Platerus tenuicorpus Zhao, Yang & Cai

Zhao, Ping, Yang, Chunwang & Cai, Wanzhi, 2006, First record of the genus Platerus Distant (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from China, with the description of a third species of the genus, Zootaxa 1286, pp. 23-31 : 28-31

2. Platerus tenuicorpus Zhao, Yang & Cai , sp. nov.

( Figs. 7–16 )

Description. Coloration: Body mostly brown to blackish brown. Head, outer surface of fore femur (except pale markings), first rostral segment (except inner side), anterior pronotal lobe, four spines on posterior pronotal lobe, scutellum, and veins of membrane blackish brown to black; two annulations on first antennal segment, one annulation on second antennal segment, third antennal segment, fourth antennal segment (except apex brownish black), inner side of first rostral segment, second rostral segment (except outer side brown), three markings of outer surface of fore femur, annulations on near base of fore tibia, three annulations on mid and hind femura, two annulations on mid and mid tibia, round markings on base of mid and hind tibia, and apical half of each connexival segment ivory­white to yellowish­white; eyes purplish brown with pale irregular markings, ocelli ivory­white; round spots on lateral margins of anterior pronotal lobe, round spots on posterior pronotal lobe and pleuron, and reticulate markings on corium (except base), yellowish to whitish ( Fig. 7 , 8 ).

Structure: Body slender. Body clothed with pale short bent setae and sparsely suberect setae of different length, ventral surface of fore leg with dense short setae; first and second antennal segments with sparse oblique setae, two distal segments densely covered with dense pubescence; legs clothed with subvertical long setae of different length, apical half of tibia with dense oblique setae. Anteocular portion subequal to postocular; long spine posterior to antenna acute and pointed laterally; interocellar space 2 times as long as distance between ocellus and eye on each side; transverse constriction between eyes wide; first rostral segment extending to middle of eyes, slightly shorter than second and third segments combined. Pronotum wider than long; collar processes short; anterior pronotal lobe slightly bulging with indistinctly elevations; posterior pronotal lobe about 2 times as long as anterior lobe, posterior margin nearly straight; posterior angle undeveloped; lateral pronotal angles acutely produced laterally as spines, posterior­lateral margin slightly notched near base ( Fig. 7 ); discal tuberculous spines of posterior pronotal lobe erect and long, apex rounded ( Figs. 7 , 8, 9 ); scutellum triangular, disk slightly concave, apex tongue­shaped and round; fore femur slightly incrassated; membrane of hemelytron extending beyond tip of abdomen. Abdomen elongate, expended at basal half of sixth connexival segment; pygophore oblong ( Fig. 10 ), median process with a small process on dorsal surface and a sharp process on each side ( Figs. 10, 11 ); paramere clavate with a long posteriorly directed spine ( Figs. 10, 12 ); basal plate of phallus slightly thicker than plate bridge, pedicel short; phallosoma ovate in dorsal and ventral views; middle portion of base of dorsal phallotheca sclerite concave ( Figs. 13, 14 ); struts with two annular sclerotized structures subasally and separated apically, longer than half of phallus in resting condition ( Fig. 14 ).

Measurements [in mm, ɗ (n=2)]. Body length 20.39–20.96; abdomen width 4.42–4.84. Head length 3.20–3.33; anteocular portion length 1.28–1.29; postocular portion length 1.26–1.31; synthlipsis length 0.74–0.75; interocellar space 0.43–0.47; length of antennal segments I–IV= 9.78–10.13, 4.88–5.05, 5.51–5.91, 2.89–2.96; length of rostral segments I–III = 1.84–1.94, 1.31–1.34, 0.63–0.70; anterior pronotal lobe length 1.08–1.18, posterior lobe length 2.31–2.42; thorax width 5.67–5.70; scutellum length 1.47–1.61; hemelytron length 14.20–14.51.

Material examined. Holotype, ɗ, China, Xizang (Tibet), Hanmo, 27­VIII­2005, Zhou Dakang leg., third to fourth segments of left antenna abnormal. Paratype, 1 ɗ, same collecting data as for holotype.

Etymology: The specific name alludes to its slender body. Distribution: China (Xizang).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Platerus tenuicorpus sp. nov., %, holotype. Habitus. Scale bar = 2.86 mm

FIGURES 8 – 16. Platerus tenuicorpus sp. nov., %. 8, head and pronotum, antennae removed; 9, pronotum; 10, 11, pygophore; 12, paramere; 13, phallus; 14, 15, phallosoma; 16, basal plate and basal plate bridge of phallobase. 8, 11, 13, lateral view; 9, caudal view; 14, 16, dorsal view; 10, 15, ventral view. Scale bar of 8, 9 = 1.00 mm; of 10 – 16 = 0.50 mm.