Sphedanolestes quadrinotatus, Cai & Cai & Wang, 2004

Cai, Wanzhi, Cai, Xinyan & Wang, Yunzhen, 2004, Notes On The Genus Sphedanolestes Stål (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) From China, With The Description Of Three New Species, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 52 (2), pp. 379-388 : 380-385

Sphedanolestes quadrinotatus , new species

( Figs. 11-20 )

Material examined. – Holotype – male, Yongping, Yunnan, coll. Long Yongcheng, 27 May.1983 ( KZI).

Paratypes – 1 female, Yongping, Yunnan, coll. Dong Dazhi, 28 May.1983 ( ZRC) ; 1 female, Dabaiqinggangtang, Suiyang , Guizhou, alt. 750 m, coll. Zhang Jinguo, 19 May.1979 ( CAU) .

Diagnosis. – The general body plan of this species is somewhat similar to those in the genus Rhynocoris Hahn , but its posterior lobe of pronotum is typically the Sphedanolestes ones. It can be easily distinguished from its congeners by its light colouration.

Description. – Colour. Pale yellow, shining. Dark markings on head above and beneath, eyes, tip of rostrum, base of first antennal segment, collar processes, sculpture on anterior lobe of pronotum, scutellum (except margins), markings on thoracic pleuron and sterna, dark parts of femora, base of tibia, markings on lateral sides of abdomen, base of each segment of connexivum black; markings on bases of inner surface of first and second rostral segments, 4 spots on posterior lobe of pronotum, spots on coxae and trochanters, distal parts of tibiae dark brown to blackish brown; most portion of tibiae, second to fourth antennal segments brown; connexivum and meso- and metathoracic pleura tinged with orange.

Structure. Medium sized, robust. Head above, pronotum scattered with somewhat long yellow setae; head beneath, thoracic pleura and sterna densely covered with short setae; corium scattered with bent short setae; thoracic sterna with oblique pale setae. Head short and thick; diameter of eye slightly longer than distance between ocelli; first rostral segment short and thick, distinctly shorter than the second ( Fig. 12 ); first antennal segment slightly longer than second and third segments together, second and third antennal segments subequal in length. Collar processes somewhat developed, apices rounded; anterior pronotal lobe developed, about 3/4 length of the posterior pronotal lobe; middle longitudinal depression shallow, middle portion of posterior margin of pronotum slightly convex; stridulatory furrow consisting of about 160 transverse ridges; femora thick, apical portion of left fore leg showing in Fig. 13 ; hemelytron slightly surpassing tip of abdomen. Connexivum of female laterally slightly dilated; abdominal tip of female showing in Figs. 14-16 ; pygophore process narrow, apex with two processes laterally ( Figs. 17, 18 ); clasper clavate, bent ( Figs. 19, 20 ).

Measurements. Body length 12.0 (male), 12.1-12.8(female); maximum width of abdomen 3.5(male), 3.0-3.3 (female). Head length 2.4(male), 1.8-2.6(female); length of anteocular part 0.9(male), 0.8-1.0(female); length of postocular part 0.6 (male), 0.6(female); length of synthlipsis 0.6(male), 0.6(female); distance between ocelli 0.4 (male), 0.2-0.3 (female); length of antennal segments I:II:III:IV=3.8 (male), 3.4-3.8 (female): 2.0 (male),1.4-2.0 (female):1.8 (male), 1.2- 1.4 (female):? (male),2.0-2.4(female); length of rostral segments I:II:III=1.0(male), 0.9-1.0(female):1.5 (male), 1.4- 1.6(female):0.3 (male), 0.2(female). Length of anterior lobe of pronotum 1.2(male), 0.9-1.1(female); length of posterior lobe of pronotum 1.7(male), 1.8-1.9(female); maximum width of thorax 3.4(male), 2.8-2.9(female); length of scutellum 0.8(male), 0.8(female); length of hemelytron 8.0(male), 8.5- 8.9(female).

Distribution. – China (Yunnan, Guizhou).

Etymology. – The new species is named for its posterior lobe of pronotum with 4 dark spots.

Figures

Fig. 11. Sphedanolestes quadrinotatus, new species, habitus. Scale: 2 mm.

Figs. 12-20. Sphedanolestes quadrinotatus, new species. 12, head and pronotum, antenna partly removed; 13, apical portion of right fore leg; 14, abdomen of female; 15, 16, abdominal apex of female; 17, pygophore; 18, apical portion of pygophore, showing pygophore process and claspers; 19, 20, clasper; 12-14, lateral view; 16-18, ventral view; 15, caudal view. Scale: for Figs. 2, 14-17, 1 mm; for Figs.13, 18- 20, 0.5 mm.