Endochus merula Distant, 1903: 76

Krishnan, Sivarama & Ambrose, Dunston P., 2010, New records of two species of the genus Endochus Stål (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from India, with specific and generic redescriptions, Zootaxa 2565, pp. 42-48 : 45-47

2. Endochus merula Distant, 1903: 76

( Figs. 8–14 )

Redescription. Colour: Cinnamon brown to black; ocelli brownish; discal spots to mesosternum, sternal junctions, venter of anterior abdominal segments and lateral regions of abdomen brownish ochraceous; corium paler; membrane bronzy ( Figs. 8 , 10 ).

Structure. Head: Head (2.83 mm) longer than prothorax (2.48 mm) (HL: PL = 1: 0.88), deeply sculptured, covered with blanket of luteous setae; shorter anteocular (1.13 mm) separated from longer postocular (1.42 mm) (AOL: POL = 1: 1.26) by median brownish line between ocelli; compound eyes well developed; neck distinct ( Fig. 11 ); scape of antenna longer (6.25 mm) than head, pronotum, and scutellum together but subequal to hind femora and abdomen, separately; terminal flagellomere shortest (2.10 mm), pedicel shorter (2.80 mm) than head (2.83 mm), first flagellomere (4.58 mm) subequal to foretibia (4.93 mm) in length (S: P: F1: F2 = 1: 0.45: 0.73: 0.34); intercalary segments between scape and pedicel and pedicel and first flagellomere; robust antenniferous tubercle at base of each antenna; rostrum robust, its tip resting at prosternal furrow; basal segment longest (1.50 mm), intermediate medial (0.93 mm), and terminal (0.30 mm), all segments together (2.73 mm) (B: M: T = 1: 0.62: 0.20).

Thorax: Prothorax broader (3.05 mm) than long (2.48 mm) (PL: PW= 1: 1.23), pronotum covered with blanket of setae, discally unarmed; smaller, strongly sculptured, medially impressed anterior pronotal lobe with basal distinct broad foveation separated from larger, moderately sculptured, and rugulose posterior lobe by transverse sulcus; posterolateral angles acutely spinous and slightly deflexing upwards ( Fig. 12 ); venter of thorax covered with fine blanket of short and also, laterally, with long setae; scutellum triangular covered with short and long setae and acuminate, scutellar spine not prominent.

Legs: Legs moderately pilose, tibiae ending with rudimentary tibial pads; fore- and midtibiae almost equal in length (4.93 mm), hind tibia longest (7.63 mm) (FT: MT: HT = 1: 1: 1.58); basal segment of tarsus shortest, terminal segment longest and ending with a pair of claws.

Hemelytron: Hemelytron passing beyond abdominal apex; membrane shiny; corium covered with a thick blanket of setae.

Abdomen: Abdomen elongate; connexivum slightly developed ( Fig. 13 ); venter of abdomen except middle region covered with blanket of short setae and laterally with long setae ( Figs. 9 , 14 ).

Measurements [in mm, Ψ (n =1)]. Body length 13.97; head length 2.83, width across eye 0.48; length of anteocular area 1.13, of postocular area 1.42; antennal length 15.73, lengths of antennal segments I: 6.25, II: 2.80, III: 4.58, and IV: 2.10; rostral length 2.73, lengths of visible rostral segments I: 1.50, II: 0.93 and III: 0.30. Length of pronotum 2.48, width across humeri 3.05; length of anterior pronotal lobe 0.90, of posterior pronotal lobe 1.58. Length of hemelytron 9.35. Lengths of forefemur: 5.20, tibia: 4.93; of midfemur: 4.75, tibia: 4.93, of hind femur: 6.33, tibia: 7.63. Length of abdomen 7.08, width 2.38.

Material examined. 1Ψ, Amaravathi Point Reserve Forest, Cumbum Range, Theni District, Tamil Nadu, South India; 850 MSL, 30°C, 75% RH; 23- 09- 2005. Distribution. India (Tamil Nadu: Cumbum); Myanmar.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 9. Endochus merula Distant, Ψ, 8. habitus, dorsal view; 9. apical segments of abdomen with genitalia, ventral view. Scale bar of 8 = 1.00 mm; of 9 = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 10 – 14. Endochus merula Distant, Ψ, microphotographs; 10. entire insect; 11. head and thorax; 12. thorax and anterior part of abdomen; 13. abdomen (dorsal); 14. abdomen (ventral) with genitalia. Scale bar of 10 – 13 = 1.00 mm; of 14 = 0.25 mm.