Micronecta (Sigmonecta) altera Wróblewski, 1972

Ha, Tuyet Ngan & Tran, Anh Duc, 2021, Taxonomy of Micronectidae (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) from Vietnam, with descriptions of 11 new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 756, pp. 1-82 : 64-67

Micronecta (Sigmonecta) altera Wróblewski, 1972

Figs 21B , 22D–H

Micronecta quadristrigata Breddin, 1905a: 57 (partim).

Micronecta altera Wróblewski, 1972a: 33–37 , 50, figs 21–24, 44, 51, 74 (type locality: Sri Lanka; also included specimens from India, Pakistan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam).

Micronecta quadristrigata – Hutchinson 1940: 376–377. — Wróblewski 1960: 301–304 (partim); 1967: 237–238 (partim).

Diagnosis

Body length 2.4–3.1. Pronotum longer than median head length. Dorsum generally yellowish brown. Hemelytron with four interrupted, longitudinal, brown stripes; embolium with four black spots ( Fig. 21B ).

Males: fore femur with a pair of spines on proximal third, two spines on middle third; fore tibia with two large spines on distal third; palar claw widened distally, with a small notch in the middle, apex rounded ( Fig. 22D ). Median lobe of sternite VII and free lobe ( Fig. 22E ) as in diagnosis of subgenus. Left paramere: shaft relatively thick, with sickle-shaped apex, mesial side before apical part covered with small scales; basal lobe subovate ( Fig. 22G–H ). Right paramere: shaft long and slender, clearly thickened at proximal half, then curved and tapering towards narrowly rounded apex ( Fig. 22F ).

Material examined

VIETNAM – Lang Son Prov. • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Loc Binh, Mau Son, Khuoi Tang stream; 590 m a.s.l.; 6 Nov. 2020; A.D. Tran et al. leg.; TAD20-34 ; ZVNU . – Phu Tho Prov. • 1 ♀; Xuan Son N.P. , Kim Thuong, Chieng stream, near ranger station; 28Aug. 2013; A.D. Tran et al. leg.; TAD1345 ; ZVNU • 1 ♀; Xuan Son N.P. , Chieng stream, near ranger station; 21°06.072′ N, 104°59.433′ E; 22 May 2015; T.S. Nguyen leg.; TS1508 ; ZVNU • 1 ♀; Xuan Son N.P. , Ban Coi, Coi stream, site 2, near bridge; 7 Jun. 2013; A.D. Tran et al. leg.; TAD1338 ; ZVNU • 1 ♂; Xuan Son N.P. , Than stream, site 2; 21°11.257′ N, 104°52.382′ E; 24 May 2015; T.S. Nguyen leg.; TS1515 ; ZVNU . – Hanoi • 8 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀; Nhue River, Noi bridge; 25 Mar. 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; ZVNU • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Thanh Huong Lake (used for recreational fishing), near Khuat Duy Tien Road ( Thanh Xuan District ); 29 Mar. 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN04 ; ZVNU • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀; paddy-field near Noi Bridge of Nhue River; 4 May 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN15 ; ZVNU • 7 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀; Lotus pond 2 near West Lake Water Park (right); 30 Mar. 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN02 ; ZVNU • 4 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; Lotus pond 2 near West Lake Water Park (right); 20 Mar. 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN02 ; ZVNU • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Lotus pond 2 near West Lake Water Park; 17 Mar. 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN02 ; ZVNU • 4 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; Lotus pond 1 near West Lake Water Park; 17 Mar. 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN01 ; ZVNU • 17 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀; Nhue River, at Lien Mac area ; 25 Mar. 2010; A.D. Tran leg.; HN08 ; ZVNU • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; paddy-field at Thuan Village, Phu Lam ward ( Ha Dong District ); 31 Mar. 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN11 ; ZVNU • 8 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Nhue River ; 18 Aug. 2010; A.D. Tran leg.; TAD1017 ; ZVNU • 11 ♂♂, 30 ♀♀; Nhue River ; 18 Aug. 2010; A.D. Tran leg.; TAD1018 ; ZVNU • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; paddy-field at Dai Mo area ( Tu Liem District ); 4 May 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN13 ; ZVNU • 4 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; paddyfield at Ngoc Truc area ( Tu Liem District ); 4 May 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN14 ; ZVNU • 1 ♂; West Lake ; 17 Mar. 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN03; ZVNU • 5 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀; Linh Dam Lake ; 30 Mar. 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN05 ; ZVNU • 7 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; Linh Dam Lake ; 20 Apr. 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN05 ; ZVNU • 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Day River, at Mai Linh Bridge ( Ha Dong District ); 21 Apr. 2010; T.M. Pham leg.; HN12 ; ZVNU • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; Thanh Xuan District ; 7 Aug. 2019; V.P. Nguyen leg.; NVP1901 ; ZVNU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Ba Vi N.P. , Khoang Xanh, Tien stream; 95 m a.s.l.; 17 Dec. 2011; Q.H. Ngo and A.D. Tran leg.; TAD1127 ; ZVNU • 5 ♀♀; Ba Vi N.P., Minh Quang, Cai stream; 65 m a.s.l.; 26 Apr. 2012; Q.H. Ngo et al. leg.; TAD1207 ; ZVNU • 2 ♂♂; Ba Vi N.P. , Minh Quang, Cai stream; 65 m a.s.l.; 17 Dec. 2011; Q.H. Ngo et al. leg.; TAD1126 ; ZVNU • 1 ♂; Ba Vi N.P. , Khanh Thuong, Mit stream, open area near Village; 40 m a.s.l.; 26 Apr. 2012; Q.H. Ngo and A.D. Tran leg.; TAD1205 ; ZVNU • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Ba Vi N.P. , Ba Trai, Ri stream; 67 m a.s.l.; 27 Apr. 2012; Q.H. Ngo leg.; TAD1209 ; ZVNU . – Thanh Hoa Prov. • 1 ♂; Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Ba Thuoc, Co Lung , Ban Khuyn , Khuyn stream; 18 Mar. 2013; T.D. Pham leg.; PL1303 ; ZVNU . – Quang Nam Prov. • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀; Duy Xuyen District, My Son temple complex; 15°46.355′ N, 108°07.079′ E; Apr. 2017; T.D. Chu leg.; MS1725 ; ZVNU • 3 ♂♂; Duy Xuyen District, My Son temple complex; 15°46.978′ N, 108°07.334′ E; Apr. 2017; T.D. Chu leg.; MS1724 ; ZVNU . – Binh Dinh Prov. • 2 ♂♂; Phu My District, Tra O lagoon; 10 May 2012; A.D. Tran leg.; TAD1216 ; ZVNU . – Binh Thuan Prov. • 2 ♂♂; Phan Thiet City, Huynh Thuc Khang road, Tien stream; 11 May 2019; T.N. Ha leg.; NHPT19.01 ; ZVNU . – Dong Nai Prov. • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Vinh Cuu, Ma Da stream, near Rang Rang Forest station (near bridge); 9 Apr. 2009; A.D. Tran leg.; TAD0902 ; ZVNU .

Distribution

Sri Lanka, India, East Pakistan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam ( Wróblewski 1972a).

Remarks

Wróblewski (1972a) clearly indicated that the holotype and paratypes of M. altera were all from Sri Lanka, and noted that he had seen examples of this species from India, Pakistan, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, but without providing specific locality data. However, subsequent studies by various heteropterists did not provide any additional reports of this species from Southeast Asia again. Nieser (2000), when producing his key to Southeast Asian Micronecta , apparently overlooked M. altera and did not include it. Based on numerous samples as above, we now confirm the occurrence of this species in Vietnam. Among subsequent studies dealing with M. quadistrigata and another closely related species, M. kymatista Nieser & Chen, 1999 , only Nieser & Chen (1999) made a brief comparative reference to M. altera . Tinerella (2008, 2013) also commented on this species, questioning the potential conspecificity between M. quadristrigata , M. altera , and M. kymatista .

As Wróblewski (1972a) previously noted, there are a few differences between M. quadristrigata and M. altera , including the body length ( M. altera is slightly larger than M. quadristrigta ), the fore tibia and pala ( M. altera has larger ones), the shape of the palar claw ( M. altera has a small notch in the middle), the shaft of the right paramere (that of M. altera is longer, clearly thicker on the basal half, then gradually tapering on the apical half, while that of M. quadristrigata is mostly parallel sided and only tapering on the apical fifth), and the curvature between the base and the shaft of the left paramere, opposite the basal lobe (which is about 90°in M.altera , and is clearly greater than90°in M.quadristrigata ) (compare Fig. 22B, F ). Our samples help to confirm the observation by Wróblewski (1972a) that M. quadristrigata and M. altera are separate species, and that the detailed structures of the parameres provide reliable characters. It is notable that the body lengths of M. quadristrigata and M. altera , as provided by Wróblewski (1972a: table 1), had overlapping ranges, although that of M. altera fell into the larger range. Based on such comparative morphological features, it seems that illustrations of specimens of M. quadristrigata in Chen et al. (2015) belong to M. altera instead. However, we do not have access to these specimens to confirm this speculation. Among three species of the subgenus Sigmonecta , M. kymatista Nieser & Chen, 1999 is most similar to M. quadristrigata in the appearance of parameres. For comparison between these two species, see Nieser & Chen (1999: 83).

Figures

Fig. 21. Habitus photos of species of Micronecta Kirkaldy, 1897 and Synaptonecta Lundblad, 1933, ♂♂. A. M. quadristrigata Breddin, 1905 (ZVNU). B. M. altera Wróblewski, 1972 (ZVNU). C. M. polhemusi Nieser, 2000 (ZRC). D. M. melanochroa Nieser, Chen & Yang, 2005 (ZVNU). E. M. caperata sp. nov., holotype (ZVNU). F. M. fugitans Breddin, 1905 (ZVNU). G. M. tarsalis Chen, 1960 (ZVNU). H. S. issa (Distant, 1910) (ZVNU). All to the same scale.

Fig. 22. Morphological features of species of Micronecta Kirkaldy, 1897, ♂♂. A–C. M. quadristrigata Breddin, 1905 (ZVNU). D–H. M. altera Wróblewski, 1972 (ZVNU). A, E = free lobe; B, F = right paramere; C, G = left paramere; D = fore leg; H = apical part of left paramere.