Hygronemobius minor Santos, Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D3D89178-BBED-4D8F-B722-9DCCFF46E9AB

(Figs. 7–12, Map 1)

Etymology: The specific epithet minor is a Latin comparative adjective meaning “smaller” or “lesser.” The name refers to the tiny size of the species.

Type material. Holotype. Male. Brasil [Brazil], Pará, Juruti, Mutum, próx. Igarapé Mutum [next to Mutum stream]; 02°36'45.7"S, 56°11'38.2"W; 8–15.X.2006; D.F. Candiani & N.F. Lo-Man-Hung leg.; Pitfall. Repository: MPEG.

Paratypes. 6 males and 4 females. Same data as the holotype, but VIII.2006 (MPEG) . 1 female. Brasil [Brazil], Amazonas, Coari, Porto Urucu— Base de Operações Geólogo Pedro de Moura., Área J 19; 04°52'07.6"S, 65°15'56.6"W; 01.X.2004; Bonaldo, A. & Candiani, D. leg.; Pitfall. (MPEG) .

Diagnosis. This species belongs to the species group benoisti because it has flat and large pseudepiphallic apical lobes, which are located on the dorsal face of the pseudepiphallus and are badly separate from the pseudepiphallic sclerite. In fact, the limits between the apical lobes, medial lobes, and pseudepiphallic sclerite are indistinguishable, and they are entirely sclerotized, a characteristic unique to H. minor sp. nov. (Figs. 11A–D). The females have the first (except the anterior portion), second, third, and middle parts of the fifth and sixth tergites lighter (Fig. 12B), more similar to H. caxiuana sp. nov. Another similar species is H. diplagion, but only the second and third tergites are lighter in this species. The ovipositor is very short and slightly upcurved (Figs. 12D–F).

Description. Head, in frontal view, triangular, with eyes taller than wide; antennal orbits located close to the lower base of the eyes; genae short and spotted in brown (Fig. 7E). In lateral view, vertex oblique and frons rounded; eyes taller than wide (Fig. 7D). In dorsal view, occiput with a brown stripe connecting both eyes (Fig. 7B). Coloration of the cephalic capsule similar in tone to the clypeus and labrum (slightly lighter), with a mixed pattern of light and dark brown (Fig. 7E). Maxillary palp with first two segments equal in size, the third as long as both previous together, the fourth shorter than the third and conical in shape, and the fifth longer than any previous segments, with the apex truncated and whitish; coloration mainly ochre, with more intense tones distally, especially in the last segment, except for its lighter apex (Fig. 7F).

Thorax. Pronotum, in dorsal view, rectangular, almost as long as wide, with rounded lateral margins; pronotal disc spotted with elliptical marks on the median portion of the anterior half, irregular brown marks on the dorsolateral portion and the macrochaeta insertions, and with two lighter eye spots on the median portion of the posterior half (Figs. 8A–B); AS formed by three almost parallel macrochaetae; MSG formed by three macrochaetae, being two almost parallel and one obliquely positioned to the middle one; PS formed by eight or nine macrochaetae and two mesochaetae, four macrochaetae positioned behind the eye spots on the median posterior half, followed by two mesochaetae branching from the fourth macrochaeta and other four or five macrochaetae obliquely positioned from the posterior to the anterolateral portion (Figs 8A–D). In lateral view, pronotum longer than tall, with a slightly convex dorsal surface (Figs. 8C–D); lateral lobes with sinuous ventral margin bearing a medial concavity and a dark triangular mark narrowing towards the anterior margin (Figs. 8C–D). LS formed by five macrochaetae following the oblique border of the lateral lobe mark (Figs. 8C–D). Prosternum reduced; mesosternum rectangular, with rounded corners and slightly darker anterior portion; and metasternum hexagonal, with slightly darkened anterior edges. Mesosternum and metasternum setose (Fig. 7G).

Wings. Tegmina oval, longer than wide, reaching up to the fourth tergite, light brown, with whitish spots in the anal, postcubital, and harp regions and at the distal portion, starting from the cubito-anal region and radiating along the entire extension of the medial + cubito-anal vein. An+PCup veins well visible (Fig. 9A). First branch of C+Sc proximally curved. In lateral view, with third and fourth branches of C+Sc connected proximally (Fig. 9B, white circles). Stridulatory file with 36 teeth (N=1, Fig. 9C).

Legs ochre with brownish spots, conspicuous setae (macrosetae), and pubescent surface covered with small setae (Figs. 10A–F). All tibia and tarsi with brown spots intercalated with lither rings (Figs. 10A–F). First pair of legs with two spurs and a tympanum only on the outer surface (Figs. 10A–B). Middle legs similar to the anterior ones (Figs. 10C–D). Hind legs robust, with three dorsal spurs on each margin, two apical on the inner margin, and three on the outer margin (Figs. 10E–F).

Abdomen, in dorsal view, dark brown with reticulated spots (Fig. 7B). In ventral view, sternites dark brown, with whitish and circular spots, located on the distolateral edges of the segments (Fig. 7C). Supra-anal plate very small, almost squared, with irregular posterior border (Fig. 10G). Subgenital plate, in ventral view, dark brown, longer than wide, and slightly incised medially (Fig. 10H); in lateral view, longer than high, with a slightly curved ventral surface (Fig. 10I).

Phallic complex. Apical lobe completely sclerotized, with apices curved inward and posterior border oblique, bearing denticulations (Figs. 11A–B). Pseudepiphallic sclerite with at least six conspicuous setae (Fig. 11A). Pseudepiphallic sclerite, apical lobe, and median lobe completely sclerotized, with limits inconspicuous (Figs. 11A–D). Pseudepiphallic parameres, in ventral view, as well-sclerotized inward lobes (Fig. 11B). Ectophallic fold very reduced and almost inconspicuous (Figs. 11B–D). Ectophallic apodeme thin, and endophallic cavity reduced (Figs. 11A–B). Endophallic sclerite asymmetrical, with central part connected to lateral appendages only distally and medio-proximally clearly separated; lateral appendages heart-shaped (Figs. 11A–B). Endophallic apodeme well-sclerotized and oval-shaped (Figs. 11A–B). Rami almost straight, well-sclerotized, and not fused to the pseudepiphallic sclerite (Figs. 11A–B, C). In axial view, apical lobe curved downward, almost imperceptible (Fig. 11C). Pseudepiphallic medial lobe hyaline and with rounded apices (Fig. 11C). Pseudepiphallic parameres with convex inner margin and rounded apex (Fig. 11C). In lateral view (Fig. 11C), pseudepiphallic apical lobe slightly downcurved. Pseudepiphallic medial lobe sclerotized.

Female. Tegmina reduced, with ventral half brown (Fig. 12A, B). Abdominal tergites spotted in dark brown, with the posterior portion of the first tergite, the second and third, and the middle portion of the fifth and sixth lighter, mainly ochre (Fig. 12B). Ovipositor very small, slightly upcurved (Fig. 12D), with apex bearing very small denticulations (Figs. 2E–F). Supra-anal plate setose, small, and widely rounded (Fig. 12G). Subgenital plate whitish, almost yellowish, hyaline, with a slightly darkened brown oval spot (Fig. 12I); in ventral view, wider than long and emarginated (Figs. 12H); in lateral view, almost as long as tall, with rounded convex posterior margin (Fig. 12H, I).

Measurements (mm).

Males. TL: 5.9–6.8; PL: 1.2–2.0; PW: 1.5–2.5; Tg: 2.4–3.4; HF: 3.4–4.6; HT: 2.5–3.6.

Females. TL: 5.6–6.6; PL: 1.0–1.5; PW: 1.4–1.8; Tg: 0.7–1.2; HF: 3.4–4.1; HT: 2.6–3.1; Ov: 2.3–2.9.

Distribution. This species is recorded in two localities: Juruti, Pará State (type locality) and Coari, Amazonas State (Map 1).