Neobergrothista rotundiventris, Heiss, 2010

Heiss, E., 2010, New taxa and systematic assignments of Madagascan Aradidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), Zootaxa 2728, pp. 23-38 : 37

Neobergrothista rotundiventris n. sp.

(Photo 19,20,21)

Material examined. Holotype ♀: Madagascar: Fianarantsoa (Analanja), dry forest / 12km WSW Ambalavao, 800m / 25 X 2001 lg. Schuh (8a) // Holotype ♀ / Neobergrothista / rotundiventris n. sp. / des. E.Heiss 2010.

Diagnosis. Its body is ovate and widely rounded; the surface of the body and appendages are finely granulate, the granules larger on the thorax and antennal segment I; colouration of the head, pronotum, and scutellum are blackish, the legs and antennae are dark brown except for the tibiae and the basal ¾ of the antennal segment III, these are of lighter colour; the abdomen is yellowish with black spots on its lateral margins of deltg II–VII and an exposed lateral strip of tergal plate, tergite VII,and paratergites VIII medially as well as the tergites IX and X; the venter is blackish except vltg II–VII, which are yellowish with brown spots.

Description. Macropterous female, structure and colouration as given in diagnosis.

Head: Slightly wider than long (16/15); genae thin adhering to clypeus; antenniferous lobes bluntly rounded at apices reaching clypeus; antennae 2.4x as long as width of head, segment I clavate and thickest, II shortest, III longest, cylindrical with slightly enlarged apex, IV fusiform with pilose apex; length of antennal segments I/II/III/ IV = 5/3/5.25/5.5; eyes inserted in head; postocular lobes angulate behind eyes and not reaching beyond their outer margin, then straight and converging posteriorly to constricted collar; vertex granulate; rostrum arising from a slitlike atrium shorter than head.

Pronotum: About twice as wide as long (38/19.5); lateral margins evenly rounded converging anteriorly, anterolaterally lamellate and slightly reflexed, anterolateral angles rounded and produced over thin carinate collar, this laterally incised and with 2 (1+1) large round tubercles laterally at a lower level; disk densely granulate with two ovate flat callosities on anterior half, posterior half elevated and raised at humeri.

Scutellum: Wider than long (24/15.5); lateral margins carinate and sinuate at middle, apex rounded; anterior margin carinate; disk highest along median elevation transversely rugose laterally.

Abdomen: Ovate, widely evenly rounded; pe-angles of deltg II–VII not protruding, VII truncate posteriorly; deltg II–VII trapezoidal, wider than long, lateral strip of tergal plate along inner margins of deltg III–VII is exposed; tergite VII raised posteriorly, paratergites VIII wide and rounded, shorter than truncate tergites IX+X.

Venter: Meso-, metanotum, and sternites I+II and III fused but marked by transverse sutures, medially depressed; posterior margins of sternites III–VI raised and carinate; stridulatory file-like carina widely curved, extending from anterolateral angle to inner posterior angle of vltg III, its surface finely transversely striate; metathoracic scent gland canal distinct; spiracles II–V ventral far from lateral margin, VI sublateral but not visible from above, VII and VIII lateral and visible.

Legs: Femora slightly thickened at middle constricted at apex; hind femora with distinct carina on ventral face, this a counterpart to curved file of vltg III producing sound when moving the hind legs; tibiae cylindrical curved posteriorly, tarsi bisegmented, claws with thin pulvilli.

Measurements. Length 5.3 mm; width of abdomen across tergite IV 57, V 55.5, VI 52.

Etymology. Referring to the rounded abdomen of the type species.

Distribution. The type locality Ambalavao is on the Eastern side of the central Madagascan mountain range, a well known area for a rich indigenous flora and fauna.