Xenobates nypicola, Zettel & Laciny & Bongo, 2021

Zettel, Herbert, Laciny, Alice & Bongo, Juvy P., 2021, The genus Xenobates (Hemiptera: Veliidae) in the Philippines: overview and description of two new species, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 61 (1), pp. 221-230 : 224-227

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.37520/aemnp.2021.012

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:71F65F83-C39D-470A-9483-107C527E4FD9

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039CFA2B-FFC0-FFA0-FEDA-FAB82A26FCF4

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

Xenobates nypicola
status

sp. nov.

Xenobates nypicola sp. nov.

( Figs 1, 2 View Figs 1–4 , 9, 13, 17, 18, 21, 23, 25 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 )

Type locality. Philippines, Negros Oriental Province, Amlan, Nypa fruticans swamp at Mag-abo, ca. N 9°28′, E 123°13′.

Type material. Hඈඅඈඍඒඉൾ: J ( PNM), PHILIPPINES: NൾGඋඈඌ Oඋං- ൾඇඍൺඅ: Amlan, Mag-abo, stream reaching sea, leg. H. Zettel. Pൺඋൺඍඒඉൾඌ (152 JJ 244 ♀♀; NHMW, NMPC, PNM, UPLB, USC, ZCVA, ZMUC, ZRC) from the following localities: PHILIPPINES: NൾGඋඈඌ Oඋංൾඇඍൺඅ: 46 JJ 61 ♀♀, collected with the holotype [#1]; 15 JJ 36 ♀♀, the same locality, leg. C. V. Pangantihon [#1a]; 6 JJ 26 ♀♀, south of Amlan, Bio-os, leg. H. Zettel [#2]; 5 JJ 12 ♀♀, the same locality leg. C. V. Pangantihon [#2a]; 10 JJ 23 ♀♀, Sibulan, Ajong, leg. H. Zettel [#3]; 8 JJ 8♀♀, the same locality, leg.C.V. Pangantihon [#3a]. Pඈඅංඅඅඈ: 8JJ 28 ♀♀, east of Panuculan, mangrove, leg. H. Zettel & C. V. Pangantihon [#4]. Mൺඌൻൺඍൾ Iඌඅൺඇൽ: 47 JJ 52 ♀♀, mangrove at road Mobo – Uson (km 16 from Masbate proper), leg. H. Zettel [#5]. Bൺඇඍൺඒൺඇ Iඌඅൺඇൽ: 2 ♀♀, Balidbid, 4 km northwest of Santa Fe, leg. H. Zettel [#6]. Cൺආඈඍൾඌ Iඌඅൺඇൽඌ: 5 JJ 4 ♀♀, Pacijan Island, San Francisco, mangrove at road to Poro, leg. H. Zettel [#7]. Mංඇൽൺඇൺඈ: SඎඋංGൺඈ ൽൾඅ Sඎඋ: 2JJ 2♀♀,

Tago, Duot Suong, leg. C. V. Pangantihon [#8]. Diagnosis. Smallest species of Xenobates (BL JJ

1.20–1.38, ♀♀ 1.45–1.68). Dorsum partly orange brown, connexiva light orange brown to dark brown ( Figs 1, 2 View Figs 1–4 ). Antennomeres 2–4 with numerous long setae ( Fig. 9 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ), 1 clearly shorter than 3. All femora ( Figs 13, 17, 18 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ), pro- and mesotibia, and mesotarsus with rows of long setae. MfHI high (JJ 1.33–1.60, ♀♀ 1.82–2.36); MLI (JJ 1.56–1.71, ♀♀ 1.37–1.48) and MsTaI (JJ 0.50–0.55, ♀♀ 0.42–0.59) low. Metafemur weakly incrassate ( Figs 17, 18 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ). – Male: abdominal venter without swelling, with very shallow impression medially on sternites 2–4 ( Fig. 23 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ). Paramere short ( Fig. 21 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ). – Female: abdomen trough-shaped ( Fig. 25 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ).

Description. Male. Measurements (mm; n = 10; #1, 4): BL 1.30 (1.20–1.38); BW 0.65 (0.63–0.68); AL 1.01 (0.94–1.05); MsfL 0.92 (0.90–0.98); MfHL 0.15 (0.14– 0.17); MtiL 0.77 (0.75–0.80); MtaL 0.41 (0.38–0.43); MsfW 0.10 (0.09–0.11); MtfW 0.08 (0.07–0.09). – Indices: AI 0.78 (0.76–0.80); MLI 1.62 (1.56–1.71); MfHI 1.44 (1.33–1.60); MsTaI 0.53 (0.50–0.55); MtsfWI 0.79 (0.67–0.86).

Colour ( Fig. 1 View Figs 1–4 ). Ground colour black to dark brown. Head dorsally with two longitudinal pale orange to yellow marks and pronotum with pair of yellow spots near middle of hind margin (in some specimens almost confluent); around these yellow marks orange to pale brown. Disc of mesonotum to large extent yellowish orange to orangebrown. Dorsal portions of meso- and metapleuron, and all sternites, entire laterotergites and tergite 7 variable orange to brown. Pro- and mesacetabulum largely, metacetabulum narrowly pale yellow. Sternites variably orange-brown to dark brown. Antenna dark brown, except for pale yellow base. On legs coxae, trochanters, almost entire profemur, and underside of meso- and metafemur pale yellow; remaining parts medium to dark brown.

Pilosity. Dorsum of body with inconspicuous pale hair layer. Thoracic pleura with very oblique and moderately long dark setae. Connexival margin with long oblique setae. Segment 8 with long setae. Dorsum with relatively few and diffuse patches of silvery pilosity. Lower parts of thoracic pleura with uninterrupted stripe of silvery pilosity. Hind margins of metasternum and sternites with transverse stripes of short white pilosity, somewhat longer on sternites 6 and 7. Antennomeres 2–4 with numerous long setae ( Fig. 9 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ). Profemur on flexor side with one, protibia on extensor side with two rows of long setae. Mesofemur ( Fig. 13 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ) on extensor side with one row of very long oblique setae (longer than mesofemur width); in addition, single rows with somewhat shorter setae on both extensor and flexor side, and on extensor sides of mesotibia and mesotarsus. On hind leg, only flexor side of metafemur with row of setae ( Fig. 17 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ).

Structure. Body relatively slender, almost fusiform. Head anteriorly pointed. Eyes comparatively large; interocular width as long as half of head width. Antenna long. Pronotum very short. Legs slender. Metafemur hardly thickened, slenderer than mesofemur. Abdomen moderately convergent posteriorly; connexival margins slightly convex. Tergites moderately wide, tergite 7 about 1.6 times as wide as long. Sternites 2–5 slightly depressed in middle, forming shallow groove ( Fig. 23 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ). Sternite 7 transversely concave. Segment 8 distoventrally with blunt median carina, on both sides slightly depressed. Genitalia small. Paramere ( Fig. 21 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ) comparatively short and stout, distally weakly curved, without setae.

Female. Measurements (mm; n = 10; #1, 4): BL 1.53 (1.45–1.68); BW 0.85 (0.80–0.90); AL 0.97 (0.89–1.05); MsfL 0.96 (0.90–1.00); MfHL 0.15 (0.14–0.19); MpHL 0.10 (0.09–0.11); MPnL 0.10 (0.09–0.11); MtiL 0.83 (0.75– 0.95); MtaL 0.43 (0.38–0.48); MsfW 0.08 (0.07–0.08); MtfW 0.07 (one value). – Indices: AI 0.63 (0.59–0.68); MLI 1.44 (1.37–1.48); MfHI 2.00 (1.82–2.36); MsTaI 0.52 (0.42–0.59); MtsfWI 0.93 (0.91–1.00); MpHI 1.02 (0.86–1.33).

Colour. Similar as in male. Laterotergites and dorsal margins of sternites on average paler. Medial parts of sternites dark.

Pilosity. Similar as in male. Oblique setae on thorax sides longer and more conspicuous. Hind margin of mesometanotum sublaterally with a few long setae. Long black setae on connexival margins longer and more upright. Laterotergite 7 with few oblique black setae directed posteromedially. Tergite 7 with some black setae, mostly on sides. Sternites 2–5 with even, extremely short whitish pilosity, 6 and 7 with slightly longer pilosity, only 7 with fringe of whitish hairs at hind margin. Pilosity of antennae and legs similar as in male; longest setae on mesofemur about twice as long as mesofemur width.

Structure. Body clearly larger (BLI: 1.18) and stouter than in male. Thorax more strongly widened posteriorly. Legs similar as in male, except for slenderer meso- and metafemur (therefore, MsHI higher). Abdomen in dorsal view trapezoidal ( Fig. 25 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ), connexival margins almost evenly converging (only slightly bowed). Laterotergites steeply raised. All tergites much wider than long, 1–6 slightly convex, 7–8 flat. Tergite 7 more than 2.5 times as wide as long, horizontal. Tergite 8 about 3 times as wide as long, directed dorsolaterally. Proctiger semicircular in dorsal aspect. Apex of sternite 7 in lateral view downcurved. Gonocoxa 1 largely concealed by sternite 7.

Comparative notes. Xenobates nypicola sp. nov. is one of the most striking species of the entire genus. The numerous long setae on the legs and especially on the antennae ( Fig. 9 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ) are highly diagnostic. Small size, light colouration ( Figs 1, 2 View Figs 1–4 ), proportions of antennomeres (1 <3), short mesotarsi, and the groove on abdominal sternites 2–5 of males ( Fig. 23 View Figs 9–26. 9–12 ) are additional characteristics that distinguish X. nypicola sp. nov. from all other Philippine species of Xenobates .

Etymology. The species epithet is a Latinized noun in apposition meaning “inhabitant of Nypa (swamp)”.

Habitats. In Negros, this small species was collected in large numbers in small puddles in Nypa fruticans swamps during low tide. Such swamps seem to be the species’ preferred habitat, although it was also found in large mangrove stands on Masbate, Negros, Bantayan, and Pacijan islands. We never found any other species of Gerromorpha in Nypa fruticans swamps.

Distribution. Widely distributed in the Philippines: records from Polillo, Masbate, Negros, Bantayan, Pacijan, and Mindanao.

PNM

Philippine National Museum

NHMW

Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien

NMPC

National Museum Prague

UPLB

Museum of Natural History, University of the Philippines

ZMUC

Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen

ZRC

Zoological Reference Collection, National University of Singapore

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hemiptera

Family

Veliidae

Genus

Xenobates

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