Geocoris (Geocoris) margaretarum, Kóbor, 2018

Kóbor, Péter, 2018, Geocoris margaretarum: description of a new species from the Oriental region with remarks on allied taxa (Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea: Geocoridae), Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 66, pp. 580-586 : 581-583

Geocoris (Geocoris) margaretarum , new species

( Figs. 1–4 )

Material examined. Holotype: male ( NHMW), CHINA, Yunnan 1993 / 100 km W Baoshan / 14.-21. 6. / Gaoligongshan Nat. Res. / leg. E. Jendek & O. Sausa.

Paratypes: 3 males, 3 females ( MZMB) NE INDIA, ARUNACHAL PR. / ETALIN vicinity, 700m / 28°36′56″N 95°53′21″E, / L. Dembický leg. 12-25.v.2012 / AP 3/2012 MZM Expedition; 1 male, 1 female ( HNHM), NE INDIA, ARUNACHAL PR. / ETALIN vicinity, 700m / 28°36′56″N 95°53′21″E, / L. Dembický leg. 12-25.v.2012 / AP 3/2012 MZM Expedition; 2 males, 4 females ( NHMW), CHINA, Yunnan 1993 / 100 km W Baoshan / 14.-21. 6. / Gaoligongshan Nat. Res. / leg. E. Jendek & O. Sausa ; 1 male ( BMNH), ASSAM: Mishmi Hills, / Dalai Valley, / Taphlogam. / 10. xi. 1936 // Alt. ft. / M. Steele. / B.M. 1937- 324 .; 3 males ( NHRS), N. E. BURMA / Kambaiti 7000ft / 2-3/5 1937 / R. MALAISE // NHRS-GULI / 000006386 .

Colouration. Head variably dark ochraceous or orange with extended, irregular black marking of various extent basally ( Fig. 2 ). Clypeus sometimes with dark brown marking basally. Antennal segments I and IV ochraceous, segment I sometimes infused with fuscous ventrally; segments II and III dark brownish with apex ochraceous. Labial segments uniformly ochraceous. Thorax: Pronotum and scutellum dark brownish, pronotal callosities and humeral angles slightly paler in hue. Clavus and corium of hemelytron pale ochraceous with fuscous punctures. Membrane hyaline. Thoracic pleura and sterna dark brownish; prothorax with ochraceous collar ventrolaterally, irregular ochraceous spots above coxae ( Fig. 1B ). Orifice of metathoracic scent gland ochraceous. Legs ochraceous with an irregular fuscous band on apices of femora dorsally. Abdomen: Segments uniformly dark brownish with silvery setae ventrally.

Structure. Head surface impunctate, shiny. Ocular sulcus reduced, only visible near ocelli. Ocelli situated almost equidistantly from the compound eyes and each other; ratio of ocellar distance to eye-ocellus distance: 1: 1.22. Clypeus rounded, exceeding mandibular plates. Antennal segment I shortest, II and III subequal, segment IV longest; ratio of antennal segments: 1: 1.86: 1.71: 2.14 (1: 1.83: 1.8: 2.33–1: 1.86: 1.71: 2.14). Labial segment I not reaching prothorax; segment II shorter than III, segments III longest IV subequal to segment II; ratio of labial segments: 1: 0.69: 1.07: 0.77 (1: 0.72: 1.09: 0.81–1: 0.69: 1.07: 0.77). Thorax: Pronotum widened, slightly trapezoidal; surface shiny with dense, strong punctuation. Pronotum ratio: 1:1.75. Pronotal calli, humeral angles and posterior margin impunctate; calli slightly elevated. Lateral margin of pronotum with a blunt but well-defined carina, disc with slight impression medially above carina. Scutellum nearly equilateral with sharp apex; ratio of length and basal width: 1: 1.07; surface with dense, strong punctuation except slightly elevated triradiate carina. Clavus of hemelytron narrowing gradually towards apex of scutellum, claval commissure absent; clavus with one complete row of punctures at corial margin. R-M region with sparse, deep, irregular punctuation. Apical margin of corium S-shape with deep concavity. Membrane without visible veins. Pronotal pleuron with dense, deep but fine punctation except supracoxal lobes and orifice of metathoracic scent gland. Opening of metathoracic scent gland situated ventrolaterally close to anterior margin of metathorax; peritreme ear-shaped, somewhat protruding, evaporative area small. Abdomen: Abdominal dorsum with fine, dense punctuation and pubescence medially. Genitalia: Female spermatheca as in Fig. 3E . Male pygophore as in Fig. 3A .; paramere as in Fig. 3B, C ; gonoporal process of aedeagus with ~17 coils.

Measurements. (Holotype [minimum–maximum]): total body length: 4.98 (4.93–4.98); head length: 0.79 (0.65–0.79);

head width: 2.23 (2.14–2.23); antennal segments (I-II-III- IV): 0.33-0.60-0.56-0.70 (0.28-0.51-0.51-0.65 – 0.33-0.60- 0.56-0.70); labial segments (I-II-III-IV): 0.60-0.42-0.65-0.47 (0.51-0.37-0.56-0.42 – 0.60-0.42-0.65-0.47); pronotum length: 1.30 (1.16–1.30); pronotum width: 2.28 (2.09–2.28); scutellum length: 1.21 (1.07–1.21); scutellum width: 1.3 (1.21–1.3).

Diagnosis. This new species differs in colouration patterns and punctation from other closely related representatives in the region: Head with variably extended blackish markings always exceeding the level of ocelli. Femora with fuscous annulation apically. Punctuation finer and sparser than G. chinensis , G. ochropterus , and G. varius contrastingly punctation of hemelytra deeper, Cu-M region with sparse, irregular punctures. Apical margin of corium S-shaped, unlikely to relatives where it is simply concave ( Fig. 1 .)

Etymology. The name of the species comes from the feminine first name Margaret (Margit in Hungarian) as a tribute to the birthday of Margit Kiss (mother of the author) and also commemorates the life of Margit Kiss (1932–2017, grandmother of the author) expressing the gratefulness towards them for the love and support received throughout the years.

Distribution. According to the available data this new species is distributed in North-East India (Assam state, Arunachal Pradesh) and South-East China (Yunnan province). The distributional area of the species is in the Burma monsoon forest (Indomalayan realm) biogeographical province according to Udvardy’s (1975) classification.

Figures

Fig. 1. Habitus of Geocoris margaretarum new species (holotype, NHMW). A, dorsal view; B, lateral view.

Fig. 2. Variability of head pattern in Geocoris margaretarum sp. n. A, holotype from Yunnan, China (NHMW); B, paratype from Arunachal province, India (MMB); C, paratype from Kambaiti Pass, Mianmar (NHRS).

Fig. 3. Genitalia of Geocoris margaretarum sp. n. A, male pygophore; B, male paramere from posterior view; C, male paramere from dorsal view; D, male aedeagus; E, female spemartheca.

Fig. 4. Distribution of Geocoris margaretarum new species.