Thirumalaia, Zettel & Laciny, 2021

Zettel, Herbert & Laciny, Alice, 2021, The taxonomy of some unusual Microveliinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) from India, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 61 (2), pp. 517-527 : 518

Thirumalaia gen. nov.

( Figs 1, 2 , 9–15 )

Type species. Thirumalaia ocularis sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Body of male moderately stout ( Fig. 1 ), of female much stouter ( Fig. 2 ). Postocular region of head deeply inserted in anterior part of pronotum ( Fig. 9 ). Eyes very large, synthlipsis 0.28–0.34 ( Fig. 9 ). Antenna very long and slender, about two thirds of body length ( Figs 1, 2 ); antennomere I approximately as long as head length (in male longer than in female); relative lengths of antennomeres: IV ≧ III> I> II. Pronotum convexly rounded posteriorly ( Fig. 9 ). Lateral evaporatorium situated approximately in middle of metapleuron. Legs long and slender. Claws preterminal. – Male: Propleuron unmodified. Femora unmodified. Protibia unmodified; protibial grasping comb long, about one third of tibia length ( Fig. 10 ). Mesotibia without grasping comb. Claws simple, minimally surpassing apex of tarsus. Abdomen without projections. Segment 8 elongated. Pygophore pear-shaped, narrow at base, with truncated posterior margin ( Fig. 13 ). Proctiger very slender ( Fig. 15 ). Parameres symmetrical, medium-sized, of characteristic shape as shown in Figure 14 . – Female: Genitalia situated in a strictly posterior opening of segment 7.

Comparative notes. Thirumalaia gen. nov. resembles some species of Baptista Distant, 1903 in habitus and shares with this genus some other characters like the long protibial grasping comb, structure of antenna, and a concave anterior margin of the pronotum. Most species of Baptista , including those hitherto reported from India, differ from Thirumalaia gen. nov. by strong modifications of foreleg and abdominal segments 6–7 of the males (= Baptista femoralis group sensu Kඈඏൺർ & YൺඇG 2000). Four species of Baptista from Southeast Asia and Southern China form the Baptista collaris group and also lack such modifications (Zൾඍඍൾඅ 2004, Yൾ et al. 2014b). However, Thirumalaia gen. nov. possesses none of the characters defining this group either (described in detail by Zൾඍඍൾඅ 2004). The sexually dimorphic body shape, the enlarged compound eyes, and the characteristic parameres are the most important characteristics of Thirumalaia gen. nov. For distinction from other genera see the key. Etymology. Dedicated to the memory of the Scientist of the Zoological Survey of India Dr. G. Thirumalai, honouring his significant contribution to the knowledge of Indian water bugs. Gender: feminine.

Figures

Figs 1–4. Habitus of Thirumalaia ocularis gen. nov. & sp. nov. (1 – apterous male, 2 – apterous female), and of Eyarinella robusta gen. nov. & sp. nov. (3 – apterous male, 4 – apterous female).

Figs 9–15. Structural details of Thirumalaia ocularis gen. nov. & sp. nov.: 9 – head, first antennomere, and pronotum, dorsal; 10 – foreleg of male (arrow points at proximal end of grasping comb); 11 – abdominal segments 7 and 8, and proctiger of female, dorsal; 12 – abdominal segment 8 of male, ventral; 13 – pygophore of male, ventral; 14 – left paramere, lateral; 15 – proctiger of male, dorsal. Pilosity omitted, except in Fig. 14.