Iocoris, Zhao, Ping, Luo, Zhaohui & Cai, Wanzhi, 2009

Zhao, Ping, Luo, Zhaohui & Cai, Wanzhi, 2009, Iocoris nodulifemoralis, a new genus and new species of Harpactorinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) from China, Zootaxa 2129, pp. 63-68 : 63-64

Iocoris gen. nov. (Figs. 1–9)

Type species. Iocoris nodulifemoralis sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Body elongate-oblong, abdomen moderately dilated (Figs. 1, 3). Head subequal to pronotum in length; postocular area slightly longer than anteocular; first antennal segment slightly longer than head; rostrum slender, first rostral segment exceeding anterior margin of eyes, second slightly longer than or subequal to first and third segments combined ( Fig. 2 ). Pronotum and scutellum unarmed; collar processes undeveloped; anterior pronotal lobe feebly bulged, centrally longitudinal sulcate and subequal to half of posterior lobe in length; disk of posterior pronotal lobe feebly depressed; lateral pronotal angles rounded; posterior margin nearly straight; scutellum subtriangular, apex obtuse; legs of moderate length, femora nodulose, mid and hind femora sub-nodulose (Fig. 1); fore wing much surpassing abdominal tip, membrane area large. Abdomen posteriorly gradually dilated, posterior part of fifth segment and middle part of sixth segment of abdominal connexiva produced angulately laterally (Figs. 1, 3).

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The new generic name is named after late Prof. Chou Io (1912–2008) of Northwest A & F University in honor of his great contribution to entomology, especially to insect taxonomy of China. Masculine.

Remarks. The new genus is similar to the genera Vel in us Stål and Cosmolestes Stål in the dilated abdominal connexivum and the nodulose femora, but the first antennal segment of the new genus is subequal to the head in length (Fig. 1) (vs. in the genus Velinus Stål and Cosmolestes Stål , where the first antennal segment is much longer than the head).

The nodulose femora and the antennae with first segment as long as head in the new genus resemble those in the genus Stalireduvius Tomokuni & Cai, but its connexival margins is sinuate, the femur is not thickened, and the anterior pronotal lobe is subequal to half of the posterior lobe (vs. in Stalireduvius Tomokuni & Cai, the lateral margins of connexivum are roundly dilated, the femur is incrassate, and the anterior pronotal lobe is longer than half of the posterior lobe).

The new genus is similar to the genus Sphedanolestes Stål in the structure of pronotum, and the head being subequal to or slightly longer than the pronotum; but it differs from the latter because the fifth and sixth abdominal connexiva are distinctly angulately produced laterally (Figs. 1, 3) (vs. in the genus Sphedanolestes the abdominal connexivum is not dilated).

The new genus is similar to the genus Maldonadocoris Zhao, Yuan & Cai in the body plan and the slender rostrum, but it can be easily distinguished from the latter by the following characters: the postocular area not much longer than anteocular ( Fig. 2 ), and the fourth and fifth abdominal connexivum is angulately produced laterally (Figs. 1, 3) (vs. in the genus Maldonadocoris the postocular area of head is posteriorly elongate, and the abdominal connexivum is not angulately dilated).

Compared to the genus Biasticus Stål , Iocoris has some similar morphological characters: head subequal to pronotum in length, anterior pronotal lobe with central longitudinal sulcus, apical part of femur nodulated; but in the new genus the anteocular area is shorter than the postocular, the second rostral segment is much longer than the first segment, the first antennal segment is subequal to pronotum in length, the disk of the posterior pronotal lobe is posteriorly longitudinally depressed (vs. in the genus Biasticus the anteocular area is longer than the postocular area, the second rostral segment is a little longer than first segment, the first antennal segment is longer than pronotum, the disk of the posterior pronotal lobe is anteriorly longitudinally elevated).

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 9. Iocoris nodulifemoralis sp. nov. 2, head and pronotum, antennae removed; 3, abdomen in male, showing color pattern; 4, 5, pygophore; 6, paramere; 7, phallus; 8, 9, phallosoma. 5, 8, ventral view; 2, 3, 4, 9, lateral view; 7, dorsal view. Scale bar of 2, 3 = 0.67 mm; of 4, 5 = 0.28 mm; of 6 = 0.31 mm; of 7 – 9 = 0.25 mm.