Carvalhoiella helenae Rodrigues and Sites

Rodrigues, Higor D. D., Sites, Robert W. & Giehl, Nubia F. S., 2016, Revision of the Neotropical genus Carvalhoiella De Carlo (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae), Zootaxa 4138 (3), pp. 577-590 : 581-585

Carvalhoiella helenae Rodrigues and Sites , NEW SPECIES

( Figs. 13–18 , 32 )

Description. Macropterous female. HOLOTYPE, length 9.92; maximum width 6.56. Paratypes (n = 2), length 9.76–9.84 (mean = 9.80); maximum width 6.40–6.43 (mean = 6.41). General shape oval, widest across embolia, overall coloration dorsally brownish with darker or yellow areas ( Fig. 13 ); ventral surface including legs mostly yellow, except prosternum, middle part of propleura and most of mesobasisternum, mesoepisternum and mesosternellum dark brown to blackish ( Fig. 14 ).

Head. Length 1.68, maximum width 2.80. Lightly punctate, brown with wide dark brown median area narrowing anteriorly, pair of small dark marks on either side of midline; several setae near inner margin of eyes; projecting beyond eyes 7.14% of head length. Eyes dark brown, length 1.6× width, length/width 1.32/0.84, inner margins convergent, lateral margins rounded, synthlipsis 1.12. Labrum brown, broadly rounded distally, width 1.8× length width/length = 0.64/0.36. Labium with three visible segments, darkening distally from two yellowish basal segments to dark brown distal segment, short, extending 0.48 beyond labrum. Antenna short, length 0.74, hirsute mainly in last two antennomeres, not extending beyond lateral margin of eye, relative lengths 5:9:13:8.

Thorax. Pronotum broad, brown, lateral margins yellowish, with scattered darker punctations; transverse sulcus setting off band in posterior 1/4; maximum width 5.76, length at midline 1.76; posterior margin straight at midline, slightly rounded laterally; lateral margins convex, convergent anteriorly; posterolateral corners rounded; rugosity especially evident anteromedially. Scutellum brown, with scattered darker markings, punctate, width 3.60, length at midline 1.84. Mesoscutum partially exposed behind pronotum with head/pronotum deflexion. Hemelytra brown with darker mottling, punctate, length 7.28 (chord measurement). Clavus distinct, brown with scattered darker markings. Embolium well delineated, lateral margin slightly convex throughout, yellowish anteriorly, dark brown in posterior third, maximum width 0.96, length 3.20. Hemelytra attaining tip of abdomen, venation not evident, membrane of underlapping wing (left) not punctured. Hindwings well developed. Ventrally, prosternum with mid-ventral carina. Propleuron laterally with extensive yellow glabrous area extending 1/2 distance to mesal margin, golden setae posteriorly near inner margin of glabrous area. Mesobasisternum without medial carina and with golden setae near midline. Mesosternellum with lateral margins slightly thickened. Mesopleuron with golden setae on lateral margin. Metasternellum (=metaxyphus) with longitudinal carina, apex obtuse.

Legs. All segments yellow except brown protibia and -tarsus, and distal portion of third tarsomere of middle and hind legs. Profemur with scattered brown spots in posterior 3/4 on dorsal and ventral surfaces, anterior margin with dense pad of golden-brown setae. Protibia with inner surface flattened; tarsus one-segmented; single claw minute, indistinct. Middle and hind coxae covered with pale brown, recumbent setae. Meso- and metafemora with two posteroventral rows of peglike spines, becoming obsolete proximally. Meso- and metatibiae with rows of stout reddish brown spines, 2 transverse rows of long, stout spines at apex, meso- and metatibiae and tarsi with long, golden brown swimming hairs. Meso- and metapretarsal claws paired, slender, evenly curved. Leg measurements as follows: foreleg, femur 2.32, tibia 1.68, tarsus 0.44; middle leg, femur 2.40, tibia 1.88, tarsomeres 1–3, 0.20, 0.26, 0.40; hind leg, femur 2.92, tibia 3.00, tarsomeres 1–3, 0.28, 0.44, 0.56.

Abdomen. Connexiva III–VI exposed laterally beyond hemelytra; III–V each brownish anteriorly, yellow posteriorly, lateral margins smooth, with small tuft of elongate hairs posteriorly; posterolateral corners of II–V slightly acute, VI rounded. Venter densely pilose, except broad marginal band and middle of mediosternites V–VIII naked, shiny ( Fig. 14 ). Subgenital plate (=mediosternite VII) with posterior margin distinctly concave ( Fig. 15 ).

Macropterous male. Paratype (n = 1), length 9.58; maximum width 6.24. Similar to female in general structure and coloration, except as follows: Tergum V asymmetrical, with concavity of posterior margin slightly displaced to left. Tergum VI asymmetrical, with concavity larger on right lateral margin; tergum VI without accessory genitalic process or posterior protuberance. Terga VII–VIII, including medial lobes of tergum VIII (=pseudoparameres) symmetrical; medial lobes of tergum VIII directed laterally and apices narrowly acuminate ( Fig. 16 ). Pygophore brown, elongate golden setae concentrated on posterior half of lateral margins and apex; anterior margin between parameres rounded ( Fig. 17 ). Parameres symmetrical, teardrop-shaped. Phallosoma elongate, ventrally with a pair of lobes, both unarmed with teeth; right lobe larger than left lobe ( Fig. 18 ).

Diagnosis and comparative notes. Carvalhoiella helenae sp. nov. can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the yellow ventral color pattern ( Fig. 14 ) and the distinctly concave posterior margin of the female subgenital plate ( Fig. 15 ). This new species is most similar to C. beckeri because both have yellow ventral coloration. However, the latter species has the posterior margin of the female subgenital plate straight, metapleuron with a dark mark, and medial lobes of tergum VIII directed posterolaterally and with broadly acuminate apices ( Fig. 10 ); whereas in C. helenae sp. nov., the subgenital plate is concave, the metapleuron is entirely yellow, and the medial lobes of tergum VIII are directed laterally and with narrowly acuminate apices ( Fig. 16 ).

Etymology. This species in named in honor of Dr. Helena S. R. Cabette (Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Nova Xavantina), who has encouraged and supported studies of the aquatic insects in the east of the state of Mato Grosso, central-western Brazil.

Distribution. This species also occurs on the west side of the Araguaia-Tocantins Basin, in the state of Mato Grosso, central-western Brazil ( Fig. 32 ).

Type material. All specimens macropterous. Holotype: ♀ ( MZUSP), BRAZIL, Mato Grosso, Nova Xavantina, Córrego Buriti, upstream, 14°45’04.1”S / 52°33’11.0”W, 27.IV.2011, H. Cabette et al. col. Paratypes: 1♂ ( MZUSP), 1♀ ( CZNX), 1♀ (UMC), same data as holotype.

Figures

FIGURE 32. Distribution records of all species of Carvalhoiella.

FIGURES 13 – 18. Carvalhoiella helenae sp. nov. (13) Dorsal and (14) ventral habitus of holotype, (15) terminal abdominal sterna of holotype, (16) terminal abdominal terga of male paratype (genital capsule removed), (17) genital capsule of male showing pygophore, phallosoma, and parameres, (18) ventral side of phallosoma. Size bar = 0.5 mm and pertains only to Figs. 17, 18.

FIGURES 7 – 12. Carvalhoiella beckeri. (7) Dorsal and (8) ventral habitus of female, (9) terminal abdominal sterna of female, (10) terminal abdominal terga of male (genital capsule removed), (11) genital capsule of male showing pygophore, phallosoma, and parameres, (12) ventral side of phallosoma. Size bar = 0.5 mm and pertains only to Figs. 11, 12.