Atisne reidi, Tatarnic, Nikolai J. & Cassis, Gerasimos, 2011

Tatarnic, Nikolai J. & Cassis, Gerasimos, 2011, The thread-legged bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) of Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, Zootaxa 2967, pp. 21-43 : 26-28

Atisne reidi n. sp.

Figures 1 , 2 B, 3E–H

Diagnosis. This species is recognised by the shorter forefemora (only 1.25x longer than procoxae versus 1.50x longer in A. derelictus : Fig. 1 ), the colouration of the forelimbs (uniform orange-brown in A. reidi , brown with irregular yellow banding in A. derelictus : Fig. 1 ), and shape of the forefemoral proximoventral spine, which is subapically bifid in A. derelictus ( Figs. 2 C, 3B–C) and undivided in A. reidi ( Figs. 2 B, 3E).

Description. Female. Body length 10.54. Head length 1.37, head width 0.90. AI length 5.27, AII length 4.96, AIII length 1.40, AIV length 3.20. Pronotal length 1.83, mesonotal length 0.93, metanotal length 0.53. Forecoxal length 1.86, forefemoral length 2.74, foretibial length 1.27. Abdominal length 6.51.

Colour. As shown in Figure 1 . Body mostly brown to orange-brown with yellow to orange markings. Head dark brown with yellow markings, anteocular region laterally with small yellow spot adjacent to eye, dorsally with two broad yellow bands converging posteriorly; postocular region with medially converging yellow bands beginning behind eyes, and faint yellow midline; clypeus and antennifers yellowed. Antennae mostly brown with AI basally more orange. Labium mostly orange-brown with apices of segments yellowed. Pro-, meso-, and metanota mostly dark brown laterally and ventrally, dorsally yellow. Supracoxal lobes weakly reddened. Forelimbs mostly orange-brown, forefemur apically faintly darkened, with setigerous spines black; foretibia orange brown, basally pale; foretibia yellow-brown basally, becoming darker towards apex. Mid and hind legs mostly orange-brown to brown, femora with two narrow yellowed subapical annulations; tibiae apically and basally yellowed, basally with narrow brown annulations; tarsi yellow. Abdomen mostly dark brown laterally with spiracles yellow; dorsally with faint yellow patterning down midline and lateral tergites; apex of abdomen with faintly yellowed midline.

Structure. As shown in Figures 1 , 2 B, 3E–H. Apterous female, elongate, parallel-sided, with elongate appendages, the antennae, and mid and hind legs being longer than the body. Head with elevated anteocular and postocular lobes, with deep interocular groove; anteocular lobe subquadrate; postocular lobe circular (as in A. derelictus , Fig. 3A ). First and second antennal segments subequal, first a little longer and strongly arcuate, third segment shortest, about one eighth of first segment, fourth segment a little longer than third. Labium attaining apex of prosternal stridulatory groove. Pronotum subrectangulate, elongate, with lateral margins weakly convergent posteriorly, bilobulate, medially divided, weakly anteriorly, posteriorly more depressed and separated; anterolateral angles finger-like, weakly tumid; anterior margin weakly excavate. Mesonotum subrectangulate, elongate, bilobulate, moderately depressed medially, sulcate; lateral margins strongly carinate, posterolateral angles with short finger-like processes extending beyond posterior margin of segment. Metanotum subrectangulate, transverse; bilobulate, lateral margins carinate; posterolateral angles with short finger-like process extending beyond posterior margin of segment. Forefemora incrassate, subfusiform, proximoventrally concave with elongate paw-like basal process ( Fig. 3 E); apically armed with five setigerous spines, ventrally with two series of spines, the lateroventral series irregular, thick, and setigerous, the medioventral series along distal 2/3rd of femur forming a single row of bristles, proximally curving towards dorsal margin of femur. Foretarsi unsegmented, evenly arcuate, ventral margin weakly carinate. Foreclaws fused along midline, weakly demarcated but not separated, triangular, weakly expanded basally. Mid and hind coxae spherical, tumid. Mid and hind femora elongate, thin, cylindrical, moderately arcuate, circular in cross-section. Mid and hind tibiae elongate, thin, cylindrical, arcuate apically, circular in cross-section. Mid and hind tarsi three-segmented. Mid and hind claws symmetrical, simple, evenly arcuate and tapered apically. Pregenital abdomen weakly expanded caudally. External female genitalia ( Fig. 3 G–H): VIII gonocoxites large, subtriangular; anterior gonapophyses suboval, small, setate, contiguous along midline; [styloids missing from specimen].

Texture and vestiture. Head finely rugulose with more coarsely textured midline (as in A. derelictus , Fig. 3A ) and sparse distribution of short, adpressed golden setae. AI and AII with sparse distribution of short, semierect golden setae, AIII and AIV with slightly longer, more dense covering of adpressed white setae. Labium with a few short, erect setae. Thorax finely rugulose, more so on lateral and ventral surfaces, with sparse distribution of short, golden setae, slightly more dense along anteroventral midline. Forefemora smooth and shining, dorsally with a few very short setae, anteroventrally with longer, erect setae. Foretibia with strip of short, golden semierect setae along anteromedial margin, posteromedially with longer setae becoming denser and longer towards apex; apicomedially with thick patch of long, golden setae surrounding cleaning comb ( Fig. 3 E). Remaining limbs with sparse distribution of short, adpressed to semierect setae. Abdomen finely rugulose and mostly bare, with sparse distribution of very short setae.

Habitat. This species was collected on an unidentified species of fern adjacent to a stream on the summit of Mt. Gower.

Distribution. Known only from Lord Howe Island.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of the coleopterist Chris Reid, who collected the type specimen.

Specimens examined. Holotype: Female: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Lord Howe Island, Mt Gower summit, C.A.M. Reid, 6 December 2000, ex ferns, riparian, LHI/CR/L06 (AM). Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Lord Howe Island: Mt. Gower summit, C.A.M. Reid, 6 December 2000, ex ferns, riparian, LHI/CR/ L06, 1Ƥ, 1 fifth instar larva (AM).

Remarks. A. reidi is structurally similar to A. derelictus , but is significantly smaller and differs in relative forelimb size and forefemoral armature. Colour differences are also apparent; however more material of both species is required to assess intraspecific variation. The male of A. reidi is currently unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Lateral photographs of females of Atisne derelictus (above) and Atisne reidi (below).

FIGURE 2. A, Atisne derelictus, head and pronotum. B, Atisne reidi, proximoventral forefemoral process. C – E Atisne derelictus: C, Proximoventral forefemoral process; D, paramere (redrawn from Wygodzinsky 1966: Fig. 20 I); E, aedeagus (redrawn from Wygodzinsky 1966: Fig. 20 J). F – I Emesopsis cirratus: F, Paramere; G, head and pronotum, lateral view; H, hemelytron; I, aedeagus. (Not to scale.)

FIGURE 3. A – D Atisne derelictus, female: A, Head, dorsal view; B, foreleg, lateral view; C, foreleg, medial view; D, female external genitalia, ventral view. E – H Atisne reidi: E, Foreleg, medial view; F, foreclaw; G, apex of female abdomen, dorsal view; H, female external genitalia, lateral view. GN = anterior gonapophysis; GN III = third gonapophysis; ST VIII = gonocoxite.