Jarmilaia rabitschi, Heiss, 2010

Heiss, E., 2010, New taxa and systematic assignments of Madagascan Aradidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), Zootaxa 2728, pp. 23-38 : 25-27

Jarmilaia rabitschi n. sp.

(Figs. 2,5,9; photo 4,5)

Material examined. Holotype ♂: Madagascar / St. Marie / Nosy Boraha / La Crique env. 13 X / 2000 Heiss & Perner; 1 ♀ paratype from the same locality and date.

Diagnosis. Smallest species of the genus; differs from aeterna by the subparallel lateral margins of abdomen and more straight lateral margins of pronotum, and is distinguished from zetteli n. sp. by its smaller size, more slender habitus, and less angular deltg VII.

Description. Macropterous male. General colouration stramineous with darker spots on anterior and pe-angles of deltg II–VII in both sexes; in males mtg VI, tergite VII and pygophore dark brown, apex of scutellum black.

PHOTOS 1–6. Jarmilaia species. 1 ― aeterna ♂ (Périnet); 2― aeterna holotype ♂; 3― aeterna ♀ (Ranomafana); 4― rabitschi n. sp., holotype ♂; 5― rabitschi n. sp., paratype ♀; 6― aeterna ♀ (Ranomafana), ventral.

Head: Slightly longer than wide (17/16); genae with acute apex, hardly produced beyond clypeus; antenniferous lobes laminate with acute apex slightly produced over clypeus; antennae 3.59x as long as width of head (57.5/16), segment I thickest beset with stiff bristles, II shortest, III longest, IV fusiform with pilose apex; length of antennal segments I/II/III/IV = 15.5/7/26/9, eyes oval inserted in head, postocular lobes laminate and converging directly posteriorly, slightly wider than eyes; vertex with longitudinal rows of flat paler round scales; rostrum arising from a slit like atrium, as long as head.

Pronotum: Trapezoidal 1.57x as wide as long (33/21); lateral margins finely dentate, subparallel at humeri then straight and apically sinuate forming a subangulate anterolateral lobe this separated by a deep incision from the ring-like collar; surface of disk with rows of round scales, these arranged as ovate rings on anterior half, posterior half rather flat and finely granulate with larger scales at middle; posterior margin straight at middle sinuate laterally.

Scutelllum: Triangular, as wide as long (17/17), lateral margins straight and carinate, basal and median carina beset with scales, black apex granulate.

Abdomen: Lateral margins of deltg II–VI straight and not produced laterally, pe-angle of deltg VI blunt, deltg VII triangularly produced posteriorly; tergite VII raised medially for reception of pygophore, the latter conical and wider than long with dorsal median carina; paratergites VIII clavate shorter than pygophore; venter with distinct metathoracic scent gland canal; spiracles II–V ventral far from lateral margins, VI – VIII lateral and visible from above.The single male was not dissected to study the parameres.

Hemelytra: Corium with carinate lateral margins and veins, slightly longer than scutellum; membrane hyaline with irregular brownish veins covering the tergal plate.

Legs: Femora slender beset with longer, cylindrical tibiae with shorter stiff bristles; tarsi bisegmented, claws with long thin pulvilli.

Female: Generally as male, middle of mtg VII not dark brown, deltg VII triangularly projecting posteriorly as long as triangular paratergites VIII; tergites XI+X truncate as long as paratergites VIII.

Measurements. Holotype ♂: Length 5.9mm; width of abdomen across tergite V 47; paratype ♀: length 5.1 (exceptionally small female specimen); head length / width 16/15; pronotum l/w 18/30; scutellum l/w 17/16; length of antennal segments I/II/III/IV = 15/6/24/8; ratio length of antennae / width of head 3.53; width of abdomen across tergite V 44.

Etymology. Dedicated to my friend and excellent heteropterologist Dr. Wolfgang Rabitsch (Vienna), recognizing his entomological activities and continuous efforts and help.

Distribution and ecology. Known so far only from the island of St. Marie (Nosy Boraha) in Eastern Madagascar, where the second new species also occurred. This species was found on the underside of a log infested by fungi in the remnants of rainforest.