Aphelocheirus longlingensis, Xie, Tong-Yin & Liu, Guo-Qing, 2014

Xie, Tong-Yin & Liu, Guo-Qing, 2014, Two new species and three new records of the genus Aphelocheirus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aphelocheiridae) from China, Zootaxa 3793 (2), pp. 222-230 : 224-225

Aphelocheirus longlingensis sp. nov.

( Figs.1 A, B; 2A–K)

Type material. Holotype: ♂, CHINA: Longling county (N24.59°, E98.59°), Yunnan Province, 16. IV. 2002, Xiao-hong OU leg.. Paratypes: 2♂, CHINA: Longxinxueshan (N24.56°, E98.82°), Longling county, Yunnan Province, alt. 1820m, 20. IV. 2002, Xiao-hong OU leg.; 1♂, same date as above, alt. 1820m, 20. IV. 2002, Chuanhui YI leg.; 2♂, same date as holotype, alt. 2000m, 16. IV. 2002, light-trapped, Ying-xian SITU leg.; 1♀, CHINA: Banglazhang (N24.66°, E98.67°), Longling county, Yunnan Province, alt. 1550m, 18. IV. 2002, Xiao-hong OU leg.

Diagnosis. The new species are morphologically similar to A. femoratus Polhemus & Polhemus 1989 , which can be separated from the latter by size of swellings and shape of the meso- and metatrochanters ( Figs. 2 I, J). Swellings are narrow on the mesotrochanters and obscure on metatrochanters; Swellings are roughly circular and distinct dilatations on the metafemora. The left paramere is apically wider and the right paramere is distally narrower ( Figs. 2 F–H). The subgenital plate of the female is broadly subtriangularly shaped, lateral margins at about basal third with narrow tufts of very long setae and subapically with thick relatively long setae; ridges set with long yellowish setae ( Fig. 2 A) The swellings on new species legs also resembles A. tuberculipes Zettel & Tran, 2009 , which can be distinguished from the latter species by the male genitalia ( Figs. 2 F–H). Other major characters between A. longlingensis and A. tuberculipes include the length of the head anterior to the eyes, which is moderately prolonged in A. tuberculipes , more so than in A. longlingensis . Spines absent from abdominal sternal midline in A. longlingensis .

Description. Body large size for genus, form elongate. General colour brown to dull blackish brown.

Male. Head. Dark brown, shining, minutely alveolate; eyes black, shining, lateral margins weakly sinuate, not confluent except on most posterior part; interspaces between eyes shiny. Preocular portion of head moderately long, 0.67 times as long as eye length. Antennae yellowish brown. Rostrum golden, attaining bases of hind coxae.

Thorax. Pronotum more massive, dull blackish brown, lighter brown laterally, shining centrally. Surface distinctly convex, bearing very short decumbent golden setae, posterior portion expanded, lateral margins coarsely granulate, posterolateral angles obtuse, rounded. Scutellum swollen, dark brown, lateral margins weakly sinuate; mesoscutum dull blackish brown, flat, width longer than length; hemelytra complete, rugose, bearing short decumbent setae, these setae longer on embolium; clavus, corium and embolium well defined, membrane infumate ( Fig. 1 A). Prosternum sharply carinate medially, propleurae with inner projections deeply notched, coming to a round pointed tip apically ( Fig. 2 B); mesosternal plate weakly carinate, not tumescent.

Abdomen. Dorsal surface dark brown, coarsely rugose, bearing decumbent setae, posterolateral angles of abdominal segments III–VI strongly spinose, posterolateral angles of segment VII sharply, coming to acute points posteriorly. Ventral surface dark brown, weakly pruinose, sparsely covered with fine decumbent golden setae; abdominal segments V–VII extremely asymmetrical. Segments III–V with irregular glabrous pits adjacent to and inward of spiracular rosettes, sternum III with small posteromedial protuberance. Spines absent from abdominal sternal midline ( Fig. 2 K).

Legs. Light brown, shining, covered with fine decumbent golden setae; anterior trochanter, femur, tibiae and tarsi with thick hair pads on inner faces; anterior, middle and hind coxae with combs of golden setae distally; middle trochanter, femur, tibiae and tarsi with thick pads of golden setae posteriorly; middle tibiae with scattered stout reddish spines along anterior face intermixed with several very long erect spine-like setae, transverse row of reddish spines apically; hind femur with short decumbent golden spines along anterior margin, scattered erect stout setae along posterior margin and each with raised, ovate, brown swelling ( Fig. 2 J). These patches composed of densely packed, very short, modified setae; hind tibiae sparsely set with stout reddish spines anteriorly, transverse row of reddish spines apically; hind tibiae and tarsi with long swimming hairs posteriorly; claws curved, golden, with tips dark red.

Genitalia. Left paramere broadly expanded subapically, truncate apically ( Figs. 2 C–E). Right paramere with bend at proximal two thirds, distal one-third slender; apex narrowly rounded ( Figs. 2 F–H).

Female. Generally similar to male, but more shining. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 2 A) of broadly subtriangular shape, side sinuate, convex at base; lateral margins at about basal third with narrow tufts of very long setae and subapically with thick relatively long setae; ridges set with long golden setae ( Fig. 2 A).

Brachypterous form. Unknown.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. Referring to the type locality of the new species: Longling County.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal habitus photographs of Aphelocheirus spp. A. A. longlingensis sp. nov. (male); B. A. longlingensis sp. nov. (female); C. A. motuoensis sp. nov. (male); D. A. motuoensis sp. nov. (female); E. A. similaris Polhemus & Polhemus (male); F. A. nawae Nawa (male). Scale bar = 2 mm.

FIGURE 2. Aphelocheirus longlingensis sp. nov. A. Ventral view of posterior abdominal segments of female. B. Inner projection of left propleuron. C – E. Left paramere in different views. F – H. Right paramere in different views. I. Structures on mesotrochanter of male. J. Structures on metatrochanter and metafemur of male. K. Ventral view of posterior abdominal segments of male. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.