Micronecta queenslandica Chen, 1965

Tinerella, Paul P., 2013, <strong> Taxonomic revision and systematics of continental Australian pygmy water boatmen (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Corixoidea: Micronectidae) </ strong>, Zootaxa 3623 (1), pp. 1-121 : 108-112

Micronecta queenslandica Chen, 1965

( Figs. 61–64 )

Micronecta queenslandica Chen, 1965: 159

Micronecta annae kirkaldyi Wróblewski, 1970: 688 . [syn. Wróblewski, 1972b: 519.]

Micronecta queenslandica: Wróblewski, 1972b: 519 . [note]

Micronecta queenslandica: Cassis and Gross, 1995: 69 . [catalog]

Micronecta queenslandica: Andersen and Weir, 2004: 250 , 335. [key; list]

Micronecta queenslandica: Tinerella, 2008: 45 . [redescription, phylogeny]

Diagnosis: Superficially similar in size and general habitus to Micronecta quadristrigata ( Figs. 57a–b , 61a–b ). Micronecta queenslandica is readily distinguished by the male parameres ( Figs. 63a–d ) and the combination of the prothoracic lobe ( Fig. 62a ), metaxyphus ( Fig. 62b ), and sternal process of abdominal segment VII ( Fig. 62f ).

Size: ( Table 19). Macropterous form: 2.6–3.0. Brachypterous form unknown.

Derivation of specific epithet: Named honoring Queensland, the type locality state .

Notes on type material: Type series deposited in SEMC, along with two males in SAMA ( Chen 1965). I have examined the material from SEMC. I also examined two female paratypes from ANIC.

Description: Based on macropterous form. Measurements. Length: male 2.67–2.86; females 2.79–2.93; Width: male 1.19–1.28; female 1.24–1.29; Width of head: male 1.00–1.07; female 0.99–1.06; Synthlipsis: male 0.37–0.39; female 0.36–0.40; Width of eye: male 0.35–0.36; female 0.33–0.37; Width of pronotum: male 0.96–1.03; female 0.92–1.03; Length of pronotum: male 0.32–0.35; female 0.31–0.33.

Color: Ground color yellowish-brown ( Figs. 61a–b ). Head pale yellow, eyes silver. Frons slightly darker, vertex, clypeus, and genae pale yellow. Labium brown. Antennae pale yellow. Pronotum dark brown with narrow, pale band present along apical margin. Scutellum dark brown. Clavus with basal diagonal area generally developed, pale yellow in color. Medial and apical portion of clavus same color as in corium and membrane. Corium brown, with irregular darker markings somewhat resembling patterning of Micronecta quadristrigata and M. robusta . Prenodal embolar area with one or two large darker brown spots, pruinosity confined to basal portion. Postnodal embolar area short, one darker spot present laterally in apical portion of embolium. Left membrane in both sexes hyaline, pale. Venter of both sexes pale yellow, slightly suffused with grey. Legs of both sexes pale, natatorial setae of metatarsus darkened.

Structural characteristics: Ratio of body length/width: males 2.25; females 2.26. Head width about equal to pronotal width, interocular space nearly equal to width of eye, synthlipsis 1.1 times as wide as posterior width of eye. Ocular index: males 1.18; females 1.21. General facies of head (vertex, frons, labium) proportionate. Antennae densely pilose, segments one and two very short, segment three longer, elongate, upper and lower margins evenly rounded, apex acuminate. Prothoracic lobe broad, anterior angle quadrate, posterior margin truncate ( Fig. 62a ). Pronotum large, convex, widest at middle with lateral margins narrowly tapered, about three times as wide as long (W/L: males 0.98/0.34; females 1.00/0.32). Hemelytral microsculpturing consisting of non-distinct wavy lines. Short setae evenly distributed over clavus, corium, and right membrane. Prenodal embolar area long, broad, and well-developed. Nodal furrow present, marked by near perpendicular suture which does not reach outer wing margin. Postnodal embolar area very short, widened basally and inconspicuous apically. Metathoracic wings welldeveloped, reaching apices of hemelytra. Lateral setae on abdominal segments IV–VIII: IV: one long, stout spine, two long, thin setae; V: two short, stout setae, two short, thin setae; VI: three short, stout setae, one long, stout spine, one long, thin spine; VII: two short, stout setae, two long, stout setae, one long, thin seta; VIII: five stout setae of varying lengths, five long, thin setae. Metaxyphus of both sexes short, triangular, apex broadly rounded, short setae distributed over entire surface with three to four longer setae in basal portion ( Fig. 62b ).

L= length, LP= length of pronotum, W= body width, WH= width of head, S= synthlipsis, WE= width of an eye, WP= width of pronotum, L:W= ratio body length to width, S:E= ratio of synthlipsis to eye width, OcI= ocular index.

Male foreleg ( Fig. 62c ): femur with two short, stout spines in basal third near ventral surface and two short setae dorso-apically. Tibia with one large spine in apico-ventral portion. Pala with two to three dorsal setae in medial and apical portions; palmar area with about seven setae in dorsal row and 11–12 setae in lower row, lower row setae more pronounced than those of dorsal row. Apex of pala with single short, thickened seta. Palar claw ( Fig. 62d ) narrow, tapered proximad, parallel-sided with apex rounded. Female foreleg with same general setal arrangement as male. Mesotarsal claws about one-half the length of mesotarsus.

Lateral lobes of abdominal tergum IV short, rounded, right lobe slightly longer than the left. Right lobe with about four long setae, left lobe with about five long setae, evenly spaced and confined medially. Prestrigilar flap of tergal segment V narrow, long, upper angle greatly produced ( Fig. 62e ). Strigil expanded, elliptical in outline. Median lobe of sternite VII ( Fig. 62f ) long, apex narrowed and blunt, setae restricted to basal portion. Free lobe of tergite VIII ( Fig. 62g ) with inner angle absent, outer angle well-produced, elongate, apex of lobe with 14–19 very long setae. Pars stridens processus cleaner ridges of tergite VIII appearing as a fine-ridged mat of two series: one series of longer ridges and one series of short ridges. Left paramere ( Figs. 63a–c ) slightly shorter, with broad shaft, tip triangular, pointed with recurved area cut out ventrally. Base long, evenly rounded. Right paramere ( Figs. 63a–d ) long, parallel-sided, distal portion curved downward, tip acuminate. Base compact, squared ( Fig. 63d ), with about 24 plectral ribs spanning lower portion of base. Aedeagus short, broad ( Figs. 63a–c ).

Distribution and Habitat: ( Fig. 64 ). Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. Within Australia, the species is recorded from Queensland and newly recorded here from Northern Territory. Specimens examined were taken at lights. No further ecological or habitat data are available.

Discussion: The species was recently recorded for Papua New Guinea ( Tinerella 2008). The taxon shows similarity with Micronecta quadristrigata , on the basis of habitus and the sigmoid free lobe of abdominal tergite VIII ( Figs. 58f , 59b , 62g ). Male genitalia of the two species are, however, very distinct. The species lacks the anterior pronotal carina seen in typical species of the M. annae species group. Further relationship with the M. annae species group is seen in the form of the pala and palar claw ( Figs. 62c–d ) and the morphology of the relatively shortened sternal lobe of abdominal segment VII ( Fig. 62f ).

Specimens examined: AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: Warlock Ponds , 35 mi N of Larrimah. 21-VI-1972. Lights. B. K. Head. (2♂, 2♀♀). [ SAMA] ; Northern Territory: 10 mi E of Daly River. 28-VI-1972. Lights. B. K .

Head. (2♂). [SAMA]; Queensland: Townsville. 1920. G. F. Hill. (1♀). [ ANIC]; same data. (1♀). [ SEMC] ; Queensland: North Queensland. VI-1954. M. Laird (1♀). [ ANIC] ; Queensland: North Queensland. 13-VI-1954. M. Laird. (1♂). [ SEMC]; same data. 14-VI-1954. (1♂, 1♀). [ SEMC] .

Figures

FIGURE 57. Micronecta quadristrigata Breddin. a. Male. b. Female. Scale bars = 0.5 mm. (modified from Tinerella, 2008)

FIGURE 58. Micronecta quadristrigata Breddin a. Prothoracic lobe, female. b. Metaxyphus. c. Left male foreleg, posterior aspect. d. Prestrigilar flap of abdominal segment V. e. Sternal process of abdominal segment VII. f. Free lobe of abdominal tergite VIII. Scale bars = 0.1 mm. (modified from Tinerella, 2008)

FIGURE 59. Micronecta quadristrigata Breddin. a. Male fore leg, anterior aspect, palar claw folded in. b. Free lobe of abdominal tergite VIII. c. Left paramere, dorso-lateral aspect. d. Left paramere, tip. e. Right paramere, dorso-lateral aspect. f. Right paramere, latero-medial aspect. g. Right paramere, lateral aspect. h. Pars stridens processus, base of right paramere. (modified from Tinerella, 2008)

FIGURE 61. Micronecta queenslandica Chen. a. Male. b. Female. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 62. Micronecta queenslandica Chen. a. Prothoracic lobe, female. b. Metaxyphus. c. Left male foreleg, posterior aspect. d. Left male pala (tarsus), anterior aspect, palar claw folded in. e. Prestrigilar flap of abdominal segment V. f. Sternal process of abdominal segment VII. g. Free lobe of abdominal tergite VIII. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 63. Micronecta queenslandica Chen, male genitalia. a. Left paramere, lateral aspect, right paramere, dorso-lateral aspect. b. Left paramere, latero-frontal aspect, right paramere, tip. c. Right paramere, lateral aspect. d. Pars stridens processus, base of right paramere.

FIGURE 64. Distribution of Micronecta queenslandica Chen.