Myrmoplasta kmenti, Stehlík, 2007

Stehlík, Jaroslav L., 2007, On the Afrotropical species of Myrmoplasta (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (suppl.) 47, pp. 93-108 : 94-98

Myrmoplasta kmenti sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 , 3-7 )

Myrmoplasta mira: SCHOUTEDEN (1957) : 266 (misidentification).

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: ♁ (brachypterous), DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: KINSHASA PROVINCE, Kisantu, 1932, R. P.Vanderyst ( MRAC) . PARATYPES (3♀♀, brachypterous): DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: KINSHASA PROVINCE, Mayidi , 1942, 2 ♀♀, Rév. P. van Eyen ( MRAC) ; ditto, 1945, 1 ♀, Rév. P. van Eyen ( MRAC) .

Description (♁ ♀, brachypterous morph – Fig. 1 ). Body black. Posterior margin of pronotum very narrowly bordered with yellow; distal margin of hemelytra with narrow yellow border, slightly widening apicad but not reaching the apex of shortened hemelytra. Connexival membrane and, to a varying degree, laterotergites of females red. Parameres and lateral rim infolding on pygophore pale yellow.

Head of male ( Fig. 3 ) more horizontally positioned and less convex than in female ( Fig. 4 ). Antennae of male relatively short (missing in all studied females). Antennomere 2 stout, slightly spindel-shaped; antennomere 3 strongly spindel-shaped (i.e. strongly widening from base and narrowed before apex), about 1.4 times as thick as antennomere 2; antennomere 4 quite stout, slightly less than 0.8 times as thick as antennomere 3. Gula of male only very slightly convex (in lateral view), in female slightly more convex.

Pronotum long and narrow ( Figs. 3-4 ). Callar lobe (including lateral margins) in male 1.23 times, in females 1.22 times as wide as base of pronotum; callar lobe (without pronotal collar) of male 2.3 times, in female 2.5 times as long as pronotal lobe; callar lobe (including lateral margins) of male 1.30 times, of female 1.08 times as wide as interocular distance. Lateral margins of callar lobe strongly heart-shaped. Callar lobe distinctly higher than pronotal lobe (especially in male) and strongly sloping towards it. Pronotum between callar and pronotal lobe considerably narrowed. Distal part of pronotal lobe straight, its proximal part slightly lifted. Mesoscutellum with distinct median longitudinal furrow, in male 1.16 times, in female 1.10 times as long as wide. Mesoscutellum fused with hemelytra, the latter fused together. Each hemelytron ( Figs. 3-4 ) relatively long, narrow, its margin (except of base) more strongly raised upwards, regularly rounded, a bit narrowed before apex; distal angles of hemelytra slightly produced, convergent, and rounded. Fore femora strongly swollen with three teeth in male.

Abdomen nearly spherical, strongly constricted basally ( Figs. 5-6 ); tergum considerably gibbous. Mesotergite II small, mesotergites III-V distinctly large, mesotergite VI of male nearly vertically positioned.Abdomen apically narrowed, mesotergite VII narrow, horizontally positioned in male, its distal margin bent dorsally. Pygophore not retractable into abdomen ( Fig. 1 ).

Pygophore. Ventral wall submedially with rounded depression under ventral rim; prominent longitudinal groove under this depression. Ventral rim only slightly elevated above lateral rims; both ventral and lateral rims with sharp edge, continually and roundly merging into each other. Infolding of lateral rims very broad, both sides of these bent under ventral rim and nearly contiguous, ventral rim infolding thus not apparent; anterior part of lateral rim infoldings shallowly dish-like deepened, almost horizontal; their posterior part smaller, nearly vertically declivous and abruptly narrowed. Parameres placed nearly in the middle of genital chamber, their basal part slightly lopsided medially and than bent over the lateral rim infolding; their apex narrowed into a tip and very slightly curved. Anal tube positioned horizontally, reaching nearly the parameres.

Outer female genitalia ( Fig. 7 ). Inner margin of valvifer 1 convexly arcuate, reaching the middle of genitalia. Anal tube short, closely under tergite VIII. Laterotergite IX raised, rounded, dish-shaped deepened, with horizontal groove medially. Valvifer 2 visible, medially deepened, with longitudinal projection laterally on each side; these projections deepened from their inner and under side, and apically horizontally ridged.

Measurements. Male (holotype). Body length 6.48 mm. Head: width (including eyes) – 1.84 mm, interocular width – 1.08 mm; antenna: lenght of antennomeres 1 – 1.24 mm, 2 – 1.35 mm, 3 – 1.05 mm, 4 – 1.76 mm; pronotum: total length – 1.16 mm, collar lenght – 0.08 mm, callar lobe: length – 0.76 mm, width (including margins) – 1.40 mm, pronotal lobe: length – 0.32 mm, width – 1.13 mm; scutellum: length – 0.76 mm, width – 0.65 mm; hemelytron: length – 1.40 mm, width – 0.59 mm.

Female (paratypes) (mean with full range in parentheses). Body length 7.37 mm (7.13-7.68 mm). Head: width (including eyes) – 2.13 mm (2.05-2.19 mm), interocular width – 1.32 mm (1.19-1.35 mm); antennae absent in all paratypes; pronotum: total length – 1.25 mm, collar lenght – 0.11 mm, callar lobe: length – 0.84 mm (0.81-0.86 mm), width (including margins) – 1.57 mm (1.46-1.62 mm), pronotal lobe: length – 0.29 mm (0.27-0.30 mm), width – 1.28 mm (1.19-1.35 mm); scutellum: length – 0.93 mm (0.89-0.97 mm), width – 0.83 mm (0.76-0.97 mm); hemelytron: length – 1.37 mm (1.32-1.43 mm), width – 0.63 mm (0.59-0.65 mm).

Variability. No apparent variability was observed among the studied specimens, except the measurements given above.

Differential diagnosis. Myrmoplasta kmenti sp. nov. differs from the other Afrotropical species of the genus by characters given in the key below.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to Petr Kment, curator of the Hemiptera collection in National Museum in Prague.

Bionomics. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the Kinshasa province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire).

Figures

Fig. 1. Myrmoplasta kmenti sp. nov., brachypterous male, holotype (orig. J. Meduna).

Figs. 3-7. Myrmoplasta kmenti sp. nov. 3-4 – head and thorax, dorsal view: 3 – male; 4 – female. 5-6 – abdomen, male: 5 – dorsal view; 6 – lateral view. 7 – outer female genitalia.