Neoproxius latocanus, Heiss, Ernst & Poinar, George O., 2012

Heiss, Ernst & Poinar, George O., 2012, The first Carventinae species in Miocene Dominican Amber (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae), Zootaxa 3268, pp. 47-54 : 48-50

Neoproxius latocanus n. sp. Heiss & Poinar

(Photo 1,2,11, Fig.1 )

Holotype: Macropterous female in a brownish transparent oval piece of Dominican amber (30x13 x 10 mm); dorsal and ventral sides are visible, legs and antennae are complete, an air bubble is present on the anterior part of the membrane. This specimen is designated as holotype and deposited in the collection of G.O.Poinar ( CGPC) no. HE- 4-14H.

Diagnosis. N.latocanus n. sp. belongs to the group of species without intraocular grooves. Only N. gypsatus Bergroth, 1898 shares the lateral position of spiracles III–VIII with spiracle II in lateral and VIII in dorsolateral position while these are sublateral on II and lateral on VIII in latocanus n.sp. In addition, the elevated structures of the pronotum and scutellum are completely different from all described extant species.

Description. Head. Wider than long (21/18); genae flat and anteriorly expanded surpassing elevated clypeus, leaving a small cleft at middle; antenniferous lobes slightly diverging anteriorly, apex rounded, reaching ½ of antennal segment I; antennae slender, 1.24x as long as width of head (26/21), segment I thickest, constricted at base, II shortest, III longest and thinnest, IV fusiform with pilose apex; length of antennal segments I/II/III/IV = 7/ 5/8/6; eyes oval, inserted in head; vertex with a posteriorly widening elevated ridge and 2 (1+1) lateral ovate depressions; postocular lobes triangularly projecting laterally, apices rounded then strongly converging posteriorly to constricted collar. Rostrum arising from a slit-like opening shorter than head, rostral groove distinct but shallow.

Pronotum. Wider than long (36/24), lateral margins bi-sinuate, anterolateral angles blunt and rounded then converging straight to concave anterior margin; anterior disk with cross-shaped median ridge flanked by 4 (2+2) ovate smooth depressions, these delimited laterally by incrustations running along lower lateral margins; posterior disk with a transverse carina followed by a median ovate smooth depression, posterior margin convex and incised at base of scutellum, laterally projecting posteriorly, humeri elevated and incrustate.

Scutellum. Triangular, wider than long (21/13); median elevation, basal and lateral margins incrustate and carinate, the latter not reaching depressed, narrowly rounded apex; disk smooth and depressed laterally of median carina.

Hemelytra. Corium short, carinate anterolaterally; membrane fully developed with transverse rugosities reaching of tergite VII.

Abdomen. Lateral margins evenly rounded; triangular deltg II+III fused, posterolateral angles of deltg VII truncate, its posterior margin straight; ptg VIII triangular shorter than tricuspidate tergites IX+X; spirales II sublateral, III–VIII lateral, all visible from above; tergal plate longitudinally elevated at middle.

Venter. Prosternum with I-shaped elevation, meso- and metasternum flat with longitudinal smooth depression medially; sternites II–VII separated by transverse sutures, sternite VII deeply concave posteriorly.

Legs. Femora slightly incrassate, tapering toward base, trochanters fused but distinct; tibiae cylindrical, slightly curved, tarsi bi-segmented, claws with thin pulvilli.

Measurements. Length 2.9mm, width of abdomen across tergite IV = 1.25mm.

Etymology. Named after La Toca in Dominican Republic, the locality of origin of this and many other Amber inclusions.

PHOTOS 1–11 Dominican Amber Carventinae . 1— Neoproxius latocanus n.sp. holotype female, dorsal view; 2—ditto, ventral view; 3— Carventus bechlyi n.sp. holotype male, dorsal view; 4—ditto, ventral view; 5— Acaricoris robertae n.sp. holotype male, dorsal view; 6—ditto, head and pronotum; 7— Proneoproxius cornutus n.gen., n.sp. holotype, dorsal view; 8—Inclusion of Acaricoris robertae n.sp.; 9—Inclusion of Proneoproxius cornutus n.gen., n.sp.; 10—Inclusion of Carventus bechlyi n.sp.; 11—Inclusion of Neocarventus latocanus n.sp.

Discussion. Although the aradid fauna of the Caribbean Islands is rather rich and diverse and partly well documented, to date no member of Neoproxius is known from that region. N. latocanus n.sp. represents therefore the first record of this genus in the Caribbean, as all extant taxa were described from mainland countries.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3 Reconstruction of head and pronotum. 1 — Neoproxius latocanus n. sp.; 2 — Carventus bechlyi n. sp.; 3 — Proneoproxius cornutus n. gen., n. sp.