Urucuca laticephala, Heiss, 2014

Heiss, E., 2014, Two new apterous Mezirinae from Brazil (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 46 (2), pp. 1329-1336 : 1331-1332

Urucuca laticephala nov.sp. ( Photo 1-2 )

H o l o t y p e: male labeled: Brasilia / Bahia Uruçuca nr. / Cerro Grande / 3 II 1992 L. Chapman //; Holotype / Urucuca laticephala n.gen. n.sp. / des. E.Heiss 2014 // (red label, CEHI).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Holotype male; apterous, body surface shiny with deep punctures; lateral margins of body and elevated structures as apices of genae, clypeus, lateral expansions of pro- and mesonotum, median scutellar structure of mesonotum, transverse ridge delimiting posteriorly mtg II, elevations of mtg IV-V, posterior margins of deltg II-VII and tergite VII beset with stiff yellowish setae; legs and antennae with shorter pilosity; colouration reddish brown.

H e a d: 1.4x as wide as long (57/40); genae anterolaterally expanded, their apices directed upward, anteriorly enclosing carinate clypeus; antenniferous lobes finger-like, diverging anterolaterally; antennae shorter than width of head (50.5/57), segment I longest and thickest, basally curved, II shortest and thinner, III thin and slightly longer than fusiform segment IV; length of segments I/II/III/IV = 15/9/13.5/13; eyes strongly stalked placed on laterally large upward projecting lobes; postocular lobes sinuately converging posteriorly; rostrum arising from a slit-like atrium, shorter than head.

P r o n o t u m:3xaswideaslong (60/20), anterior margin concave and carinate, posterior margin elevated, carinate and slightly convex; lateral margins with large oval wing-like upward directed expansions; disk with 3 oval depressions medially.

M e s o n o t u m Consisting of 2 (1+1) narrow lateral sclerites with round upward directed expansions at their end, separated at middle by an elevated knob-like posteriorly produced scutellar structure; fused to metanotum with visible suture marking the fusion line.

M e t a n o t u m: Large lateral oval sclerites depressed anteriorly, fused to mtg I posteriorly and delimited by a transverse smooth carina which is highest at middle, there connected to the raised scutellar knob by a saddle-like elevation; mtg II fused to mtg I and tergal plate, its posterior margin marked by a transverse elevated carina, this raised at middle and laterally ending in setigerous tubercles not reaching the lateral margin of the segment.

A b d o m e n Tergal plate medially raised with distinct elevations on mtg IV and V bearing the dorsal scent gland scars, lateral parts sloping; deltg II+III fused to a triangular sclerite, III-VII separated by sutures; posterior margins of deltg II distinctly, of III- VII slightly raised; tergite VII medially elevated for the reception of the pear-shaped pygophore; ptg VIII small, produced posteriorly.

V e n t e r: Rostrum 4-segmented in a narrow rostral groove with carinate borders, closed posteriorly; prosternum longitudinally elevated at middle, fused to meso- and metasternum, the latter with a flat oval median impression; metathoracic scent gland canal straight and elevated extending to posterior margin of mesonotum and there visible from above; sternites I+II fused to each other and to metasternum; sternites III-VII deeply punctured anteriorly, posterior part raised with smooth surface, slightly depressed at middle; spiracles II-VII ventral gradually approaching lateral margin, VII laterally produced and visible from above, VIII terminal on ptg VIII.

L e g s: Unarmed, trochanters distinct, fused to moderately incrassate femora, tibiae straight, protibial comb developed, tarsi 2-segmented but pulvilli not ascertained because of damaged tarsi.

M e a s u r e m e n t s: Length 4.05mm; ratio length/width 1.93; width of abdomen across tergite III 2.1mm; length of antennae 1.25mm.

E t y m o l o g y: This name is reflecting its unusual transverse head structure from latus (Latin) = wide and kephalos (Greek) = head.

Figures

Photo 1-4: (1) Urucuca laticephala nov.gen., nov.sp. dorsal view; (2) ventral view; (3) Bahiamezira cerroensis nov.gen., nov.sp. dorsal view; (4) ventral view.