Helotrephes australis, Zettel & Polhemus, 1998

Jehamalar, Eyarin, Chandra, Kailash & Zettel, Herbert, 2018, New species and first record of Helotrephes from India, and a check-list of Indian Helotrephidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 58 (1), pp. 243-248 : 245

Key to the species of Helotrephes australis group (only for males)

Note. Helotrephes kantonensis Zettel, 2004 is not includ- ed in the key applicable only for male adults, since it is known only from a single female. It can be identified by a deep and wide incision of the pronotal plate, an angular anterior projection of the prosternal carina, and slightly angular carinae of metasternum and abdominal sternum 2.

1. Apex of aedeagus hook-shaped and facing backward ( Fig. 1A ). Incision of pronotal plate deep and wide ( Fig. 1F ), or narrow and angular ( Fig. 1G ). ............ 2

– Apex of aedeagus facing forward ( Figs 1B–E , 2G). Incision on pronotal plate round ( Figs 1H–I , 2C). .... 3

2. Incision of pronotal plate narrow and angular ( Fig. 1G ). Anterior projection of prosternal carina blunt ( Fig. 1L ). China (Guangdong). ................................... ............................................ H. globulus Zettel, 2004

– Incision of pronotal plate deep and wide ( Fig. 1F ). Anterior projection of prosternal carina angulated ( Fig. 1N ). Borneo. .......... H. recurvatus Zettel, 2000

3. Incision of pronotal plate constricted at mesal margin of plate ( Fig. 1H ). In apical view, aedeagus with apical lamina ( Figs 1B–C , inserts). .................................... 4

– Incision on the pronotal plate not constricted at mesal margin of plate ( Figs 1I , 2C ). In apical view, aedeagus sharp, without apical lamina ( Figs 1D–E , inserts, 2G). .......................................................................... 5

4. Anterior projection of prosternal carina spinous, pointed ( Fig. 1M ). Aedeagus as in Fig. 1B . China (Yunnan), Thailand, Laos, West Malaysia. ................. ....................... H. australis Zettel & Polhemus, 1998

– Anterior projection of prosternal carina weakly acute, not pointed (cf. Fig. 1O ). Aedeagus as in Fig. 1C . China (Yunnan), Thailand, Laos. ................................ .................. H. nieserianus Zettel & Polhemus, 1998

5. Apex of aedeagus hook-shaped ( Fig. 2G ). Anterior corner of prosternal carina strongly protruding ( Fig. 2D ). Metasternal carina with blunt apex ( Fig. 2D ). India (Meghalaya). .............. H. nainamalaii sp. nov.

– Apex of aedeagus beak-shaped ( Figs 1D–E ). Anterior corner of prosternal carina weakly protruding ( Fig. 1O ). Metasternal carina with pointed apex ( Fig. 1O ). ................................................................................. 6

6. Carina of sternum 2 with small apical incision ( Fig. 1O ). Carina of sternum 3 with long setae ( Figs 1O ). China (Yunnan), Thailand. ......................................... .......................... H. incisus Zettel & Polhemus, 1998

– Carina of sternum 2 without apical incision. Carina of sternum 3 with short setae (cf. Fig. 1M ). Vietnam. .... ..................................... H. vietnamensis Zettel, 2005

Figures

Fig. 1. Key characters of species belonging to the Helotrephes australis species-group.A–E – aedeagi in right side view:A – H. recurvatus Zettel, 2000; B – H. australis Zettel & Polhemus, 1998; C – H. nieserianus Zettel & Polhemus, 1998; D – H. incisus Zettel & Polhemus, 1998; E – H. vietnamensis Zettel, 2005. F–I – pronotal and genal plate: F – H. recurvatus; G – H. globulus Zettel, 2004; H – H. australis; I – H. incisus. J – right paramere of H. australis. K – left paramere of H. australis. L–O – medioventral carinae: L – H. globulus; M – H. australis; N – H. recurvatus; O – H. incisus. Abbreviations: pr – prosternum; ms – mesosternum, mt – metasternum, 2–6 – carinae of abdominal sterna 2–6. Figures not on scale. Redrawn (with slight modifications) from ZETTEL & POLHEMUS (1998): B–D, H–K, M, O; ZETTEL (2000a): A, F, N; ZETTEL (2004a): G, L; and ZETTEL (2005): E.

Fig. 2. Helotrephes nainamalaii sp. nov. (holotype, brachypterous male).A – habitus, dorsal view; B – head, frontal view; C – pronotal and genal plate, ventral view (arrows indicate incision of pronotal plate and sub-basal tubercle of genal plate); D – ventromedian carinae, lateral view (arrows indicate strongly protruded prosternal carina and blunt posterior corner of metasternal carina); E – genital capsule, lateral view; F – apex of right paramere, dorsolateral view; G – aedeagus, lateral view; H–, right paramere, lateral view; I – left paramere, lateral view.