Mariomella, Faúndez & Rider, 2019

Faúndez, Eduardo I. & Rider, David A., 2019, A new genus and new species of Aeptini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae) from Australia, Zootaxa 4658 (1), pp. 189-192 : 189-190

Mariomella gen. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Type species: Mariomella singularis , by present designation.

Description: General body features: Body elongate (about 2 times longer than wide) ( Fig. 1 A ), dorsal coloration yellowish-cream to ochraceous, with a distinct medial, longitudinal pale line extending from apex of clypeus to apex of scutellum ( Fig. 1 A ). Dorsal surface finely, densely punctate, punctures mostly concolorous with surface. Ventral surface yellowish, with punctures fine, dense, nearly concolorous with body surface, dark longitudinal stripes on thoracic sterna.

Head: Elongate, longer than wide, paraclypei much longer than clypeus, but not contiguous anteriorly; eyes prominent. Antenniferal tubercles short, each with a rudimentary lateral tooth; antennae 5-segmented (antennomeres 2 and 3 partially fused). Bucculae straight ventrally, evanescent posteriorly; rostrum 4-segmented.

Thorax: Pronotum trapezoidal with humeral angles rounded, anterior angles each with a spine-like tooth oriented anteriorly. Scutellum isosceles triangular, with two basal foveae, one in each basal angle. Hemelytral membranes smoky. Thoracic sterna longitudinally sulcate, with obtuse lateral carinae, prosternal carinae each with a rudimentary tooth extending posteriorly. Ostiolar peritremes short, auriculate ( Fig. 1 F ); evaporatoria rudimentary ( Fig. 1 F ); external third of metapleuron narrow, convex, slightly darker than evaporatoria. Legs with strong setae; superior surface of each tibia rounded; tarsi 3-segmented.

Abdomen: Connexiva rounded, each segment unicolorous with rest of body; base of abdomen lacking anteriorly directed tubercle or spine. Female genitalia: Paratergites apically rounded, first and second gonocoxae apically sharp, convex posteriorly, mesial margins straight ( Fig. 1 B ). Male genitalia: Posterior margin of pygophore subrectangular in ventral view, with strong subrectangular medial emargination, a subtriangular posterior projection on each side of medial emargination; parameres broad, each tapering to a narrowly acute apex, more robust basally.

Distribution: Australia, Western Australia.

Etymology: Dedicated to Mariom A. Carvajal, in recognition of her work on pentatomoid taxonomy, especially in understudied groups such as the Acanthosomatidae and Tessaratomidae . Additionally, the first author, who is her husband, recognizes her support during the realization of his doctoral dissertation. This genus belongs to “New genus 1” in the Faúndez (2017) dissertation. Gender of the genus feminine.

Comments: This new genus is closely related to Hillieria Distant and Pseudaelia Distant. The shape of the head, with the open, broad and rounded paraclypei ( Fig. 1a ) will help distinguish this genus. The head is triangular, apically acute, with contiguous paraclypei in Hilleria , and subtriangular and broad in Pseudaelia ; with paraclypei rounded at level of the anteclypeus, or sometimes contiguous beyond it. The shape of the anterolateral angles of the pronotum, relatively wide and oriented anteriorly ( Fig. 1a ), and the non-sulcate, tubular tibiae ( Fig. 1D ), separate this genus from both Hillieria and Pseudaelia . Additionally, a key to the genera of Aeptini is provided below.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mariomella singularis gen. et sp. nov. A. Habitus (Scale = 1mm); B. External female genitalia, ventral view (Scale = 1mm); C. Male pygophore, dorsal view (Scale = 0.5 mm); D. Tibia (Scale = 1.5 mm); E. Male paramere lateral view (Scale = 0.1mm); F. Metapleuron (Scale = 0.7mm).