Paravelia williamsi Hungerford, 1930

Rodrigues, Higor D. D., Moreira, Felipe F. F., Nieser, Nico, Chen, Ping Ping, Melo, Alan L., Dias-Silva, Karina & Giehl, Nubia F. S., 2014, The genus Paravelia Breddin, 1898 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) in Brazil, with descriptions of eight new species, Zootaxa 3784 (1), pp. 1-47 : 40

Paravelia williamsi Hungerford, 1930

( Figs 19 C–D, 20G)

Velia williamsi Hungerford, 1930a: 25 . [Original description]

Paravelia williamsi: Polhemus 1976 , 513. [New combination; checklist] Paravelia williamsi: Heckman 2011 , 229. [Identification key]

Macropterous male. BL 5.80; HL 0.70; HW 1.20; ANT I 0.80, ANT II 0.70, ANT III 0.75, ANT IV 0.92; EYE 0.26; PL 2.05; PW 2.00; FORELEG: FEM 1.35, TIB 1.30, TAR I 0.10, TAR II 0.20, TAR III 0.36; MIDLEG: FEM 1.65, TIB 1.75, TAR I 0.11, TAR II 0.56, TAR III 0.46; HINDLEG: FEM 2.00, TIB 2.25, TAR I 0.12, TAR II 0.56, TAR III 0.46.

Diagnosis. General body color brownish; acetabula, coxae, trochanters, and basal half of tibiae yellowish; remainder of legs brown. Forewing with a basal white macula starting from humeral angle and ending adjacent to posterior margin of pronotum; at apex a big oval white macula ( Fig. 19 C). Abdominal sternites centrally flattened in males and slightly flattened in females. Male with a pair of distinct projections on posterior margin of sternite VII ( Fig. 19 D) and proctiger with anterior elevation. Paramere elongated, slightly curved centrally, with a small notch on dorsal surface near base, and rounded apex ( Fig. 20 G).

Discussion. The species was described only from the macropterous form in both sexes. Until now it was known only from the type-locality in Guyana, being herein recorded for the first time from Brazil. The only specimen examined was collected on a temporary pool in the middle of a trail in a “terra-firme” forest. Males of this species have projections on abdominal sternite VII (19D), and differ from other species with such structures by the maculae pattern of the forewings ( Fig. 19 C). Considering these other species, the apical macula can be smaller ( P. nieseri ), elongated ( P. basalis ), rounded ( P. confusa ), or oval in P. williamsi and P. truxali . However, the last two species can be easily differentiated by the coloration and shape of the posterior angle of pronotum, being orange and acuminated in P. truxali , and brownish and rounded in P. williamsi .

Material examined. Brazil, Amazonas: 1 macropterous male ( INPA), Manaus, Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, pool in trail of Igarapé Acará, 0 5.III.2012, (U.G. Neiss) [first record from Brazil].

Figures

FIGURE 19. Dorsal view, (A) Paravelia platensis (brachypterous), (B) P. spinifera, (C) P. williamsi, (D) ventral view of P. williamsi (arrow indicates the projections on sternite VII of male).

FIGURE 20. Lateral view of genital capsule of male, (A) P. nieseri, (B) P. platensis, paramere in posterior view, (C) P. recens, (D) P. rotundanotata, (E) P. spinifera, (F) P. splendoris, (G) P. williamsi.