Atisne derelictus ( Wygodzinsky 1956 )

Tatarnic, Nikolai J. & Cassis, Gerasimos, 2011, The thread-legged bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) of Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, Zootaxa 2967, pp. 21-43 : 24-26

Atisne derelictus ( Wygodzinsky 1956)

Figures 1 , 2A , C–E, 3A–D

Nesita derelictus Wygodzinsky 1956: 213 (new species).

Atisne derelictus Wygodzinsky 1966: 94 (new combination, description); Maldonado 1990: 98 (catalogue); Cassis and Gross 1995: 291 (catalogue).

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from A. reidi by the following characters: larger body size and more elongate forelimbs ( Fig. 1 ); proximoventral forefemoral process bifid, apically armed with a row of four setigerous spines ( Figs. 2 C, 3B); forelimbs banded and not concolourous ( Fig. 1 ). Female. Body length 13.18. Head length 6.74, head width 6.34. AI length 7.60, AII length 7.36, AIII length 0.96, AIV length 1.43. Pronotal length 2.05, mesonotal length 1.46, metanotal length 0.62. Forecoxal length 2.79, forefemoral length 4.34, foretibial length 1.71. Forelegs as in Figs. 1 , 2 C, 3B–C. Abdominal length 7.91. External female genitalia. ( Fig. 3D ), with VIII gonocoxites large, subtriangular; anterior gonapophyses contiguous along midline; third gonapophyses in the form of paired strongly setate processes.

Habitat. This species was active at night, amongst fallen palm ( Howea fosteriana ) litter in lowland mixed forest, dominated by a mix of Howea fosteriana and Drypetes spp. It was found in association with Emesopsis cirratus (Ploiariolini) which is newly described in this work. It was also found with other bug species, including an Acaraptera Usinger and Matsuda species ( Aradidae ), a rhyparochromid species, and with the mirid Vanniopsis howense Cassis, Schwartz and Moulds (Cylapinae) . Other invertebrates in this microhabitat included a variety of spiders, isopods and springtails. The habitat was also characterised by leaf mould. This species was also collected in a pitfall trap in a disturbed area of Steven’s Reserve, confirming the epigaeic habits of this species.

Distribution. This species is only known from lowland forest near the settlement area of Lord Howe Island.

Specimens examined. AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Lord Howe Island: base of Intermediate Hill, on walking track to Goat House, 31.561o S 159.075o E, (site LHI/GC/L18), 10 metres, G. Cassis, 16 December 2000, lowland mixed forest, litter at night, 1Ƥ (AM); Malabar Hill, on path to Kim’s Lookout, 31.515o S 159.056o E, 24 November 2000, CBCR, LHIS004L leaf litter ex. Narrow Sclerophyll Closed Scrub – Dodonaea / Cassinia habitat, 13 (AM).

Remarks. Wygodzinsky (1956, 1966) provided a description of the male of the species. Aside from genitalic differences, both sexes are similar in colour, structure and texture. The adult specimen is the first record of the female of the species and agrees in all structural characteristics given in the original description. The forefemora and their bifid proximoventral process are alike and cannot be confused with the single-armed process found in A. reidi .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Lateral photographs of females of Atisne derelictus (above) and Atisne reidi (below).

FIGURE 2. A, Atisne derelictus, head and pronotum. B, Atisne reidi, proximoventral forefemoral process. C – E Atisne derelictus: C, Proximoventral forefemoral process; D, paramere (redrawn from Wygodzinsky 1966: Fig. 20 I); E, aedeagus (redrawn from Wygodzinsky 1966: Fig. 20 J). F – I Emesopsis cirratus: F, Paramere; G, head and pronotum, lateral view; H, hemelytron; I, aedeagus. (Not to scale.)

FIGURE 3. A – D Atisne derelictus, female: A, Head, dorsal view; B, foreleg, lateral view; C, foreleg, medial view; D, female external genitalia, ventral view. E – H Atisne reidi: E, Foreleg, medial view; F, foreclaw; G, apex of female abdomen, dorsal view; H, female external genitalia, lateral view. GN = anterior gonapophysis; GN III = third gonapophysis; ST VIII = gonocoxite.