Rhagovelia nariñensis, Padilla-Gil, Dora N., 2011

Padilla-Gil, Dora N., 2011, Four new species of Rhagovelia in the robusta group from Colombia (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae), Zootaxa 2975, pp. 35-46 : 41-43

Rhagovelia nariñensis sp. n.

Type material. HOLOTYPE, apt 3, allotype apt Ƥ: COLOMBIA, Nariño, Altaquer, Reserva Río Ñambí, 1100−1900 m, 2 October 2007, leg. D. Padilla, ( ICN). PARATYPES, same data as holotype, of these the following have been distributed: 1 apt 3, 1 apt Ƥ (PSO-CZ).

Apterous Male. Length 5.93, maximum width (across pronotum) 2.13. General dorsal coloration uniform orange-brown, with anterior band of pronotum yellowish-brown. All margins (dorsal and ventral) of segments dark brown.

Head yellow, frons and vertex bearing stiff brown setae; antennae yellowish, segments III and IV brown, all segments covered with very short, semi-recumbent dark pubescence, segments I and II also bearing ~8 long stiff, erect, black setae, 2 similar setae present near middle of segment II, segments III −IV lacking long, erect setae; lengths of segments I −IV, 1.33, 1.00, 0.86, 0.80.

Pronotum orange-brown, anterior 1/5 yellowish, this area of paler coloration extending downward across pleural region; pronotal surface and posterior lateral margins of prosternum and metasternum with scattered very shallow foveae, pronotal surface covered with fine, short black setae, lateral and posterior margins and adjacent mesopleural area bearing many long, erect, black setae; length/width: 2.13/1.40, completely covering mesonotum but leaving small portion of metanotum exposed; length of exposed metanotum at midline 0.20.

Abdomen orange-brown, margins of tergites I −VII narrowly pruinose; tergites I, III, IV equal in length (0.34), tergites II, V, VI equal in length (0.36), tergite VII shorter than VIII (0.38, 0.40 respectively), tergite VIII shorter than VII (0.30); tergites I −VII and all connexival segments covered with short, recumbent golden setae and small black setae, intermixed with scattered erect slender black setae.

Legs yellowish, with distal portions dorsal of hind femur and terminal tarsal segments of middle and hind legs becoming brown distally; all segments thickly covered with short, erect slender black setae, fore and middle trochanters unarmed, posterior trochanter bearing 5 large, black peg-like teeth; fore, middle, and hind coxae bearing numerous long, erect, black setae; fore tibia weakly expanded and concave ventrally on distal 1/5, with small black grasping pad apically on posterior margin; middle femur and tibia slender, cylindrical; hind femur moderately incrassate, ventral surface with ~4 irregular longitudinal rows of subequal black peg-like teeth; additional dorsal longitudinal row containing 8−9 black teeth: 1 or 2 small teeth followed by a gap, then 1 large black spine followed by 5 spines of progressively decreasing size, with 1 moderately large spine-like tooth near center of apex femur ( Fig. 14 ), dorsally bearing 2 rows of ~14 long stiff, erect, black setae. Hind tibia weakly sinuate and dorsoventrally flattened, ventral surface with 2 longitudinal rows along posterior margin, with 44 black peg-like teeth of equal size, with spine in apex.

Proportions of male legs as follows: fore femur/tibia/tarsal 1/tarsal 2: 1.46/1.80/0.12/0.40; middle femur/tibia/ tarsal 1/tarsal 2/tarsal 3: 2.66/2.13/0.08/0.58/0.88; hind femur/ tibia/ tarsal 1/tarsal 2/tarsal 3: 2.40/2.86/0.12/0.18/ 0.46.

Venter yellow to orange-brown, abdominal ventrites I −VII separated by dark glabrous channels along sutures; abdominal ventrite I lying in nearly vertical orientation; abdominal ventrites II −VI bearing longitudinal median carina of triangular cross section; ventrite VII lacking depressions, posterolateral margins lacking black denticles on each side bordering genital cavity; ventrite VIII not depressed basally; parameres symmetrical, shape as shown in Fig. 15 ; proctiger ( Fig. 16 ).

Apterous female. Length 6.33, maximum width (across pronotum) 2.13. Similar to wingless male in general structure and coloration with the following exceptions: lengths of antennal segments I −IV, 1.33, 0.80, 0.60, 0.80. Abdomen, tergites I −III alternately shorter and longer (0.40, 0.44, 0.40 respectively), tergites IV −VII increasingly longer (0.36, 0.42, 0.44, 0.52 respectively), VIII shorter than VII (0.32); connexiva tapering gradually and evenly to apex of abdomen, connexival margins weakly bowed, of even width throughout their length; abdominal ventrites lacking longitudinal medial carina; proctiger lying in horizontal position, tip rounded ( Fig. 17 ); hind femur moderately incrassate, bearing 9 spines along posterior margin, starting with a small spine followed by a much larger spine and a gap, then 1 very large, slender spine followed by 6 spines of progressively decreasing size, with 3 small spines ventrally in an irregular row toward distal end; hind tibia straight, bearing 2 longitudinal rows of ~45 small black peg-like teeth along posterior margin, with spine in apex.

Macropterous form: unknown

Ecological notes. R. nariñensis was found along small shaded streamlets, on calm pools.

Etymology. The name “ nariñensis ” refers to the Colombian department of Nariño, from which the types were collected.

Comparative notes. R. nariñensis is superficially similar to R. nicolai but may be recognized by its larger size, the shape of the male hind tibia and the shape of the parameres ( Figs. 10 , 15 ).

Figures

FIGURES 14 − 17. Structural details of Rhagovelia nariñensis sp. n. 14 − 15 male. 14, hind femur, dorsal view. Scale 1 mm; 15, paramere (setae omitted). Scale 0.05 mm; 16 proctiger. Scale 0.05 mm; 17, female abdomen, lateral view. Scale 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 9 − 13. Structural details of Rhagovelia nicolai sp. n., 9 − 11 male. 9, hind leg. Scale 0.25 mm; 10, paramere (setae omitted). Scale 0.05 mm; 11, proctiger. Scale 0.05 mm; 12, female abdomen, lateral view. Scale 1 mm; 13, female hind femur, dorsal view. Scale 0.25 mm.