Ptilomera (Ptilomera), 1843

Jehamalar, E. Eyarin, Chandra, Kailash, Basu, Srimoyee & Selvakumar, C., 2018, Review of Ptilomera (Ptilomera) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae) from India, with description of a new species, Zootaxa 4370 (5), pp. 501-518 : 502

Key to the species of Ptilomera (Ptilomera) from India

1. Flexor region of mid femur with fringe of curly, intertwined dark brown to black swimming setae in distal ½ to ¾, continued proximally with a fringe of fine short setae to sub-basal region (Fig. 1G); connexivum without process on segment 7 (Figs. 1A, C) (males)........................................................................................... 2

- Flexor region of mid femur without swimming setae; connexivum with process on segment 7 (Figs. 1B, E, F, H) (females).. 7

2. Flexor region of mid femur with fringe of fine short setae of different lengths in proximal half and gradually disappearing beyond middle, with tuft of black setae near apex ( Fig. 4E ); sub-lateral region of meso- and metanota with silvery white setae ( Fig. 4A ) (female unknown)...................................... P. nagalanda Jehamalar & Chandra , new species

- Flexor region of mid femur with fringe of curly, intertwined dark brown to black swimming setae in distal ½ to ¾, proximally with short, straight, thin setal fringe (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5G); sub-lateral region of meso- and metanota almost bare except anterosublateral region with silvery white patch (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5A)....................................................... 3

3. Proctiger posteromedially not surpassing the posterior margin of lateral process ( Fig. 5I ); intertwined swimming setae on flexor region of mid femur in distal ½, continued proximally by short thin setae to sub-basal region ( Fig. 5G ); pygophore elongated, in dorsal view subequal to the length of proctiger on midline ( Figs. 5A, C )....................... P. tigrina Uhler

- Proctiger posteromedially surpassing the posterior margin of lateral process (Figs. 1, 2I); intertwined swimming setae on flexor region of mid femur in distal <½ or 2/3 or extending to near base, continued proximally by short thin setae to sub-basal region; pygophore not elongated as above, in dorsal view ± ½ the length of proctiger on midline (Figs. 1, 2, 3C)................ 4

4. Apex of pygophore round, lateral process spine-like and extending well beyond anterolateral region of lateral process of proctiger; the arrangement of lateral process of pygophore and paramere giving a chelate appearance (Fig. 1C); intertwined swimming setae on flexor region of mid femur in distal <½, continued proximally with short thin setae to sub-basal region (Fig. 1G)..................................................................................... P. agriodes Schmidt

- Apical part of pygophore sub-triangular with pointed to blunt tip, lateral process with blunt apex, slightly surpassing anterolateral region of lateral process of proctiger; the arrangement of lateral process of pygophore and paramere not giving a chelate appearance ( Figs. 2C , 3C); intertwined swimming setae on flexor region of mid femur in distal 2/3, continued proximally with short thin setae to sub-basal region ( Figs. 2G , 3G)............................................................5

5. Anterolateral region of lateral process of pygophore with a short, sparse yellowish brown setal tuft ( Fig. 2C ); proctiger convex posteromedially, base of the convexity slightly angulated ( Fig. 2I ); basal 1/3 of flexor region of mid femur bare ( Fig. 2G )........................................................................... P. assamensis Hungerford & Matsuda

- Anterolateral region of lateral process of pygophore with a medium sized dense black setal tuft (Fig. 3C); proctiger convex posteromedially, but base of convexity not angulated (Fig. 3J); setal fringe on mid femur extending to near base (Fig. 3G).. 6

6. Sub-apex of paramere broad (Figs. 3D, K)............................................. P. laticaudata (Hardwicke)

- Sub-apex of paramere slender (see Zettel 2003).............................................. P. occidentalis Zettel

7. Lateral process of seventh abdominal sternum bilobed (dorsolateral lobe and ventrolateral lobe) ( Fig. 5H ); connexival process almost straight basally, reaching or slightly surpassing abdominal apex at midline ( Fig. 5E )............... P. tigrina Uhler

- Lateral process of seventh abdominal sternum unilobed (Figs. 1H, 2H, 3I), connexival process strongly inwardly bent (Figs. 1, 2, 3E), surpassing abdominal apex at midline and not reaching or reaching apex of lateral process of seventh abdominal sternum................................................................................................ 8

8. Lateral process of seventh abdominal sternum short, slightly surpassing abdominal apex (Fig. 1H); connexival process slightly surpassing lateral process (Figs. 1E, F, H). ……………….………………………….……………………. P. agriodes Schmidt

- Lateral process of seventh abdominal sternum greatly surpassing abdominal apex ( Figs. 2 , 3I); connexival process distinctly shorter or as long as or slightly surpassing lateral process..................................................... 9

9. Connexival process distinctly shorter than lateral process of seventh abdominal sternum ( Fig. 2H )............................................................................................ P. assamensis Hungerford & Matsuda

- Connexival process as long as or slightly surpassing lateral process of seventh abdominal sternum (Fig. 3I)............. 10

10. Connexival process slightly curved in lateral view and about as long as or slightly shorter or longer than lateral process of seventh abdominal sternum (Fig. 3I); sub-basal region of hind femur with a fringe of short setae (Fig. 3H)................................................................................................. .. P. laticaudata (Hardwicke)

- Connexival process rarely curved in lateral view and about as long as lateral process of seventh abdominal sternum (see Zettel 2003); sub-basal region of hind femur without or with a weak fringe of short setae.................. P. occidentalis Zettel

Figures

FIGURES 2A–J. Ptilomera assamensis Hungerford & Matsuda (A, C, D, G, I, J: apterous male; B, E, F, H: apterous female): A, B, habitus, dorsal view; C & E, abdominal apex, dorsal view; D & F, same, ventral view; H, same, lateral view; G, mid femur, ventrolateral view; I, proctiger, dorsal view; J, paramere, lateral view.

FIGURES 4A–I. Ptilomera nagalanda Jehamalar and Chandra, new species (apterous male, holotype): A, dorsal view; B, lateral view; C, abdominal apex, dorsal view; D, abdominal apex, ventral view; E, mid femur, ventrolateral view, showing setal fringe; F, proctiger, dorsal view; G, paramere, lateral view; H, endosoma, dorsal view, showing sclerites; I, same, lateral view, showing sclerites(als—accessorylateral sclerite;as—apical sclerite;bs—basal sclerite; ds—dorsalsclerite;ls—lateral sclerite; ms—median sclerite; vs—ventral sclerite).

FIGURES 5A–J. Ptilomera tigrina Uhler (A, C, D, G, I, J: apterous male; B, E, F, H: apterous female): A, B, habitus, dorsal view; C & E, abdominal apex, dorsal view; D & F, same,ventral view; H, same, lateral view; G, mid femur, ventrolateral view; I, proctiger, dorsal view; J, paramere, lateral view.