Abelocephala nakatai, Ishikawa, Tadashi, Cai, Wanzhi & Tomokuni, Masaaki, 2015

Ishikawa, Tadashi, Cai, Wanzhi & Tomokuni, Masaaki, 2015, The assassin bug subfamily Tribelocephalinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) from Japan, with descriptions of eight new species in the genera Opistoplatys and Abelocephala, Zootaxa 3936 (2), pp. 151-180 : 166-167

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3936.2.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:157EDA4A-00A3-469F-8234-7E7175BF13E7
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6112390
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038E87FC-FFD1-1374-FF43-BC86FE03A735
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Abelocephala nakatai
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Abelocephala nakatai View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs. 45, 46 View FIGURES 41 – 51 , 57, 58 View FIGURES 53 – 58 , 67 View FIGURES 65 – 69 , 72 View FIGURES 70 – 75 , 78 View FIGURES 76 – 80 , 93–98 View FIGURES 93 – 104 , 116 View FIGURES 114 – 119 , 122 View FIGURES 120 – 125 , 128, 134, 140, 146, 151)

Diagnosis. This species is recognized by the following combination of character states: body approximately 3 mm long; head 1.3 to 1.4 times longer than width across eyes; mandibular plate acutely angled at anterior corner and strongly projected anteriorly in dorsal view, rostral segment I approximately 1.7 times longer than segment II; posterior pronotal lobe yellowish brown; outer (larger) cell of hemelytral membrane rounded apically; and posterior process of pygophore narrow with rounded apical margin in dorsal view.

Description. Male (macropterous). Body ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 41 – 51 ) mostly brownish. Antennae, rostrum, and legs brownish yellow. Antennal flagella pale yellow. Posterior pronotal lobe yellowish brown except for median longitudinal sulcus and posterior marginal area brown. Hemelytra dark brown, with basal part pale yellow to pale brown; corial cell more or less fuscous ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 41 – 51 ). Abdomen yellowish brown to brown.

Head ( Figs. 45 View FIGURES 41 – 51 , 55, 56 View FIGURES 53 – 58 , 72 View FIGURES 70 – 75 ) approximately 1.3 times longer than width across eyes, as long as pronotum, protuberant immediately behind eyes in dorsal view; anteoculus as long as postoculus; mandibular plate ( Fig. 58 View FIGURES 53 – 58 ) acutely angled at anterior corner and strongly projected anteriorly in dorsal view. Eye ( Figs. 57 View FIGURES 53 – 58 , 72 View FIGURES 70 – 75 ) approximately 0.4 times as wide as interocular space in dorsal view. Antennal segment I slender, approximately 7 times longer than its maximum width, slightly longer than segment II ( Figs. 93, 94 View FIGURES 93 – 104 ); flagellum as long as segment I ( Fig. 95 View FIGURES 93 – 104 ). Rostral segment I stout, 1.7 times longer than segment II ( Fig. 72 View FIGURES 70 – 75 ).

Pronotum ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 41 – 51 ) approximately 0.7 times as long as humeral width; anterior lobe 0.55 times as long as posterior lobe along midline, 0.7 times as wide as humeral width. Hemelytron ( Figs. 45 View FIGURES 41 – 51 , 116 View FIGURES 114 – 119 ) wide, 2.2 times longer than its maximum width, exceeding apex of abdomen by approximately 0.3 times of its length; outer (larger) cell of membrane ( Fig. 116 View FIGURES 114 – 119 ) rounded apically.

Pygophore ( Fig. 122 View FIGURES 120 – 125 ) ovoid in lateral view; posterior process (Fig. 128) narrow, slightly tapering apicad, with rounded apical margin in dorsal view. Parameres ( Fig. 134 View FIGURES 132 – 137 ) strongly curved in apical two-thirds, with rounded, inwardly projected apex in dorsal view. Struts of phallus ( Fig. 140 View FIGURES 138 – 143 ) tapering apicad, weakly constricted at apical one-third, obtuse at apex, and with lateral walls thinned throughout in dorsal view.

Female (macropterous). Almost same as male in general habitus ( Fig. 46 View FIGURES 41 – 51 ). Head ( Figs. 46 View FIGURES 41 – 51 , 67 View FIGURES 65 – 69 , 78 View FIGURES 76 – 80 ) approximately 1.4 times longer than width across eyes. Antennal segment I stouter and much shorter than that of male, approximately 5 times longer than its maximum width, as long as segment II ( Figs. 96, 97 View FIGURES 93 – 104 ); flagellum approximately 1.2 times longer than segment I ( Fig. 98 View FIGURES 93 – 104 ). Abdominal tergite IX ( Fig. 146 View FIGURES 144 – 148 ) with lateral projection at each basal angle; lateral projection long, gently constricted at middle, obtuse at apex, with weak notch subapically. Valvifer I ( Fig. 151 View FIGURES 149 – 153 ) oblong; valvula I ( Fig. 151 View FIGURES 149 – 153 ) with approximately 3 setae.

Measurements [in mm, ♂ (n=31) /♀ (n=19), holotype in parentheses]. Body length 2.80–3.35/2.95–3.49 (3.00). Head length 0.65–0.74/0.68–0.72 (0.67), width across eyes 0.54–0.62/0.51–0.58 (0.55). Lengths of antennal segments I and II 0.62–0.73/0.51–0.60 (0.69) and 0.60–0.71/0.50–0.56 (0.64), respectively. Lengths of rostral segments I and II 0.49–0.56/0.52–0.56 (0.50) and 0.30–0.32/0.30–0.31 (0.32), respectively. Pronotum length 0.62–0.76/0.61–0.69 (0.67), width across humeri 0.87–1.08/0.89–1.05 (0.94). Hemelytron length 2.41–2.92/ 2.36–2.74 (2.57). Lengths of femur and tibia of fore leg 0.77–0.98/0.79–0.88 (0.90) and 0.80–0.96/0.79–0.86 (0.85); of mid leg 0.75–0.93/0.78–0.87 (0.79) and 0.79–0.95/0.77–0.87 (0.86); of hind leg 0.98–1.24/1.01–1.16 (1.07) and 1.14–1.36/1.05–1.15 (1.21). Abdomen length 1.42–1.83/1.61–1.84 (1.51), maximum width 1.06–1.56/ 1.34–1.55 (1.19).

Holotype. ♂ ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 41 – 51 ), “[ JAPAN] Komi, Iriomote-jima Is., the Ryûkyûs, 23–27.IV.2004, FIT, T. Ishikawa et al.” ( LETUA IC 2014-00135) ( TUA).

Paratypes (30 ♂, 19 ♀). JAPAN [Ishigaki Is.] Mt. Nosoko-dake: 6 ♂ (one shown in Figs. 55, 56 View FIGURES 53 – 58 , 72 View FIGURES 70 – 75 , 93–95 View FIGURES 93 – 104 , 140 View FIGURES 138 – 143 ), 2 ♀, 5.ii.2003, T. Nakata ( LETUA IC 2014-00136–00143) ( TUA), 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 9.vi.2003, T. Nakata ( LETUA IC 2014-00144–00145) ( TUA), 1 ♀, 9.vi.2003, S. Nagashima ( LETUA IC 2014-00146) ( TUA), 1 ♀ ( Figs. 146 View FIGURES 144 – 148 , 151 View FIGURES 149 – 153 ), 9.vi.2003, T. Ishikawa ( LETUA IC 2014-00147) ( TUA), 1 ♂, 10.vi.2003, S. Nagashima ( LETUA IC 2014- 00148) ( TUA), 1 ♀, 10.vi.2003, T. Ishikawa ( LETUA IC 2014-00149) ( TUA), 1 ♂, 2 ♀, 11.vi.2003, S. Nagashima ( LETUA IC 2014-00150–00152) ( TUA), 6 ♀ (each one shown in Fig. 46 View FIGURES 41 – 51 and Figs. 67 View FIGURES 65 – 69 , 78 View FIGURES 76 – 80 , 96–98 View FIGURES 93 – 104 ), 11.vi.2003, T. Ishikawa ( LETUA IC 2014-00153–00158) ( TUA, CAU, NSMT). Ôtake: 1 ♂, 24–26.v.2001, T. Tsuru ( LETUA IC 2014-00159) ( TUA). Hirakubo: 2 ♀, 14.ii.2003, T. Nakata ( LETUA IC 2014-00160–00161) ( TUA). [Iriomote Is.] Ôtomi-rindô: 1 ♂, 7–11.iv.2005, FIT-M, J. Kantoh ( LETUA IC 2014-00162) ( TUA). Komi: 2 ♀, 2.v.2002, S. Nagashima ( LETUA IC 2014-00163–00164) ( TUA), 19 ♂ (each one shown in Figs. 116 View FIGURES 114 – 119 , 134 View FIGURES 132 – 137 and Figs. 122 View FIGURES 120 – 125 , 128), 1 ♀, same data as holotype ( LETUA IC 2014-00165–00184) ( TUA, CAU, NSMT).

Distribution. Japan: Ryukyu Islands (Ishigaki Is., Iriomote Is.).

Etymology. Named after Mr. Tadafumi Nakata, who collected the type specimens of this species; a noun in the genitive case.

Remarks. Only the macropterous form of this species is known. In general habitus, this new species resembles A. albula sp. nov. However, A. nakatai sp. nov. can be distinguished from A. albula sp. nov. by the head protuberant immediately behind the eyes in dorsal view ( Figs. 57 View FIGURES 53 – 58 , 67 View FIGURES 65 – 69 ) [vs. not protuberant behind the eyes in dorsal view ( Figs. 53 View FIGURES 53 – 58 , 65 View FIGURES 65 – 69 )], the mandibular plate acutely angled at the anterior corner and strongly projected anteriorly in dorsal view ( Fig. 58 View FIGURES 53 – 58 ) [vs. nearly right-angled and weakly projected anteriorly in dorsal view ( Fig. 54 View FIGURES 53 – 58 )], the length of rostral segment I [1.7 times longer than segment II ( Figs. 72 View FIGURES 70 – 75 , 78 View FIGURES 76 – 80 ) vs. 1.4–1.5 times longer than segment II ( Figs. 70 View FIGURES 70 – 75 , 76 View FIGURES 76 – 80 )], the outer (larger) cell of the hemelytral membrane rounded apically ( Fig. 116 View FIGURES 114 – 119 ) [vs. acutely angled apically ( Fig. 114 View FIGURES 114 – 119 )], and the posterior process of the pygophore narrow with a rounded apical margin in dorsal view (Fig. 128) [vs. wide with a straight apical margin in dorsal view (Fig. 126)].

Abelocephala nakatai sp. nov. was obtained from the leaf litter of humid forests and from FIT-Ms placed on the forest floor. This new species was found simultaneously with O. minimus sp. nov. in Mt. Nosoko-dake, Ishigaki Island and with A. albula sp. nov. in Komi, Iriomote Island. This observation implies that these three species show the same habitat preference.