Limnogeton fieberi Mayr, 1853

Ribeiro, José Ricardo I., Meyin-A-Ebong, Solange E., Le-Gall, Philippe & Guilbert, Eric, 2014, A taxonomic synopsis of Limnogeton Mayr, 1853 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Belostomatidae), Zootaxa 3779 (5), pp. 573-584 : 576-578

Limnogeton fieberi Mayr, 1853

( Figs. 2 A–D)

Limnogeton fieberi Mayr, 1853: 16 .

Limnogeton fieberi: Montandon (1896) : 517. Limnogeton fieberi: Poisson (1949) : 7.

Limnogeton fieberi: Poisson (1954) : 12.

Limnogeton fieberi: Linnavuori (1964) : 334. Limnogeton fieberi: Poisson (1967) : 1324.

Limnogeton fieberi: Poisson (1968a) : 26.

Limnogeton fieberi: Poisson (1969) : 16.

Limnogeton fieberi: Linnavuori (1971) : 355 (in part).

Types. Limnogeton fieberi was described based on a male holotype (from Mayr’s collection) from Kordofan, Sudan according to Mayr (1853), probably deposited in NHMW. This specimen was not examined.

Material examined. Marno.[?], Wadai, IV.1882, [“MUSEUM PARIS //MUSEUM VIENNE 1899”]: 1 m ( MNHN). EGYPTE. 1880, (Letourneux), J. R. I. Ribeiro det. 2011, A. L. Montandon det. 1899: 3 f ( MNHN). SUDAN. I.1863, (Penty), A. L. Montandon det. 1899, J. R. I. Ribeiro det. 2011: 1 f ( MNHN). CAMEROON. [Museum E. A. C.], 1950, (P. Malzy leg.), J. R. I. Ribeiro det. 2011: 1 f ( MNHN); Garoua, 2012, (Meyin), S. E. Meyin det. 2013: 1 m and 2 f (SM). CONGO. N. Rhodesia, Kinge, 18.I.1938, (H. J. Brédo) [R. DET. 7123A, COLL. MUS. CONGO]: 1 m ( MRAC).

Distribution. Mabwe, Upemba ( Democratic Republic of Congo) ( Poisson 1954); Kordofan ( Sudan) ( Poisson 1967), Egypt ( Mayr 1871; Linnavuori 1964; Poisson 1967), Cameroon, Central African Republic, Palestine ( Poisson 1967); Brazzaville ( Congo) ( Poisson 1967); Bangweulu Lake [as Région du Lac Bangweolo] (Samfya, Zambia), Région de la Kafubu (Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo) ( Poisson 1968a); Luanza (Kaluko River, Zambia) ( Poisson 1969).

Measurements (m / f): Total length (from apex of head to apex of abdomen at rest): 40.6–55.9 / 45.0–53.0; greatest width of body: 18.2–25.7 / 19.5–23.1.

General coloration. Almost uniformly brown. Body ovate, with wings covering completely abdomen.

Head, thorax, and abdomen. Pronotum with longitudinal median carina usually developed on posterior portion; prosternal keel elongate and cylindrical, strongly spiniform, with apex acute ( Fig. 2 B, PC). Pilosity poorly developed, covering almost half of connexivum, slightly constricted between spiracles, not extending posteriorly along genital operculum (see Fig. 3 C, compare with Fig. 1 C).

Male genitalia: Parameres symmetrical with apex curved, directed upward, not edentate, smoothly curved; length of phallotheca about twice ventral diverticulum in dorsal view; ventral diverticulum not robust; dorsal arms of phallotheca poorly developed and poorly connected or fused along basal portion, rounded at apex, never Ushaped ( Fig. 2 C, DA); lateral outer margins of ventral diverticulum straight, not sinuous ( Fig. 2 C); ventral diverticulum with anterior margins not strongly sclerotized, narrower, obviously convergent posteriorly in ventral view ( Fig. 2 D, MVD).

Taxonomic notes. Members of this species are now thought to comprise part of a strange morphocline, including L. expansum and L. scutellatum , for we have always found forms with the dorsal arms of phallotheca short and never V-shaped in L. fieberi ( Fig. 2 C), whereas they are either somewhat or quite long in L. scutellatum and L. expansum , respectively ( Figs. 1 D, 5C). This morphological continuum seems to be linked to body size, since males of L. expansum have the dorsal arms extremely V-shaped, divergent, and more promimently developed. By contrast, L. fieberi is the smallest species of this genus and bears dorsal arms that are much shorter.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Limnogeton expansum Montandon, external morphology and male genital structures. 1 A, Dorsal habitus showing pronotum with longitudinal median carina. 1 B, Head showing prosternal carina, lateral view. 1 C, Ventral aspect of abdomen showing development of pilosity which covers half of connexivum. 1 D – E, Male genital structures: 1 D, Dorsal apical membranous processes arising from phallotheca. 1 E, Ventral diverticulum of phallosoma showing anterior margins, ventral view. LMC, longitudinal median carina; MVD, margins of ventral diverticulum; PC, prosternal carina; PIL, pilosity of connexivum.

FIGURE 2. Limnogeton fieberi Mayr, external morphology and male genital structures. 2 A, Dorsal habitus showing pronotum with longitudinal median carina. 2 B, Head showing prosternal carina, lateral view. 2 C – D, Male genital structures: 2 C, Dorsal apical membranous processes arising from phallotheca. 2 D, Ventral diverticulum of phallosoma showing anterior margins, ventral view. LMC, longitudinal median carina; MVD, margins of ventral diverticulum; PC, prosternal carina.

FIGURE 3. Limnogeton hedenborgi (Stål), external morphology and male genital structures. 3 A, Dorsal habitus showing pronotum with longitudinal median carina. 3 B, Head showing prosternal carina, lateral view. 3 C, Ventral aspect of abdomen showing poorly developed pilosity covering almost half of connexivum. 3 D – F, Male genital structures: 3 D, Dorsal apical membranous processes arising from phallotheca. 3 E – F, Ventral diverticulum of phallosoma showing anterior margins, ventral view. DA, dorsal arms of phallotheca; LMC, longitudinal median carina; LOM, lateral outer margins of ventral diverticulum; MVD, margins of ventral diverticulum; PC, prosternal carina; PIL, pilosity of connexivum.