Neomacrocoris vaneyeni Poisson

Sites, Robert W. & Mbogho, Aaron Y., 2012, Revision of the African genus Neomacrocoris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae), Zootaxa 3555, pp. 1-39 : 33-34

Neomacrocoris vaneyeni Poisson

Figs. 57–60

Neomacrocoris vaneyeni Poisson 1950 : Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 43: 86–87.

Discussion. Poisson (1963) considered N. vaneyeni to be similar to N. karimii , and both are approximately the same length (10.3 mm). Together with N. vuga at 10.9 mm, these three species compose a group of large, ovate species of Neomacrocoris. The original description ( Poisson 1950 ) was based on a single male specimen from the Democratic Republic of Congo and included line drawings of the body and 7th and 8th abdominal terga. We have examined the type specimen housed in RMCA and associated slide-mounted abdominal segments and aedeagus housed at USNM. Additional specimens of N. vaneyeni from the type locality were misidentified by Poisson . He provisionally identified some as N. angusticeps (see comments in Discussion of N. angusticeps ) and others as Macrocoris flavicollis Signoret. Included here are photographs of the habitus, slide-mounted aedeagus, and 7th tergum of the holotype (Figs. 57–59), and a line drawing of the female subgenital plate (Fig. 60).

During a recent collecting trip to western Democratic Republic of Congo, RWS and W. D. Shepard collected in Lukusu River near Mboma in an attempt to collect topotypes of N. vaneyeni . This locality (L-1448) was 11 km south of Mayidi and the only body of water in the vicinity, thus it is most likely the true type locality. Although the stream had an insect community and habitat consistent with that observed for N. vaneyeni elsewhere, this species was not collected. However, we were successful in collecting it in other similar streams slightly further southwest.

Diagnosis. The body is large and ovate (Fig. 57). The type specimen measures 10.24 by 7.04 mm. The phallosoma is distinct because the gibbosity on the right side is truncate and the process on the left side of the apex is short and truncate (Fig. 58). The female subgenital plate is gently sinuate to the distal spatulate process (Fig. 60).

Published records. [ DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO] ( Poisson 1950 ).

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE: [ DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO]: Coll. Mus. Congo, Mayidi, 1942, Rev. P. Van Eyen / R. Det., F., 5498 ( RMCA, 3 body; USNM, slide-mounted abdominal segments 7–8 and aedeagus).

Additional material examined. BELGIAN CONGO: Tsehotten ( USNM, slide-mounted 3 abdominal segments 7–8). CONGO ( DRC): Bas Congo Province: Nduizi River, S 0 5o 44.446' E 0 13o 44.385', elev. 286 m, 6 August 2012, colls: Sites, Shepard, Pwema, small stream w/pools & overhanging grasses, L-1439 ( UMC, 33, 1Ƥ); Fwadiagombe River, ca. 4 km SW of Snell-Kwilu power stn, S 0 5o 37.689', E 0 14o 14.368', elev. 329 m, 7 August 2012, colls: Sites, Shepard, Pwema, vegetated margins of gravel stream, L-1444 ( UMC, 13, 1Ƥ); Ngongo River, 3 km NE of Kimpese, S 0 5o 26.467' E 0 14o 38.914', elev. 381 m, 8 August 2012, colls: Sites & Pwema, sand, gravel, marginal grasses, L-1446 ( UMC, 13, 1Ƥ). [ DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO]: Coll. Mus. Congo, Mayidi, 1942, Rev. P. Van Eyen / R. Poisson det. 1951 Neomacrocoris angusticeps Ƥ Hugl. ? ( RMCA, 1Ƥ); Mayidi, 1942, Rev. P. Van Eyen / à verifier 7th segment / Poisson to Drake Coll 1979 ( USNM, 13). Mayidi, 1942, Rev. P. Van Eyen / N. angusticeps ? / à verifier / Poisson to Drake Coll 1979 / N. vaneyeni Poisson det. R. W. Sites 2011 ( USNM, 13); Coll. Mus. Congo, Mayidi, 1942, Rev. P. Van Eyen / Macrocoris flavicollis Sign., R. Poisson det. 1958 ( RMCA, 13,1Ƥ); Coll. Mus. Congo, Mayidi, 1945, Rev. P. Van Eyen / Macrocoris flavicollis Sign., R. Poisson det. 1958 ( RMCA, 3Ƥ; UMC 1Ƥ). CÔTE D’IVOIRE: Poisson to Drake Coll 1979 ( USNM, 1Ƥ).

FIGURES 57–60. Neomacrocoris vaneyeni HOLOTYPE (57) habitus, (58) aedeagus of holotype, (59) medial lobes of 7th abdominal tergum of holotype, (60) terminal abdominal sterna of female including subgenital plate. Figs. 58, 59 photographed from Poisson slide at USNM. Sizes are not proportionate among figures.