Neomacrocoris vuga Sites

Sites, Robert W., 2015, A new species, new synonymy, and notes on Neomacrocoris (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae), Zootaxa 3964 (5), pp. 553-560 : 559

Neomacrocoris vuga Sites

Neomacrocoris vuga Sites : in Sites & Mbogho 2012, Zootaxa 3555: 34–37.

Discussion. This recently described species is known from only five localities, three in the Usambara Mountains of northeastern Tanzania and two in southern Kenya ( Sites & Mbogho 2012). One female and one 5th instar were found among undetermined material in the BMNH. Although males generally are needed for specific determination, the subgenital plate of N. vuga is distinct and this female is large and ovate (length 12.00, width 7.68 mm), which is characteristic of the species. The label data are contradictory because the country is given as Ethiopia; however, all other label details refer by name and coordinates to a locality in Kenya, ca. 28 km northwest of Nairobi. Thus, the country is clearly mislabeled and should read Kenya rather than Ethiopia. This is the sixth record for the species, and it extends the known range further to the northwest in Kenya to involve another mountain range.

Material examined. [ KENYA]: Ethiopia, Dam Limuru, 1º 8'S, 36º 38'E, 18 III 1945, N. Hynes coll / Brit. Mus. 1955–67 ( BMNH, 1♀, 1–5th instar).

Published records. KENYA: Museum Leiden, Taita Hills, Wusi; no jk 143, 29.XI.1974, ca 850 m, J. Krikken & A. L. van Berge Henegouwen, 3o27'S – 38o 21'E / rivulet in cult. area ( RMNH, 1♂); Museum Leiden, E. le Moult, Kenya Nairobi, Ngong-Forest, Br. O, Afrika ( RMNH, 1♂, 2♀). TANZANIA: Tanga Region, river from Soni to Mombo, 2 km E of Vuga Junction, 0 4o 52.040'S, 38o 20.906'E, 460 m, 14 August 2010, colls. R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, grassy overhangs in rocky stream, L-1253 (♂ holotype; 1♂, 2♀ paratypes); river from Soni to Mombo, Karense, 1 km E of Soni, 0 4o 50.284'S, 38o 22.355'E, 1051 m, 14 August 2010, colls. R. W. Sites & A. Mbogho, vegetated overhangs and undercuts, L-1254 (1♂, 4♀ paratypes); W. Usambara Mts. 38 22E, 4 44S, 10 Aug 1996, 5100 ft, P. Cresswell, creek ( CMNH, 1♀).