of leg segments: foreleg: femur 0.67, tibia 0.55, tarsomeres I–III 0.04, 0.08, 0.10; mid leg: femur 0.77, tibia 0.80, tarsomeres I–III 0.05, 0.13, 0.12; ventrolateral region of mid tibia without spinose seta but with fine seta (more evident in alcohol); hind leg: femur 1.01, tibia 1.42, tarsomeres I–III 0.05, 0.21, 0.15; left hind tarsus broken. Femora of all legs seem bare but with pale fine setae. Width of fore-, mid-, hind femora 0.11, 0.10, 0.12. Length of large, setose spine on extensor region of fore femur 0.06, extensor region of fore- and mid femur with single spine, extensor region of hind femur with two spines, one spine rubbed off on right femur; spines absent on flexor region of fore femur and left mid femur; flexor region of right mid femur with single small black spine, flexor region of hind femur without any spines ( Fig. 2A ); length of large, setose spine on extensor region of mid femur 0.07, length of spine on flexor region 0.02.

Lengths of abdominal tergum 1.19, terga I–VII 0.14, 0.14, 0.12, 0.12, 0.11, 0.13, 0.19, sterna V–VII 0.12, 0.10, 0.15; combined length of abdominal sterna V–VII 0.37, intersegmental sutures between abdominal terga I–III indistinct; scent orifice on tergum IV visible; abdomen dorsally with few adpressed setae near intersegmental region. Genitalia: Lengths of tergum VIII 0.19; sternum VIII 0.15; proctiger dorsal 0.05, ventral 0.03; pygophore 0.17; sternum VIII sub-basally with pair of short brown spinose setal tufts ( Figs. 2G, H ), laterally without fringe of setae, mid-laterally at level of posterior margin of sternum VIII with a very small tubercle (more evident in alcohol after dissection), length of spinose setal tuft on sternum VIII 0.03, width 0.02, width between two tufts 0.08; length between posterior margin of abdominal sternum VII and anterior margin of setal tuft on abdominal sternum VIII 0.01; anterior margin of proctiger broadly sinuate, anterior part narrower than posterior part, posterior part bowlshaped, clothed with long setae posteriorly and laterally, median lateral process of proctiger short with pointed tip, ventral median excavation of proctiger reaching near apical plate ( Fig. 2J ), dorsomedian process (dmp) of pygophore with blunt tip ( Fig. 2F ); base of paramere disc-like, twisted medially and apical part directed base, tip slightly curved upward, basolateral protrusion with outer pointed tip and inner round tip ( Fig. 2K ).

Macropterous dealated male (=macropterous form with membrane loss) (paratype). ( Figs. 2C, E, G ): Body length up to tip of abdomen 2.36, body width at humeral angle 0.80, width at tergum IV 0.60.

Colour. Similar to apterous male with the following exceptions. Ocellar region black, antenna yellowish brown, darkened from base to apex; anterior pronotal lobe and basal region of posterior pronotal lobe yellowish brown, posterior pronotal lobe across humeral angle and metanotal elevation dark brown to black, mesoscutellum dark brown except medially yellowish brown; hemelytra near mesoscutellum and metanotal elevation white, veins dark brown to black enclosed by sordid white cells ( Fig. 2C ).

Structural characters. Head length 0.40, head width across eyes 0.53, minimum interocular width 0.19, eye length 0.22, eye width 0.14. Frontoclypeal region without any characteristic setae; head with pair of ocelli; ocular setae on sub-basal region very small; head with three pairs of trichobothria; head and thorax sparsely clothed with minute brown setae; head near anterior margin of eye with thick medium-sized seta; antennal tubercle well developed, first antennal segment with single sub-apical setose spine, fourth antennal segment annulated except base and apex (more evident in alcohol). Length of anterior pair of trichobothria 0.13, length of setose spine on first antennal segment 0.06. Lengths of antennal segments I–IV 0.41, 0.28, 0.47, 0.69; rostrum reaching middle of hind coxa.

Length of anterior pronotal lobe 0.18, width 0.57, sublateral region of anterior pronotal lobe with narrow oblique groove, length of posterior pronotal lobe 0.32, width 0.79, humeral angle sinuate, length of mesoscutellum 0.14, length of metanotal elevation 0.09. Lengths of leg segments: foreleg: femur 0.67, tibia 0.60, tarsomeres I–III 0.04, 0.10, 0.10; mid leg: femur 0.89, tibia 0.86, tarsomeres I–III 0.05, 0.13, 0.11; hind leg: femur 1.19, tibia 1.52, tarsomeres I–III 0.04, 0.23, 0.15. Width of fore-, mid-, hind femora 0.10, 0.10, 0.12. Femora of all legs scarcely clothed with silvery white, fine setae; fore-, mid- and hind femora extensor region with single spine; fore and hind femora flexor region without any spines; flexor region of mid femur with single small spine; length of large spine of mid femur: extensor region 0.06, flexor region 0.02. Flexor region of fore tibia apically with fine brown adpressed setae; extensor region of each third tarsal segment apically with few setae; sub-basal extensor region of mid tibia without any setose spines; hind tibia with 16–18 setose spines. Hemelytra with three closed cells, apical cell small, costal region of hemelytra with sparse fringe of short setae from base to sub-apex of first basal cell (bc- I) ( Fig. 2C ).

Dorsal abdominal length from posterior margin of metanotal elevation to abdominal tip 1.27, lengths of abdominal terga IV–VII 0.13, 0.12, 0.13, 0.20, scent orifice on fourth abdominal tergum prominent; lengths of abdominal sterna V–VII 0.12, 0.14, 0.12, combined length of abdominal sterna V–VII 0.37. Genitalia: lengths of tergum VIII 0.22, sternum VIII 0.15, sternum VIII sub-basally with pair of short brown spinose setal tufts, laterally without any fringe of setae, sternum VIII mid-laterally with very small tubercle (more evident in alcohol) at level of posterior margin, length of spinose setal tuft on sternum VIII 0.02, width 0.02, width between two tufts 0.07. Length between posterior margin of abdominal sternum VII and anterior margin of setal tuft on abdominal sternum VIII 0.02, dorsal proctiger length 0.06, pygophore plus proctiger ventral length 0.20. Parameres visible through a transparent eighth abdominal tergum (more evident in alcohol). Other genital structures as in apterous male.

Apterous female (paratype). ( Figs. 2B, L, M ). Colour: similar to apterous male. Body length 2.77, width across metanotum 0.85, width across tergum IV 0.96. Frontoclypeal region without any characteristic setae, head length 0.38, width 0.54, eye length 0.21, eye width 0.12, minimum interocular width 0.24, head near anterior margin of eye with outwardly directed seta, head just above posterior pair of trichobothria with minute black setae directed inward, length of anterior pair of trichobothria 0.14, first antennal segment with single setose spine, length of antennal spine 0.05, lengths of antennal segments I–IV 0.29, 0.26, 0.54, 0.67, fourth antennal segment annulated medially (more evident in alcohol); pronotal length 0.29, width 0.69; mesonotal length 0.23, width 0.78; metanotal length 0.15, width 0.83. Lengths of leg segments: foreleg: femur 0.77, tibia 0.67, tarsomeres I–III 0.05, 0.11, 0.11; mid leg: femur 1.00, tibia 0.96, tarsomeres I–III 0.05, 0.15, 0.14; hind leg: femur 1.28, tibia 1.67, tarsomeres I–III 0.06, 0.26, 0.16. Width of fore-, mid-, hind femur 0.12, 0.12, 0.14. Flexor region of fore tibia with thickly clothed adpressed brown setae; extensor region of mid tibia sub-basally with setose spine, flexor region apically with four very thin swimming setae, decreasing in length apically; number of fore femoral spines on flexor region: right leg 1, left leg 2, number of mid femoral spines on flexor region: right leg 1, left leg 3; extensor region of fore femur with single setose spine on right leg, setose spine of left leg rubbed off; extensor region of mid femur with two setose spines; extensor region of left hind femur with two setose spines and right with single setose spine; lengths of large spines of fore femur: extensor region 0.07, flexor region 0.03; lengths of large spines of mid femur: extensor region 0.08, flexor region 0.03; hind tibia with 18–21 setose spines.

Dorsal abdominal length 1.65, lengths of abdominal terga I–VIII 0.19, 0.23, 0.14, 0.15, 0.15, 0.19, 0.24, 0.20; scent orifice on fourth abdominal tergum very small; combined length of abdominal sterna V–VII 0.58; lengths of sterna V–VII 0.15, 0.14, 0.28. Intersegmental sutures of connexivum indistinct; connexivum broad, maximum width at tergum IV 0.19 ( Fig. 2B ). Genitalia: length of gonocoxae plus ninth abdominal segment 0.21, ninth abdominal segment (ab9) without lateral process; gonoplac (gp) covered with short minute setae, gonoplac length 0.21, first gonapophyses (go1) and second gonapophyses (go2) crenulate laterally, go1 not reaching tip of go2, go2 pointed apically, proctiger (pr) posteriorly with long setae, proctiger length 0.16 ( Figs. 2L, M ).

Distribution. Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India.

Comparative notes. Mesovelia kumaria sp. nov. resembles the M. horvathi species complex by sharing the character of few spines on the flexor region of the fore (absent in males of M. kumaria sp. nov.) and mid femora, and 0–2 (rarely 3) spines on the flexor region of the mid femur of females. However, the new species can be readily separated from the M. horvathi species complex by the absence of thick setae on the frontoclypeal region, whereas thick setae are present in the M. horvathi species complex. The male paramere is twisted at the middle in M. kumaria sp. nov., but not in the M. horvathi species complex. Although the setose spinal tufts on sub-basal region of abdominal sternum VIII of the male are widely spaced in M. kumaria sp. nov. and the M. horvathi species complex, the tufts are very short in M. kumaria sp. nov. and very long in the M. horvathi species complex. The setose spinal tufts in M. kumaria are similar to those of M. ebbenielseni Andersen & Weir, 2004 ; however, these species differ in the structure of the male paramere and fore and mid femoral armature.

Figures

FIGURES 2 A – M. Mesovelia kumaria sp. nov.: A, apterOuS male (hOlOtype), dOrSal view; B, apterOuS female, dOrSal view; C, macrOpterOuS dealated male, dOrSal view; D, mid femur Of apterOuS male, ventral view, ShOwing armature; E, head Of macrOpterOuS dealated male (= macrOpterOuS fOrm with membrane lOSS), lateral view; F, genital capSule Of apterOuS male, lateral view; G, abdOminal tip Of macrOpterOuS dealated male, ventral view; H, genital SegmentS Of apterOuS male, lateral view; I, genital capSule Of apterOuS male, dOrSal view; J, prOctiger Of apterOuS male, ventral view; K, paramere Of apterOuS male, lateral view; L, genitalia Of apterOuS female, ventral view; M, genitalia Of apterOuS female, lateral view (ab 9 — ninth abdOminal Segment; ab 9 - lp—lateral prOceSS Of ninth abdOminal Segment; dmp—dOrSOmedian prOjectiOn Of pygOphOre; gc 1 — firSt gOnOcOxae; gO 1 — firSt gOnapOphySeS; gO 2 — SecOnd gOnapOphySeS; gp—gOnOplac; lp—lateral prOceSS; mex—median excavatiOn; pa—paramere; pr—prOctiger; py—pygOphOre).