Neomacrocoris nanus Poisson

Sites, Robert W. & Mbogho, Aaron Y., 2012, Revision of the African genus Neomacrocoris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae), Zootaxa 3555, pp. 1-39 : 20-21

Neomacrocoris nanus Poisson

Figs. 27–30

Neomacrocoris nanus Poisson 1948 : Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 41: 213–215.

Discussion. This is the smallest described species of Neomacrocoris. It was reported as 6.8 mm ( Poisson 1948 ) and is known from only Belgian Congo. We remeasured the paralectotype at 6.72 mm. There has been nothing in the literature about this species since the original description except for its listing in the La Rivers catalog of Naucoridae ( La Rivers 1971). Poisson deposited two male specimens with identical label data (Fig. 30) in the Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale in Tervuren, Belgium. Although both of these pinned specimens were labeled “ TYPE ”, they are actually syntypes because a type specimen was not designated in the original description. To create taxonomic stability, we designated one specimen as a lectotype and labeled the other a paralectotype. A corresponding microscope slide containing the 6th, 7th, and 8th terga, and 10th segment (proctiger) of the lectotype is in the Poisson acquisition in the Drake Collection at the USNM. The original description included no information about locality, date of collection, or type repository. The label data suggest the specimens were collected in Bas- Congo Province of western Democratic Republic of Congo. RWS recently visited the type locality with W. D. Shepard to recollect this species. Kongolo is a small village several km downstream and on the opposite side of the Congo River from Matadi. The only permanent water at this village is the Congo River and only Naucoris obscuratus Montandon was collected. The substrate of the Congo River in this area is mostly sand with some areas of gravel. A vegetated, muddy bank habitat that would be typical for species of Neomacrocoris was not present. Thus, we suspect that either the specimens were mislabeled or the habitat has changed since the 1937 original collection date.

FIGURES 27–30. Neomacrocoris nanus (27) habitus of PARALECTOTYPE, (28) male genital capsule of paralectotype, (29) 6th and 7th abdominal segments of lectotype, (30) specimen labels of lectotype. Fig. 29 photographed from Poisson slide at USNM. Sizes are not proportionate among figures.

Poisson (1948) illustrated the body, 7th and 8th terga, and aedeagus. He considered the configuration of the 8th tergum to be similar to that of N. parviceps and provided comparative illustrations of the pseudostrigil of the 7th tergum of both species. We consider the condition of the phallotheca and pseudostrigil to be similar to those of N. parviceps . The female of this species is unknown.

Diagnosis. Small size is diagnostic for this species.

Published records. None.

Material examined. LECTOTYPE by present designation (pinned specimen): [ DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO]: Matadi, Kongolo, - III-1937, Dr. Dartevelle / R. Poisson det., 1945, Neomacrocoris nanus n.sp. / Neomac. nanus 3 TYPE / R. Det. 5305 K. / Neomacrocoris nanus Poisson LECTOTYPE ( RMCA, 3); (slide mounted material): BELGIAN CONGO: Matadi, Kongolo, Dr. Dartevelle ( USNM, slide-mounted 3 abdominal segments 6–8 and 10). PARALECTOTYPE: same data as pinned lectotype but 5305.d ( RMCA, 13).

FIGURES 31–33. Neomacrocoris ndugai HOLOTYPE (31) habitus, (32) aedeagus, (33) medial lobes of 7th abdominal tergum. Figs. 32, 33 photographed from Poisson slide at USNM. Sizes are not proportionate among figures.