Voragocoris weirauchae, Almeida & Carvalho-Filho & Knyshov & Fernandes, 2020

Almeida, Flavio Roberto De Albuquerque, Carvalho-Filho, Fernando Da Silva, Knyshov, Alexander & Fernandes, Jose Antonio Marin, 2020, Voragocoris weirauchae sp. n. (Heteroptera: Schizopteridae: Schizopterinae), a further minute litter bug species from Brazil, Zootaxa 4729 (1), pp. 138-144 : 140-141

Voragocoris weirauchae sp.n.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0B4F2D77-1F56-44D1-809C-8E301E1A575B

( Figs 1–3 )

Material examined (n=8). HOLOTYPE ♂ ( MPEG) labelled as follow: Paragominas-Pará-Brasil [municipality of Paragominas, state of Pará] / Mineradora HYDRO [Norsk-Hydro bauxite mine] / 03°17’24.80”S 47°43’5.90”W / 01.XII.2018 / Col [= collectors]: Almeida, F. R. A. et al. / Armadilha luminosa CDC [= CDC light trap] [specimen preserved in 95% ethanol].

PARATYPES: 1 ♂ ( MPEG), same data as holotype except 03º13’35.90”S 47º43’6.30”W / 16.XI.2018 ; 1 ♂ ( UFPA), same data as holotype except 03º14’59.30”S 47º40’57.20”W / 25.XI.2018 ; 1 ♂ ( UCR), same data as ho- lotype except 03º15’50.90”S 47º41’46.00”W / 27.XI.2018 ; 1 ♂ ( UFPA), same data as before ; 1 ♂ ( UFPA), same data as holotype except 03º15’12.07”S 47º41’55.02”W / 25.XI.2018 ; 2 ♂ ( MPEG), same data as holotype except 03º13’38.20”S 47º42’08.30”W / 23.XI.2018 .

Measurements of Holotype. Total length: 1.16 mm; antennal segments: I: 0.07 mm; II: 0.08 mm; III: 0.30 mm; IV: 0.22 mm; width between eyes: 0.25 mm; pronotum length: 0.19 mm; pronotum width: 0.50 mm; scutellum length: 0.19 mm; abdominal width: 0.39 mm.

Diagnosis. This species can be recognized by the following combination of characters: male-specific organ protruding forward ( Fig. 2 B–C). Region between vertex and male-specific organ with a median stripe of appressed pile ( Fig. 2 B–C). Region between male-specific organ and clypeus glabrous ( Fig. 2B ). Sternum 6 of male with a median patch of long setae ( Fig. 2 D–E). Process of mediotergite 8 (mt8p) small and rounded ( Fig. 3A ). Pygophore cavity elongated, shallow and not so prominent ( Fig. 2D; 2F ). Aedeagus without processes ( Fig. 3A ).

Description. Male. SURFACE AND VESTITURE. Vertex and frons covered with dense microtrichia and sparse, long setae, except a bare narrow region between the male-specific organ and the clypeus and a small region under the male-specific organ that is covered by clusters of pointed microtrichia ( Fig. 2 B–C). Region between the vertex and the male-specific organ has a narrow median stripe of appressed hair-like pile ( Fig. 2 B–C). Male-specific organ with a cluster of small setae laterally ( Fig. 2C ). Vertex with a pair of bare muscle scars ( Fig. 2B ). Clypeus with symmetrical pattern of sparse long setae distributed in the upper and lower region. Patches of hair-like sensillae on sterna 4–5 slightly oval, patch on sternum 4 slightly dislocated to the right and patch on sternum 5 on the midline, sternum 6 with a median patch of long setae ( Fig. 2 D–E). Pygophore densely covered with small setulae and long setae, except on anterolateral corners that are covered only by rows of fringed scale-like papillae in dorsal view ( Fig. 3A ) STRUCTURE. Head with frons slightly curved in lateral view, with small depression corresponding to malespecific organ ( Fig. 2 B–C) that is located almost in the middle of frons; male-specific organ orifice relatively small, region just above the orifice with a pair of lobed and parallel dorsally flattened projections and region below with a pair of convergent and triangular projections that have filamentous tips; vertex flat, without furrow; thorax and pregenital abdomen as in generic description (see Weirauch 2012). GENITALIA. Male ( Fig. 3A ). Mediotergite 8 narrowed with small rounded process strongly curved to right side in dorsal view. Pygophore subtriangular, slightly constricted from sides with apex narrowly rounded, pygophore cavity elongated, shallow and not so prominent. Anophore without an anterior process. Right paramere elongate and tapering toward the apex, with a row of long setae in left lateral margin of basal half. Left paramere small and plate-like, with about three long setae in the anterior half. Anal tube (at) membranous, large, and rounded. Aedeagus elongate and coiled, with simple tip (without processes).

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. Named in honor of Dr. Christiane Weirauch, who described Voragocoris and continues to make important contributions to the knowledge of Dipsocoromorpha.

Distribution. BRAZIL (Pará).

Comparative diagnosis. Species belonging to Voragocoris share several features of general morphology. Despite the similarities, the shape of the male-specific organ and the male genitalia are very important to differentiate the species belonging to this genus.

Despite the brief description of V. amrishi and the low-resolution images, it is possible to assess that it is morphologically similar to V. schuhi in having male-specific organ with a tubular projection protruding forward, surrounded by a cluster of whitish elongate setae. In addition, these species share pygophore with a deep cavity and aedeagus with processes. In the new species, the projection of the male-specific organ is flattened and not protruding forward and without a conspicuous cluster of setae; the cavity of pygophore is shallow and the aedeagus lacks the processes. Voragocoris schuhi also differs from V. weirauchae sp.n. in having clypeus with many spine-like microtrichia and cavity of pygophore surrounded by long setae. Considering the morphological similarity, these features are possibly present in V. amrishi . Voragocoris weirauchae sp.n. has a median patch of light setae on sternum 6, which is absent in V. schuhi and seems to be an autapomorphy of the new species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Male of Voragocoris weirauchae sp.n. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C. Lateral left view. D. Frontal view. Abbreviation: mso = male-specific organ. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Scanning electron micrographs of Voragocoris weirauchae sp.n. A. Head and thorax, ventral view. B. Head, frontal view. C. Detail of mso. D. Abdomen, ventral view. E. Detail of sterna 4, 5, and 6. F. Pygophore, ventral view.Abbreviations: cly = clypeus, lb1 = first labial segment, lb2 = second labial segment, lb3 = third labial segment, mso = male-specific organ, oc = ocellus, phs4 = patch of hairlike sensillae on sternum 4, phs5 = patch of hairlike sensillae on sternum 5, pyc = pygophore cavity, pyg = pygophore. Scale bars: 200 µm (Fig. 2A); 100 µm (Fig. 2B;2D); 20 µm (Fig. 2C); 50 µm (Fig. 2E–F).

FIGURE 3. Male genitalia of Voragocoris weirauchae sp.n. A. Pygophore and genitalia, dorsal view. Abbreviations: aed = aedeagus, ano = anophore, at = anal tube, lp = left paramere, mt7 = mediotergite 7, mt8 = mediotergite 8, mt8p = process of mediotergite 8, pyg = pygophore, rp = right paramere. Scale bar: 50 µm.