Steinovelia Polhemus & Polhemus, 1993

Moreira, Felipe Ferraz Figueiredo, Floriano, Carla Fernanda Burguez, Rodrigues, Higor D. D. & Sites, Robert W., 2020, Revision of the American genus Steinovelia Polhemus & Polhemus, 1993 (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha: Veliidae), Zootaxa 4729 (1), pp. 77-91 : 78

Steinovelia Polhemus & Polhemus, 1993

Steinovelia Polhemus & Polhemus, 1993: 394–397 .

Type species by original designation: Velia stagnalis Burmeister, 1835 .

Redescription. General body shape elongated, widest across humeri. Ocular setae absent. Black denticles absent from jugum and adjacent portion of proespisternum. Humeral angles generally forming small projections ( Figs. 2 A–B, 3A, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C). Posterior angle of pronotum broadly rounded in apterous and macropterous forms ( Figs. 1A, 1C , 2 A–B, 3A, 4A–D, 4F, 5A, 5C). Forewing of macropterous form usually without basal and apical maculae, but with distinct color pattern. Sides of body with many silvery setae, sometimes forming longitudinal rows ( Figs. 1E , 2G , 3B , 4G , 5E ). Mesoacetabula not prolonged into tubercles, without large, deep puncture on mesal surface. Intersegmental region between the meso- and metasterna without two pairs of small tubercles medially. Metasternum with a pair (1+1) of small tubercles laterally; posterior margin almost straight. Femora yellow on basal halves, then brown to dark brown with a preapical yellow macula or band. Tibiae brown to dark brown with a subbasal and a median yellow band ( Figs. 1 A–D, 2A–F, 3A, 4A–F, 5A–D). Inner surface of fore tibia, middle femur, and hind femur and tibia with several black spinules ( Fig. 4E ). Abdominal mediotergites II and III each with a prominent pair of submedian longitudinal carinae. Anterior margin of abdominal sterna III–VII each with a small, transverse glabrous area. Abdominal sternum VII of both sexes without expansions or projections. Male proctiger without spines or expansions. Parameres symmetrical, elongate and narrow, slightly tapering to apex ( Fig. 2G , 5E ).

Discussion. The species of Steinovelia originally were described in Velia Latreille, 1804 and then transferred to Paravelia by Polhemus (1976). Later, Polhemus & Polhemus (1993) described Steinovelia for seven species of Paravelia (five valid and two junior synonyms) and indicated the position of the tubercles on the metasternum as the main putative autapomorphy of the new genus. Since then, Steinovelia has not been revised and its species were not redescribed or illustrated. Considering the difficulty in setting interspecific limits in Steinovelia , redescriptions and photographs of the types are crucial to enable the identification of specimens. Finally, the metasternal tubercles and humeral projections may vary intraspecifically, and are underdeveloped in some specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Steinovelia permista. (A) Apterous male holotype, dorsal view; (B) Apterous male holotype, ventral view, arrow indicates slightly incrassate hind femur; (C) Apterous female, dorsal view; (D); Apterous female, ventral view; (E) Apterous male holotype, lateral view.

FIGURE 2. Steinovelia stagnalis. (A) Macropterous male, dorsal view; (B) Macropterous male, dorsal view; (C) Apterous male, dorsal view; (D) Apterous male, ventral view; (E) Apterous female, dorsal view (S. watsoni, paratype); (F) Apterous female, ventral view (S. watsoni, paratype); (G) Apterous male, lateral view (S. watsoni, paratype).

FIGURE 3. Steinovelia vinnula. (A) Macropterous female holotype, dorsal view; (B) Macropterous female holotype, lateral view; (C) Macropterous female holotype, hind leg, dorsal view.

FIGURE 4. Steinovelia virgata. (A) Macropterous male, dorsal view; (B) Macropterous male, dorsal view; (C) Macropterous female, dorsal view; (D) Macropterous female syntype, dorsal view; (E) Macropterous male, ventral view; (F) Macropterous female, dorsal view; (G) Macropterous male, lateral view. Figure 4D reproduced from http://www.flickr.com/photos/perth_museum_and_art_gallery.

FIGURE 5. Steinovelia placida (junior synonym of S. virgata). (A) Macropterous male holotype, dorsal view; (B) Macropterous male holotype, ventral view; (C) Macropterous female paratype, dorsal view; (D) Macropterous female paratype, ventral view; (E) Macropterous male holotype, lateral view.