Cotopaxicoris, Heiss, Ernst, 2013

Heiss, Ernst, 2013, New Aradidae from Ecuador (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Aradidae), ZooKeys 319, pp. 137-151 : 144-145

Cotopaxicoris gen. n.

Type species:

Cotopaxicoris cruciatus sp. n.

Diagnosis.

The combination of characters: general habitus, long antennae, stalked eyes, pro-and mesonotum separated by sutures, metanotum fused to mtg I+II and to abdominal tergal plate, long pilosity on body, and appendages and the micropterous condition. This combination of characters is not shared by any apterous or micropterous Carventinae recorded from mainland South and Mesoamerica ( Aparilocoris Kormilev, 1983; Dihybogaster Kormilev, 1953b; Glyptocoris Harris & Drake, 1944; Kolpodaptera Usinger & Matsuda, 1959; Peggicoris Drake, 1956, Reeceicus Drake, 1956). It stands also apart and shows no resemblances to genera described from the Caribbean Islands.

Description.

Micropterous; body subrectangular strongly attenuated anteriorly; surface of head and body with deep punctures, the elevated structures and lateral margins of head and body as well as of legs and antennae beset with fringe-like yellowish setae; colouration light brown, head darker, tibiae lighter.

Head. Distinctly wider than long, clypeus short, genae adherent shorter than clypeus; antenniferous lobes short diverging anteriorly; antennae about 2.5 × as long as width of head; segment I longest, those following shorter and thinner; eyes stalked; postocular lobes converging posteriorly; rostrum arising from an open atrium as long as head.

Pronotum. Subrectangular about 3 × as wide as long; lateral margins with rounded reflexed carinate paranota, posteriorly delimited by a notch followed by a laterally produced knob-like process; surface of disk with a median carina and rugose lateral sclerites; posterior margin carinate and convex, separated by a distinct suture from mesonotum.

Mesonotum. Strongly transverse, about 4x as wide as long; surface with a median ridge which continues throughout thorax and abdomen, laterally flanked by oval smooth depressions followed by rugose sclerites, these delimited laterally by basally elevated flap-like structures representing reduced wingpads; suture separating meso- and metanotum recognizeable lateral of median ridge, where it is marked only by a thin indistinct suture.

Metanotum. Fused to mtg I+II and tergal plate; continuous median ridge widened posteriorly then forming a cross-like ridge on mtg I+II; lateral sclerites with rugose callosities, depressed anteriorly; surface of mtg I+II deeply punctured.

Abdomen. Tergal plate fused to mtg I+II, median ridge narrower on mtg III continuing and raised posteriorly, highest on mtg IV-V; surface laterally with oval punctured depressions; deltg II+III fused, laterally expanded, an inclined carina marking posteror margin of deltg II; pe-angles of deltg V and VII roundly expanded.

Venter. Spiracles I-IV ventral remote from lateral margin, V and VI sublateral but visible from above, VII-VIII lateral and visible.

Legs. Long and slender, tarsi with long thin pulvilli.

Etymology.

Named after the Cotopaxi region, the second highest mountain in Ecuador, where this interesting new taxon was collected.