Caiaptera Bai & Heiss

Bai, Xiaoshuan, Heiss, Ernst & Cai, Wanzhi, 2011, New taxa and records of flat bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae) from Hainan of China, Zootaxa 3012, pp. 48-58 : 49

Caiaptera Bai & Heiss , n. gen.

Type species: Caiaptera picea n. sp.

Diagnosis. Small apterous species; body elongate oval, surface of piceous colouration, glabrous and shiny. Thoracic segments fused, a transverse sulcus indicates the fusion line between pro-, meso-, and metanota; the latter is fused to mtg I+II forming a continuous elongate median plate; the tergal plate is depressed. A particular character is the posteriorly truncate abdomen of the male with an oval smooth posterior knob similar to a protrusion of deltg VII. This structure is of unknown function and similar ones are observed in Neotropical apterous Carventinae , e.g., Kolpodaptera and Eretmocoris, but not yet reported from Oriental taxa.

Description. Head. About as long as wide, clypeus short with adhering genae of same length, as long as basal constriction of antennal segment I; antenniferous lobes shorter than clypeus and straight; antennae about 2.3x as long as width of head, segment I thickest, II shortest, III longest; eyes oval inserted in head; postocular lobes short with a posteriorly directed tubercle at a lower level; rostrum as long as head arising from a slit-like atrium.

Pronotum. About 2.5x as wide as long with a ring-like collar; lateral margins carinate converging anteriorly, anterolateral angles separated from collar by deep incisures; disk with a median longitudinal groove on posterior half, laterally with flat ovate callosities; posterior margin sinuate and fused to mesonotum.

Mesonotum. Strongly transverse, shortest at middle; lateral margins raised and converging anteriorly; disk smooth and posteriorly elevated at middle, laterally with 2(1+1) deep punctures and round callosities; posterior margin straight fused to metanotum.

Metanotum. Trapezoidal and completely fused to mtg I+II, 2(1+1) anterolateral conical elevations are separated by a smooth posteriorly sloping depression; mtg I+II depressed with 2 (1+1) large ovate callosities and a longitudinal carina at middle.

Abdomen.Tergal plate flat with large shallow depressions marking the apodemal impressions; deltg II–VII laterally raised, their lateral margin doubled; deltg II+III fused, IV–VII separated by distinct sutures; tergite VII in male strongly raised for the reception of the pygophore, in female forming an elevated ridge posteriorly.

Venter. Prosternum with an inverted V carina at middle, posterior margin deeply grooved and fused to mesosternum; meso- and metasternum flat at middle and fused to each other and to sternites II+III; sternites IV–VII separated by deep sulci, smooth at middle vltgs laterally rugose with deep apodemal depressions of usual pattern. Spiracles II+III lateral on tubercles and visible from above, IV–VI sublateral and not visible from above, VII posterolateral on smooth knob and not visible, VIII terminal; in female VII lateral and visible.

Legs. Unarmed, femora and tibiae straight and cylindrical; claws with thin pseudopulvilli.

Etymology. It is a pleasure to dedicate this curious new genus to our friend and eminent heteropterist at the China Agricultural University, Prof. Dr. Wanzhi Cai, recognizing his continuous interest and support for the aradidological research of the two authors.

Discussion. The peculiar body structure particularly of the male is different from all apterous carventines of the Oriental-Australian Region.