Jitka, Kment, 2015

Kment, Petr, 2015, Two new genera of Madagascan Pentatominae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 55 (2), pp. 591-624 : 594-599

Jitka gen. nov.

Type species. Jitka elegans sp. nov., here designated.

Description. Structure. Body (Figs 1–3) broadly oval, robust and biconvex, more convex ventrally than dorsally.

Head ( Figs 9 , 14–15 ) very slightly shorter than wide (ca. 1.0: 1.1), horizontally positioned. Dorsal surface of head rather flat, clypeus and vertex slightly convex, anterior and lateral margins of mandibular plates laminately compressed and slightly raised upwards ( Fig. 15 ). Posterior portion of head behind eyes surrounded by pronotum (Fig. 1). Compound eyes small, round, protruding from head outline by most of their width ( Fig. 14 ). Postgenae (= tempora) behind eyes very narrow, vanishing and not surpassing eyes laterally ( Fig. 14 ). Ocelli small, inconspicuous, situated posteromedially in respect of eyes, near anterior margin of pronotum ( Fig. 14 ). Mandibular plates ( Fig. 14 ) wide, explanate, starting just in front of eyes, without anteocular tubercle or incision, their lateral margins nearly straight in posterior half, only slightly converging anteriad, widely rounded in anterior half, meeting and surpassing each other in front of clypeus, leaving only minute V-shaped incision in front of clypeal apex. Antenniferous tubercles small, situated close to anterior margin of eyes ( Figs 9 , 15 ), not visible from above ( Fig. 14 ). Antenna pentamerous. Antennal segment I shortest and stoutest, nearly barrel-shaped, segments IIa and IIb narrowly cylindrical, IIb slightly thickening apically, segments III and IV narrowly spindle-shaped. Bucculae ( Figs 9 , 15 : bc) low, ventrally straight, anteriorly subrectangular, posteriorly arcuately narrowing, quite short, reaching about posterior margin of eyes. Labrum ( Figs 9 , 15 : lr) narrow and flat. Labium slender, segment I short, covered by bucculae in lateral view and only slightly surpassing apex of bucculae posteriorly and not nearly reaching posterior margin of head ( Figs 9 , 15 : lb1); segment II longest, reaching between procoxae; apex of labium reaching between mesocoxae.

Pronotum (Figs 1, 3) transverse, nearly horizontal, only slightly sloping forwards, its surface nearly flat with one small shallow depression posteriad of each callus (= cicatrix). Anterior margin of pronotum deeply arcuately concave to receive head (Fig. 1), anterolateral angles regularly arcuate, each marked only by a short triangular tooth. Anterolateral and lateral margins of pronotum flattened, sharp, and regularly arcuate throughout their length, humeri not prominent (Fig. 1). Posterior margin of pronotum slightly concave along base of scutellum.

Scutellum (Fig. 1) triangular, slightly longer than wide at base, with small callosities in anterolateral angles. Lateral margins only slightly incised just beyond apex of frena. Apex of scutellum broadly rounded. Disc of scutellum slightly convex, regularly sloping toward margins.

Figs 1–5. Jitka elegans sp. nov., habitus. 1–3 – habitus of adult (♀, paratype from Antanimora, body length 13.08► mm): 1 – dorsal view, 2 – ventral view, 3 – lateral view. 4–5 habitus of 4 th instar larva (body length 6.62 mm):

4 – dorsal view, 5 – anterior view.

Hemelytra (Fig. 1). Clavus narrowly triangular, with 4–5 irregular lines of punctures in its widest, basal part. Costal margin of corium shallowly concave for basal third, arcuately convex for the rest of its length, corium slightly narrowing posteriad. Anterodistal angles of corium nearly rectangular, slightly rounded at apices, slightly surpassing apex of scutellum; posteromedian angles widely rounded. Membrane translucent, veins inconspicuous, simple, not reticulated. Apex of membrane slightly surpassing apex of abdomen (Figs 1–3).

Thoracic pleuron and sternum (Figs 2, 11). Meso- and metacoxae rather wide apart (distinctly wider than procoxae – see Fig. 2), meso- and metasternum flat or slightly concave, without median longitudinal carina. Pleura ( Fig. 11 ) flat, ostiolar plate of metasternum not delimited by a groove-like metepimeral pseudosuture posterolaterally. Vestibule externally flat, without vestibular scar. Ostiole ( Figs 11, 12 , 18 : o) of metathoracic scent gland situated between outer margins of meso- and metacetabulum, oval, opening posterolaterad into shallow periostiolar depression. Peritreme ( Figs 11, 12 , 18 : pes) in form of short and slender spout, apically narrowly rounded, its peritremal surface turning anteriad from posterior position (basally) to ventral position (apically). Evaporatorium ( Figs 11, 12 , 18 : ev) very large, covering posterior and lateral portion of mesopleuron (except its anterolateral angle) and anterior and central areas of metapleuron, reaching ventrally between meso- and metacetabulum, laterally emarginated by sharp longitudinal ridge. Evaporatorium smooth, punctured, with shallow gyrification ( Figs 11, 12 ). Metathoracic spiracle ( Figs 11 , 18 : sp) long, narrow, opening ventrally.

Legs. Femora longer than corresponding tibiae (Fig. 2), thickening from base on, widest anteapically, oval in cross-section but distinctly flattened (not grooved) on inferior surface ( Fig. 10 ), flattened surface delimited on each side by a line of denticles, the denticles becoming larger towards apex (most prominent on profemora – Fig. 10 , less prominent on meso- and metafemora). Superior surface of protibia broadly explanate, forming a wide, arcuate, flat carina (Figs 2, 5, 19); superior surface of meso- and metatibiae flat, narrowly emarginated laterally. Tarsi 3-segmented ( Fig. 19 ), all dorsally rounded.

Pregenital abdomen. Connexivum fully exposed dorsally (in Fig. 1 obscured due to slightly opened hemelytra), its lateral outline regularly arcuate with only minute notch after posterolateral angle of each segment (Fig. 2). Spiracle on ventrite II completely covered by metapleuron ( Fig. 11 ). Ventrite III anteromedially regularly convex, without spine or depression (Fig. 2). Abdomen ventrally regularly convex, neither keeled nor grooved (Fig. 2). Ventrites III–VII laterally with slightly indicated transverse lateral muscle scar (= pseudosutures, i.e., outer impressions associated with the inner attachment points of the tergosternal muscles) posteriad of each spiracle; two trichobothria situated transversely posteriad of the muscle scar and posteriad of spiracle (i.e., on spiracular line) on each side of abdomen.

Male genitalia. Genital capsule ( Figs 20–24 ) convex, posterior margin broadly concave with a pair of distinct posterolateral projections ( Figs 20–24 : plp) directed posterolaterad; ventral rim infolding simple, with wide V-shaped incision dorsally ( Figs 20–23 : vif); lateral rim infolding well-developed, large, shallowly concave, dish-shaped ( Figs 20–22 : lif), encompassing circular, posterodorsally directed posterior aperture ( Fig. 22 ); dorsal sclerite not developed. Paramere ( Figs 26–30 ) E-shaped, with well-developed, wide, apically rounded basal process (= sensory lobe), dorsoapically with group of long sensory setae ( Figs 27, 29 : blp); small, apically rounded middle process ( Figs 27, 29 : mep), and largest, dorsally widely arcuate and apically rounded apical process ( Figs 26–27, 29–30 : app). Inner surface of apical, middle and basal processes with scaled texture apically ( Figs 27, 29 ). Proctiger of oval shape, in dorsal part glabrous, transversely sulcate, in ventral part hairy, with shallow median furrow ( Fig. 25 ). Phallus as in Figs 31–35 ; conjunctiva with a voluminous, membranous dorsoapical lobe, ventrolateral portions of second conjunctival processes (cp-II) membranous, mesal portions closely associated with aedeagus, forming distinct ‘median penial plates’ ( Figs 34–35 : mpp); aedeagus (= vesica sensu authors) porrect, tube-like, directed posteriad, apically slightly curved dorsad ( Figs 34–35 : aed).

Female genitalia ( Figs 13 , 36–37 ). Laterotergites VIII ( Figs 13 , 36–37 : lt8) triangular, narrowly projecting dorsomedially, encompassing valvifers VIII and tergite X, and fused together medially ( Fig. 13 ). Visible portion of valvifers VIII ( Figs 36–37 : vf8) quarter-circular, dorsally slightly concave; laterotergites IX subtrapezoid, dorsally broadly arcuate ( Figs 36–37 : lt9); valvifers IX fused, small, triangular ( Figs 36–37 : vf9); triangulin not visible externally ( Figs 37 : tr). Gynatrium ( Figs 37–38 ) with pair of oval ring sclerites ( Figs 37–38 : rs) and triangular sclerite surrounding spermathecal opening ( Fig. 38 : so). Spermatheca ( Fig. 38 ): proximal duct short, narrow ( Fig. 38 : pd); dilation long, narrow ( Fig. 38 : dil), basal constricted portion restricted to about basal 1/5 of total length of distal invagination of spermathecal duct (= sclerotized rod), distinctly broadened distally; distal invagination ( Fig. 38 : div) subparallel in most of its length, weakly and gradually broadened subbasally, then relatively strongly narrowed to its base; distal duct ( Fig. 38 : dd) thin, about 1/3 of length of distal invagination; intermediate part of spermatheca (= spermathecal pump) rather narrow, broadened distally ( Fig. 38 : ip); apical receptacle subglobular ( Fig. 38 : ar) with one short projection directed proximad, hardly surpassing distal flange.

Differential diagnosis. The new genus can be easily recognized by its reddish coloration; head without anteocular spine or incision and with mandibular plates meeting in front of clypeus; pronotum with anterolateral and lateral margins arcuate, without prominent humeri; all femora with inferior surface flattened and margined by two lines of denticles; protibiae with superior surface forming a sharp, leaf-like carina; and E-shaped paramere. For detailed comments on its tribal placement see Discussion, for its identification see the Key below.

Etymology. The generic name is the Czech feminine personal name Jitka (to be pronounced as ‘Yitka’!), an equivalent of Judith; the gender is feminine. I am pleased to dedicate the new name to the eminent Czech heteropterist and my former Ph.D. supervisor Jitka Vilímová (Charles University, Prague), and two of my dear friends, the Czech helminthologist and invaluable voluntary English language editor of Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, Jitka Aldhoun (Natural History Museum, London), and the Czech malacologist, botanist, ecologist and promising piper, Jitka Horáčková (Charles University, Prague), as well as to all my relatives and other praiseworthy bearers of this name I have met or may yet meet.

Discussion. The tribe Myrocheini represents a group of pentatomine bugs which are quite heterogenous in habitus (especially the Afrotropical taxa) and can be tentatively characterised as follows ( GROSS 1975, LINNAVUORI 1982, AHMAD & AFZAL 1989, KMENT & GARBELOTTO in press):

Body elongate or ovate, fairly depressed, densely punctate. Head long and broad, lateral margins of head sharp and lamellate, neither incised nor spinose. Mandibular plates as long as or longer than clypeus. Antennae pentamerous. Antennal segment I not surpassing apex of head. Rostrum reaching at least mesocoxae. Lateral margins of pronotum lamellate and reflexed, smooth or very finely serrate; anterolateral angles of pronotum sharp, more or less prominent; humeri rounded (except of Myrochea aculeata (Westwood, 1837)) . Scutellum long and narrow posteriorly. Hemelytra as long as abdomen; costal margin of corium sharp. Propleural lobes (characteristic of Aeliini ) not developed. Mesosternum grooved, usually without median longitudinal carina, but with carina in Erachtheus and Neococalus . Ostioles of metathoracic scent glands reduced, peritreme small or missing, and metapleural evaporatorium reduced (in Afrotropical genera Myrochea , Neodymantis and Stysicoris , and Oriental genera Aednus , Dollingiana , Dorpius , Laprius , Munshiana , Neodorpius ) or peritreme long and evaporatorium large (in Afrotropical genera Delegorguella, Discimita , Ennius , Erachtheus , Humria , and Neococalus ). Profemora usually incrassate and spinulose (but unarmed in Humria and Discimita). Tarsi 3-segmented. Base of abdomen without tubercle, spine or groove. Genital capsule with posterolateral projections subprominent, often also with submedian tumescences on posterior margin; phallotheca and conjunctiva with sclerotised and membranous appendages in inflated phallus. Female genitalia with dorsal margin of valvifer VIII markedly concave, dilation of spermatheca with basal constriction, and apical receptacle of spermatheca usually with tubular processes.

As Jitka gen. nov. fits well the above mentioned characteristics, I place it in Myrocheini . In the key to the genera of Afrotropical Myrocheini by LINNAVUORI (1982) (supplemented by KMENT & GARBELOTTO in press), Jitka groups together with the genera Delegorguella and Ennius , all three sharing a sulcate mesosternum (carinate in Erachtheus and Neococalus ), a long peritreme (short in Myrochea , Neodymantis , and Stysicoris ), and tuberculate femora (unarmed in Humria and Discimita). Jitka , Delegorguella and Ennius further share the mandibular plates meeting in front of the clypeus and a large evaporatorium extending both on the meso- and the metapleuron which, on metapleuron, is laterally delimited by a raised longitudinal ridge. However, both Delegorguella and Ennius differ from Jitka in simple, not dilated protibiae and a C-shaped paramere without medial process (cf. LINNAVUORI 1982: Figs 92f, 94d; AHMAD & ZAHID 2006, 2007; ZAHID & AHMAD 2011). Delegorguella further differs from Jitka in a regularly oval body and obtuse anterolateral angles of the pronotum. Ennius can be distinguished by a narrowly oval body, a trapezoid pronotum with lateral margins straight, and dark coloration. The dilated protibia and the E-shaped paramere seem to be autapomorphies of Jitka , so far not recorded in any of the genera of Myrocheini (cf. GROSS 1975; LINNAVUORI 1975, 1982; AHMAD & AFZAL 1989; KMENT et al. 2014; KMENT & GARBELOTTO in press).

Figures

Figs 9–13. Jitka elegans sp. nov. 9 – head, ventral view (magnification 37×). 10 – profemur, ventral view (50×). 11 – meso- and metapleuron with external scent efferent system of the metathoracic scent gland (32×).12 – ostiole and peritreme (160×). 13 – external female genitalia (37×). Abbreviations: ev – evaporatorium, o – ostiole, pes – peritremal surface. Scale bars: 0.2 mm – 12, 0.5 mm – 9–11, 13.

Figs 14–19. Jitka elegans sp. nov. 14–15 – head of adult (14 – dorsal view, 15 – lateral view). 16–17 – head of larva (16 – dorsal view, 17 – lateral view). 18 – meso- and metapleuron with external scent efferent system of the metathoracic scent gland (evaporatorium dotted). 19 – protibia and protarsus (lateral surface in anterior view of the bug). Abbreviations: at – antenniferous tubercle, bc – buccula, ev – evaporatorium, lb1 – labial segment I, lr – labrum, mp – mandibular plate, o – ostiole, pes – peritremal surface, sp – metathoracic spiracle. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figs 20–26. Jitka elegans sp. nov. 20–24 – genital capsule (20 – undissected, posterior view, magnification 47×; 21 – undissected, postero-dorsal view, 47×; 22 – dissected, posterior view, 45×; 23 – dissected, posteroventral view, 45×; 24 – undissected, lateral view, 47×). 25 – proctiger, dorsal view (120×). 26 – paramere, viewed from above (200×).Abbreviations: app – apical proces of paramere, lif – lateral rim infolding, plp – posterolateral projection of genital capsule, vif – ventral rim infolding. Scale bars: 0.2 mm – 25–26, 0.5 mm – 20–24.

Figs 27–30. Jitka elegans sp. nov.27–30 – paramere (four different views, 150×).Abbreviations:app – apical process of paramere, blp – basal process of paramere, mep – middle process of paramere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figs 31–35. Jitka elegans sp. nov., phallus. 31–33 – uninflated (31 – dorsal view, 32 – ventral view, 33 – lateral view); 34–35 – partially inflated (34 – ventral view, 35 – lateral view).Abbreviations: aed – aedeagus, bp – basal plate, ds – ductus seminis, mpp – median penial plates, phth – phallotheca, res – endophallic reservoir. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figs 36–38. Jitka elegans sp. nov., female genitalia. 36–37 – external genitalia (36 – intact, 37 – dissected). 38 – gynatrium and spermatheca. Abbreviations: ar – apical receptacle of spermatheca, dd – distal duct of spermatheca, df – distal flange, dil – spermathecal dilation, div – distal invagination of spermathecal duct, ip – intermediate part of spermatheca, lt8,9 – laterotergite VIII and IX, pd – proximal duct of spermatheca, pf – proximal flange, sp – spiracle, rs – ring sclerite, so – sclerite surrounding spermathecal opening, tr – triangulin, vf8,9 – valvifer VIII and IX, X – segment X. Scale bars: 1 mm.