Paravelia micromaculata Rodrigues, Moreira, Nieser, Chen & Melo

Rodrigues, Higor D. D., Moreira, Felipe F. F., Nieser, Nico, Chen, Ping Ping, Melo, Alan L., Dias-Silva, Karina & Giehl, Nubia F. S., 2014, The genus Paravelia Breddin, 1898 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) in Brazil, with descriptions of eight new species, Zootaxa 3784 (1), pp. 1-47 : 15-21

Paravelia micromaculata Rodrigues, Moreira, Nieser, Chen & Melo , sp. nov.

( Figs 8 , 9 B, 21)

Macropterous female. BL 4.90; HL 0.60; HW 0.95; ANT I 0.62, ANT II lost, ANT III lost, ANT IV lost; EYE 0.30; PL 2.05; PW 1.95; FORELEG: FEM 1.12, TIB 1.17, TAR I 0.10, TAR II 0.20, TAR III 0.37; MIDLEG: FEM 1.40, TIB 1.50, TAR I 0.12, TAR II 0.36, TAR III 0.40; HINDLEG: FEM 1.75, TIB 2.00, TAR I 0.12, TAR II 0.40, TAR III lost.

Head, sides, venter of body, and genital segments dark brown. Eyes shining dark brown. Antenniferous tubercle, antennomere I, articles I–II of rostrum, and legs brown to light brown, with base of tibia and tarsomeres darker; articles III–IV of rostrum and grasping comb of fore tibia shining black. Longitudinal median carina of pronotum darker. Forewings dark brown, with lighter veins; at base with a small rounded white macula, not starting from humeral angle and ending at posterior margin of pronotum; at apex a small oval white macula centrally ( Fig. 8 A).

Head covered by golden pubescence, with a pair of rounded punctations at posterior portion, near inner margin of eye, without black denticles. Antennomere I stoutest, curved outward; segments II–IV lost. Antenniferous tubercles shining and swollen ( Fig. 8 C). Ocular setae present. Buccula and jugum without black denticles. Rostrum reaching base of mesocoxae.

Pronotum covered by golden setae, longer on humeral angles and posterior portion; with longitudinal median carina. Humeri slightly elevated, without black denticles. Posterior lobe with posterior angle rounded ( Fig. 8 A). Two rows of small rounded punctations on posterior portion of propleura and one on anterior portion of mesopleura. Intersegmental area between meso- and metasternum centrally with two pairs of tubercles. Legs without spines or spine-like setae. Small grasping comb on apex of fore tibia.

Connexives slightly elevated, covered by golden setae. Venter of abdomen covered by golden setae, without black denticles. Last abdominal sternite without carina, depression or projections ( Fig. 8 B). Posterior angle of last connexival segment poorly developed ( Fig. 9 B). Superior portion of gonocoxae, and lateral area of posterior margin of abdominal tergite VII with black denticles.

Type-material. Holotype: Brazil, Maranhão: macropterous female (MZUSP), Aldeia Yavaruhu, Rio Gurupi, about 30 km west of Canindé, isolated trail, forest stream with mud, gravel and leaf litter, 14.II.1966, (B. Malkin).

Distribution. Only the holotype collected on the border region between Maranhão and Pará states ( Fig. 21 ), northern Brazil, is known up to the present.

Etymology. micro - (Greek), small; macul - (Latin), macula; and suffix - ata (Latin), characterized by having; referring to the short size of both basal and apical maculae of forewings.

Discussion. After comparing with the original description of all species recorded from Brazil, and examining several described species, P. micromaculata sp. nov. can be distinguished from other species of the genus mainly by the length of body (4.90 mm); dark brown coloration; anterior lobe of pronotum without maculae or pruinose areas; unusual size of the basal and apical maculae of forewings, both very small ( Fig. 8 A); and gonocoxae and posterior margin of abdominal tergite VII with black denticles.

Paravelia ornata Rodrigues, Moreira, Nieser, Chen & Melo , sp. nov. ( Figs 10 , 12 A–D, 21)

Macropterous male. BL 3.80–3.90; HL 0.50–0.55; HW 0.67–0.70; ANT I 0.75, ANT II 0.55, ANT III 0.75, ANT IV 0.75–0.77; EYE 0.18–0.21; PL 1.43–1.50; PW 1.40–1.50; FORELEG: FEM 1.10–1.15, TIB 1.12, TAR I 0.12, TAR II 0.17, TAR III 0.35; MIDLEG: FEM 1.35–1.37, TIB 1.40, TAR I 0.10–0.11, TAR II 0.32, TAR III 0.35– 0.38; HINDLEG: FEM 1.62, TIB 2.03–2.10, TAR I 0.10–0.12, TAR II 0.50, TAR III 0.40–0.45.

Head, antennae, most of rostrum, legs except grasping comb and apex of tarsomeres, pro-, meso-, metasternum, abdominal segments, and genital segments orange to light orange brown. Article IV of rostrum, grasping comb of fore leg, part of forewing, and apex of all tarsomeres black. Eyes bright dark red. Transverse band on acetabula lighter than venter of thorax and touching coxae. Forewing with a triangular white macula at base, starting from humeral angle and surpassing posterior margin of pronotum; in front of it, a longitudinal white stripe, joining with another longitudinal stripe starting in the cubital vein and bordering the wing; a rounded white macula near apex ( Fig. 10 A).

Head covered by golden pubescence and scattered long dark setae, with a pair of oblique punctations on posterior region near inner margin of eyes; ventral surface covered by various minute black denticles. Antennae finely pubescent, with few long setae on last two articles. Antennomere I stoutest, curved outward; II shortest; III– IV as long as I ( Fig. 10 A). Ocular setae present. Gula, areas below eyes and along ventral portion of pronotal collar with minute black denticles. Rostrum reaching posterior margin of mesoacetabulum.

Pronotum with scattered long black setae, entirely covered by minute black denticles, more evident in humeral angles, which are slightly elevated; median carina present, but not very evident; a pair of subtriangular pruinose patches starting from anterior lobe and reaching posterior lobe on the row of rounded punctations that divides lobes ( Fig. 10 A); posterior lobe with rounded posterior angle. Costal margins and radial veins of forewings with long black setae. Pro- and mesopleura each with a row of 4 – 6 rounded punctations and scattered minute black denticles; pro-, meso- and metapleura with pruinose areas when viewed under certain light angles. Intersegmental region between meso- and metasternum with two pairs of small tubercles. Legs covered by fine short golden setae, sparsely intermixed with long dark setae; without spines ( Fig. 10 B). Grasping comb (0.25 mm) present approximately on distal 1/5 of fore tibia.

Connexiva covered by minute black denticles and long dark setae. Abdominal segments laterally with pruinose areas when viewed under certain light angles, except for segment II and spiracles. Sternite VII flattened in the middle, without projections ( Fig. 10 C). Genital segment I with a small area of minute black denticles on posterior half ( Fig. 12 A). Proctiger slightly elevated in basal portion, near the pygophore ( Fig. 12 B). Parameres symmetrical, slightly curved, with apex rounded ( Figs 12 B–C); almost touching centrally above proctiger.

Macropterous female. BL 3.95–4.25; HL 0.50–0.55; HW 0.75; ANT I 0.75–0.80, ANT II 0.60, ANT III 0.75, ANT IV 0.77; EYE 0.20; PL 1.50–1.60; PW 1.50–1.60; FORELEG: FEM 1.12–1.15, TIB 1.12–1.15, TAR I 0.10– 0.11, TAR II 0.17, TAR III 0.22–0.30; MIDLEG: FEM 1.37–1.40, TIB 1.40–1.43, TAR I 0.10–0.11, TAR II 0.28– 0.30, TAR III 0.32–0.36; HINDLEG: FEM 1.62–1.75, TIB 2.07–2.12, TAR I 0.11–0.12, TAR II 0.50–0.52, TAR III 0.40–0.42.

Color and general body structure as in macropterous male, but fore tibia without grasping comb; abdominal connexives more reflected; abdominal sternite VII cylindrical ( Fig. 10 D); black denticles on posterolateral region of segment VII, gonocoxae, and proctiger; and posterior angle of last connexival segment more developed ( Fig. 12 D).

Type-material. Holotype: Brazil, Amazonas: macropterous male (MZUSP), Tapuruquara, 00°24'01"S / 65°01'59"W, Rio Negro, 26–27.XI.1962, (J. Bechyné). Paratypes: 3 macropterous males, 2 macropterous females (MZUSP), same data as holotype; 2 macropterous males (MZUSP), Barcelos, 01°00'00"S / 62°58'00"W, 18– 22.II.1963, (J. Bechyné); 1 macropterous male (DPIC), Manaus, Rio Tarumã-Mirim, 03°01’45”S / 60°08’35”W, tributary of Rio Negro, 04.X.2002, (D.L.V. Pereira).

Distribution. This species has been recorded up to present in three localities, all situated in the Rio Negro basin ( Fig. 21 ), Amazonas State, northern Brazil.

Etymology. ornat - (Latin), adorned; referring to the ornamental pattern of forewings, contrasting with the pronotal coloration.

Discussion. The new species can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the unusual arrangement of maculae on forewings; subtriangular pruinose areas on anterior lobe of pronotum ( Fig. 10 A); uniform orange to light orange brown coloration of head and pronotum; presence of minute black denticles on dorsal and ventral areas of head, on propleura, mesopleura, pronotum, connexives, and sides of genital segment I of male; absence of rounded punctations on venter of abdomen; absence of projections on the male sternite VII ( Fig. 10 C); and proctiger with small elevation near pygophore ( Fig. 12 B).

The unusual arrangement of forewings maculae makes P. ornata sp. nov. morphologically close to P. confusa (Hungerford, 1930) and P. rotundanotata (Hungerford, 1930) . However, P. confusa has the macula of the subcostal area (= corium of Hungerford 1930a) continuing from the basal white macula, in contrast to P. ornata sp. nov. and P. rotundanotata , in which this macula does not start from the basal one ( Figs 10 A and 18B respectively). In addition, the male of P. confusa has projections on abdominal sternite VII, absent in the other two species.

The arrangement of forewings maculae in P. rotundanotata ( Fig. 18 B) is almost identical to P. ornata sp. nov. ( Fig. 10 A), only fainter. However, the new species can be promptly distinguished from P. rotundanotata in both sexes by the antennomere IV entirely brown ( Fig. 10 A), concolorous with the others. In P. rotundanotata , only short strips on the base and apex of the antennomere IV are dark brown, while the remainder of the segment is conspicuously lighter, white to pale yellow ( Fig. 18 B). The male of P. ornata sp. nov. bears a small projection on dorsal surface of proctiger ( Fig. 12 B), whereas in P. rotundanotata the projection looks like a horn, and has few black denticles on apex ( Fig. 20 D), which are absent in P. ornata sp. nov. The female of the new species has the posterolateral connexival apices of segment VII forming small right angles ( Fig. 12 D), not developed in P. rotundanotata .

Paravelia polhemusi Rodrigues, Moreira, Nieser, Chen & Melo , sp. nov. ( Figs 11 , 12 E–F, 21)

Macropterous female. BL 6.22; HL 0.85; HW 1.05; ANT I 0.80, ANT II 0.66, ANT III 0.75, ANT IV 0.80; EYE 0.27; PL 2.50; PW 2.20; FORELEG: FEM 1.23, TIB 1.27, TAR I 0.09, TAR II 0.23, TAR III 0.43; MIDLEG: FEM 1.76, TIB 1.80, TAR I 0.13, TAR II 0.51, TAR III 0.55; HINDLEG: FEM 2.10, TIB 2.36, TAR I 0.13, TAR II 0.50, TAR III 0.46.

Head, antennomeres, pronotum, and sides of thorax dark brown to black. Eyes shining dark red. Antenniferous tubercles, articles I–III of rostrum, acetabula, coxae, trochanters, basal half of femora, exposed portions of connexives, abdominal and genital segments, light brown. Apex of article III and entire article IV of rostrum shining black. Forewings dark brown to black, with lighter veins; a large yellow macula at base, starting very close to humeral angle and surpassing apex of pronotum, and a rounded white macula centrally at apex ( Fig. 11 A). Prosternum brown, meso- and metasternum dark brown ( Fig. 11 B). Posterior half of femora, tibiae, and tarsi dark brown to black. A dark brown stripe on the area of the spiracles ( Fig. 11 C).

Head covered by brown setae, more concentrated in front of eyes, with three small rounded punctations near inner margin of eye, without black denticles. Antennae covered by short golden setae; antennomere I stoutest, curved outward; segment II less robust than I; III-IV of subequal width; segment IV fusiform ( Fig. 11 A). Ocular setae present. Rostrum reaching mesoacetabula.

Pronotum covered by short golden setae, with longitudinal median carina. Humeri slightly elevated. Posterior angle of pronotum almost sharp ( Fig. 11 A). Forewings reaching base of genital segments. Pro-, meso- and metasternum with few rounded punctations. Intersegmental area between meso- and metasternum centrally with two pairs of small tubercles. Legs covered by golden setae. Small grasping comb present on distal fore tibia. Hind trochanter ventrally with 5–6 short obtuse spines. Hind femur dorsally with a row of 5–7 spines ( Fig. 12 F).

Connexives slightly elevated. Venter of abdomen covered by golden setae, without black denticles ( Fig. 11 B). Ventral apodeme visible, starting from posterior margin of sternite VI, and continuing almost to the anterior margin of this segment (best viewed in moist specimen). Superior portion of gonocoxae with black denticles. Posterior angle of last connexival segment poorly developed ( Fig. 12 E).

Type-material. Holotype: Brazil, Mato Grosso: macropterous female (DPIC), Nova Xavantina, Mario Viana Municipal Reserve (Bacaba Municipal Park), Córrego Bacaba, 14o43’14.80”S / 52o21’35.63”W, 17.II.2004 (S.O. Pagioro).

Distribution. Only the holotype, collected in the Córrego Bacaba ( Fig. 21 ), central-western Brazil, is known up to the present.

Etymology. Named in honor of Dr. Dan A. Polhemus (Honolulu, Hawaii, USA) in recognition to his contributions to the taxonomy of aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera .

Discussion. The new species can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the color pattern, and shape of maculae on forewings ( Fig. 11 A); length of body (6.22 mm); dark coloration of most parts of the body, contrasting with the light brown of abdomen ( Fig. 11 C); and by the presence of small obtuse spines on hind trochanter and a dorsal row of spines on hind femur ( Fig. 12 F).

The length of the body, dark coloration of head, pronotum and legs, and yellow coloration of the basal macula of forewing, makes P. polhemusi sp. nov. morphologically close to P. b a s a l i s. However, P. polhemusi sp. nov. has the yellow macula lighter, and apical macula rounded ( Fig. 11 A), with small spines on posterior trochanter and spines on posterior femur ( Fig. 12 F), whereas P. basalis has the yellow color of basal macula darker, apical macula elongated and narrow, and spines on posterior trochanter and femur are absent ( Figs 13 A–B).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Paravelia micromaculata sp. nov. Female holotype, (A) dorsal view, (B) ventral view, (C) lateral view.

FIGURE 9. Lateral view of female abdomen. (A) Paravelia lacrymosa sp. nov., (B) P. micromaculata sp. nov.

FIGURE 10. Paravelia ornata sp. nov. (A) Dorsal view of male holotype, (B) ventral view of male paratype, (C) apex of male abdomen, (D) apex of female abdomen.

FIGURE 11. Paravelia polhemusi sp. nov. Female holotype, (A) dorsal view, (B) ventral view, (C) lateral view.

FIGURE 12. Paravelia ornata sp. nov. (A) Lateral view of first genital segment of male, (B) lateral view of genital capsule of male, (C) lateral view of paramere, (D) lateral view of female abdomen. Paravelia polhemusi sp. nov. (E) Lateral view of female abdomen, (F) ventral view of hind femur of female.

FIGURE 13. Dorsal view, (A) Paravelia basalis (with apical macula), (B) P. basalis (without apical macula), (C) P. bi a e (holotype), (D) P. boliviana (apterous).

FIGURE 18. Dorsal view, (A) Paravelia recens, (B) P. rotundanotata, (C) P. splendoris (macropterous), (D) P. splendoris (micropterous).

FIGURE 20. Lateral view of genital capsule of male, (A) P. nieseri, (B) P. platensis, paramere in posterior view, (C) P. recens, (D) P. rotundanotata, (E) P. spinifera, (F) P. splendoris, (G) P. williamsi.

FIGURE 21. Geographic distribution map for the new species of Paravelia.