Phaenacantha paveli, Hartung, 2019

Hartung, Viktor, 2019, New Oriental and Australasian taxa of Colobathristidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in the collection of the State Natural History Museum Stuttgart, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 59 (2), pp. 403-422 : 411-417

Phaenacantha paveli sp. nov.

( Figs 23–34 , 39–40 , 45–46 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J ( SMNS), collection number SMNS _HET_ T 00001:“Nouvelle Calédonie / La Foa, Pocquereux / 24.II.2006 – m 50 / Mauro Daccordi leg.[printed in black ink on white card]”. Three terminal segments of the right antenna missing, abdomen strongly deflated and distorted, the wall of the abdomen damaged because of distortion. Initially mounted on a rectangular card, now on a triangle; abdominal segment VIII and pygophore with genitalia (left paramere separated) and the 8th abdominal segment dissected and stored in a plastic vial with glycerol attached to the same pin.

Differential diagnosis. Same characters as for the two aforementioned species demonstrate the affiliation of P. paveli to the nominotypical subgenus of the genus Phaenacantha . The differences to the known Phaenacantha species were estimated using the key from HORVÁTH (1904) and species descriptions therein, as well as subsequent descriptions of Phaenacantha species by HORVÁTH (1908, 1914), KIRKALDY (1908) and BERGROTH (1914). The key by HORVÁTH (1904) groups the new species, due to the bicolorous pronotum, subvertical scutellar spine, 4th antennomere longer than the third and body size under 8 mm together with P. conviva , P. mehelyi and P. sedula ; Phaenacantha species described after HORVÁTH’ s (1904) key was published are P. androgyna Bergroth, 1914 , P. australiae Kirkaldy, 1907 , P. dignota Horváth, 1914 , P. marcida Horváth, 1914 , P. soror Horváth, 1914 and P. trilineata Horváth, 1908 . Phaenacantha australiae is the only species for which genital structure is described ( ŠTYS 1966b), along with many characters relevant for genus or family level but not for comparison with other Phaenacantha , such as proportions of the pronotal lobes, relative length of antennal segments etc. Parameres in P. paveli and P. australiae are not dissimilar, although the anterior lobe is more rectangular in P. paveli and the posterior lobe forms a more obtuse angle in it compared to P. australiae (cf. the present Fig. 46 with Figs 13 and 14 from ŠTYS 1966b). Especially striking is the difference in the structure of hypandrium which bears two small pointed parandria in P. australiae and two paddle-like large parandria in P. paveli ( Figs 39–40 , 45 ). Diagnostic characters that discern P. paveli from other species listed above include: body length just 6.70 mm in P. paveli (at least 7.40 mm in P. mehelyi , 7.60 mm in P. sedula , 10.00 mm in P. dignota , 8.25 mm in P. marcida and 7.75 in P. soror and P. trilineata ); distance between ocellus and eye ca. 7 times larger than that between ocelli in P. paveli (4 to 5 times larger in P. mehelyi , P. sedula , P. dignota , P. marcida , P. soror and P. trilineata ); posterior lobe of the pronotum being only 1.35 the length of the middle lobe + collar (twice as long in P. conviva , P. mehelyi , P. sedula , P. androgyna , P. marcida and P. soror ); antenna being 1.35 the length of the body in P. paveli (1.50 in P. conviva and P. mehelyi , 2.00 in P. dignota , 1.20 in P. marcida and shorter than the body in P. trilineata ); scutellar spine being subvertical in P. paveli (oblique at 60° in P. androgyna and P. dignota and 45° in P. marcida , P. soror and P. trilineata ); scutellar spine being ca. 0.73 of the length of the posterior pronotal lobe in P. paveli (equal to it or even slightly longer in P. conviva , P. mehelyi , P. sedula and P. dignota ); three fuscous longitudinal stripes on the posterior pronotal lobe absent in P. paveli , but present in P. androgyna , P. soror and P. trilineata ; posterior part of the posterior pronotal lobe building an angle to the rest of the segment in P. paveli , but lying in the same plane in P. conviva , P. mehelyi and P. soror ; fourth antennomere being clearly longer than the third in P. paveli (subequal to it in P. conviva and P. mehelyi or shorter than that in P. dignota ); the head with black longitudinal stripes on the vertex and black gula in P. paveli and without any black pattern in P. conviva ; scutellum is mostly black in P. paveli and rufous-testaceous in P. marcida .

Reddish hue of any body parts, although a striking feature of P. paveli before treatment with sodium triphosphate, was not used as a diagnostic character, since the colour was not stable and thus could have been present also in Phaenacantha individuals from other species and subsequently become lost in the dry specimens. However, this character should be tested on new material, since no other Phaenacantha specimens that were surveyed in different collections demonstrated such coloration.

Genital structure separates P. paveli well from the Bornean species described above – for instance, the medial concavity of the 7th tergite ( Figs 29–30 ), the male segment VIII protruding even more than in P. grimmae (cf. Figs 7 and 31 ) the large paddle-like parandria ( Figs 30, 33 , 39–40 , 45 ) or the paramere with a broad dorsal surface ( Fig. 46 ). Somatic characters as e.g. smaller body size, generally lighter coloured body, posterior pronotal lobe yellowish-brown and not dark, scutellar spine not curved and clearly shorter than the prosterior pronotal lobe help discerning this species from P. grimmae and P. nigrispina . Description. Male. Coloration. Initially, as seen in figures 23, 25–28 and 29–34, a strong reddish hue was present in many lighter coloured body parts of the specimen such as extremities, abdomen or head. The treatment in solution of sodium triphosphate, while reinflating the abdomen and making many morphological traits accessible, led to disappearance of the reddish hue, so that the specimen is now looking as in the Fig. 24 . The coloration before the sodium triphosphate treatment is described, with notes on changes after the treatment in brackets.

Head ( Fig. 28 ) yellowish brown, with only several regions dark brown: between and behind ocelli; two median stripes reaching from ocelli to antennae; gula, bucculae and neighbouring part of genae. Ocelli and eyes red ( Fig. 28 ); labium yellowish brown with tip black; first antennomere ( Fig. 25 ) reddish (yellow after sodium triphosphate treatment), antennomeres II–III yellowish-brown with dark tips, antennomere IV infuscate; femora reddish (yellow after the treatment), coxae, trochanters, tibiae and tarsi (except the dark brown terminal tarsomeres) yellowish-brown; collar and middle lobe of prothorax ( Fig. 26 ) black, posterior lobe whitish medially and reddish-testaceous laterally (brown after treatment) with punctuation partly dark, partly concolorous; hind margin whitish; scutellum black, except for apex and posterior margin yellowish (transitional regions dark brown), scutellar spine yellowish with black tip; thoracal pleura and sternites ( Fig. 27 ) black, with supracoxal lobes, dorsoposterior margin of mesopleuron, metepimera and peritreme of metathoracic gland yellowish. Fore wings (accessed after treatment) with most veins yellowish, except Cu, Pcu and the branch connecting Cu and R brown, claval organ orange, veins in membrane (formed as folds) brownish and set off against the very slightly yellowish-transparent membranous parts as well as on the clavus. Hind wings weakly yellowish-transparent except the light brown divergence point of R and M. Abdomen (except connexivum; Figs 25 , 29–31 ) with segments I–II black, segment III partly brownish partly reddish and segments IV to VII almost completely reddish (all reddish parts becoming yellowish-brown after the treatment); connexivum yellowish in segments II and III and concolorous in others; pygophore yellowish ( Fig. 33 ).

Vestiture and texture. Head (except two symmetrical depressions posterolaterally of ocelli) ( Fig. 28 ), pronotal collar and middle lobe as well as propleura and prosternum ( Fig. 26 ) covered with short adhering yellowish setae, relatively sparse on head and somewhat denser on the forementioned parts of pronotum. Pronotum punctate ( Fig. 26 ); punctures on posterior lobe larger and with a short seta (vestiture of punctation on middle lobe more variable), regions between punctures glabrous but dull. Punctation and vestiture of scutellum similar to that of middle pronotal lobe, with setae not limited to punctures. Meso- and metapleura and -sterna ( Fig. 27 ) as densely punctate as posterior pronotal lobe and with as little vestiture, but also mycoid microsculpture typical for evaporatoria covering them. Antennae and legs with dense seta cover, darker and shorter on basal antennomere and femora and lighter and longer on more distal parts. Abdomen with adhering light vestiture except pygophore (incl. hypandrium) with much longer setae posteromedially ( Figs 33 , 45 ).

Structure. Head ( Fig. 28 ) with a median sulcus starting anteriad of ocelli and reaching middle of vertex. Sulcus with slim row of setae anteromedially, not quite reaching posterior end of sulcus. Two other depressions on the head, symmetrical on each side, with the hind margin bisinuate and building a sharp edge, anterolateral slope smooth. Weak ridges reaching from each side of sulcus to respective antennal socket, more recognizable on a row of setae than elevation; median part of vertex convex. Eyes substylate. Angle between gula and clypeus sharp, gula subparallel to horizontal ( Fig. 27 ). Labium reaching base of middle coxae. Antennae thin, longer than body, most segments (especially I and IV) slightly to moderately curved. Middle lobe of pronotum ( Fig. 26 ) with convex lateral outline, broader than collar; posterior lobe with almost straight lateral outline, broader than middle lobe. Middle and posterior lobe not quite in the same plane ( Fig. 27 ), both lobes slightly convex in dorsal outline, separated by a shallow transverse impression; posterior lobe not much elevated above head. Hind third of posterior pronotal lobe sloped posteriad, building almost right angle with rest of the lobe. Hind margin of pronotum weakly bisinuate ( Fig. 26 ). Scutellar spine clearly shorter than posterior pronotal lobe ( Fig. 27 ), vertical (the angle to the plane of meso- and metanotum ca. 90°), almost straight. Legs as long as or longer than body, hind legs the longest ( Figs 23–25 ); femora slightly bent. Fore femora subterminally with curved spine ( Fig. 32 ). Fore tibia thickened on tip, semicircularly incised and carrying a comb of setae ( Fig. 34 ). Fore and hind wings well developed (specimen macropterous), fore wings almost reaching tip of the abdomen ( Figs 29–31 ). Abdomen strongly deflated in dry condition ( Figs 23–24 ), with connexiva almost touching each other dorsally at segment V; while inflated under sodium triphosphate treatment, all abdominal segments appearing of similar width. Borders between abdominal segments clear, except ventrally between IV and V that are almost unrecognizable; segment borders smooth and not elevated. Lateral segment outlines straight or almost straight in reinflated condition under sodium triphosphate. Tergite VII with a broad median incision ( Figs 29–30 ). Hind border of segment VII in lateral outline clearly sinuate, sternite being much shorter ventrally than dorsally ( Figs 30–31 ). Segments VIII and IX (pygophore) sunken into segment VII, but less than in, e.g., Bornean species: large part of segment VIII visible ( Fig. 31 ). Posteroventral pilosity on pygophore long ( Fig. 33 ). Hypandrium broadly elevated and expanded terminally, building large paddle-like parandria directed laterad ( Figs 33 , 39–40 , 45 ); pygophore forming an angle caudally under hypandrium ( Fig. 45 ); posterior margin of hypandrium almost building an angle ( Fig. 39 ). Paramere ( Fig. 46 ) spade-like, with broad dorsal margin, without anterior/ posterior processes.

Measurements. Body length 6.70 mm; head width (= max. body width) 1.16 mm. Total antenna length 9.10 mm (segment ratios, I to IV: 1.00-1.41-1.61-1.75). Ratio antenna: body 1.36; labium length 1.34 mm. Distance between ocelli 0.04 mm, between ocellus and eye 0.28–0.29 mm, ratio of the two measurements 7.16. Length of collar + middle lobe of pronotum 0.55 mm; length of posterior pronotal lobe 0.75 mm, ratio of the two measurements 1.36. Scutellar spine length 0.55 mm; ratio to length of posterior pronotal lobe 0.73. Measurements of the hind tarsus (segments I / II / III, respectively): 1.17 / 0.18 / 0.30 mm, total length of the hind tarsus 1.65 mm. Width of abdomen not measured because of its strong deflation and distortion.

Etymology. I dedicate this first Phaenacantha known from New Caledonia to the late Professor Pavel Štys, who greatly promoted the study of Colobathristidae , among many other fields. We initially planned to describe this species together.

Distribution. New Caledonia.

Figures

Figs 23–28. Phaenacantha paveli sp. nov., holotype.23 – habitus, dorsal view, untreated.24 – habitus, dorsal view, after treatment with sodium phosphate. 25 – habitus, lateral view, untreated. 26 – thorax, dorsal view, untreated. 27 – head and thorax, lateral view, untreated. 28 – head, dorsal view, untreated. Insert – specimen label. Abbreviations: col = pronotal collar, mp = middle lobe of the pronotum, pp = posterior lobe of the pronotum.

Figs 29–34. Phaenacantha paveli sp. nov., holotype, abdomen with terminalia in situ and other details of morphology. 29 – abdomen tip, dorsal view, untreated. 30 – abdomen tip, ventral view, in sodium phosphate solution. 31 – abdomen tip, lateral view, untreated. 32 – right fore femur with the spine. 33 – abdomen tip, caudal view, untreated. 34 – right front tibia with the comb. Abbreviations: hyp = hypandrium, par = parandrium, pyg = pygophore, tc = tibial comb.Abdominal segments are indicated with Roman numbers.

Figs 35–40. Male genitalia of the new Phaenacantha species. 35, 37, 39 – pygophore in left lateral view, with the left paramere detached to make the hypandrium better visible. 36, 38, 40 – pygophore with intact parameres in dorsal view. 35–36 – P. grimmae sp. nov., holotype. 37–38 – P. nigrispina sp. nov., holotype. 39–40 – P. paveli sp. nov., holotype. Abbreviations: hyp = hypandrium, p = paramere, par = parandrium, pyg = pygophore.

Figs 41–46. Male genitalia of the new Phaenacantha species. 41, 43, 45 – pygophore in caudal view, parameres intact. 42, 44, 46 – outer surface of the left paramere. 41–42 – P. grimmae sp. nov.; 43–44 – P. nigrispina sp. nov.; 45–46 – P. paveli sp. nov. Abbreviations: hyp = hypandrium, p = paramere, par = parandrium, pyg = pygophore.

Figs 12–16. Phaenacantha nigrispina sp. nov., holotype. 12 – habitus, dorsal view. 13 – habitus, lateral view. 14 – head and thorax, dorsal view. 15 – head and thorax, lateral view. 16 – right fore femur with the spine. Insert – specimen label.Abbreviations: col = pronotal collar, mp = middle lobe of the pronotum, pp = posterior lobe of the pronotum.

Figs 6–11. Phaenacantha grimmae sp. nov., paratypes, abdomen with terminalia in situ. 6–8 – paratype male, 9–11 – paratype female. 6, 9 – dorsal view. 7, 10 – lateral view. 8, 11 – caudal view. Abdominal segments are indicated with Roman numbers. Insert – labels of the female paratype. Male paratype illustrated is the same as in Figs 1–5.Abbreviations:ag = dorsoabdominal gland, hyp = hypandrium, pyg = pygophore, t = tergite, val = valvula, vf = valvifer.