Rhagovelia vaniniae Moreira, Nessimian and Rúdio, 2010

Moreira, F. F. F., Nessimian, J. L., Rúdio, J. A. & Salles, F. F., 2010, New species and new records of Veliidae from Espírito Santo State and adjacent Minas Gerais State, Brazil, with notes on nomenclature (Insecta: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha), Journal of Natural History 44 (45 - 46), pp. 2761-2801 : 2771-2775

Rhagovelia vaniniae Moreira, Nessimian and Rúdio , sp. nov.

Apterous male

BL 2.69–2.91; HL 0.24–0.26; HW 0.75–0.79; ANT I 0.66–0.71, ANT II 0.33–0.38, ANT III 0.39–0.46, ANT IV 0.44–0.50; INT 0.21–0.23; EYE 0.24–0.26; PL 0.34–0.44; PW 0.96–1.00; FORELEG: FEM 0.80–0.89, TIB 0.81–0.98, TAR I 0.01–0.02, TAR II 0.04, TAR III 0.24–0.26; MIDLEG: FEM 1.42–1.56, TIB 1.06–1.20, TAR I 0.06–0.08, TAR II 0.52–0.58, TAR III 0.62–0.68; HINDLEG: FEM 1.10–1.20, TIB 1.12–1.24, TAR I 0.05–0.08, TAR II 0.09–0.13, TAR III 0.26–0.34.

General colour of body, legs and antennae black. Antenniferous tubercles shining dark brown. Basal fourth of antennomere I white. Eyes red. Rostrum dark brown, except for white base of article II and article IV brown. A pair of small subquadrate orange spots present near anterior margin of pronotum. Margins of acetabula brown, yellowish brown on metacetabula. Fore and hind coxae and trochanters, basal fourth of fore femur, ventral face of mid coxa, basal half of mid trochanter, and basal oneseventh of hind femur white to light yellow; dorsal and lateral faces of mid coxa brown; distal half of mid trochanter black. Last abdominal sternite brown to black. Genital segments dark brown ventrally.

Body robust and ovate, covered by short silvery setae. Head short and wide, with impressed median line and basal foveae, and robust black setae near eye inner margin and on frons. Antennomere I dorsally expanded, curved outward, thicker than others, with two pairs of robust erect black setae; II–III cylindrical, II a little thicker than III, with a pair of robust erect black setae; III without lateral flattening or expansion ( Figure 4A ); IV fusiform, as wide on middle as III. Rostrum wide and short, barely reaching apex of fore coxae.

Pronotum wide, without evident circular pits; posterior margin rounded, leaving about half of the mesonotum exposed. Mesonotum slightly swollen near almost straight posterior margin. Metanotum short, transversely subrectangular on centre.

Abdomen narrowed posteriorly, more abruptly on last two segments. Abdominal connexiva almost horizontal. Abdominal tergite VII subquadrate, with slightly concave posterior margin; tergite VIII with posterior margin centrally concave.

Femora and tibiae with rows of robust erect black setae. Fore femur slightly swollen and sinuous. Fore tibia slightly flattened on distal half, with an indistinct preapical concavity on inner surface. Mid femur narrowing up to apex. Posterior trochanter with two to five black pegs ( Figure 4B ). Hind femur with few minute black pegs ventrally on basal half (hardly visible on black area of femur) ( Figure 4B ), and a decreasing row of six to eight longer acute spines on distal half ( Figure 4C ). Hind tibia straight, with a ventral row of pegs throughout its length, plus an apical spur.

Genital segments large, cylindrical. Proctiger as in Figure 4D . Parameres symmetrical, narrow, sinuous and elongated, strongly curved inside near apex ( Figure 4E,F ).

Apterous female ( Figure 4G )

BL 2.75–3.07; HL 0.25–0.34; HW 0.80–0.86; ANT I 0.78–0.88, ANT II 0.36–0.44, ANT III 0.48–0.51, ANT IV 0.45–0.49; INT 0.24–0.26; EYE 0.24–0.28; PL 0.52–0.39; PW 1.08–1.16; FORELEG: FEM 1.00–1.03, TIB 1.04–1.11, TAR I 0.03–0.04, TAR II 0.04, TAR III 0.26–0.28; MIDLEG: FEM 1.50–1.60, TIB 1.20–1.30, TAR I 0.06–0.08, TAR II 0.52–0.62, TAR III 0.64–0.78; HINDLEG: FEM 1.22–1.30, TIB 1.28–1.46, TAR I 0.05–0.06, TAR II 0.13–0.14, TAR III 0.45–0.49.

Body larger and more robust than in male. Brownish areas of acetabula and light areas of antennae and fore femur longer. Abdomen strongly narrowed up to segment VI, a little wider on VII. Abdominal tergite I flattened and depressed on anterior half, elevated towards posterior margin; II–III swollen; IV strongly angulated downward; V less angulated; VI–VII almost horizontal; VIII depressed centrally, angulated downward. Abdominal tergites VI–IX shining. Posterior margin of tergite VII almost straight, that of VIII widely rounded. Abdominal connexiva elevated, convergent posteriorly, closer over tergite VI, visible dorsally almost to the apex of VII, with a tuft of long black setae on apex. Margins of connexiva bowed outward on the sides of tergite VII, convergent after the folding ( Figure 4H ). Abdominal sternites up to the penultimate strongly narrowed posteriorly, the hind margins centrally concave; last sternite large, almost as long as the preceding sternites taken together ( Figure 4I ). Erect black setae on legs more sparse. Fore femur narrower and less sinuous. Fore tibia also with preapical concavity. Mid femur constricted a little after middle, flattened after the constriction ( Figure 4J ). Hind trochanter without pegs. Hind femur less incrassate, with a ventral row of three to five acute short spines on distal half. Hind tibia without pegs or apical spur. Genital segments dorsally conical, rounded on apex, without tufts of black setae, angulated downward ( Figure 4H,I ).

Macropterous male

BL 2.72–2.82; HL 0.24–0.27; HW 0.70–0.79; ANT I 0.64–0.75, ANT II 0.38–0.39, ANT III 0.40–0.48, ANT IV 0.41–0.48; INT 0.19–0.23; EYE 0.23–0.25; PL 1.26–1.46; PW 1.18–1.38; FORELEG: FEM 0.78–0.88, TIB 0.84–0.98, TAR I 0.02–0.03, TAR II 0.04–0.04, TAR III 0.24–0.26; MIDLEG: FEM 1.40–1.52, TIB 1.08–1.22, TAR I 0.04–0.06, TAR II 0.48–0.58, TAR III 0.64–0.66; HINDLEG: FEM 1.04–1.24, TIB 1.04–1.20, TAR I 0.04–0.05, TAR II 0.08–0.11, TAR III 0.26–0.28.

Practically identical to apterous male, except by the pronotum more developed, subpentagonal, divided into anterior and posterior lobes, with slightly elevated humeri, indistinct longitudinal median carina, and rounded posterior angle, without tumescence or elevation. Wings of observed specimens were broken.

Macropterous female

BL 2.94–3.10; HL 0.24–0.26; HW 0.80–0.85; ANT I 0.73–0.76, ANT II 0.38–0.40, ANT III 0.44–0.50, ANT IV 0.44–0.50; INT 0.23–0.25; EYE 0.25–0.26; PL 1.58–1.78; PW 1.44–1.54; FORELEG: FEM 0.89–0.99, TIB 0.93–1.05, TAR I 0.03, TAR II 0.03– 0.04, TAR III 0.26–0.28; MIDLEG: FEM 1.56–1.60, TIB 1.18–1.26, TAR I 0.06–0.08, TAR II 0.52–0.60, TAR III 0.64–0.76; HINDLEG: FEM 1.20–1.26, TIB 1.36–1.42, TAR I 0.04–0.05, TAR II 0.13, TAR III 0.28–0.33.

Similar in general structure and colouration to the apterous female, with the following exceptions: abdominal tergites II–III without a visible carina; constriction of mid femur less expressed, the corresponding area ventrally lighter in coloration; penultimate abdominal sternite more angulate, being almost vertical in some cases. Wings long, extending well beyond apex of genital segments, with four closed cells, the distal two reaching into distal half of the wing.

Type material

Brazil: Espírito Santo – Santa Teresa, Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi, Cachoeira Grande [19 ◦ 52 ′ 30.1 ′′ S, 40 ◦ 33 ′ 21.9 ′′ W, 704 m asl], 20 Feburary 2009, (J.A. Rúdio and F.F. Salles): 1 apterous male [HOLOTYPE], 1 apterous male, 1 macropterous male, 1 apterous female [PARATYPES] ( UFES) . Santa Teresa , Nova Lombardia , Capitel de Santo Antônio, Córrego Grande , pinguela [19 ◦ 52 ′ 16.0 ′′ S, 40 ◦ 31 ′ 43.1 ′′ W, 718 m asl], 26 October 2008, (J.A. Rúdio and F.F. Salles): 3 apterous males, 3 apterous females [PARATYPES] ( DZRJ) . Santa Teresa , Nova Lombardia , Capitel de Santo Antônio, Córrego Grande (área fechada) [19 ◦ 51 ′ 31.0 ′′ S, 40 ◦ 31 ′ 49.1 ′′ W, 768 m], 19 January 2008, (J.A. Rúdio and F.F. Salles): 1 macropterous male [PARATYPES] ( MNRJ) . Santa Teresa , Nova Lombardia , Capitel de Santo Antônio, Córrego Grande, Cachoeira Grande [19 ◦ 52 ′ 30.8 ′′ S, 40 ◦ 31 ′ 56.6 ′′ W, 712 m asl], 19 February 2009, (J.A. Rúdio and F.F. Salles): 7 apterous males, 7 apterous females, 1 macropterous female [PARATYPES] ( UFES) . Santa Teresa , Nova Lombardia , Capitel de Santo Antônio, Córrego Grande (área aberta) [19 ◦ 52 ′ 31.0 ′′ S, 40 ◦ 31 ′ 49.1 ′′ W, 768 m asl], 25 October 2008, (J.A. Rúdio and F.F. Salles): 8 apterous males, 2 apterous females, 4 macropterous females (1 with broken wings) [PARATYPES] ( DZRJ) ; 18 February 2009: 45 apterous males, 16 apterous females [PARATYPES] ( MNRJ) ; 18 January 2008: 3 apterous males, 1 apterous female [PARATYPES] ( UFES) . Santa Teresa , Nova Lombardia , Capitel de Santo Antônio, Córrego Grande (área fechada) [19 ◦ 52 ′ 31.0 ′′ S, 40 ◦ 31 ′ 49.1 ′′ W, 768 m], 25 October 2008, (J.A. Rúdio and F.F. Salles): 1 macropterous male, 1 macropterous female [PARATYPES] ( MNRJ) . Santa Teresa , Nova Lombardia , Capitel de Santo Antônio [19 ◦ 52 ′ 31.6 ′′ S, 40 ◦ 31 ′ 40.8 ′′ W, 705 m asl], 18–20 January 2008, (M.L. Lima): 2 apterous males, 1 apterous female [PARATYPES] ( DZRJ) ; 24–25 October 2008: 5 apterous males [PARATYPES] ( UFES) . Santa Teresa, Nova Lombardia , poção [19 ◦ 52 ′ 30.9 ′′ S, 40 ◦ 32 ′ 07.4 ′′ W, 739 m asl], 26 September 2008 (J.A. Rúdio and F.F. Salles): 2 apterous males, 1 apterous female, 1 macropterous female [PARATYPES] ( MNRJ) .

Distribution

Known only from one stream from the Municipality of Santa Teresa, in the central region of Espírito Santo, at altitudes between 700 and 800 m asl. At some of the collection sites this species co-occurred with R. trianguloides and R. itatiaiana Drake, 1953 .

Etymology

This species is named in honour of Vanini P. Alecrim, who kindly collaborated with this work.

Comments

Rhagovelia vaniniae sp. nov. is assigned to the lucida group sensu Polhemus (1997), endemic to southeastern Brazil. This assignment is based on the body colour being uniformly black, except for orange markings on pronotum; and the length of pronotum being greater than an eye, but exposing much of mesonotum. Only three species have been included on the lucida group to date: R. agra Drake, 1957 , R. lucida Gould, 1931 and R. triangula Drake, 1953 . Males of the first two species share the presence of a distinct expansion on antennomere III, and a ventral row of black pegs on basal half of hind femur, both features absent in R. triangula and R. vaniniae sp. nov. In their case, male antennomere III does not display a distinct expansion ( Figure 4A ), and only a few black pegs are found on basal half of male hind femur ( Figure 4B ).

Females of both R. triangula and R. vaniniae share a dorsoventrally flattened apical portion of the middle femur, but can be distinguished by the body shape. In the first species the abdomen is relatively simple, and the connexival margins are bowed outward on the sides of tergite VII ( Figure 4H ), whereas in the latter species the abdomen is more strongly modified, presenting a sinuous fold laterally on tergites VI–VIII. The shape of the male paramere of R. vaniniae sp. nov. is also diagnostic ( Figure 4E,F ), being much narrower than in R. lucida and more sinuous than in R. triangula .

One of the macropterous females of the new species displayed a generally dark brown colouration, instead of black, but was structurally identical to others.

Figures

Figure 4. Rhagovelia vaniniae sp. nov. (A) Antenna; male. (B) Part of hind leg; arrow shows black peg on base of femur; ventral view; male. (C) Part of hind leg; lateral view; male. (D) Proctiger; dorsal view; male. (E) Paramere; lateral view; male. (F) Paramere; laterocaudal view; male. (G) Dorsal habitus; female. (H) Part of abdomen; arrow shows bowed connexiva on sides of tergite VII; dorsal view; female. (I) Abdomen and part of thorax; ventral view; female. (J) Mid leg; female. Scale bar 1.00 mm.