Micronecta (Micronecta) nieseri, Tran, 2021

Ha, Tuyet Ngan & Tran, Anh Duc, 2021, Taxonomy of Micronectidae (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) from Vietnam, with descriptions of 11 new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 756, pp. 1-82 : 56-58

Micronecta (Micronecta) nieseri sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1AA8EB22-6D08-4894-81DA-E9CE0D648CFD

Figs 13G–H , 18

Diagnosis

Body length 1.8–2.4. Pronotum longer than median head length. With dark and pale colour forms ( Fig. 13G–H ).

Males: fore femur with one pair of spines on proximal third ventrally, one longer spine on distal third dorsally, two spines distally, and one long seta dorsodistally; fore tibia with two long spines on distal third ventrally; palar claw distally moderately widened, apex rounded ( Fig. 18A ). Median lobe of sternite VII with three or four long setae and an angular apex ( Fig. 18C ). Free lobe short, distally strongly widened, posterior margin straight, lateral corner broadly notched, with a row of uniformly short, dark coloured setae restricted to lateral angle ( Fig. 18D ). Left paramere: shaft relatively short and broad, with two ridges running to lateral margin, with the proximal ridge forming a triangular projection on lateral margin; mesial margin sinuate distally; apex tongue-shaped; basal lobe sub-triangular, directed towards paramere’s apex ( Fig. 18F ). Right paramere: shaft with sinuate sides, abruptly constricted and bent at the middle part, apical part wavy and lobate ( Fig. 18E ); pars stridens processus with ca 25 ridges.

Etymology

This species is named after Dr Nico Nieser in honour of his great contributions to the taxonomy and our knowledge of Micronectidae .

Material examined

Holotype

VIETNAM • ♂; Lao Cai Prov., Sa Pa, Thanh Phu, Nam Cang stream; 26 Oct. 2013; A.D. Tran et al. leg.; TAD1359 ; ZVNU.

Paratypes

VIETNAM – Lao Cai Prov. • 16 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; same locality data as for holotype; ZVNU • 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same locality data as for holotype; NHMW • 7 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀; Sa Pa, Hoang Lien N.P. , Cat Cat ; 1 Jun. 2003; A.D. Tran leg.; TAD0336 ; ZRC • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Sa Pa, Hoang Lien N.P. , Sin Chai ; 1 Jun. 2003; A.D. Tran leg.; TAD0337 ; ZRC • 1 ♂; Sa Pa Ban Den, Ta Van, Muong Hoa stream; 24 Apr. 2011; N.H. Dinh et al. leg.; DNH11.13 ; ZVNU • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Sa Pa, Nui Xe, Tram Ton area , tributary of Vang stream; 23 Apr. 2011; N.H. Dinh et al. leg.; DNH11.07 ; ZVNU • 2 ♂♂; Sa Pa, Ban Ho, Nam Pu stream 1; 21 Oct. 2012; N.H. Dinh et al. leg.; DNH12.01 ; ZVNU • 11 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Sa Pa, Nam Cang, Nam Cang stream; 23 Oct. 2012; N.H. Dinh et al. leg.; DNH12.08 ; ZVNU • 1 ♀; Sa Pa, Nam Sai, Seo Nam Sai stream 2; 24 Oct. 2012; N.H. Dinh et al. leg.; DNH12.10 ; ZVNU • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; Sa Pa, Ban Ho, Nam Pu stream (tributary of Muong Hoa stream), site 1, at lower section; 26 Oct. 2013; A.D. Tran et al. leg.; TAD1361 ; ZVNU • 3 ♂♂; Sa Pa, Trung Chai, km 119 Nat. Road #4D; 28 Oct. 2013; Q.H. Ngo et al. leg.; TAD1370 ; ZVNU .

Description

COLOUR ( Fig. 13G–H ). With variations in colour of dorsum pattern of hemelytra, a dark form and a pale form. Most specimens with dark dorsum, generally darker in males ( Fig. 13G ): frons and vertex brownish, eyes dark reddish brown. Pronotum dark brown (males) or light brownish yellow (females). Hemelytron generally light brownish, with ill-defined dark marks; in some specimens with minute reddish dots. Membrane translucent and generally brown. Venter of thorax and abdomen yellowish brown (males) or light yellow (females), legs pale yellow. Some specimens with pale, bright dorsum ( Fig. 13H ): frons and vertex pale, eyes reddish brown. Pronotum sordid yellow but a little bit darker than vertex. Hemelytron without dark marks. Right membrane with similar colour and texture to corium. Left membrane generally hyaline. Venter pale yellow and legs very pale yellow or nearly whitish. Sample at locality TAD1359 with both colour forms.

Structural characteristics

MACROPTEROUS MALES. Body length 2.13–2.44 (holotype: 2.31), width 1.0–1.30 (holotype: 1.25). Head width 0.82–1.01 (holotype: 0.95). Pronotum well developed, about 2.4 times as wide as long (0.94: 0.40). Pronotum slightly wider than head. Synthlipsis 1.2 times as wide as posterior width of an eye (0.36: 0.29). Lengths of leg segments: fore leg: femur 0.38, tibia 0.20, pala 0.23; middle leg: femur 0.85, tibia 0.30, tarsus 0.36, claw 0.20; hind leg: femur 0.50, tibia 0.41, tarsus I 0.41, tarsus II 0.18, claw 0.07. Prestrigilar flap on segment V prolonged, with weakly acute apex ( Fig. 18B ). Strigil present. Median lobe of sternite VII, free lobe, and parameres as in diagnosis.

MACROPTEROUS FEMALES. Body length 1.84–2.3, width 0.8–1.0. Head width 0.88–0.9. Pronotum well developed, about 2.5 times as wide as long (0.94:0.37). Pronotum slightly wider than head. Synthlipsis 1.5 times as wide as posterior width of an eye (0.41: 0.27). Lengths of leg segments: fore leg: femur 0.32, tibiotarsus 0.3; middle leg: femur 0.81, tibia 0.38, tarsus 0.35, claw 0.25; hind leg: femur 0.59, tibia 0.32, tarsus I 0.4, tarsus II 0.2, claw 0.09.

Distribution

Vietnam: Lao Cai.

Remarks

See Remarks under M. pingae sp. nov.

Figures

Fig. 13. Habitus photos of species of Micronecta Kirkaldy, 1897, ♂♂. A. M. ornitheia Nieser, Chen & Yang, 2005 (ZVNU). B. M. tuwanoni Nieser, Chen, Leksawasdi, Thanyakam & Duangsupa, 2004 (ZVNU). C–D. M. clavata sp. nov., two colour forms (ZVNU), C = holotype. E. M. sinuata sp. nov., holotype (ZVNU). F. M. undulata sp. nov., holotype (ZVNU). G–H. M. nieseri sp. nov., two colour forms (ZVNU), G = holotype. I–J. M. pingae sp. nov., two colour forms (ZVNU), I = holotype. K. M. haliploides Horváth, 1904 (ZVNU). All to the same scale.

Fig. 18. Morphological features of Micronecta nieseri sp. nov., ♂, paratype (ZVNU). A. Fore leg. B. Prestrigilar flap. C. Median lobe of sternite VII. D. Free lobe. E. Right paramere. F. Left paramere.