Proneoproxius, Heiss, Ernst & Poinar, George O., 2012

Heiss, Ernst & Poinar, George O., 2012, The first Carventinae species in Miocene Dominican Amber (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae), Zootaxa 3268, pp. 47-54 : 52

Proneoproxius n. gen. Heiss & Poinar

Type species: Proneoproxius cornutus n.sp.

Diagnosis. Although the head structure corresponds to that of Neoproxius species, which lack intraocular grooves for the reception of antennae at rest (including the new species described above), it differs by the apterous condition (all extant Neoproxius taxa are macropterous) and the peculiar structure of the pronotum and other thoracic sclerites.

Description. Apterous, small, about 3mm, coloration black with silvery shining patches of incrustation at middle of meso- and metanotum and tergal plate.

Head. Wider than long, genae lobulately produced and far surpassing apex of clypeus nearly reaching apex of antennal segment I; antenniferous lobes finger-like; antennae about 1.4x as long as width of head, segment I thickest, II shortest, III thinnest and longest, IV fusiform.

Thorax. Pronotum. Distinctly wider than long, lateral margins subparallel, disk on anterior lobe with 2 (1+1) elevated anteriorly converging and produced ridges.

Meso- and Metanotum slightly wider than pronotum, their lateral margins rounded and apparently fused to each other and to mtg I+II, depressed at middle.

Abdomen. Of ovate outline, apex and right posterior part of abdomen up to deltg V missing; lateral margins of deltg III–VI raised; tergal plate depressed with a feeble longitudinal elevation at middle.

Legs. Long and slender, unarmed; claws with pulvilli.

Etymology. From <pro> (Latin) = before and Neoproxius the closest related genus.

Discussion. As the terminal segments are partly cut off, the sex of the specimen cannot be determined. Although detailed body structures such as the fusion lines of the thorax and abdomen and the position of the spiracles are not clearly discernible because of impurities in the amber piece and the black coloration of the specimen, the visible structures differ from all extant Neocoris and a new genus is proposed to accommodate this fossil taxon.