Nannogermalus pallgergelyi, Kóbor, 2023

Kóbor, Péter, 2023, The New Caledonian endemic geocorine bug genus, Nannogermalus is not monotypic anymore (Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea: Geocoridae), Zootaxa 5382 (1), pp. 43-54 : 47-49

Nannogermalus pallgergelyi sp. nov.

Figures 4–6 , 10, 12–14 .

Holotype, m ( MNHN): “NOUVELLE-CALEDONE: Prov. Sud, Bourail / Réserve Naturelle de la Nodéla / Forêt pentue avec gros blocs ultrabasique / Stn 770 / 21°26.77’S – 165°20.86’E / Réc. Páll-Gergely / NCLANDSNAILS / Alt. 588 / 04APR2022 / MNHN - Paris - Invertébrés”.

Description. Colouration. Head dorsally dark brownish with irregular ochraceous markings on vertex, clypeus, and posterior edge of eyes. Eyes reddish, ocelli ochraceous.Antennomeres semi-hyaline ochraceous with decoration as follows: antennomere I with irregular, elongate dark brownish spot laterally; antennomere III finely dark brownish basally and apically; antennomere IV infused with brown. Venter of head dark brownish with a broad ochraceous transversal spot surrounding antenniferous tubercles and base of labium. Labiomeres mostly ochraceous, apex of labiomere IV irregularly brownish. Thorax. Pronotum ochraceous with punctuation variably concolorous or brownish. Two oval brownish spots situated anteriad to callosities. Callosities dark brownish. Elongate brownish, longitudinal markings hail from posterior edge of callosities, almost reaching posterior margin of pronotum. Scutellum basally infuscate, trifurcate median carina and apical margins ochraceous. Punctuation of scutellum brownish. Clavus with elongate blackish markings at base of scutellar margin. Punctuation of clavus blackish at scutellar margin and claval commissure, brownish at corial margin. Corium with punctuation variably brownish or blackish and decoration as follows: irregular brownish spot at apex of claval commissure, punctuation along M-R with elongate brownish spot subbasally and C-shaped brownish spot subapically; apex of corium with irregular infuscate spot. Membrane hyaline. Thoracic pleurites with extended brownish spots which are darker medially ( Fig. 5 ). Prothoracic collar, supracoxal lobes, peritreme and metepimeron ochraceous. Legs ochraceous, femora with brownish spots of variable extent: profemora almost entirely covered by the spot, except apex and base; mesofemora with wide brownish annulation medially; metafemora with narrow pale brownish annulation subapically. Abdomen ochraceous, posterior edge of abdominal tergites with decoration as follows: tergite III with brownish spot medially, tergite IV with extended irregular brownish spot narrowing gradually laterally, apex of curved suture ochraceous; tergite V medially ochraceous with two separate, irregular brownish spots situated near curved suture reaching almost the lateral margin; tergite VI medially ochraceous with two sperate, irregular brownish spots narrowing gradually towards lateral margin.

Structure. Head pentagonal; vertex conspicuously declivent; integument rugose with decumbent pubescence and few punctures at middle of vertex. Eyes slightly stylate, eye stalks slightly erect; ocular sulcus complete, well-defined. Head length to width: 1: 2.38. Ocelli situated near ocular sulcus, distance of ocelli subequal to compound eye-ocellus distance, ratio: 1: 0.93. Ratio of length of antennomeres: 1: 2.12: 1.94: 2.05. Ratio of length of labiomeres: 1: 1.07: 0.72: 0.93. Thorax. Integument of thoracic dorsum covered densely with fine decumbent pubescence. Pronotum campanulate with lateral margins slightly constricted medially and posterior margin slightly convex median to humeral angles; ratio of pronotum length to width: 1: 1.63. Integument of pronotum with dense punctuation except furrow-like pronotal callosities, humeral angles, and posterior margin. Scutellum with trifurcate carina slightly flared and elevated; apical part flattening gradually towards apex of scutellum; ratio of scutellum length to width: 1: 1.25. Integument of scutellum deeply punctate except trifurcate carina. Clavus of hemelytron with margins subparallel, claval commissure minute, but distinct; length of claval commissure to length of scutellum: 1: 3.41. Scutellar margin with punctures in apical third, corial margin punctate at entire length. Corium deeply punctate along Cu and with a S-shaped row of puncutres near R-M. Exocorium widening from basal third of length apically. Membrane surpassing well the apex of abdomen, with slightly visible, simplified venation. Thoracic tergites and pleurites densely punctate except supracoxal lobes, surroundings of peritreme and metepimeron.Abdomen. Integument of abdomen with fine, decumbent pubescence. Posterior margins of abdominal tergites III–V armed with minute tubercles ( Fig. 12 ). Sutures of abdominal tergites IV/V and V/VI moderately curved with apices rounded.

Measurements (holotype, in mm).Total body length: 3.28; head length: 0.42; head width: 1.00; distance of ocelli: 0.33; length of antennomeres I–IV: 0.17, 0.36, 0.33, 0.35; length of labiomeres: 0.44, 0.47, 0.32, 0.41; pronotum length: 0.80; pronotum width: 1.30; scutellum length: 0.58; scutellum width: 0.73; length of claval commissure: 0.17.

Differential diagnosis. Besides its characteristic pattern, the species can be recognized by the basally flared trifurcate carina of scutellum (trifurcate carina interrupted by punctures medially in N. marmoratus , slightly constricted medially in N. webbi and evenly elevated in N. herczeki ) and minute tubercles on the posterior margin of abdominal tergites III–V.

Etymology. Patronym. The species was named in the honour of Barna Páll-Gergely, excellent Hungarian malacologist, collector of the holotype.

Distribution. The single individual of the species was found in a soil sample collected in course of land snail survey in Nodéla Nature Reserve, New Caledonia; habitat: mountainside forest with large ultrabasic rocks ( Fig. 14 ).

Figures

FIGURES 4–6. Nannogermalus pallgergelyi sp. nov. (Holotype, MNHN): 4. dorsal habitus, 5. lateral view, 6. detail of peritreme (scale for figures 4–5 = 1 mm; figure 6 is not to scale).

FIGURES 10–13. Morphological characteristics of Nannogermalus species: 10. head of N. pallgergelyi, 11. pronotum of N. webbi, 12. tuberculate margin of abdominal tergites in N. pallgergelyi, 13. tarsal claw and appendages in N. pallgergelyi (images not to scale).

FIGURES 14–15. Distribution map of Nannogermalus species (14; coordinates for N. webbi are rough estimates based on literature data) and habitat photo of N. pallgergelyi sp. nov. (15).