Neomacrocoris reavelli Sites

Sites, Robert W. & Mbogho, Aaron Y., 2012, Revision of the African genus Neomacrocoris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae), Zootaxa 3555, pp. 1-39 : 26-27

Neomacrocoris reavelli Sites , NEW SPECIES

Figs. 43–46

Description. Macropterous male. HOLOTYPE, length 9.60; maximum width 6.36. General shape elongate oval, widest across embolia (Fig. 43); overall coloration dorsally yellowish-brown anteriorly with dark scutellum and hemelytra; ventral surface mostly brown; legs, laterotergites, and lateral part of propleura yellow.

Head. Length 1.80, maximum width 2.68. Yellow with dark brown spots, projecting beyond eyes 11% of head length. Eyes reddish brown; approximately twice as long as wide, length/width 1.14/0.58; inner margins shallowly concave, lateral margins rounded; synthlipsis 1.44; eye margined posteriorly and laterally with thin, reddish-brown flange (lateral hyperoche). Labrum yellowish brown, transverse, broadly rounded distally, width/length = 0.90/ 0.42. Maxillary plate pale yellow, translucent, narrow, elongate, extending approximately to 1/4 length of labrum, bordering sides of rostral base. Labium with three visible segments successively darkening distally from yellowish basal segment to dark brown distal segment, short, extending 0.46 beyond labrum. Antenna short, hirsute, extending slightly beyond lateral margin of eye, relative lengths 5:15:11:9.

Thorax. Pronotum broad, highly convex, yellow; scattered dark brown punctation throughout; pair of submedial large U-shaped brown areas; wide transverse band along posterior margin tuberculate, devoid of brown punctation but with irregular row of large, dark brown to black, longitudinally elongate spots; maximum width 5.68, length at midline 2.72; posterior margin broadly, shallowly convex with subtle concavity at midline; lateral margins strongly convex, convergent anteriorly, distinctly explanate; posterolateral corners rounded; with scattered pale setae. Scutellum dark brown with reddish mottling laterally; punctate; with scattered thin setae; width 3.64, length at midline 2.04; lateral margins slightly convex. Hemelytra medium brown, subtly mottled with reddish brown maculation; mostly tuberculate; sparse, elongate, recumbent setae; length 6.84 (chord measurement). Clavus distinct; yellow at commissure; with sparse, elongate, recumbent setae; venation not evident. Embolium clearly delineated, lateral margin evenly convex throughout, mostly yellowish with darker infuscation distally, maximum width 0.92, length 2.80. Membrane punctate. Hindwings well developed. Ventrally, prosternum with thin midventral carina. Propleuron laterally with extensive yellow, glabrous area extending 2/3 distance to mesal margin, brown pruinose mesad of yellow glabrous area, mesally with elongate recumbent hairs on occlusal surface with coxa; propleura widely separated at midline. Mesosternum with medial carina with elongate golden-brown setae and series of 6-7 ventrally directed protuberances; meso- and metasterna mostly dark brown, pruinose.

Legs. All segments yellow except brown protarsus, meso- and metacoxae; profemur with scattered brown spots in posterior 2/3; anterior margin with dense pad of elongate, pale setae; protibia and tarsus with flattened inner surface, sparse row of pale spatulate setae; single tarsal segment; claw minute; middle and hind coxae covered with short, pale, recumbent setae; metaxyphus with pronounced transverse and longitudinal carinae, thus resembling head of Phillips screwdriver directed posteroventrad; meso- and metafemora with posteroventral row of dark, peg-like spines; spines of mesofemur becoming obsolete proximally and replaced by short, pale setae; spines of metafemur consistently developed; middle of posterior surface with row of short, pale setae; posterodorsal row of dark, peg-like spines; meso- and metatibiae with rows of stout reddish-brown spines, 2 transverse rows of long, stout spines at apex; meso- and metatibiae and tarsi with long, golden brown swimming hairs; claws slender, evenly curved, with basal tooth. Leg measurements as follows: foreleg, femur 2.52, tibia 1.90, tarsus 0.58; middle leg, femur 2.64, tibia 2.24, tarsomeres 1–3, 0.18, 0.44, 0.50; hind leg, femur 3.04, tibia 3.64, tarsomeres 1–3 0.22, 0.68, 0.46.

Abdomen. Connexiva III-VI exposed laterally beyond hemelytra, each yellow anteriorly, brown posteriorly; margins of III–VIII smooth, with dense fringe of pale setae; posterolateral angles of II–IV square, V–VII slightly acuminate. Tergum VII posterior margin with lobe left of midline papilliform, with a series of denticles beneath left margin; lobe right of midline (pseudostrigil) large, directed caudad (Fig. 46), with dense mat of denticles on ovate caudal surface, several denticles on ventral surface of anterolateral corner. Tergum VIII with left medial lobe broadly digitate; right lobe triangular, broadly spatulate, with posterolateral area swollen and with long setae. Ventrally reddish brown except narrow marginal glabrous yellow band; densely covered with short, pale and dark, recumbent setae. Sternum V with posterior margin concave and mediosternite VI displaced asymmetrically to left. Genital operculum evenly rounded.

Genitalia. Pygophore brown, elongate setae generally scattered and with a dense brush posteriorly (Fig. 44). Parameres lacking. Phallosoma with basal oblique striations hidden behind pygophore; abrupt broadly rounded dextral gibbosity; gibbosity narrowing and continuing distad on right side; apex with rounded rim and opening to left, with longitudinally expansive, lightly sclerotized ventral flange (Fig. 44); sclerotized vesica distad of phallosoma.

FIGURES 43–46. Neomacrocoris reavelli n. sp. HOLOTYPE (43) habitus; (44) male genital capsule, size bar = 1.0 mm; (45) terminal abdominal terga; (46) medial lobes of 7th abdominal tergum. Sizes are not proportionate among figures.

Female. Unknown.

Diagnosis. This species superficially is similar in size and shape to N. bondelaufa , N. katangae , N. parviceps , and N. schaeferi . In particular, it appears most similar to N. p. ocellatus because of the larger dark maculation laterally on the pronotum. However, it can be distinguished from N. p. ocellatus and the other species by the shapes of the phallosoma and pseudostrigil.

Discussion. This specimen was collected at the Steenbras dam near Cape Town, South Africa. The label data indicate that this specimen was collected at the base of Miscanthus (elephant grass) in a scour pool.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of our colleague Patrick Reavell, Cape Town, South Africa, who graciously donated this and other specimens of South African Naucoridae to RWS.

Repositories. The holotype is deposited in the Enns Entomology Museum, University of Missouri, U.S.A.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: SOUTH AFRICA: W Cape, Koggelberg Mtns, Steenbras dam and gorge area, 34o10’S: 19o00’E, 300- 500 m.a.s.l., Date: 19.xi.2006, Coll: P. E. Reavell & L. Saayman / [underside of same label] connected scour pool, base of Miscanthus ( PRC, 13).