Bahiamezira, Heiss, 2014

Heiss, E., 2014, Two new apterous Mezirinae from Brazil (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 46 (2), pp. 1329-1336 : 1332-1333

Bahiamezira nov.gen.

T y p e s p e c i e s Bahiamezira cerroensis nov.sp.

D i a g n o s i s The only species of Neotropical Aradid taxa resembling superficially this new genus is Osellaptera setifera HEISS, 2013 from Ecuador. Bahiamezira nov.gen. can be easily distinguished by the subparallel (O. s. posteriorly distinctly attenuated) outline of abdomen, head about 1.4x as wide as long (as wide as long), antennae shorter, about 1.3x as long as width of head (twice as width of head), shorter postocular lobes (much longer), eyes more stalked and different position of spiracles and rostrum reaching prosternum (shorter than head).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Small sized apterous Mezirinae ; body elongate subparallel; surface of body shiny with distinct punctures; lateral margins of head, body, median elevations,venter, legs and antennae beset with fine yellowish pubescence; colouration reddish brown.

H e a d: Distinctly wider than long with stalked eyes, produced antenniferous lobes and a large and long clypeus reaching 1/3 of antennal segment I; antennae about 1.3x as long as width of head, segment I longest and curved, II+III of equal length, IV longer with truncate apex; postocular lobes converging to constricted neck.

P r o n o t u m About 3x as wide as long, anterior margin concave, posterior margin convex, disk with oval callosities, anterolateral margins expanded and raised upward.

M e s o n o t u m Strongly transverse consisting of 2 lateral sclerites separated but fused to a longitudinal flat ridge, anterolateral edges with a flap-like expansion directed posterolaterally.

M e t a n o t u m: Fused to a continuous plate with mtg I+II, their lateral sclerites separated by the posteriorly continuing median flat ridge of mesonotum which extends to the transverse elevation delimiting mtg II from tergal plate.

A b d o m e n:TergalplateseparatedfrommtgIIbyasuture,diskwithamedianridge, lateral parts rather flat; deltg II+III not fused, pe-angles of deltg II-VII with distinct tubercles of different size; tergite VII strongly raised, pygophore large and posteriorly produced.

V e n t e r: Rostral groove open posteriorly, rostrum reaching ½ of prosternum; metathoracic scent gland canal slit-like embedded in an elongate elevated structure; sternites I+II fused to metasternum, III-VI deeply punctured anteriorly and smooth posteriorly; spiracles II-VI ventral, VII placed on a larger sublateral tubercle but not visible from above, VIII terminal on ptg VIII.

L e g s: Unarmed, trochanters fused to femora, tibiae straight, tarsi two-segmented, pulvilli not recognizeable.

E t y m o l o g y: Refers to Bahia, the Brazilian Province of origin and the subfamily to which this genus is assigned.