Mecomera reichardti Brindle, 1971

Heleodoro, Raphael Aquino, Alves-Oliveira, João Rafael & Rafael, José Albertino, 2019, Mecomera Audinet-Serville, 1839 (Dermaptera: Spongiphoridae): proposal of new diagnosis, descriptions and illustrations of all three-known species, Zootaxa 4577 (1), pp. 117-130 : 126-129

Mecomera reichardti Brindle, 1971

Figs. 7 A–E, 8A–D.

Mecomera reichardti Brindle, 1971: 166 ; Steinmann, 1990: 172 (redescription); Sakai, 1991 (comparison of descriptions from different authors).

Examined material. Holotype: “ São Paulo, STO. [ Santo ] Amaro, SP [São Paulo], 29.vi.1966, E. X. Rabello col.” (♂, MZUSP) . Allotype: same data as holotype (1 ♀, MZUSP) . Paratypes: “ St. Catharina [Santa Catarina], Blumenau , ii. 1919, H. Luederwaldt ” (2♂, 3♀ MZUSP); “Same data as holotype (1♀, MZUSP)” .

Diagnosis. Head with postero-lateral margin of post-ocular area convex; vertex inconspicuously concave ( Figs. 7 A–B, 8B–C). Antenna with approximately proximal half light brown, distal half dark brown ( Fig. 8C ). Eye diameter half the length of the post-ocular area ( Fig. 7B ). Tegmina and posterior wings dark brown to black ( Fig. 7A , 8B, C ). Tergites 2–3 conspicuously narrowing ( Fig. 8B ). Tergite 4 to end of abdomen with punctated surface ( Figs. 7C , 8 A–C). Male pygidium somewhat rectangular, with two conspicuous bifurcated, oblong projections ( Figs. 7C , 8A ); female the same, but with pygidium semicircular ( Fig. 8D ). Basal vesicle conspicuously slender at proximal half, rounded at distal half, resembling a comma; paramere with basal margin conspicuously rounded, antero-lateral margin concave, postero-lateral margin convex ( Figs. 7 D–E).

Description of male. Body light brown to light yellow ( Fig. 7A ).

Head with inconspicuous postfrontal and coronal sutures on frons and vertex ( Fig. 7A, B ). Frons with basal margin convex. Post-ocular area with postero-lateral margin convex; vertex inconspicuously concave. Eyes black (in dead specimen), short, diameter half the length of post–ocular area ( Fig. 7B ). Antenna setose, light brown; scapus 3.7 times longer than pedicel and 1.6 times longer than flagellomere 1. Maxillary and labial palps setose; pedicel cylindrical, remaining antennomere conical ( Fig. 7B ).

Pronotum hexagonal, 1.3 times longer than wide when measured at widest point; broadening from base to apex, wider at middle, surface roughened, apical, basal and lateral margins convex; mid-longitudinal sulcus inconspicuous and shallow ( Fig. 7A ). Meso- and metanotum covered by tegmina and posterior wings, respectively.

Tegmina dark brown, thick, elongated, 2.5 times longer than wide, broadening towards apex; surface roughened, postero-laterally straight ( Fig. 7A ).

All legs shiny, uniformly light yellow ( Fig. 6A ). Legs lacking setae, except for tarsi on ventral side.

Male abdominal tergites 1–3 conspicuously narrowed ( Fig. 7A ). Tergites 4–10 with punctate surface ( Figs. 7C , 8A ). Tergites 5–8 with straight lateral margin, inconspicuously concave apical margins ( Figs. 7C , 8A ). Tergite 6 rectangular, approximately two times wider than long ( Fig. 7C ). Tergite 7 rectangular, but about 4.5 times wider than long ( Fig. 7C ). Tergite 8 rectangular, approximately 6.5 times wider than long ( Fig. 7C ). Tergite 9 conspicuously narrowed, approximately 6.2 times wider than long, with straight lateral margin and conspicuous concave apical margin ( Figs. 7C , 8A ). Tergite 10 trapezoidal, without spots, with concave straight lateral margin, conspicuously emarginated apical margin ( Figs. 7C , 8A ). Pygidium somewhat rectangular, with lateral margin straight, apical margin with two conspicuous bifurcated, oblong projections ( Figs. 7C , 8A ).

Male genitalia with basal vesicle conspicuously slender at proximal half, rounded at distal half, resembling a comma; paramere with basal margin conspicuously rounded, antero-lateral margin concave, postero-lateral margin convex ( Figs. 7 D–E).

Female abdomen. Dark brown. Tergites 1–4 conspicuously narrowed ( Fig. 8B ). Tergites 2–8 with punctate surface ( Fig. 8B ). Tergites 3–7 rectangular, gradually decreasing in length, with lateral margins straight, apical margins slightly concave ( Fig. 8B ). Tergite 7 rectangular, 2.8 times wider than long ( Fig. 8C ). Tergite 8 trapezoidal, narrowing from base to apex, with basal margin slightly sinuous, lateral margin straight, apical margin straight with postero-lateral angle projected upwards ( Figs. 8 B–C). Pygidium semicircular, with two conspicuous bifurcated oblong projections ( Figs. 8 B–C).

Variations. The projections on the holotype’s pygidium are more distant from each other than in the remaining two male paratypes ( Figs. 7C , 8A ).

Remarks. Concerning the description of the male terminalia of M. reichardti , previous authors misinterpreted the description of the pygidium of this species ( Brindle 1971; Steinmann 1990; Sakai 1991). These previous authors described the male pygidium as a structure with a rounded apical margin with two projections. This interpretation might have happened because the holotype’s pygidium is partially encompassed by the last abdominal segments, leaving only the apical margin of the pygidium visible. Based on the new illustrations of the holotype specimen, the characterization of the male pygidium is amended and the variations between holotype and paratypes are given above.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Mecomera chacoensis ♂. A) Habitus, dorsal view; B) Pygidium and cercus base, dorsal view; C) Pygidium and subgenital plate, ventral view; D) Genitalia, dorsal view; E) Genitalia, ventral view.

FIGURE 7. Mecomera reichardti, holotype ♂. A) Habitus in dorsal view; B) Head and pronotum in dorsal view; C) Tergites 5–10 and cercus, dorsal view; D) Genitalia, ventral view; E) Partial gentalia, excluding ejaculatory duct, ventral view. Photos by MZUSP staff.

FIGURE 8. Mecomera reichardti. A) Paratype ♂, tergites 7‒10, pygidium and cercus, dorsal view; B) Paratype ♀, habitus in dorsal view; C) Paratype ♂, habitus in dorsal view; D) Tergites 6‒8, pygidium and cercus, dorsal view. Photos by MZUSP staff.