Aradoleptus, Heiss, 2016

Heiss, Ernst, 2016, New genera and species of Aradidae in Cretaceous Burmese Amber (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), Linzer biologische Beiträge 48 (1), pp. 419-429 : 425-426

Aradoleptus new genus

Type species: Aradoleptus birmanus nov.sp.

D i a g n o s i s: This genus is distinguished from all known Burmese Amber Aradidae by a combination of characters e.g. elongate slender body, structure of antenniferous lobes and clypeus without dorsal carina and triangular scutellum with acute apex.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Submacropterous, small size about 4mm, surface of body and appendages with fine granulation; colouration uniformly reddish brown, membrane hyaline.

H e a d: Longer than wide, clypeus long with subparallel lateral margins nearly reaching ½ of antennal segment II; antenniferous lobes wide, apically serrate; antennae distinctly longer than width of head, segment I and II shortest, III and IV longer and of equal length; rostrum arising from an open atrium as long as head.

P r o n o t u m: Trapezoidal,about 1.6x as wide as long, paranota narrow, lateral margins sinuately converging anteriorly; disk with four carinae; posterior margin concave.

S c u t e l l u m: Triangular, about 1.5x as long as wide, lateral margins carinate, apex acute; disk with a median elevation on anterior half.

H e m e l y t r a: Corium about as long as scutellum, posterolateral angles narrowly rounded; membrane with four faint veins.

A b d o m e n: Elongate oval, lateral margins evenly rounded; deltg VI-VIII attenuated posteriorly; pattern of apodemal impressions not discernible.

V e n t e r: Sternites II-VII separated by transverse sutures; metathoracic scent gland structures not discernible.

L e g s: Unarmed, claws with pulvilli.

E t y m o l o g y: This epithet refers to the Aradus -like habitus and slender body, from>leptos<(Greek) = slender.

D i s c u s s i o n: Because of the combination of characters (see diagnosis), this taxon cannot be placed into one of the recognized extant subfamilies of Aradidae and does also not share essential characters of fossil Archearadinae. Its general habitus and structure of clypeus resemble that of Aradidae , however the latter possess no tarsal pulvilli. Its systematic placement is uncertain to date.