Paracaraptera, Heiss, 2011

Heiss, E., 2011, New genera and species of Carventinae from New Caledonia (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae), Zootaxa 2792 (1), pp. 22-32 : 29-31

Paracaraptera n.gen.

Type species: Paracaraptera schuhiana n. sp.

Diagnosis. Small and apterous, its habitus resembling that of Acaraptera species described from New Zealand, Samoa, and the Fiji Islands; however, the sculpured dorsal structures and the shape of head are different from Acaraptera Usinger & Matsuda 1959 . It differs also from Rugicarventus n.gen. by the short antennae, the dilated postocular lobes, the laterally produced anterolateral angles of the pronotum, and the shape and sculpture of the thorax and abdomen.

Description. Apterous, elongate oval; colouration yellowish brown with darker patches on thorax and abdomen.

Head: Wider than long, genae projecting over clypeus reaching ½ of antennal segment I; antenniferous lobes triangular; antennae short about as long as width of head, segment I longest and thickest, II and III shorter and thinner, IV fusiform; eyes granulate inserted in head; postocular lobes dilated and dentate; rostrum shorter than head.

Pronotum: Strongly transverse, collar very thin and smooth, anterior margin carinate and straight, highest at middle; disk with a median carina and lateral callosities delimited by deep grooves; anterolateral angles granulate and triangularly projecting laterally at a lower level than disk; posterior margin convex and deeply sulcate separating pro- from mesonotum; all thoracic segments fused to each other and to mtgI+II forming a continuous medially sulcate ridge, although their fusion lines are marked by distinct grooves.

Mesonotum: Produced posteriorly at middle with a sulcate longitudinal ridge,this separated from ovate lateral callosities by deep grooves.

Metanotum: Consisting of a bicarinate median ridge and larger and smaller ovate lateral callosities; on mtgI the two carinae are bent laterally leaving a deep pit at middle; mtg II is transversely carinate but this interrupted at middle by a depression.

PHOTOS 10–14. 10,11,12— Rugicarventus pygmaeus n.gen.,n. sp.; 10— holotype male dorsal view; 11— holotype male dorsal view;12— paratype female dorsal view; 13— Paracaraptera schuhiana n.gen.,n. sp. holotype male dorsal view; 14— Nesiaptera picea n. sp. holotype dorsal view.

Abdomen: Median longitudinal elevation carinate at base, then flat and widening toward abdominal scent gland and again carinate on mtg V and VI; apodemal impressions delimited by polygonal carinae; deltg I+II fused and extending to pronotum; deltg III–VII separated by sutures with carinate lateral margins, disk with 2 apodemal impressions; all spiracles lateral and visible from above.

Legs: Femora and tibiae slender and cylindrical, claws with thin pseudopulvilli.

Etymology. From>para<(Greek)= adjacent, close to,and Acaraptera