Rhachicephala Truong, Zhao & Cai

Truong, Xuan Lam, Zhao, Ping & Cai, Wan Zhi, 2007, Notes on the subfamily Salyavatinae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from Vietnam, with the description of a new genus, Zootaxa 1615, pp. 1-20 : 9

3. Rhachicephala Truong, Zhao & Cai , gen. nov.

( Figs. 25–39 )

Type species. Rhachicephala dilatibia Truong, Zhao & Cai , sp. nov.

Diagnostic characters. Head oval, distinctly deflected downwards in front of eyes and narrowed behind eyes, with two erect long spines behind bases of antenniferous tubercles ( Figs. 25 , 26 ); first antennal segment much longer than head, second segment longest, third and fourth segments thin and short; first rostral segment subequal in length to second segment; eyes large and protruded laterally. Pronotum transversely constricted before middle; lateral pronotal angles spinously produced; prosternum anteriorly armed with two strong spines; apex of scutellum spinously produced, postscutellum with a short spine ( Fig. 26 ). Legs moderately long; fore femur much longer than fore tibia; basal two-fifths of fore tibia dilated outwards and compressed ( Figs. 25 , 27–29 ); mid and hind femora beneath with a short spine subapically; posterior angle of each connexival segment spinously produced.

Etymology. The new generic name, Rhachicephala , alludes to two erect long spines behind the bases of the antenniferous tubercles. The words rhachi and cephala mean spine and head, respectively, in Greek. Feminine.

Remarks. The new genus is similar to Petalocheirus in the anterior angles of prosternum, the collar and posterior pronotal lateral angles spinously produced, fore tibia shorter than fore femur and the head deflected in front of eyes; but in the new genus the two long spines are inserted behind the bases of the antenniferous tubercles, the basal two-fifths of the fore tibia is dilated outwards (vs. head without spine behind base of antennal tubercle and fore tibia dilated its entire length in Petalocheirus ). The general body plan of the new genus resembles that of Valentia Stål , but in the new genus the postscutellum has a short spine (vs. the postscutellum without spines, and the head without spine behind base of antennal tubercle also in genus Va l e n t i a). The new genus can be distinguished from the other Vietnamese genera of the reduviid subfamily Salyavatinae with the above key.

Figures

FIGURE 25. Rhachicephala dilatibia Truong, Zhao & Cai, sp. nov., ♂, habitus. Scale bar = 1.82 mm.

FIGURES 26 – 39. Rhachicephala dilatibia Truong, Zhao & Cai, sp. nov., ♂. 26, Head, pronotum and scutellum, antennae partly removed; 27, fore leg; 28 – 29, fore leg (part); 30 – 31, apical portion of abdomen; 32, 33, pygophore; 34 – 36, paramere; 37 – 39, phallus; 26, 30, 33, 39, lateral view; 31, 32, 38, ventral view; 37, dorsal view. Scale bar of 26 – 31 = 1.00 mm; of 32, 33 = 0.25 mm; of 34 – 39 = 0.30 mm.