Ctenipocoris, Montandon, 1897

Polhemus, Dan A. & Polhemus, John T., 2013, Guide To The Aquatic Heteroptera Of Singapore And Peninsular Malaysia. Xi. Infraorder Nepomorpha- Families Naucoridae And Aphelocheiridae, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 61 (2), pp. 665-686 : 672

Genus CTENIPOCORIS Montandon, 1897

Discussion. — This distinctive genus may be recognised by the strong anterior convergence of the eyes, with the minimum interocular distance being reached ventrally, beneath the apex of the head ( Figs. 16 , 17 ); the short legs set with stout, stubby spines ( Fig. 16 ); the narrow, spine-like metaxyphus; and the maxillary plates with tufts of long setae arising from their margins and cradling the rostrum. The body is less strongly dorsoventrally flattened than in other members of the Laccocorinae , and the eyes as viewed from above are nearly triangular in shape ( Fig. 16 ). The fore femur is small and stubby in relation to the tibia, being only weakly incrassate, and the apex of the foreleg bears two tarsal segments in both sexes, with two large apical claws. The male phallotheca is symmetrical ( Fig. 18 ), unlike the asymmetrical character state exhibited in Heleocoris and Laccocoris , and the parameres are elongate and unmodified ( Figs. 18, 20 ).

Ctenipocoris was formerly considered to be an exclusively Paleotropical genus, but various Neotropical species previously held in Heleocoris have now been re-assigned to it (D. Polhemus, 1987; López Ruf, 2004; J. Polhemus & D. Polhemus, 2008). In Asia the genus is represented by a widespread species, C. asiaticus , which occurs in Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. A second species, C. sinicus , was recently described from China based on a single female specimen ( Zettel, 2012).

Figures

Fig. 16. Ctenipocoris asiaticus Montandon, female, dorsal habitus, specimen from Vietnam, Lam Dong Prov., nr. Lan Hanh, CL 3094 (Young Sohn illustration).

Figs. 17–20. Ctenipocoris asiaticus Montandon, structural details, specimen from Vietnam, Lam Dong Prov., nr. Lan Hanh, CL 3094. 17. Head, ventral view. 18. Male phallotheca. 19. Medial process of male phallotheca. 20. Male left paramere.