Atrachelus (Phorobura) iberaensis

Melo, María Cecilia & Coscarón, María Del Carmen, 2005, A new species of Atrachelus Amyot & Serville (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from Argentina, Zootaxa 803, pp. 1-5 : 2-5

Atrachelus (Phorobura) iberaensis n.sp

( Figs. 1–7 )

Studied material. HOLOTYPE: 1 male, Argentina, Corrientes, Colonia C. Pellegrini, Iberá Reserve, 6­V­2002, Coscarón, M.C. col.

PARATYPES: Argentina, Corrientes, Col. C. Pellegrini, Iberá Reserve, 5­V­2002, 2 females, Chayle, M. col.; 1 female, 8­V­2002, Coscarón, M.C. col.; 1 female, 8­V­2002, Dellapé, P. col.; 2 females, 5­V­2002, Coscarón, M.C. col.; 1 female 1 male, 8­V­2002, Melo, M.C. col.; 1 female, 6­XII­2001, Magnanelli, M. col.; 1 female, 9­V­2002; 1 male, 5­V­2002, Dellapé, P. col.; 1 male, 5­V­2002, Melo, M.C. col.; 1 male, 9­V­2002, Chayle, M. col.; 1 female, 25­XI­2002, Dellapé, P.M. col.; 1 male, 25­XI­2002, Melo, M.C. col.; 1 male, 23­XI­2002, Melo, M.C. col.; 1 female, 16­IX­2003, Melo, M.C. col.; 1 female, 26­ IX­2003, Estancia El Dorado, 28º44’34” S – 58º7’36” W, Melo, M.C. col.

Description. Body elongate, slender, dark brown. Total length 12.41. Head covered by short decumbent setae longer on anteocular portion, and scattered long setae on postocular portion ( Fig. 1 ). Postocular portion longer than anteocular, interocular sulcus deep, ocelli placed on separate tubercles. Length of head 20.3, width 0.62. Basal antennal spines long, length 0.20. Antenna slender, third antennal segment slightly incrassate; length 12.03, ratio of segment lengths ca. 1:029:0.89:0.46. Tylus and jugae elevated. Eyes rounded, not surpassing border of head in lateral view ( Fig. 2 ), width 0.17, interocular distance 0.30. Rostrum length 1.12, ratio of segments length ca. 1:0.98:0.35.

Pronotum trapezoidal, short decumbent setae present ( Fig. 1 ), length 2.22, width 1.90. Thoracic pleura and sterna with short decumbent white setae, sparse long white erect setae present. Scutellum triangular, low Y­shaped carina present, posterior process short, pale brown, slightly elevated with short decumbent setae.

Legs long, slender, dark brown, with black, irregular, longitudinal markings; anterior and median femora with faint band on apical third, hind femora with two faint bands.

Anterior legs with both short and long erect setae, median and posterior legs with abundant short decumbent setae and scattered long erect setae, both lacking spongy fossula. Hemelytra translucent with short decumbent setae on corium, length 8.29.

Abdomen dark brown; abundant short, decumbent, and scattered long erect setae present; posterior angles of connexiva with short spine, spine of 6th segment more developed; spiracles protruded. Abdominal length 7.09, width 1.65.

Male genitalia: Median process of pygophore spiniform, superior posterior border on either side of median process deeply indented ( Fig. 3 ). Basal plate bridge robust; chitinous arms of aedeagus fused posteriorly over dorsal aedeagal surface forming tongue­like process; spurs on the ventral surface ( Fig. 4 ). Parameres absent.

Measurements of paratypes: Total length 11.39–14.43 (mean=13.12). Length of head 1.90–2.22 (mean=2.08), width 0.42–0.68 (mean=0.63). Basal antennal spines length 0.15– 0.27 (mean=0.20). Antennal length 11.39–12.60 (mean=11.88), ratio of segment lengths ca. 1:0.29:0.89:0.44. Width of eyes 0.15–0.18 (mean=0.17). Interocular distance 0.28– 0.35 (mean=0.33). Rostrum length 1.07–1.32 (mean=1.19). Pronotum length 1.90–2.66 (mean=2.34), width 1.71–2.28 (mean=2.03). Abdominal length 6.65­8.61 (mean=7.73), width 1.33–3.29 (mean=2.19). Hemelytra length 7.03–9.12 (mean=8.32).

Female genitalia: Gonocoxite and gonapophysis VIII wide ( Fig. 5 ), with thin and thick short setae; gonapophysis IX narrow with thin setae apically ( Fig. 6 ).

Some specimens have two pale bands on all femora, and an apical faint band on segment I of the antenna. Females are more robust than males, with a broader abdomen.

Etymology. the name refers to the place where it was found, Iberá.

Geographic distribution. Argentina.

Discussion. This new species should belong to the ignobilis group because of the conformation of the aedeagus, even though it lacks the process of the endosoma. It is closely related to A. malaisei Elkins , but differs in the tongue­like process of the aedeagus.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Atrachelus (Phorobura) iberaensis sp. n. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. X 35.

FIGURES 2 – 7. Atrachelus (Phorobura) iberaensis sp. n. 2. Head and pronotum, lateral view; 3 – 4. male genitalia: 3. pygophore, ventral view; 4. aedeagus, dorsal view; 5 – 7. female genitalia: 5. gonocoxite and gonapophysis VIII, 6. gonapophysis IX, 7. tergites IX – X.