Papuanecta Tinerella, 2008

Tinerella, Paul P., 2008, Taxonomic revision and systematics of New Guinea and Oceania pygmy water boatmen (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Corixoidea: Micronectidae), Zootaxa 1797 (1), pp. 1-66 : 6-8

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.1797.1.1
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/127787F4-FFA3-4177-FF61-F6A1FEB65C97
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Papuanecta Tinerella
status	gen. nov.

Treatment

Papuanecta Tinerella View in CoL , gen. nov.

( Figs. 1–15 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 View FIGURE 7 View FIGURE 8 View FIGURE 9 View FIGURE 10 View FIGURE 11 View FIGURE 12 View FIGURE 13 View FIGURE 14 View FIGURE 15 )

Type species: By original designation, Micronecta sinistra Chen, 1965 .

Diagnosis: Small, parallel-sided, unicolorous brown micronectids. Distinguished from other Micronectidae by the parallel body form, morphology of abdominal segments IV–VIII, the short, diagonal nodal furrow, and the specialized male parameres. Restricted to New Guinea.

Description: Small (1.66–2.04 mm). Ground color brown, hemelytral markings generally absent, but, if present, restricted as small, amorphous, darker markings distributed over medial portions of corium ( Figs. 1a– h View FIGURE 1 ). Vertex of head rounded, foveate depression absent. Head sclerites short, frons and clypeus reduced, surrounding very short labium (unsegmented rostrum). Labial apex even, with a line extending through apical genal margins; general outline of head thus appearing circular in frontal view. Prothoracic lobe compact, subquadrate ( Figs. 2a View FIGURE 2 , 5a View FIGURE 5 , 9a View FIGURE 9 , 13a View FIGURE 13 ). Metaxyphus short, triangular, with acute apex ( Figs. 2b View FIGURE 2 , 5b View FIGURE 5 , 9b View FIGURE 9 , 13b View FIGURE 13 ). Pronotum long, with recessed short, squared area mediobasally, apical margin acutely pointed ( Figs. 1a–h View FIGURE 1 ). Hemelytra with well developed microsculpture, short minute setae sparsely distributed over clavus and corium. Apical portion of corium with two or three poorly developed striae. Palae narrowed, short, palar claw of males straplike, apex rounded ( Figs. 2d View FIGURE 2 , 5d View FIGURE 5 , 9d View FIGURE 9 , 13d View FIGURE 13 ). Profemur with two setae basally, near ventral margin ( Figs. 2c View FIGURE 2 , 5c View FIGURE 5 , 9c View FIGURE 9 , 13c View FIGURE 13 ). Nodal furrow present, marked by diagonal suture, this not reaching margin of wing ( Figs. 1a–h View FIGURE 1 ). Prenodal embolar area often expanded, embolar groove flanged, postnodal embolar area very short, poorly developed or absent. Tergal lobes of abdominal segment IV short, narrowly rounded to truncate apically. Strigil present on abdominal tergite VI, small, indistinct with light microscopy (up to 160X magnifi- cation). Sternal process of abdominal segment VII short, broadly rounded, tip sharply acuminate ( Figs. 2f View FIGURE 2 , 5f View FIGURE 5 , 9f View FIGURE 9 , 13f View FIGURE 13 ). Free lobe of abdominal tergite VIII generally subquadrate, inner and outer angles squared ( Figs. 2g View FIGURE 2 , 5g View FIGURE 5 , 6a View FIGURE 6 , 9g View FIGURE 9 , 10a View FIGURE 10 , 13g View FIGURE 13 ). Male parameres: left paramere of specialized morphology, always with apical modification ( Figs. 2j–k View FIGURE 2 , 6 View FIGURE 6 , 10 View FIGURE 10 , 14 View FIGURE 14 ). Right paramere with rectangular base, long, shaft often twisted, with apex squared or rounded ( Figs. 2h–i View FIGURE 2 , 6 View FIGURE 6 , 10 View FIGURE 10 , 14 View FIGURE 14 ). Pars stridens processus (sensu Jansson 1989) restricted to medioapical portion of right paramere base ( Figs. 6h View FIGURE 6 , 10g View FIGURE 10 , 14g View FIGURE 14 ). Pars stridens processus of Papuanecta sinistra (Chen) not examined.

Discussion: Within Micronectidae , Papuanecta gen. nov. stands unique on the basis of small size, parallel-sided body form, and specialized form of the male parameres ( Figs. 2h–k View FIGURE 2 , 6 View FIGURE 6 , 10 View FIGURE 10 , 14 View FIGURE 14 ). The apical hemelytral striations of both sexes are unique amongst Micronectidae . Papuanecta shares some affinity with continental Australian Micronectidae , particularly a recently discovered undescribed endemic micronectid genus, on the basis of the compact male palae, tergal lobes of abdominal segment IV, and the sternal process of abdominal segment VII ( Tinerella 2006b).

General morphology of Papuanecta suggests relationships with Oriental species of Micronecta (see Chen 1960). The male parameres and sternal process of abdominal segment VII of P. sinistra are generally similar to those of some Oriental species of Micronecta : viz. M. guttata Matsumura , M. japonica Chen , and M. hungerfordi Chen. Species of Papuanecta possess similar abdominal morphology as well. The influence of Oriental faunas on New Guinea taxa has been discussed and documented elsewhere ( Polhemus 1996, Parsons 1999, Tinerella 2006b).

Distribution: New Guinea.

Etymology: A combination of Papua-, noting the type country, Papua New Guinea; and the Greek necta, meaning swimmer.