Micronecta (Unguinecta) polhemusi Nieser, 2000

Ha, Tuyet Ngan & Tran, Anh Duc, 2021, Taxonomy of Micronectidae (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) from Vietnam, with descriptions of 11 new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 756, pp. 1-82 : 68-70

Micronecta (Unguinecta) polhemusi Nieser, 2000

Figs 21C , 23E–G

Micronecta polhemusi Nieser, 2000: 283–286 , figs 18–27 (type locality: Phitsanulok, Thailand; also paratypes from southern Vietnam).

Micronecta polhemusi – Nieser 2002b: 265, 269, fig. 11 (diagnosis; record Singapore). — Nieser et al. 2005: 200 (assigned to subgenus Unguinecta ). — Polhemus 2017: 127 (record Cambodia).

Diagnosis

Body length 2.4–2.8.Pronotum longer than median head length. Dorsum generally dark grey.Hemelytron: corium with hyaline lines; embolium dark brown with dark pattern ( Fig. 21C ).

Males: pala with a secondary claw; primary palar claw widened distally, apex rounded. Median lobe of sternite VII short and broad, with an angular apex. Free lobe subparallel sided, with mesial angle rounded, posterior margin nearly straight, lateral angle well-produced, ca 16–23 long setae on lateral side of free lobe ( Fig. 23E ). Left paramere: shaft styliform, tapering towards narrowly rounded apex, apical part slightly twisted; basal lobe relatively short and broad ( Fig. 23G ). Right paramere: base of shaft with a distinct swelling, proximal part subparallel sided, from distal fourth tapering towards narrowly rounded apex ( Fig. 23F ).

Material examined

VIETNAM – Lao Cai Prov. • 1 ♂; Sa Pa, Nui Xe area, Vang stream and its tributaries; 25 Oct. 2020; A.D. Tran et al. leg.; TAD20-19 ; ZVNU . – Quang Ninh Prov. • 1 ♀; Dong Rui (in bonsai pot); 13 Sep. 2019; T.A.N. Nguyen leg.; ZVNU . – Lam Dong Prov. • 2 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀; Da Lat, Suoi Vang , 18 km NW of Da Lat; 21 May 2003; A.D. Tran leg.; TAD0331 ; ZRC .

Distribution

Vietnam: Dong Nai (Cat Tien) ( Nieser 2000). The records by Tran et al. (2014) from Phu Tho Prov. were a misidentification. After a re-examination, we determine them as M. melanochroa . Other countries: Thailand, Singapore ( Nieser 2000, 2002b), and Cambodia ( Polhemus 2017).

Remarks

Three species, M. polhemusi , M. khasiensis , and M. melanochroa , may easily be confused because of their dark dorsum and their similar parameres. Detailed structures of the parameres and primary palar claw, however, provide reliable characters for separating them. The base of right paramere shaft of M. polhemusi has a large swelling, which is indistinct or absent in the other two species. Micronecta khasiensis can be separated from M. melanochroa by the male primary palar claw and detailed structures of the parameres. The primary palar claw of M. khasiensis is narrow and parallel sided, while that of M. melanochroa is broader and strongly widened apically. The primary palar claw of M. pohemusi is club-shaped, and moderately widened apically. The left paramere of M. khasiensis is slightly expanded before the narrowly rounded apex, while that of M. melanochroa has a slightly twisted apical part. The right paramere of M. khasiensis has a pointed apex, while that of M. melanochroa has a blunt apex.

Figures

Fig. 21. Habitus photos of species of Micronecta Kirkaldy, 1897 and Synaptonecta Lundblad, 1933, ♂♂. A. M. quadristrigata Breddin, 1905 (ZVNU). B. M. altera Wróblewski, 1972 (ZVNU). C. M. polhemusi Nieser, 2000 (ZRC). D. M. melanochroa Nieser, Chen & Yang, 2005 (ZVNU). E. M. caperata sp. nov., holotype (ZVNU). F. M. fugitans Breddin, 1905 (ZVNU). G. M. tarsalis Chen, 1960 (ZVNU). H. S. issa (Distant, 1910) (ZVNU). All to the same scale.

Fig. 23. Morphological features of species of Micronecta Kirkaldy, 1897, ♂♂. A–D. M. melanochroa Nieser, Chen & Yang, 2005 (ZVNU). E–G. M. polhemusi Nieser, 2000 (ZVNU). A = fore leg; B, E = free lobe; C, F = right paramere; D, G = left paramere.