Thaumastella elizabethae Jacobs, 1989

Kment, Petr, Jacobs, Dawid H., Carapezza, Attilio, Deckert, Jürgen, Rider, David A. & Kóbor, Péter, 2024, Desert Bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Thaumastellidae): New records and review of the distribution and habitat of this relict group, Zootaxa 5541 (2), pp. 144-162 : 148-150

Thaumastella elizabethae Jacobs, 1989

( Fig. 3 , 9–10 , 13 )

Thaumastella elizabethae Jacobs, 1989: 302–314 , Figs 1–3, 5 , 7–9, 11 –16, 19–20, 22–23, 25–26, 28–32, 35–36 (original description, morphology, karyotype). Holotype: ♂, South Africa, Namaqualand , Farm Wiedouw, nr. Vanrhynsdorp, 31°44′S 18°46′ (TMSA).

Thaumastella elizabethae : Jacobs et al. (1989): 459 –463 (composition of metathoracic scent gland secretion); Kerzhner et al. (2004): 17 (list of karyorypes); Grazia et al. (2008): 6, 8, 11, 23–26, 28–31 (phylogenetic analysis); Yao et al. (2012): 3 (phylogenetic analysis); Yao et al. (2013) 66–68 (phylogenetic analysis); Wu et al. (2016): 756 –757 (phylogenetic analysis); Lis et al. (2017): 485, 490–492 (phylogenetic analysis); Rider et al. (2018): 135 (morphology, biology); Roca-Cusachs et al. (2022): 41 (phylogenetic analysis); Bianchi et al. (2021): 414, 416, 418 (molecular phylogeny); Lis (2023): 3 –13 (secondary and tertiary structures of length-variable regions of 18S rRNA, phylogenetic position); Lis & Domagała (2024): 3, 7–8, 11–17, 19 (secondary and tertiary structures of length-variable regions of 18S rRNA, phylogenetic position).

Thaumastella elisabethae [incorrect subsequent spelling]: Pluot-Sigwalt & Lis (2008): 299, 305 (spermatheca).

Type material examined. Holotype: ♂ ( Fig. 3 ), SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: ‘Farm Wiedouw / nr. VANRHYSNDORP / S 31.44 E 18.46 / 7–9. ix. 1986 / D.H. Jacobs [printed] // Thaumastella / elizabethae ♂ [handwritten] / HOLOTYPE No. [printed in red; original type label, white with wide red frame] // HOLOTYPE Hem727 / Thaumastella / elizabethae / Jacobs ♂ [printed; red type label added by museum]’ ( TMSA). Allotype: ♀, same data as holotype ( TMSA). Paratypes: 10 ♂♂ 19 ♀♀: same data as holotype ( DHJS, TMSA); 5 ♂♂ 10 ♀♀, same data as holotype but 18–21.ix.1984 ( TMSA).

Habitat and host plant. A few specimens of Th. elizabethae were originally collected under a large stone at the foot of the Gifberg mountain near Vanrhynsdorp in southern Namaqualand. In September 1986, many specimens were collected in the late afternoon while feeding on fallen seeds of Pharnaceum aurantium (DC) Druce ( Aizoaceae ) which grow on an embankment at the edge of a cultivated field. Under nearby stones many more specimens were present. The small seeds of P. aurantium are hard and discus-shaped with a diameter of about 0.6–0.7 mm. The stylets of Th. elizabethae could only penetrate the seed at its edge and probably with difficulty. Many specimens were seen walking with a seed still attached to their stylets so that the seed was dragged at the side of the thorax. Even when disturbed they seem unable to free their stylets quickly and ran with the seeds still attached to them. Some specimens were observed entering small holes some distance away from any visible stones (Jacobs 1989).

Phenology. Adults were collected in September (Jacobs 1989).

Distribution ( Figs 9, 10 ). AFROTROPICAL REGION: South Africa: Western Cape (Jacobs 1989, Jacobs et al. 1989). Thaumastella elizabethae is only known from its type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 3–5. Habitus of South African Thaumastella species. 3—Th. elizabethae Jacobs, 1989, holotype ♂ and its labels; 4—Th. namaquensis Schaefer & Wilcox, 1971, holotype ♂ and its labels; 5—living specimen of Th. namaquensis, Namibia, Gellap, 9.ix.2008. (Photos: 3–4—D. H. Jacobs, 5—J. Deckert).

FIGURES 9–11. Distribution maps of Thaumastella species: 9—general view; 10—detailed distribution of Th. aradoides Horváth, 1896 in North Africa and Near East; 11—detailed distribution of Th. elizabethae Jacobs, 1989, Th. namaquensis Schaefer & Wilcox, 1971 and Thaumastella sp. nov. in Namibia and South Africa.

FIGURES 12–13. Comparison of distribution of Thaumastella aradoides Horváth, 1896 (12) and the South African species of Thaumastella (13), Th. elizabethae Jacobs, 1989, Th. namaquensis Schaefer & Wilcox, 1971 and Thaumastella sp. nov., compared to ecoregions according to Shorthouse (2010).

FIGURES 1–2. Habitus of Thaumastella aradoides Horváth, 1896. 1—holotype ♀ (2.40 mm) and its labels; 2—♀ (2.25 mm) from Saudi Arabia: Wadi Eidabi. (Photos: 1—P. Kóbor, 2—A. Carapezza).

FIGURES 6–7. Habitat of Thaumastella namaquensis Schaefer & Wilcox, 1971, South Africa, Farm Deurdrift near Springbok. (Photos: D. H. Jacobs).

FIGURE 8. Landscape where an undescribed Thaumastella species was collected near Beaufort West in the Karroo, South Africa. (Photo: D. H. Jacobs).