Rhagovelia andradei, Galindo-Malagón & Morales & Moreira, 2023

Galindo-Malagón, Ximena Alejandra, Morales, Irina & Moreira, Felipe Ferraz Figueiredo, 2023, A new species and updates on the Rhagovelia angustipes complex (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Veliidae) in Colombia, Zootaxa 5361 (3), pp. 367-389 : 368-373

Rhagovelia andradei sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–3 )

Apterous male ( Figs. 1A, B, E ; 2A, C, D ; Table 1 )

Color and pilosity. Body brown to black, covered by short, shiny setae. Head with erect, black setae on frons. Base of antennomere I pale-yellow; rest of antenna brown to dark-brown. Antennomere I with eight robust, erect, black setae; II with a pair of robust, erect, black setae. Eye dark-red. Buccula yellowish-brown. Labium brown, becoming dark-brown toward apex. Pronotum covered by silvery pubescence interrupted medially, with long, black setae on sides; anteriorly with a central trapezoidal orange mark interrupted medially; posteriorly covered by dark-brown setae. Exposed portion of mesonotum black, covered by short brown setae and a few longer setae. Sides and venter of thorax greyish-black. Thoracic and abdominal sterna covered by light setae. Proacetabulum black, with subtriangular yellowish mark medially; mesoacetabulum black, with narrow yellowish stripe posteriorly; metacetabulum black, with slightly wider posterior yellowish stripe. Fore and hind coxae yellowish, middle coxa dark-brown. All trochanters, femora, tibiae and tarsi brown to black. Legs covered by short brown setae; lightcolored, thin, long setae on coxae and trochanters; rows of long, robust, black setae on femora and tibiae.Abdominal mediotergites I– VI and mesal portion of laterotergites black, covered by brown pubescence and abundant setae; lateral portion of laterotergites shiny brown; abdominal mediotergite VII and tergum VIII centrally with shiny black areas; VII with abundant setae posteriorly. Abdominal sterna II– VI black, covered by greyish pubescence; VII brown medially, black, covered by greyish pubescence, laterally; VIII brown. Sterna II– V each with medial brush of golden setae; VI –VIII covered by short brown setae.

Structure. Head relatively short and wide;midline and two oblique basal foveae impressed and shiny.Antennomere I thicker than others, slightly wider on apex, curved laterally; II and III cylindrical, III not enlarged; IV fusiform. Labium wide, almost reaching middle of mesosternum. Pronotum with lateral margins diverging posteriorly and posterior margin slightly concave. Mesonotum with posterior margin straight centrally. Metanotum short and wide; posterior margin straight centrally. Fore tibia with grasping comb extending slightly beyond apex; in ventral view, with weak preapical concavity. All trochanters lacking pegs or spines. Hind femur slightly incrassate, surpassing apex of abdomen; apical half with row of 4–6 spines decreasing in size toward apex of segment. Hind tibia straight, with obtuse spinules throughout posterior surface plus a straight apical spur ( Fig. 2A ). Abdominal mediotergites I– VI subrectangular; VII slightly longer than wide; dorsum of abdominal segment VIII longer than mediotergite VII. Abdominal laterotergites elevated but not vertical, slightly tapering toward apex of body. Abdominal sternum VI medially carinated, with a small, triangular projection on posterior margin; VII widely depressed, with weak median carina ( Fig. 1E ). Abdominal segment VIII cylindrical, with weak median carina ventrally. Parameres symmetrical, longer than wide; shape as in Fig. 2C . Proctiger as in Fig. 2D .

Apterous female ( Fig. 1C, D, F ; Table 1 )

Color, pilosity and structure similar to apterous male, except for: sides and venter of body with bluish tinge; leg pilosity denser; hind femur shorter, not surpassing apex of abdomen, slightly less robust, with row of 4–5 spines; spinules on hind tibia smaller and less numerous; abdominal laterotergites reflected over mediotergites, strongly convergent posteriorly, almost touching over between segments V and VI, laterotergite VII divergent posteriorly, with thickened and more shiny lateral margins, and abundant long brown setae posteriorly; apex of abdominal mediotergite VII and tergum VIII with longer, stronger setae; abdominal tergum VIII very short, rounded ( Fig. 1C ); abdominal sterna uncarinated, without projections; sternum VII longer, wider, covered by long golden setae posterolaterally, with lateral margins parallel and abundant thick setae projecting from below posterior margin; gonocoxae short, partially covered by sternum VII, with abundant thick setae posteriorly ( Fig. 1F ).

Macropterous male ( Fig. 2B ; Table 1 )

Similar to apterous male in general color, pilosity and structure, except for: pronotum subpentagonal, longer, broader, with posterior margin rounded; forewing surpassing apex of abdomen, with two long proximal closed cells and two short distal closed cells, all cells contained within basal half of wing, veins brown ( Fig. 2B ); and hind femur with four spines.

Macropterous female ( Table 1 )

Similar to apterous female in general color, pilosity and structure, except for conditions related to wing development, abdominal laterotergites slightly elevated, not reflected over mediotergites, and hind femur with four spines.

Distribution. Colombia, Boyacá ( Fig. 3A ).

Etymology. This species is named in honor of professor Luis Gonzalo Andrade Trujillo, founder of the “Museo de Historia Natural” (UPTC) and who worked on science outreach and the establishment of biological collections.

Habitat notes. This new species was found in streams with moderate to strong current in the eastern Andes of Colombia. Specimens were collected near the margins of the streams in backwater areas ( Fig. 3B ).

Comments. Rhagovelia andradei sp. nov. belongs to the angustipes complex based on the pronotum of the apterous forms being shorter than the dorsal length of the eye, with the posterior margin slightly concave. Within the complex, the tarsal formula 3-3-3 ensures that it is not part of the salina group, where at least the middle tarsus is biarticulated. Furthermore, having macropterous specimens with four closed cells on the forewings allows positioning it in the bisignata group.

The condition of the abdomen of R. andradei sp. nov. is unique within the angustipes complex and allows immediate distinction from any similar species. It is the only species in which male abdominal sternum VI is medially carinated and bears a small, triangular projection on the posterior margin, while sternum VII is widely depressed, with a weak median carina ( Fig. 1E ). Furthermore, the apterous females have the abdominal laterotergites reflected over the mediotergites, being strongly convergent posteriorly and almost touching over between segments V and VI, while laterotergite VII is divergent posteriorly, with thickened, shiny lateral margins; sternum VII is long, wide, with the posterolateral angles covered by long golden setae, the lateral margins parallel and abundant thick setae projecting from below the posterior margin; and the gonocoxae are short and partially covered by sternum VII, with abundant thick setae posteriorly ( Fig. 1F ).

Modifications of the apterous female abdomen are not rare in the angustipes complex as a whole, especially the folding of the laterotergites over the mediotergites ( Nieser & Polhemus 1999), but they are not common in the Colombian fauna ( Galindo-Malagón et al. 2021, 2022). The morphology of the abdominal dorsum and venter of the apterous female of R. andradei sp. nov. is different from all other Colombian species. Modifications of the male abdomen are not common in the complex, but there are a few examples from the country. The male metasternum and abdominal sterna II–IV are strongly swollen, with brushes of long golden setae medially, in R. gastrotricha Padilla-Gil, 2011 , whereas in R. spinosa Gould, 1931 , male abdominal sternum VII bears a stout, slightly curved spine. However, none of these resembles the condition of the new species.

Type material examined: Holotype apterous ♂ (UPTC-In-22646): ‘ Colombia \ Boyacá \ Pajarito \ Vereda Corinto \ Quebrada \ 5.4017278, -72.7242 \ 1508 m \ 2021-IV-05 \ Col: Morales-Alba, A. & Martínez, D.’. 2 apterous ♂, 1 macropterous ♂, 3 apterous ♀, paratypes (UPTC-In-22647): same data as holotype. 1 apterous ♂, 1 apterous ♀, paratypes (UPTC-In-22648): ‘ Colombia \ Boyacá \ Pajarito \ Quebrada interior bosque \ 2017-XI-01 \ Col: Morales, I.’. 4 apterous ♂, 1 macropterous ♂, 5 apterous ♀, 1 macropterous ♀, paratypes (UPTC-In-1831): ‘ Colombia \ Boyacá \ Mongua \ Vereda Sismoza \ Quebrada El Chuzcal \ Red acuática \ 1931 m \ 2019-II-28 \ Col: Galindo, X.’.

Additional material examined. COLOMBIA. Boyacá. Jenesano, Río Guayas, Puente La Palma, 2045 m, 5.3677778, -73.3633333, 2016-X-12 (Molano, F. leg.): 1 apterous ♀ (UPTC-In-5763). Pajarito, Corregimiento Corinto, Quebrada, 5.4008333, -72.7241667, 1541 m, 2021-IV-05 (Morales-Alba, A.F. & Martínez, D.C. leg.): 1 apterous ♂, 1 macropterous ♂ (UPTC-In-22649). Pajarito, Corregimiento Corinto, Bosque ripario, Quebrada Corinto, 5.4044444, -72.7202778, 1517 m, 2021-IV-05 (Morales-Alba, A.F. & Martínez, D.C. leg.): 1 apterous ♀ (UPTC-In-22650).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Rhagovelia andradei sp. nov.: A. Male holotype, habitus, dorsal view; B. Male holotype, habitus, ventral view; C. Female paratype, habitus, dorsal view; D. Female paratype, habitus, ventral view; E. Male holotype, apex of abdomen, ventral view; F. Female paratype, apex of abdomen, ventral view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Rhagovelia andradei sp. nov.: A. Male holotype, hind femur, dorsal view; B. Male paratype, forewing, dorsal view; C. Male paratype, paramere; D. Male paratype, proctiger. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Rhagovelia andradei sp. nov.: A. Geographic distribution; B. Type locality.

Tables

TABLE 1. Measurements obtained from the apterous male holotype and five apterous male, one macropterous male, five apterous female and two macropterous female paratypes of Rhagovelia andradei, sp. nov. (SD = standard deviation).

Structure	Apterous male	Apterous male (paratypes)				Macropterous male	Apterous female (paratypes)				Macropterous female (paratypes)
	holotype	Max	Min	Mean	SD	(paratype)	Max	Min	Mean	SD	Max	Min	Mean	SD
BL	4.07	4.20	3.94	4.04	±0.10	4.08	4.50	4.25	4.39	±0.09	4.47	3.96	4.22	± 0.36
HL	0.47	0.47	0.41	0.43	±0.02	0.48	0.52	0.44	0.48	±0.03	0.42	0.41	0.42	± 0.01
HW	0.90	0.94	0.90	0.92	±0.01	0.94	0.96	0.93	0.95	±0.01	0.99	0.88	0.94	± 0.08
INT	0.54	0.55	0.52	0.53	±0.01	0.58	0.59	0.54	0.57	±0.02	0.57	0.51	0.54	± 0.04
ANTI	1.12	1.15	1.05	1.11	±0.04	1.13	1.18	1.12	1.15	±0.03	1.19	1.07	1.13	± 0.08
ANTII	0.64	0.66	0.64	0.65	±0.01	0.66	0.67	0.62	0.64	±0.02	0.68	0.66	0.67	± 0.01
ANTIII	0.58	0.64	0.58	0.62	±0.03	0.67	0.66	0.61	0.63	±0.03	Lost	Lost	Lost	Lost
ANTIV	0.53	0.57	0.53	0.55	±0.02	0.61	0.60	0.57	0.59	±0.02	Lost	Lost	Lost	Lost
EYE	0.39	0.39	0.36	0.37	±0.01	0.38	0.41	0.39	0.40	±0.01	0.40	0.36	0.38	± 0.03
PL	0.27	0.32	0.27	0.29	±0.02	1.85	0.31	0.28	0.29	±0.01	1.88	1.62	1.75	± 0.18
PW	1.18	1.21	1.17	1.18	±0.04	1.74	1.27	1.22	1.25	±0.02	1.85	1.70	1.78	± 0.11
Foreleg
FEM	1.44	1.48	1.34	1.39	±0.06	1.43	1.47	1.38	1.42	±0.04	1.46	1.39	1.43	± 0.05
TIB	1.55	1.59	1.44	1.51	±0.06	1.57	1.48	1.42	1.45	±0.03	1.56	1.51	1.54	± 0.04
TARI	0.06	0.06	0.05	0.06	±0.01	0.06	0.50	0.06	0.15	±0.20	0.06	0.06	0.06	± 0.00
TARII	0.04	0.04	0.03	0.04	±0.01	0.03	0.04	0.03	0.03	±0.01	0.05	0.05	0.05	± 0.00
TARIII	0.31	0.36	0.31	0.32	±0.02	0.35	0.37	0.31	0.34	±0.02	0.36	0.35	0.36	± 0.01
Middle leg
FEM	2.21	2.28	2.10	2.20	±0.06	2.82	2.31	2.11	2.21	±0.08	2.23	2.22	2.23	± 0.01
TIB	1.78	1.81	1.63	1.76	±0.07	1.81	1.91	1.67	1.80	±0.10	1.80	1.78	1.79	± 0.01
TARI	0.10	0.12	0.09	0.11	±0.01	0.13	0.13	0.09	0.11	±0.02	0.10	0.10	0.10	± 0.00
TARII	0.81	0.84	0.77	0.81	±0.03	0.82	0.80	0.77	0.78	±0.01	0.79	0.77	0.78	± 0.01
TARIII	0.92	0.92	0.84	0.88	±0.03	0.92	0.93	0.87	0.90	±0.02	0.93	0.89	0.91	± 0.03
Hindleg
FEM	1.83	1.83	1.72	1.79	±0.05	1.89	1.86	1.76	1.81	±0.04	1.85	1.81	1.83	± 0.03
TIB	2.01	2.14	1.91	2.03	±0.08	2.08	2.16	1.97	2.06	±0.07	2.06	2.03	2.05	± 0.02
TARI	0.09	0.09	0.06	0.08	±0.01	0.09	0.10	0.06	0.08	±0.02	0.90	0.06	0.48	± 0.59
TARII	0.21	0.24	0.16	0.21	±0.03	0.24	0.24	0.20	0.22	±0.02	0.28	0.24	0.26	± 0.03
TARIII	0.40	0.40	0.37	0.39	±0.02	0.40	0.41	0.36	0.39	±0.02	0.38	0.36	0.37	± 0.01