Protrocha nesolitaria ( Caldwell, 1945 )

de Freitas, Abner S., Dietrich, Christopher H. & Takiya, Daniela M., 2020, Five new species of Caliscelidae (Insecta, Hemiptera) from Mexico and Panama, with additional redescriptions of little-known species, European Journal of Taxonomy 717, pp. 27-69 : 53-57

Protrocha nesolitaria ( Caldwell, 1945)

Figs 18–20 , 26H

Aphelonema nesolitaria Caldwell 1945: 96 , pl. I: figs 12, 13.

Aphelonema (Protrocha) nesolitaria – Emeljanov 1996: 834 (proposed new subgenus of Aphelonema ). Protrocha nesolitaria – Gnezdilov 2013: 212.

Diagnosis

Body mainly light yellowish-brown, with broad continuous pale-yellow longitudinal stripe crossing vertex, pronotum and mesonotum; abdomen with one median and two pairs of lateral black longitudinal stripes ( Fig. 18 ); frons with median carina ( Fig. 18A, D ), sublateral carinae ventrally curved ( Fig. 18A, D ), central plate round, slightly extending anteriorly beyond sublateral carinae in lateral view ( Fig. 18C, F ); sides of frons with two rows of sensory pits on each side ( Fig. 18C ); abdominal tergites ( Figs 18C, F , 26H ) with row of sensory pits followed by isolated ventral pair (tergite IV) or one isolated row of three sensory pits almost aligned vertically (tergites V to VII), tergite VIII with more than one sensory pit.

Material examined

MEXICO • 1 ♂; “DUR” [Durango], W of Durango, route 40, Km 31; 23.94487° N, 104.85435° W; 2500 m a.s.l.; Oct. 2005; C. Dietrich leg.; vacuum sample; DNA voucher ENT4914; INHS • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; INHS .

Description

BODY LENGTH. Male = 2.6 mm; female = 3.0 mm.

COLORATION. Body mainly light yellowish-brown ( Fig. 18 A–F). Vertex, pronotum and mesonotum ( Fig. 18B, E ) with broad continuous pale-yellow longitudinal stripe (faint on vertex). Gena ( Fig. 18C, F ) with two black maculae, one in front of antenna and another under eye. Clypeus ( Fig. 18F ) with black maculae laterally in females. Forewings hyaline ( Fig. 18 B–C, E–F). Metathorax with wide black macula ( Fig. 18 B–C, E–F). Abdomen ( Fig. 18B, E ) with one median and two pairs of lateral black longitudinal stripes; lateral margin of tergites with thin white longitudinal stripe.

HEAD AND THORAX. Vertex ( Fig. 18B, E ) hexagonal, almost as long as half its width, as long as pronotum; posterior margin slightly elevated. Frons ( Fig. 18A, D ) with median carina and pair of sublateral carinae; sublateral carinae convergent and almost fused to each other ventrally ( Fig. 18A, D ); central plate ( Fig. 18A, D ) almost as long as wide at widest portion, not visible in dorsal view ( Fig. 18B, E ), slightly extending anteriorly beyond sublateral carinae in lateral view ( Fig. 18C, F ); sides of frons partially visible in frontal view ( Fig. 18A ), almost fused above clypeus, with two rows of sensory pits on each side in lateral view ( Fig. 18C, F ): anterior row with eight sensory pits, five dorsal ones grouped together, followed by sixth isolated one aligned with antenna and pair of ventral ones isolated next to clypeus; posterior row with four sensory pits. Clypeus ( Fig. 18C, F ) not swollen, with median carina, with protuberance in lateral view. Ocelli absent. Eye oblong. Antenna short, with several small circular structures visible on pedicel. Pronotum ( Fig. 18B, E ) semicircular, shorter than half of its width, with median carina; median portion of disc without sensory pits; lateral portion of disc with 13 to 15 sensory pits; lateral lobe ( Fig. 18C, F ) with four sensory pits arranged in group. Mesonotum ( Fig. 18B, E ) with median carina and pair of lateral carinae; region between lateral carinae depressed, without sensory pits; region laterad of lateral carinae with 10 to 11 sensory pits. Brachypterous, with reduced venation. Legs simple, with carinae and setae; tibia III with single median spine.

ABDOMEN. Terga with longitudinal carina. Tergite III ( Figs 18C, F , 26H ) without sensory pits. Tergite IV ( Figs 18C, F , 26H ) with one row of two sensory pits followed by isolated pair aligned vertically. Tergites V to VII ( Figs 18C, F , 26H ) with one row of two to four sensory pits followed by isolated row of three to four sensory pits aligned almost vertically. Tergite VIII ( Fig. 26H ) with three sensory pits.

MALE TERMINALIA. Pygofer ( Fig. 19A ) narrow, with anterior margin deeply concave; posterior margin dorsal third with convexity, middle third slightly convex, ventral third with convexity. Connective ( Fig. 19B ) inverted Y-shaped, with support bridge with dorsal flap. Style ( Fig. 19 C–D) hook-like; anterior portion pointed; caudal portion strongly curved anterodorsally, converging towards the other in dorsal view ( Fig. 19C ); dorsal margin ( Fig. 19D ) almost straight to caudal portion; ventral margin ( Fig. 19D ) with straight angle between anterior third and middle third, remainder rounded; median portion ( Fig. 19D ) as long as high, setose; apex serrated ( Fig. 19D ). Phallobase ( Fig. 19 E–H) sclerotized, symmetrical, with two defined lobes; apex with pair of lobes truncated in dorsal view ( Fig. 19 E–F) and rounded in lateral view ( Fig. 19 G–H); sides expanded and rounded ( Fig. 19 E–F); with pointed dorsal process near apex in lateral view ( Fig. 19 G–H), surrounding apical half of aedeagus. Aedeagus ( Fig. 19 E–F) with apex narrow and open dorsally, with pair of aedeagal hooks, each curved laterally and crossing the other in dorsal view ( Fig. 19 E–F); one aedeagal hook curved anterodorsally and another curved anteroventrally in lateral view ( Fig. 19 G–H). Suspensorium V-shaped. Segment X of anal tube ( Fig. 19 I–J) as long as wide; posterior margin ( Fig. 19I ) rounded; setose.

FEMALE TERMINALIA. Posterior margin of sternite VII ( Fig. 20B ) with median portion roundly produced; setose. Gonoplac ( Fig. 20C ) sclerotized, sub-triangular, setose. Anterior connective lamina of gonapophysis VIII ( Fig. 20D ) with three large apical teeth: innermost larger than outer ones; and smaller teeth between and laterad of larger ones. Posterior connective lamina of gonapophysis IX ( Fig. 20 E–F) distal part with longitudinal row of eight long, narrow, triangular oblique spines in lateral view; middle portion with several pits ( Fig. 20F ); apex setose ( Fig. 20F ); region between distal parts with patch of small setae ( Fig. 20E ). Segment X of anal tube ( Fig. 20 G–H) as long as wide at widest portion; posterior margin ( Fig. 20G ) with apex rounded; setose.

Remarks

This species was originally placed in Aphelonema and was later transferred to Protrocha by Emeljanov (1996). However, this species has only part of the diagnostic combination of generic characteristics (see Discussion), sharing other characteristics with Aphelonema , such as (1) sides of frons in upper half with two parallel rows of sensory pits ( Fig. 18C, F ); and (2) abdomen with sensory pits aligned in one row ( Fig. 18C, F , 26H ). Additionally, the male terminalia ( Fig. 19 ) of this species are similar to those observed in other species of Aphelonema (as A. brevata , see Fig. 2 ) and when compared with the type species of Protrocha , the central plate of frons and the distribution of sensory pits on sides of frons are different. We chose to follow Emeljanov’s allocation of this species in Protrocha because we couldn’t check the holotype of this species. Specimens at hand were identified based on the original description and illustrations of Caldwell (1945) mainly because of: (1) the shape of vertex, central plate of frons and pronotum; (2) the lateral lobe of pronotum with four grouped sensory pits ( Fig. 18C, F ); and (3) the coloration with five black stripes on abdomen ( Fig. 18B, E ). Unfortunately, we were unable to study the holotype (not found at NMNH). The holotype is a female and the original description does not include information about abdominal sensory pits. The only information on the female terminalia given by Caldwell (1945) is “Last ventral segment of female with a broad caudal flap gently notched in the center.” However, our female (which was dissected) does not have the mentioned median notch of sternite VII.

Figures

Fig. 18. Habitus of Protrocha nesolitaria (Caldwell, 1945). A–C. ♂ (INHS). A. Frontal view. B. Dorsal view. C. Lateral view. D–F. ♀ (INHS). D. Frontal view. E. Dorsal view. F. Lateral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 19. Male terminalia structures of Protrocha nesolitaria (Caldwell, 1945) (INHS). A. Pygofer, lateral view. B. Connective, anterior view. C–D. Style. C. Dorsal view. D. Lateral view. E–H. Phallus. E–F. Dorsal view. G–H. Lateral view. I–J. Anal tube. I. Dorsal view. J. Lateral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 20. Female terminalia of Protrocha nesolitaria (Caldwell, 1945), ♀ (INHS). A. External female terminalia, ventral view. B. Sternite VII, ventral view. C. Gonoplac, lateral view. D. Anterior connective lamina of gonapophysis VIII, ventral view. E–F. Posterior connective lamina of gonapophysis IX. E. Connective part in dorsal view. F. Distal part in lateral view. G–H. Anal tube. G. Dorsal view. H. Lateral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 26. Scheme of lateral abdominal sensory pit arrangement of Caliscelidae. Roman numerals refers to abdominal tergite number and sensory pits below the dashed line are the isolated ones. A. Aphelonema brevata Caldwell, 1945. B. Bruchomorpha decorata Metcalf, 1923. C. Bruchomorpha mormo Kirkaldy, 1907. D. Bruchomorpha pseudodorsata sp. nov. E. Fitchiella brachyrhina sp. nov. F. Fitchiella zahniseri sp. nov. G. Nenema virgata (Doering, 1941). H. Protrocha nesolitaria (Caldwell, 1945). I. Protrocha nigrilutea sp. nov. J. Protrocha punctatosa sp. nov.

Fig. 2. Male terminalia of Aphelonema brevata Caldwell, 1945 (INHS). A. Pygofer, lateral view. B. Connective, anterior view. C–D. Style. C. Dorsal view. D. Lateral view. E–H. Phallus. E–F. Dorsal view. G–H. Lateral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.