Carventus bechlyi, Heiss, Ernst & Poinar, George O., 2012

Heiss, Ernst & Poinar, George O., 2012, The first Carventinae species in Miocene Dominican Amber (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae), Zootaxa 3268, pp. 47-54 : 50-51

Carventus bechlyi n. sp. Heiss

(Photo 3,4,10, Fig.2 )

Holotype: Macropterous male in a brownish transparent piece of cabochon shaped Dominican amber (15x 9x 5mm); view of dorsal surface is partly obscured by the round surface of the stone, the head at middle by a piece of detritus, the ventral side is clearly visible; antennal segments II–IV cut and lacking on both sides. This specimen is designated as holotype and deposited in the collection of the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart, Germany ( SMSG) no. Do-4940-H.

Diagnosis. This fossil species resembles the extant C. mexicanus and shares the ventral position of spiracles II–IV ventral and V–VIII lateral, which are visible from above. However, it is distinguished by a smaller size (3.6 – 4.45mm) and by the different structure of the pronotum with lateral and anterolateral margins not strongly concave and with reduced anterolateral lobes.

Description. Head. Wider across postocular lobes than long (26/24); genae flattened, contiguous and enlarged anteriorly, longer than clypeus but shorter than antennal segment I; antenniferous lobes with blunt apices; antennal segment I club-shaped, the following ones missing; eyes oval inserted in head; postocular lobes triangularly produced laterally, their posterior margin converging straight toward constricted collar; rostrum arising from a slit-like opening, shorter than head, rostral groove flat but distinct.

Pronotum. Twice as wide as long (40/20), lateral margins slightly concave at middle, anterolateral angles nearly rectangular, anterolateral margins converging to concave anterior margin; anterior lobe of disk with large sublateral incrustate elevations depressed at middle with a lower transverse ridge posteriorly; posterior lobe of disk separated from anterior one by a transverse depression followed by a raised transverse carina connecting the elevated humeri; posterior margin incised and convex at base of scutellum.

Scutellum. Triangular, twice as long as wide (25/12), lateral margins sinuate, apex narrowly rounded, surface with 2 (1+1) sublateral curved incrustations with a triangular depression between them.

Hemelytra. Corium shorter than scutellum, its anterolateral margins expanded and carinate; membrane fully developed covering of tergite VII, surface with distinct longitudinal veins anteriorly, irregularly wrinkled elsewhere.

Abdomen. Lateral margins with slightly produced posterolateral angles on deltg III–V, these angularly produced on deltg VI and VII; deltg II+III fused to a triangular sclerite, its surface with a longitudinal ridge; deltg III–VII separated by distinct sutures; tergal plate consisting of mtg III–VI laterally delimited from deltg II–VII by a longitudinal carina.

Venter. Prosternum flat with 2 (1+1) ovate smooth depressions anterolaterally; meso-and metasternum flat at middle, separated from each other and from prosternum and fused sternites II+III by a transverse suture; sternites III–VII with 2:2:1 pattern of apodemal impressions (glabrous spots sensu Usinger & Matsuda, 1959); spiracles II–IV ventral, V–VIII lateral and visible from above.

Legs. Femora thickened at middle tapering toward base and apex, fused to trochanters but fusion line distinct; tibiae cylindrical, slightly curved basally, tarsi bi-segmented, claws with large pulvilli.

Measurements. Length 3.6 mm; width of abdomen across tergite IV 1.4mm, across tergite V 1.42mm, across tergite VI 1.35mm.

Etymology. It is a pleasure to dedicate this species to Dr. Günter Bechly, scientific researcher and head of the Amber section in the Department of Palaeontology at the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde in Stuttgart, Germany, who made available this and other Dominican Amber aradid inclusions for study.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3 Reconstruction of head and pronotum. 1 — Neoproxius latocanus n. sp.; 2 — Carventus bechlyi n. sp.; 3 — Proneoproxius cornutus n. gen., n. sp.