Germalus banari Kóbor & Kondorosy, 2016

Kóbor, P. & Kondorosy, E., 2016, Germalus species of the Malagasy region (Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea: Geocoridae), Zootaxa 4200 (3), pp. 444-450 : 445-448

Germalus banari Kóbor & Kondorosy sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 A; Fig. 2 B; Fig. 3 .)

Type material. Holotype: N Madagaskar, Antseranana / distr., Sambirana riv., / Marovato vill., 2001 / J. Rolcík leg. 5-12-12. // COLLECTIO / PETR BANAR / Moravian Museum Brno (♂, MMBC).

Paratypes: MADAGASCAR / Ambanja / 26–30. xi. 1952 / E.E.Brown (1♂, BMNH) ; Madagascar Sambirano / Nosy-Be / forét de Lokobe / I-60 / Andria Robinson // Institute Scientifique / MADAGASCAR (2♀, MNHN) ; N Madagaskar, Antseranana / distr., Sambirana riv., / Marovato vill., 2001 / J. Rolcík leg. 5-12-12. // COLLECTIO / PETR BANAR / Moravian Museum Brno (2♀, MMBC) ; SC MADAGASCAR 2014 / Fianarantsoa pr., 7km NE / Ranohira Zahavola forest / 22°37.611’ S ; 45°21.499’ E / 832m, 30.i –1.2., M. Tryzna leg. (1♀, MMBC).

COLOURATION. Head ochraceous with a fuscous median stripe reaching from vertex almost to apex of clypeus. Eyes red, ocelli more or less hyaline, sometimes infused with red. Antennal segments dark ochraceous, segment I with darker dorsal longitudinal line, apex of segment IV tinged with red. Labial segments ochraceous, apex of segment IV black. Thorax: Pronotum ochraceous with pale concolorous punctuation and a fuscous median line as continuation from head, reaching the triradiate carina on scutellum. Variously developed fuscous lines across each pronotal callosities, situated equidistantly from midline of pronotum and lateral margins; one rounded black spot in each humeral angles. Punctuation and base of scutellum fuscous. Hemelytra semi-hyaline with fuscous punctures. Anterior margin of clavus and costal margin narrowly fuscous, apex of corium fuscous to radial vein. Membrane hyaline. Pronotal pleura and sterna ochraceous with pale fuscous punctuation; brownish elongate spots in middle of episternal region. Legs indecorous, ochraceous. Abdomen mostly ochraceous, base of segments often marginated with red.

STRUCTURE. Head dull, impunctate, pentagonal, eyes stylate but eye-stalks shorter than in G. kinbergi . Ocular sulcus complete, ocelli situated near it. Clypeus rounded, exceeding mandibular plates. Antenniferous tubercles visible in dorsal view, situated near ventral margin. Antennal segment I shortest, II longest, III & IV subequal; segment I exceeding apex of clypeus; segments I–III filiform, segment IV slightly fusiform. Ratio of antennal segments: 7:5:10:13. Labial segments I–III subequal, IV shortest; segment I exceeding edge of prothorax; labium reaching more or less metacoxae. Ratio of labial segments: 24:24:23:19. Thorax: Pronotum carinate, gradually narrowing to anterior edge with slight impressions in the middle of lateral margin; anterior edges more and posterior edges less rounded. Pronotum covered with dense, coarse punctuation except callosities, posterior margin and humeral angles; pronotal collar less densely punctate. Scutellum densely punctate with exception of median triradiate carina. Punctures of pronotum and scutellum much coarser than punctuation of hemelytra. Both margins of clavus with a few punctures and a short row along claval commissure. Costal area widest by 2/3 of length. Media punctate more or less in apical half, punctuation of cubitus and radius complete, apical corial margin variably punctate. Hemelytra moderately shiny. Membrane reaching well beyond apex of abdomen, without conspicuous venation. Thoracic pleura with fine, dense punctuation; propleuron has smooth areas under callosities. Metathoracic scent gland situated laterally near anterior margin of metapleuron, evaporative area distinct, orificia curved anteriorly. Legs impunctate, shiny; covered with sparse pubescence. Abdomen: Connexiva with sparse, fine pubescence; genital capsule with sparse, semi-erect setae. Male genitalia: pygophore, paramere and phallus similar to G. kinbergi and G. australis (see Malipatil & Blackett 2013 and Fig. 3 A–D). Female genitalia: Spermatheca similar to G. kinbergi (see Malipatil & Blackett 2013 and Fig. 3 E).

Measurements (7 specimens: holotype (ranges of paratypes )): body length: 4.82 (4.56–4.93); head length: 0.67 (0.60–0.67), width: 1,29 (1.25–1.29); distance of ocelli: 0,43 (0.39–0.43); antennnal segments: 0.26–0.56– 0.37–0.48; labial segments: 0.45–0.47–0.43–0.35; pronotum length: 1.35 (1.2–1.41), width: 1.57 (1.48–1.57); scutellum length: 0.64 (0.57–0.68), width: 0.81 (0.74–0.85).

DISCUSSION. This species differs from Germalus kinbergi in paler colouration, shape of head and pronotum and punctuation of hemelytra ( Fig. 2 ). No major differences from G. kinbergi in genital structures were observed; this fact suggests a close relation to the type species of the genus Germalus Stål 1862 .

ETYMOLOGY. This species is named in honour of the work of Petr Baňař, curator of the Moravian Museum Brno, excellent heteropterist, and collector of a large amount of true bug material from Madagascar.

DISTRIBUTION. Germalus banari has records from North and Central Madagascar ( Fig. 1 A). No representative of the genus Germalus was found in the large amount of Lygaeoidea specimens collected in the southern and southwestern part of the island and was received from Petr Baňař.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution records of Germalus spp.

FIGURE 2. Dorsal view of Germalus spp. A. Germalus kinbergi (Stål, 1859), Mauritius (NHMW); B. Germalus banari Kóbor & Kondorosy sp. nov., Madagascar (MMBC); C. Germalus benyovszkyi Kóbor & Kondorosy sp. nov., Madagascar (MNHN).

FIGURE 3. Genitalia of Germalus banari Kóbor & Kondorosy sp. nov. A – B. paramere, different views; C. phallus; D. pygophore; E. spermatheca.