Delnocoris caribicus, Heiss, 2021

Heiss, Ernst, 2021, Review of the neotropical Mezirinae genus Delnocoris KORMILEV, 1982 with description of a new genus and species (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Aradidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 52 (2), pp. 993-1003 : 995-996

Delnocoris caribicus nov.sp. ( Figs 1-8 , 13, 15 )

H o l o t y p e labelled: Costa Rica / Puntarenas, Golfito env. / Esquinas Rainforest / 18-22 VI 2001, E. Heiss // ; Paratypes: 1♂, 1♀ collected with holotype ( CEHI). They are designated and provided with type labels .

D e s c r i p t i o n: Head: longer than wide (1.60 / 1.32); antennae 2.75 times as long as width of head, length of antennal segments I / II / III / IV = 1.35 / 0.80 / 1.10 / 0.40; postocular lobes behind stylate eyes roundly converging to constricted neck.

Thorax: Pronotum about 5 times as wide as long (2.05 / 0.40); anterolateral expansions subrectangular and raised, margins beset with stiff erect setae; Scutellum triangular, more than twice as wide as long (2.15 / 1.00), apex rounded, surface with a smooth median carina, laterally punctured; lateral margins delimited by an oval projection directed upward, margins beset with setae; Metanotum consisting of two sclerites with oval callosities and punctate surface, lateral margins thickened and raised, posteriorly fused to exposed mtg I+II.

Abdomen: Tergal plate medially raised, lateral apodemal impressions punctate; deltg II+III fused, inner margin of deltg II thickened and carinate; lateral margins of deltg III – IV straight, V with small lateral expansion, VI – VII with long conical lateral projections bearing spiracles; tergite VII medially raised for the reception of the pygophore, sternite VII of male with two round glandular tubercles.

M e a s u r e m e n t s: Length 7.5, length of antennae 3.65; width of abdomen across tergite IV 2.85, VI 4.25 , VII 3.20. Paratype ♀ from Costa Rica: Length 8.6 ; head length / width 1.85 / 1.40; pronotum l / w 1.75 / 2.30; scutellum l / w 1.00 / 2.05; antennal segments I / II / III / IV = 1.45 / 0.80 / 1.15 / 0.40; width of abdomen across tergite IV 3.75, VI 4.45 , VII 3.10. Paratypes ♂, ♀ from Panama: Length 7.50 / 8.50 ; head l / w 1.65 / 1.35, 1.85 / 1.45; pronotum l / w 0.70 / 2.00, 0.70 / 2.20; scutellum l / w 1.10 / 2.20, 1.15 / 2.40; antennal segments I / II / III / IV = 1.40 / 0.80 / 1.10 / 0.40, 1.55 / 0.80 / 1.20 / 0.45; width of abdomen across tergite IV 2.75 / 3.95, VI 4.25 / 4.65, VII 3.25 / 3.15 .

E t y m o l o g y: The name reflects the Caribbean area, where it occurred.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: These apterous specimens from Costa Rica and those collected from a locality in Panama (areal distance about 250 km) are usually expected to belong to different species due to their limited range of distribution. As no discriminating characters could be verified between the specimens from both localities it is hypothesized that they belong to the same taxon, unless future genetic studies might prove the contrary.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: D. caribicus nov.sp. differs from ecuadorianus nov.sp. by larger size and larger and more expanded anterolateral lobes of pronotum and mesonotum; in male by larger glandular tubercles on sternite VII and from the ♀ of micropterus by finger like lateral projections of deltg VI + VII (vs. triangular expansions).

Figures

Figs 1-4: Delnocoris caribicus nov.sp. (1, 3) holotype ♂ dorsal and ventral; (2, 4) paratype ♀ from Costa Rica, dorsal and ventral. Scale 1 mm.

Figs 5-9: Delnocoris caribicus nov.sp. (5) paratype ♂ from Panama, ventral; (6) paratype ♀ from Panama, dorsal; (7) paratype ♂ from Panama, terminal segments ventral. Arrows indicate the glandular tubercles; (8) pygophore; (9) Delnocoris micropterus KORMILEV, 1982, illustration from the original description of ♀ holotype of head, pronotum and scutellum and terminal segments, dorsal. Scale 1mm.

Figs 10-15: Delnocoris ecuadorianus nov.sp. (10, 11) holotype ♂ dorsal and ventral; (12) holotype ♂, terminal segments ventral; (13) Delnocoris caribicus, holotype ♂, terminal segments ventral. Arrows indicate the glandular tubercles; (14) Delnocoris micropterus, illustration of terminal segments, dorsal; (15) Delnocoris caribicus paratype ♀, terminal segments ventral. Arrows indicate differences between 14,15. Scale 1 mm.