Thaumastotingis, Heiss & B, 2015

Heiss, Ernst & B, Viktor, 2015, Thaumastotingis areolatus nov. gen., nov. sp. a conspicuous new Thaumastocoridae from Baltic Amber (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), Linzer biologische Beiträge 47 (1), pp. 529-537 : 530-531

Genus: Thaumastotingis new genus

Type species: Thaumastotingis areolatus new species by monotypy.

D i a g n o s i s Body of oval outline. Head short and wide, its preocular part converging anteriorly, head dorsally without visible tubercles. Eyes rather large and laterally produced. Bucculae (juga auct.) not flattened, lateral margins parallel or slightly widening posteriorly, separated by wide truncate clypeus, its apex not exceeding. Antennae 4-segmented. The ratio of antennal segments lengths are I<II<III>IV. Apex of labium reaching posterior margin of middle coxa.

Pronotum without longitudinal carinae and a median triangular projection, paranota areolate, their posterior margin slightly convex. Scutellum fully visible from above.

Hemelytra including membrane completely areolate except their apex. Corium divided into costal, subcostal, discoidal and sutural areas by longitudinal elevated veins. Сlavus separated from corium by a comissura.

Male ninth abdominal segment (genital capsule) is clearly asymmetric, rather elongate, turned with its terminal opening to the left side. Parameres paired, hook-like.

Tarsi 3-segmented. Claws with large oval pulvilli (arolia auct.). C o m p a r i s o n a n d d i s c u s s i o n: The new genus shows characters of two families: Tingidae and Thaumastocoridae . Areolate structure of hemelytra including membrane, separation of corium into costal, subcostal, discoidal and sutural areas by longitudinal elevated veins, presence of areolate paranota and paired parameres are features relating this new genus to Tingidae . Absence of pronotal posterior triangular projection and fully visible scutellum as well as clavus separated from the corium by a comissura are characteristic features of tribe Phatnomini (Cantacaderinae) (or subfamily Phatnominae sensu B. LIS 1999 ). This character is in Phatnomini combined with the presence of spines or tubercles on head as well as with longitudinal pronotal carinae. However, these structures of head and pronotum are missing in the new genus.

Despite the above mentioned features connecting the new genus with Tingidae , several important characters indicate, that this genus most likely belongs to Thaumastocoridae .

These features are as follows.

 Distinctly asymmetric male genital segment. An assumption that the asymmetry of genital segment of holotype may be an artifact of the amber inclusion is very unlikely, because this segment is rather elongate and narrow. Such shape of male genital capsule is characteristic to Thaumastocoridae and not inherent for Tingidae (male genital segment in the latter family is short and wide).

 Bucculae finger-like with lateral margins parallel and slightly widening posteriorly, separated by wide truncate clypeus.

 Tarsi with distinct pulvilli which are common in Xylastodorinae (Thaumastocoridae) (absent in Tinginae , in Cantacaderinae only seta-like parempodia are present). Already DRAKE AND SLATER 1957 stated, that these characters are clearly referring to Thaumastocoridae .

 Furthermore, the very wide head with laterally produced eyes as well as the very thin second and third antennal segments compared to thick first segment are also specific features of Thaumastocoridae and not of Tingidae

 The lack of longitudinal carinae on the pronotum is uncommon for Tingidae .

Based on this complex combination of most important characters, we tentatively assign Thaumastotingis nov.gen. to Thaumastocoridae . Within this family, the presence of enlarged pulvilli and rather short bucculae (juga) not exceeding apex of clypeus resemble and seem therefore be related to taxa of the subfamily Xylastodorinae (DRAKE & SLATER 1957) , where the new genus may be tentatively placed.

In addition three-segmented tarsi are a unique feature of the new genus and not characteristic for either Tingidae , nor for Thaumastocoridae . Tarsi of members of these two families are two-segmented. Nearly complete areolate structure of hemelytra, areolate paranota and presence of two parameres are characters that distinguish Thaumastotingis nov.gen. from all genera of Thaumastocoridae .

This genus combines features of this family and Tingidae and deserves probably the rank of a particular subfamily of Thaumastocoridae e.g. Thaumastotinginae.

E t y m o l o g y: Refers to the combined characters of Thaumastocoridae and Tingidae .