Rhagovelia tufi, Polhemus, 2024

Polhemus, Dan A., 2024, Thirty-four new species of Rhagovelia (Heteroptera: Veliidae) from the East Papua Composite Terrane, far eastern New Guinea, Zootaxa 5400 (1), pp. 1-214 : 22

Rhagovelia tufi subgroup

The R. tufi subgroup is a set of relatively small-sized species within the context of the R. novacaledonica group, with body lengths ranging between 3.0– 4.1 mm.All these species are predominantly dark colored, with limited dark yellow or orange-brown markings on the anterior pronotum and connexiva ( Figs. 35, 36 , 41, 42 , 48, 49 , 55, 56 ). The pale coloration on the anterior pronotum is confined to a small transverse patch behind the vertex, which is not confluent with similar pale coloration on the propleurae, and the prosternum, proacetabula and sometimes the jugae bear small black denticles. The male hind femur has a characteristic spine pattern with two widely separated spines in the posterior row being longer and more prominent than the remainder ( Figs. 37 , 44 , 51 , 58 ). The male paramere shape is typical of the R. novacaledonica group, with the distal arm slightly expanded apically to form a ventrally curving blade, and the ventral margin weakly bilobate ( Figs. 38 , 45 , 52 , 59 ). Species in this subgroup seem to prefer shaded first and second order streams, where they skate on shallow, gently flowing pools ( Figs. 40 , 47 , 54, 61).

Figures

FIGS. 35–39. Rhagovelia tufi n. sp., structural details; specimens from New Guinea, Tufi area, Kofure River, CL 7304. 35. Wingless male, dorsal habitus. 36. Wingless female, dorsal habitus. 37. Male hind leg, dorsal view. 38. Male left paramere, outer lateral view. 39. Male proctiger, dorsal view.

FIGS. 41–46. Rhagovelia bowutu n. sp., structural details; specimens from New Guinea, Kamiali, Aleater River tributary, CL 7243. 41. Wingless male, dorsal habitus. 42. Wingless female, dorsal habitus. 43. Wingless male left hind femur, ventral view. 44. Wingless female left hind femur, ventral view. 45. Male left paramere, outer lateral view. 46. Male proctiger, dorsal view.

FIGS. 48–53. Rhagovelia obscura n. sp., structural details; specimens from New Guinea, Dorobisoro, Mimani River tributary, CL 7264. 48. Wingless male, dorsal habitus. 49. Wingless female, dorsal habitus. 50. Male right hind leg, posterior view. 51. Male right hind leg, dorsal view. 52. Male left paramere, outer lateral view. 53. Male proctiger, dorsal view.

FIGS. 55–60. Rhagovelia upalai n. sp., structural details; specimens from New Guinea, Alotau, Upalai River, CL 7163. 55. Wingless male, dorsal habitus. 56. Wingless female, dorsal habitus. 57. Male right hind leg, posterior view. 58. Male right hind leg, dorsal view. 59. Male left paramere, outer lateral view. 60. Male proctiger, dorsal view.

FIG. 40. The midreach of the Kofure River upstream of its estuary, northwest of Tufi, Oro Prov., Papua New Guinea, CL 7304, type-locality for R. tufi n. sp. and habitat for R. priori Lansbury.

FIG. 47. Rocky tributary to middle Aleater River, Morobe Prov., Papua New Guinea, CL 7245, locality for R. bowutu n. sp.