Germalus conradsi Schouteden, 1957

Kóbor, P. & Kondorosy, E., 2017, Revision of Continental African Germalus (Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea: Geocoridae), Zootaxa 4277 (3), pp. 427-434 : 429-431

Germalus conradsi Schouteden, 1957

( Figs. 2 , 4 )

Germalus conradsi Schouteden 1957 , Ann. Mus. Roy. Congo Belg. Sci. Zool. 8: 58: 255 (O.D.)

Redescription. Studied material. Type material. Holotype: “HOLOTYPUS / conradsi [handwritten] // COLL. MUS. CONGO / Victoria Nyanza / Ukeréwe - IV - 1938 / R. P. Conrads / 387 // Germalus conradsi / n.sp. / Typi [handwritten label]” (1♀, RMCA)

Notes. This species closely resembles Germalus ghesquierei Schouteden, 1957 so only the differences will be noted during the redescription.

Colouration. Head. Width of median line reaching from pronotal margin to middle of clypeus approximately twice as wide as that of G. ghesquierei . Antennal segments III-IV darker than the first two, nearly fuscous. Thorax. Punctuation of pronotum mostly concolorous with surface, blackish only near anterior angles. Spots at humeral angles somewhat smaller and more rounded. Scutellum uniformly ochraceous, only triradiate carina paler in hue. Inner margin of clavus and claval commissure strongly marginated with dark brown. Punctuation of corium variably brown or blackish, punctures along radius paler than on previous species. Fuscous spots of episternal region less extended, paler than of G. ghesquierei . Abdomen. Fuscous band on connexiva less extensive.

Structure. Head structure similar as described by previous species. Antennal segment ratio: 7:20:15:16. Labial segment ratio: 10:15:14:11. Thorax. Punctuation of pronotum and scutellum denser and stronger; surface shiny; setae lacking. Anterior angles more curved than G. ghesquierei . Scutellum very similar in structure, only setae missing. Hemielytron differs in punctuation of clavus: on G. ghesquierei a complete corial row can be observed, on G. conradsi this row extends only to the third of the length of clavus.

Measurements (holotype). body length: 5.93; head length: 0.76, -width: 1.56; distance of ocelli: 0.40; antennal segments: 0.28-0.80-0.60-0.64; labial segments: 0.4-0.6-0.56-0.44; pronotum length: 1.20, -width: 1.60; scutellum length: 0.72, -width: 0.72.

Discussion. This species resembles to G. ghesquierei but there are some notable differences which separate the two species e.g. colouration of dorsal punctuation and abdominal dorsum, claval punctuation.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitus and labels of Germalus conradsi Schouteden, 1957

FIGURE 4. Distribution of Germalus sp. in Africa