Sinchocoris giupponii, Gil-Santana, 2019

Gil-Santana, Hélcio R., 2019, New records, taxonomic notes, and the description of a new species of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from Ecuador, Zootaxa 4613 (3), pp. 502-520 : 505-513

Sinchocoris giupponii sp. nov.

( Figs. 14–31 )

Diagnosis. Sinchocoris giupponii sp. nov. can be separated from other species of Sinchocoris by the following combination of characters: (1) ratio of lengths of visible labial segments II:III:IV as 5:3:1 (other species) or 2:2:1 ( S. giupponii sp. nov.); (2) midlongitudinal sulcus of pronotum reduced to a series of punctuations, obsolete anteriorly and posteriorly in other species, while in S. giupponii sp. nov. this sulcus is even more reduced, in which, there is only a very shallow small impression on distal half of fore lobe, a mid oval depression just below level of transverse furrow in hind lobe, followed by a very thin sulcus barely exceeding the basal half of hind lobe; (3) ventral margin of middle femora with ( S. colombiensis and S. panamensis ) or without ( S. giupponii sp. nov.) papillae; (4) spongy fossa of fore and middle tibiae moderately developed, at least one-quarter the length of fore tibiae in S. colombiensis and S. panamensis and very small, only 1/12 times the length of fore tibiae in S. giupponii sp. nov.; (5) abdominal tergites without punctuations in S. colombiensis and S. panamensis and punctuate in S. giupponii sp. nov.

Description. Male. MEASUREMENTS: total length: to tip of abdomen: 7.5; to tip of hemelytra: 7.6; head (excluding neck): length: 1.4; height (maximum distance between upper and lower margin of the head): 0.9; length of anteocular portion (measured in lateral view): 0.5; length of postocular portion (measured in lateral view): 0.3; width across eyes: 1.1; minimum dorsal interocular distance (synthlipsis): 0.4, minimum ventral interocular distance: 0.7; dorsal width of eye, dorsal view: 0.3; length of eye: 0.5; distance between external margins of ocellar tubercle: 0.6; distance between ocelli: 0.15; maximum width of ocellus: 0.1; length of ocellar tubercle on midline: 0.4; maximum distance between antennal tubercles: 0.7; lengths of antennal segments: I: 1.0; II: 1.2; III: 0.6; IV: 0.5; V: 0.3; VI: 0.2; VII: 0.2; VIII: 0.3; lengths of labial segments: II [first visible]: 0.6; III: 0.6; IV: 0.3. Thorax: pronotum: fore lobe: length: 0.7; maximum width: 1.6; hind lobe: length 0.9; maximum width: 2.2; scutellum length: 0.8; length of hemelytra: 4.7. Fore legs: length of femur: 1.6, maximum width: 0.6; length of tibia: 1.8; width at subbasal thickened portion: 0.17; width at midportion: 0.15; width at subapical thickened portion: 0.25; length of spongy fossa: 0.15; length of tarsus: 0.6; middle legs: length of femur: 1.8, maximum width at midportion: 0.2, width at subapical portion: 0.25; length of tibia: 1.8; width at midportion: 0.1; length of spongy fossa: 0.1; length of tarsus: 0.7; hind legs: length of femur: 2.7, maximum width at midportion: 0.2, width at subapical portion: 0.25; length of tibia: 2.9; width at midportion: 0.15; length of tarsus: 0.8. Abdomen: length: 3.6; maximum width: 2.7. COLORATION. General coloration brownish ( Figs. 14–20 , 23). The following portions are pale to yellowish pale: dorsal portion of head between and posterior to eyes and lateral to distal half of clypeus, except ocellar and antennal tubercles ( Fig. 17 ); subapical markings on outer and inner surfaces of fore femur ( Figs. 18–20 ); distal margins of middle and hind coxa; markings on approximately basal half and basal third of connexival segments III–IV and V–VII, respectively ( Figs. 14–15 , 23 ); on sternites, these connexival markings are prolonged medially by a short distance, reaching the respective spiracle at posterior margin of the pale marking. Antennal distiflagellomeres paler with irregular darkened markings; tarsi somewhat paler. STRUCTURE: Head ( Figs. 16–17 ): moderately elongated, length somewhat more than 1.5 times its height and shorter than pronotum; anteocular portion longer than postocular portion; minimum distance between eyes in dorsal view (synthlipsis) somewhat longer than the width of each eye; integument mostly smooth and shiny, with some linear thin irregular impressions on anteocular portion, below clypeus; clypeus round- ed, not elevated; antennifers close to anterior margin of eyes, not prominent; vertex not elevated; eyes not prominent, rounded in dorsal view, reniform in lateral view; transverse sulcus well marked, somewhat curved, reaching inner posterior angle of eye; ocellar tubercle prominent, enlarged, undivided; ocelli small, rounded, distance between them somewhat wider than the diameter of each ocelli; scape surpassing apex of head, somewhat curved and enlarged towards apex, somewhat shorter than pedicel, the latter straight, flagellum divided in pseudosegments, the basal longer, this and the following one becoming progressively thinner towards apex; remaining pseudosegments, thin and slender, subequal in length; labium thickened; length ratio between the labial (visible) segments 2:2:1; segment II (first visible) almost straight, somewhat larger towards apex, which is approximately at level of anterior margin of eyes; segment III enlarged in most part; segment IV thinner, tapering, reaching stridulatory sulcus approximately at its middle third; distinct constriction between postocular portion and neck. Thorax ( Figs. 14–17 ): pronotum: integument smooth, shiny; collar indistinct; fore lobe rounded on anterior and lateral margins and somewhat shorter and narrower than hind lobe; midlongitudinal sulcus represented by a very shallow median small impression on distal half of fore lobe, a mid oval depression just below level of transverse furrow, followed by a very thin sulcus with somewhat irregular margins in hind lobe, which barely exceeds the basal half of the latter; transverse furrow distinct, carinulate, continuing laterally, on propleura, where it is formed by somewhat larger and deeper depressions, forming a somewhat curved lateral furrow which ends at posterior margin of propleura; posterolateral furrows of pronotum distinct and formed by a series of punctuations; lateral margin of hind lobe rounded; posterior margin somewhat sinuous. Supracoxal lobes of pleura not prominent; integument of anterior portion of propleura with few deep somewhat large punctuations; propleura with posteroventral elongate processes, apices acute, directed medially, just posterior to lateral third of fore coxa, above lateral portion of anterior margins of mesosternum; integument of mesopleura somewhat rugose, mostly smooth on central portion; metapleura coarsely rugose, with several linear subparallel irregular ridges, superior margin thickened and curved. Prosternum wider on approximately anterior half in which there is a pair of short, rounded lateral processes, directed forward and narrowing posteriorly; on posterior half, the prosternum forms a cylindrical median process, which surpasses fore coxae and reaches mesosternum, with its median portion mostly occupied by the stridulitrum. Mesosternum anteriorly to middle coxa mostly flattened and with smooth integument, the median portion depressed on anterior margin, just posterior to apex of process of prosternum, below which, a small oval depression on midline, with elevated borders; middle coxae bordered by elevated sharp margins anteriorly and medially, between them, mesosternum with medial and lateral shallow depressions. Metasternum short, slightly medially depressed. Scutellum sculptured, with two short slightly curved and converging prongs. Fore coxae close, separated by a distance of approximately half the width of each of them; middle and hind coxae distant from each other by a distance approximately equivalent to twice and only slightly more than the width of each of them, respectively. Fore femora ( Figs. 17–21 ) enlarged, somewhat curved in dorsal and lateral views, with a median elevated cleft extending on approximately the basal two thirds of ventral surface; this cleft is lined with numerous papillae (denticles sensu Dougherty 1995), and more curved at distal portion ( Figs. 20–21 ). Fore tibia somewhat curved in lateral view, enlarged at subbasal and subapi- cal portions ( Figs. 18–19 ) with a very small spongy fossa at apex ( Fig. 22 ). Middle and hind legs: femora straight, somewhat thickened subdistally; tibiae somewhat curved at middle third; a very small spongy fossa at apex of middle tibia. All tarsi slender, three-segmented. Hemelytra ( Figs. 14–15 ) generally dull, on extreme base of dorsal surface, laterally, and on lateral portion, basally, moderately shiny ( Fig. 17 ). Abdomen ( Figs. 23–24 ): connexivum with posterolateral angle between segments II and III somewhat prominent. Tergites with rugose integument, including thin linear interrupted impressions and punctuations; on segment II, the linear markings are more prominent with several elevated longitudinal irregular ridges, more developed on median portion; anterior margins of segments III–VI carinulate, which respective small keels at each margin become progressively smaller towards posterior segments; dorsal abdominal glands openings on medial anterior margins of segments V and VI; dorsal connexival segment II with linear impressions and segments III–VII covered with small numerous punctuations, except on their lateral margin in which the integument is smooth. Sternites mostly with smooth, shiny integument; several very small punctuations, almost imperceptible, on mid lateral portions of sternites IV–VI; somewhat larger and deeper punctuations on lateral portions, closer to lateral margin on sternites III–VII; intersegmental suture between sternites II and III well marked, sclerotized; other intersegmental sutures faintly marked, with shallow and narrow furrows; spiracles rounded, close to lateral margin, on approximately median portion of the sternite; sternite II narrow, median portion somewhat elevated, integument with a few suboval basolateral elevations; sternite III with anterior margin carinulate, a median shallow keel on basal third and its basal half depressed laterally to median portion; sternites IV and V very shallowly carinulate laterally; sternite IV somewhat depressed on basolateral portion. VES- TITURE. Body integument mostly glabrous. Head: sparse, curved, short or somewhat longer, thin, pale setae on clypeus and labrum; maxillary plates covered with numerous several thin, curved, somewhat long to longer pale setae; several thin pale setae scattered on gena; a few erect short pale setae on ventral surface. Labium with pale short to somewhat longer pale straight to somewhat obliquely setae, sparsely distributed on basal portion of segment II and lateral portions of all segments, and forming two groupings: one with fewer and short elements on dorsal apical portion of segment II and other with longer and more numerous elements on approximately distal half of segment III, ventrally ( Fig. 16 ). Antenna covered by very numerous obliquely to adpressed thinner smaller straight setae and with scattered longer erect, sometimes somewhat curved, setae, both of which sparser on first segment. Thorax: thoracic sterna mostly glabrous; lateral borders of posterior prolongation of prosternum with numerous thin small setae; some groupings of pale thin setae on posterior border of acetabulum and anterior margin of mesosternum. Legs: variably covered with long thin to stouter, oblique, straight to somewhat curved, pale to golden setae; coxa with some sparse setae on inner surface; trochanters with several to numerous setae on ventral surface; femora with scattered setae, which are generally more numerous on middle and hind femora and become somewhat even more numerous at their apices; ventral cleft of fore femora, bordered by stout pale setae, more numerous on inner surface; some longer elements on posterior margin of the cleft ( Figs. 18–21 ). Fore tibia with a group of stouter somewhat curved setae on the ventral portion of the subbasal thickening ( Figs. 18–19 ) and isolate stouter setae on median half of the segment, on inner and outer surfaces; ventral area below the subbasal thickening covered with numerous adpressed, shortened and somewhat enlarged setae; outer surface sparsely covered with small thin setae; very numerous stout adpressed setae on distal fourth at the area surrounding the subapical pecten, on inner surface ( Fig. 18 ); on outer surface, at distal third, adpressed shorter thinner setae, which becomes more numerous towards apex ( Fig. 19 ). Middle and hind tibiae generally covered by numerous setae, even more numerous towards apex of segment. Tarsi covered with numerous somewhat short and sparser longer setae. Abdomen: some very sparse, thin, small pale scattered setae, almost imperceptible, on sternites IV–VII and pygophore. Male genitalia ( Figs. 24–31 ). Pygophore subquadrate in ventral view, anterior margin somewhat curved upwards, parameres mildly exposed, apices close in resting position, only their apical half (outer surface) visible when genital capsule is in situ ( Fig. 24 ); medial process of pygophore triangular ( Fig. 25 ). Parameres symmetrical, elongated, curved at approximately middle third; apex rounded with a short subapical blunt tooth in inferior margin; mostly glabrous, with a few subapical straight setae on upper surface and some sparse straight setae on apical fourth of inferior margin, which are somewhat more numerous besides subapical tooth ( Fig. 26 ). Phallus ( Figs. 27–28 ): articulatory apparatus (art) with moderately short basal arms (ba), connected by a shorter and narrower basal bridge (bb); basal arms (ba) and basal bridge (bb) forming a subtriangular set ( Fig. 28 ). Dorsal phallothecal sclerite (dps) symmetrical, enlarged to the apex, rounded in center of apical margin; midlateral portions with grooves ( Figs. 28, 30 ). Endosomal struts larger at basal portion, which is formed by distinct sclerotized elements, distal portion elongated, somewhat larger at apex, which is rounded, reaching short of apical margin of dorsal phallothecal sclerite (dps); the latter is more sclerotized above the apex of struts (Figs. 30–31). Endosoma wall smooth on basal half, becoming progressively minutely, spiny towards apex (Figs. 27–29). Endosoma (en) mostly occupied by a diffuse thickening (dt), which apparently forms a ill-defined paired basal process; a pair of subapical sclerotized suboval processes (sbp), their apices formed by a divergent pair of acute spines (Figs. 28–29).

Distribution. Ecuador.

Etymology. The new species is named in honor of Dr Alessandro Ponce de Leão Giupponi (Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), for his great contribution to the study of Arachnida.

Type material. ECUADOR. Male holotype: Coca/Mayo—65 [v. 1965]/Ecuador//L. F. Pena/Col. [leg.] (CEI- OC) Comments. The holotype was originally mounted on a card ( Fig. 14 ). In order to study it properly it was necessary to remove the specimen from the mounting card and modify the position of some of its legs. Despite all care taken, the right antenna ( Figs. 14–15 ), right fore leg, left fore tibia and tarsus, right hind leg and the abdomen ( Figs. 16–17 , 23) broke off. These portions will be glued back on the specimen or glued on a card to be pinned together with it. Although the detachment of these portions was not desirable or intentional, they allowed documenting the apex of fore tibia, showing the respective spongy fossa ( Fig. 22 ) and the dorsal view of the abdomen ( Fig. 23 ).

.

The structures present on the ventral margin of fore femora of all species ( Figs. 20–21 ) and at the basal portion of middle femora of S. colombiensis ( Fig. 9 ) and S. panamensis ( Fig. 13 ), considered as denticles by Dougherty (1995), seem more similar to papillae as described by Forthman et al. (2016, Pl. 16D, E) and were considered here as such.

Figures

FIGURES 14–16. Sinchocoris giupponii sp. nov., male holotype, 14–15, dorsal view, scale bar 2.0 mm, 14, as originally mounted, glued to a card by ventral portion of the body, 15, remounted on a narrow plastic card, glued only by a small portion the body, 16, head and thorax, lateral view, scale bar 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 17–20. Sinchocoris giupponii sp. nov., male holotype, 17–19, scale bar 1.0 mm, 17, head and thorax, dorsal view, 18–20, right fore leg, 18–19, lateral view, 18, inner surface, 19, outer surface, 20, trochanter and femur, ventral view, scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 21–24. Sinchocoris giupponii sp. nov., male holotype, 21, left fore leg, apex of trochanter and femur, ventral view, scale bar 0.5 mm, 22, apex of fore tibia, ventral view, arrows point to spongy fossa, scale bar 0.1 mm, 23–24, abdomen, scale bar 1.0 mm, 23, dorsal view, 24, ventral view.

FIGURES 25–27. Sinchocoris giupponii sp. nov., male genitalia, 25–26, scale bar 0.1 mm, 25, medial process of pygophore, anterior view, 26, paramere, 27, phallus, lateral view, scale bar 0.2 mm, art, articulatory apparatus, dps, dorsal phallothecal sclerite, en, endosoma, sbp, subapical sclerotized suboval process.

FIGURES 28–31. Sinchocoris giupponii sp. nov., male genitalia, dorsal view, 28–30, scale bar 0.2 mm, 28, phallus, 29, endosoma, ba, basal arms, bb, basal bridge, dps, dorsal phallothecal sclerite, dt, diffuse thickening, en, endosoma, sbp, subapical sclerotized suboval process, 30, dorsal phallothecal sclerite and endosomal struts, 31, endosomal struts, scale bar 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 6–9. Sinchocoris colombiensis Dougherty, 1995, male holotype UCR_ENT 00124199 (AMNH), 6, dorsal view, 7, labels, 8–9, middle femur, 8, posterior view, 9, ventral view, papillae pointed by arrows.

FIGURES 10–13. Sinchocoris panamensis Dougherty, 1995, male holotype, UCR_ENT 00124200 (AMNH), 10, dorsal view, 11, labels, 12–13, middle femur, 12, lateral view, fringe of setae pointed by arrows, 13, ventral view, papillae pointed by arrows.