Limnocoris flavescens Rodrigues & Sites, 2023

Rodrigues, Higor D. D. & Sites, Robert W., 2023, Revision of Limnocoris Stål (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae) of the Guiana Shield and Amazon regions, Zootaxa 5284 (1), pp. 44-76 : 57-60

Limnocoris flavescens Rodrigues & Sites NEW SPECIES

( Figs. 5 , 6G–H , 13B )

Description. Male – hindwing macropterous. HOLOTYPE, length 7.20; maximum width 5.04. Paratypes (n = 8), length 6.88–7.20 (mean = 7.04); maximum width 4.64–5.04 (mean = 4.81). General shape oval; widest across embolia. Overall dorsal coloration yellowish-brown, dark mottled on head, pronotum, and hemelytra. Dorsal surface punctate throughout ( Fig. 5A ). Ventral coloration yellow, with transverse blackish band along posterior region of propleuron to middle of metapleuron ( Fig. 5B ).

Head. Head length 1.32, maximum width 2.44. Mostly yellow with dark-brown median markings becoming wider posteriorly, weakly punctate. Synthlipsis 1.08; eyes not raised above level of vertex or pronotum. Anterior margin between eyes convex. Maxillary plate broad basally, anterior edge triangular. Labrum width 1.33× length, pentagonal, distal margin tapered. Labium with three visible segments, first two yellow, last dark-brown, extending 0.38 beyond labrum not including extruded stylets. Antenna length 0.58; 4-segmented, not exceeding lateral margin of eye; scape bulbous and rounded, pedicel subquadrate, flagellomeres slender, not partially fused, with long setae; segments 1–3 yellow, 4 brown; segment lengths 0.12, 0.16, 0.16, 0.12. Posteroventral margin of head without postgenal tubercle (swollen only in some specimens).

Thorax. Pronotum ground color yellow, rectangular area behind eyes concentrating dark-brown markings, lateral margins yellowish; other dark-brown markings generally dispersed laterally; transverse sulcus markings anterior border of transverse band in posterior 1/3; anterior margin slightly concave between eyes; lateral margins convergent anteriorly, evenly convex; posterior margin sinuous, concave medially; posterolateral corner rounded; greatest width 2.84× length at midline; length at midline 1.52; maximum width at posterolateral corners 4.32. Prothorax ventrally dark-brown medially and on posterior band of propleuron, yellow laterally. Propleuron with shagreened area not extended posteriorly along lateral margin; posterior margin convex at mid-length ( Fig. 5C ); posteromesal corner near prosternellum flat. Median carina of probasisternum in lateral view slightly extending anteriorly, with shallowly bifid tip. Scutellum punctate; triangular; black, yellow at mid-length of lateral margin and posterior corner; width 2.56, length 1.40. Hemelytra punctate; corium, clavus and embolium yellow, with black markings throughout, mostly on posterior half of corium; membrane black, mottled, left membrane dull, right membrane shiny; length 5.36 (chord measurement). Embolium greatest width 0.72, lateral margin convex; yellow, with posterolateral dark-brown band. Claval and intraclaval sutures distinct. Hindwings well-developed. Region between mesobasisternum and mesoepisternum with longitudinal row of elongate golden setae. Mesosternal carina with ventral surface covered by golden setae; anterior projection poorly developed; median ridge straight; fossa oval, shallow ( Figs. 5C, E ). Metasternal carina poorly developed, with indistinct fossa ( Fig. 5C ); posterior margin not excavated in lateral view ( Fig. 5E ). Metaepimeron covered with elongate golden setae.

Legs. All legs segments yellow, except dark-brown protarsus, and distal part of tarsomere III of middle and hind legs. Procoxa with cluster of stout, brown anteromedial spines. Profemur anterior margin with dense pad of setae without associated spines, posterior margin with row of short, brown spines along basal half. Protibia and tarsus with occlusal inner surface flattened; tarsus one-segmented, immovable; pretarsal claw single, minute, triangular. Meso- and metacoxae partially recessed into thorax. Meso- and metafemora with row of short, brown spines on anterior margin. Meso- and metatibiae with ventrolateral, ventromedial, dorsolateral, and dorsomedial rows of stout brownish spines; meso- and metatibiae with two transverse rows of spines distally, one each on lateral and mesal margins. Meso- and metatibiae and metatarsus with long, pale swimming hairs, hairs profuse on metatibia and - tarsus. Meso- and metapretarsi with paired claws slender, gently curved, with minute basal tooth. Leg measurements as follows: fore leg, femur 1.70, tibia 1.10, tarsus 0.38; middle leg, femur 1.82, tibia 1.24, tarsomeres 1–3, 0.12, 0.32, 0.40; hind leg, femur 2.44, tibia 2.48, tarsomeres 1–3, 0.12, 0.60, 0.62.

Abdomen. Dorsally with narrow lateral margins of terga III–V exposed; terga III–V dark-brown anteriorly, yellow posteriorly; marginal row of elongate yellow setae, and group of trichobothria near posterior third. Lateral margin with minute serration. Posterolateral corners of II–V narrowly rounded to right angled, not spinose. Sterna yellow to light-brown, dark-brown lateral to midline of sterna III–V, covered by golden pubescence, with dispersed elongate golden setae; sternum II with sinuous row of elongate golden setae. Mediotergite VI with accessory genitalic process rounded; posterior margin slightly produced on left side. Posterior margin of mediotergite VII convex, sometimes almost straight, with pair of lateral lobes; laterotergite VII with mesal margin straight ( Fig. 6G ). Lateral lobe of tergum VIII with lateral margin straight in anterior half; left medial lobe poorly angled laterally at apex, with posteromesal corner rounded; right medial lobe not twisted distally ( Fig. 6H ).

Female – Hindwing macropterous. Paratypes (n = 10), length 7.20–7.84 (mean = 7.44); maximum width 4.72–5.12 (mean = 4.95). Similar to male in general structure and coloration, except as follows: Abdominal tergum VI symmetrical. Sterna yellow, without dark-brown near midline of sterna III–V. Subgenital plate width 0.94× length; length at midline 0.96; maximum width 0.90; lateral margins with tuft of elongate golden setae at mid-length; posterior margin rounded ( Fig. 5D ).

Diagnosis. This species can be identified by the yellow color pattern of the ventral surface of the body, with a transverse blackish band along the posterior margin of the propleuron to the middle of the metapleuron ( Fig. 5B ). The mesosternal carina is also diagnostic, being narrow, slender, with an undeveloped fossa, and covered with golden setae on the ventral surface ( Figs. 5C, E ).

Comparative notes. This species shares the general shape and the total length of the body, the ventral color pattern of the body, and the undeveloped fossa of the metasternal carina with L. machrisi Nieser & López-Ruf , a species that is known from only the type locality, the Chapada dos Veadeiros, in the central region of Brazil ( Nieser & López-Ruf 2001). They are easily separated by the shagreened pattern of the propleuron and shape of the mesosternal carina. In L. flavescens , the propleuron shagreened area is not extended posteriorly along the lateral margin (as in Fig. 2B ), and the mesosternal carina has the fossa slender and narrow ( Fig. 5C ); whereas in L. machrisi the propleuron shagreened area is extended posteriorly halfway along the entire length of the lateral margin (as in Fig. 3D ) and the mesosternal carina has the fossa developed and oval.

Distribution. This species is known from several localities in Venezuela at the northwestern edge of the Guiana Shield ( Fig. 13B ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from Latin for yellowish, in allusion to the color pattern of the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the body.

Type material examined. All specimens macropterous. HOLOTYPE, ♁: VENEZUELA, Amazonas State, S. Puerto Ayacucho, El Tobogan de la Selva, 5º23.207’N, 67º36.922’W, 125 m, 14 January 2009, colls. Short, Miller & Joly, VZ 09-0114-01A ( MIZA) . PARATYPES: same data as holotype (1♁, 1♀ MZUSP; 2♀ UMC) ; Amazonas State, Puerto Ayacucho, ca. 15 km S, nr Campamento Canturama , 05º30’37.3788”N, 67º36’6.5304”W, 110 m, 8 August 2008, AS-08-081b, coll. A. Short, large rock outcrop (1♁, 1♀ SEMC; 4♁, 5♀ UMC) ; T.F. Amazonas, Dpto. Atures, 40 km SE of Puerto Ayacucho, El Tobogon de la Selva , 18.I.1989, coll. C.B. Barr (3♁, 3♀ EMEC) ; Amazonas State, 5º48.414’N, 67º26.313’W, 80 m, nr. Iboruwa, 7.viii.2008, leg. A. Short, M. Garcia, L. Joly, AS-08-078, Tobogancito (1♁ UMC) ; Amazonas, Municipio Atures, El Tobogán de la Selva , 143 m, 07/I/2006, 5º23’12”N, 67º36’56”W, col: J. Camacho, M. Garcia, L. Garcia, A. Short y P. Torres (1♁, 2♀ UMC) ; Amazonas State, 5º23.207’N, 67º36.922’W, 125 m, Tobogan de la Selva, pools in rock w/ sand, 5.i.2006, AS-06-011c, leg. A.E.Z. Short, SM0831395, KUNHM-ENT (1♁ MZUSP) ; Bolivar St. , ca. 25 km E of El Burro, 06º13.059’N, 67º14.467’W, 62 m, 13 January 2009, coll. K. Miller, hot side pools, VZ09-0113-01A (1♀ MZUSP; 1♁, 1♀ UMC) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Limnocoris amazonensis Rodrigues & Sites n. sp. (A) Dorsal habitus and (B) ventral habitus of female holotype, hindwing brachypterous (INPA), blue arrow indicates posterior end of propleuron shagreened area, (C) ventral view of part of head and thorax, (D) terminal abdominal sterna of female, and (E) lateral view of meso- and metasternal carinae. Size bar = 1.00 mm and applies only to Figs. A–B.

FIGURE 3. Limnocoris burmeisteri De Carlo. (A) Dorsal habitus and (B) ventral habitus of female hindwing brachypterous (from French Guiana), (C) dorsal habitus of hindwing macropterous (from Mato Grosso, Brazil), (D) ventral view of part of head and thorax, (E) lateral margin of male abdominal segment V in ventral view, (F) terminal abdominal sterna of female, and (G) lateral view of meso- and metasternal carinae. Size bar = 1.00 mm and applies only to Figs. A–C.

FIGURE 5. Limnocoris flavescens Rodrigues & Sites n. sp. (A) Dorsal habitus and (B) ventral habitus of male holotype, hindwing macropterous (UMC), (C) ventral view of part of head and thorax, (D) terminal abdominal sterna of female, and (E) lateral view of meso- and metasternal carinae. Size bar = 1.00 mm and applies only to Figs. A–B. cl = claval suture, ic = intraclaval suture.

FIGURE 6. Structures of male terminalia. (A, C, E, G) 6th and 7th abdominal terga, (B, D, F, H) 8th abdominal tergum. (A–B) Limnocoris amazonensis n. sp., (C–D) L. burmeisteri, (E–F) L. fittkaui, and (G–H) L. flavescens n. sp. agp = accessory genitalic process, lml = left medial lobe, rml = right medial lobe.

FIGURE 13. Distribution records for nine species of Limnocoris in South America.