Baptista species

Ye, Zhen, Polhemus, Dan A. & Bu, Wenjun, 2014, First record of the genus Baptista Distant, 1903 (Heteroptera: Veliidae) from China, with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 3811 (3), pp. 301-315 : 314

Key to Baptista species of China (males)

1. Fore femur highly modified, strongly bent on apical third, ventral surface with large pilose tumescence before apex ( Fig 14 ); abdominal ventrite VI produced posterolaterally on each side into a pilose, fingerlike, posteriorly-directed projection ( Fig 10 ); paramere falciform, apex pointed (Figs 27, 28)..................................................... .. B. digitata

- Fore femur not modified as above ( Figs. 15–17 ); abdominal ventrite VI normal, lacking fingerlike projection pleurally; paramere not falciform, shape variable, apical portion often dilated to varying degrees............................... 2

2. Head yellow dorsally ( Fig 6 ); fore tibia with conspicuous row of short, stout, black protuberances ventrally (Fig 19); abdominal ventrite VII with posterior margin bearing a deep, angular incision medially, this incision separating a pair (1+1) of posteriorly-directed, apically concave projections which contact a similar pair of anteriorly-directed projections arising from abdominal ventrite VIII ( Fig 12 )........................................................... B. curvicornis sp. n.

- Head blackish dorsally; fore tibia with conspicuous row of short, black spines ventrally (Figs 18, 20); abdominal ventrite VII with posterior margin medially incised, but lacking a pair of projections as above ( Figs 11, 13 )......................... 3

3. Legs relatively slender; fore tibia straight ( Fig 15 ); abdominal ventrite VII with posterior margin bearing a V–shaped incision posteromedially ( Fig 11 ); segment VIII and proctiger as illustrated ( Figs 22 , 29); paramere distally widened, apex curved, acute (Figs 30, 31)............................................................................... B. hoedli

- Legs relatively stout; fore tibia slightly curved ( Fig 17 ); abdominal ventrite VII with posterior margin bearing a U–shaped incision posteromedially ( Fig 13 ); segment VIII and proctiger as illustrated ( Figs 23 , 35); paramere slightly curved on central portion, apex rounded, blunt (Figs 36, 37)......................................................... B. obtusa sp. n.

Figures

FIGURES 14–17. Fore legs of Baptista spp. (males). 14. B. digitata; 15. B. hoedli; 16. B. curvicornis sp. n.; 17. B. obtusa sp. n.. Scale 0.2 mm. FIGURES 18–20. Details of fore tibial venter of Baptista spp. (males). 18. B. hoedli; 19. B. curvicornis sp. n.; 20. B. obtusa sp. n.. Scale 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 10–13. Abdominal sternites of Baptista spp. (males). 10. B. digitata; 11. B. hoedli; 12. B. curvicornis sp. n.; 13. B. obtusa sp. n.. Scale 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 6–9. Habitus of Baptista spp.. 6. B. curvicornis sp. n., male; 7. B. obtusa sp. n., male; 8. B. obtusa sp. n., female; 9. B. obtusa sp. n., apterous male. Scale 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 21–25. Photographs of abdominal segment VIII of Baptista spp. (males); 21–24 ventral view, 25 lateral view. 21. B. digitata; 22. B. hoedli; 23. B. obtusa sp. n.; 24–25. B. curvicornis sp. n.; Scale 0.2 mm.