Breviphysoderes tenebrosa, Hwang & Weirauch, 2017

Hwang, Wei Song & Weirauch, Christiane, 2017, Uncovering hidden diversity: phylogeny and taxonomy of Physoderinae (Reduviidae, Heteroptera), with emphasis on Physoderes Westwood in the Oriental and Australasian regions, European Journal of Taxonomy 341, pp. 1-118 : 31-33

Breviphysoderes tenebrosa gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4F15C5ED-7294-44F1-9FBE-C3755EFE69D3

Figs 4–6 ; Appendix

Diagnosis

This species is recognized among other species of Breviphysoderes gen. nov. by the entirely brownishblack coloration, the antero-lateral pronotal projection oriented anteriorly, the pronotal paramedian carina being deeply defined and the hemelytron surpassing the tip of the abdomen. This species is most similar to B. hobbyi comb. nov. and B. planicollis comb. nov. It can be differentiated from both species by the overall coloration, the orientation of the antero-lateral pronotal projection and the shape of the external cell.

Etymology

The name tenebrosa is selected after the Latin adjective for “tenebrosus”, meaning dark, to describe the distinctive brownish-black coloration of the specimen.

Material examined

Holotype

MALAYSIA: ♂, Sarawak, foot of Mt Dulit, junction of Rivers Tinjar and Lejok , 3.32388° N, 114.14722° E, 730 m, 24 Aug. 1932, B.M. Hobby and A.W. Moore leg. ( UCR_ENT 00018489 ) ( BMNH).

Description

Male

BODY LENGTH. Small size, total length 7.07 mm.

COLORATION ( Figs 4–5 ). Entirely brownish-black. Antenna missing. Forelegs missing, mid- and hindlegs brownish black.

VESTITURE. Densely setose. Head with widespread curved, setigerous tubercles, ventral surface of postocular lobe with sparse, setigerous tubercles, without pair of long, straight setae on postocular lobe posterior to ocelli. Anterior lobe of thorax with tuberculated, short, curved setae on lateral margins and along dorsal ridges, posterior lobe with short, curved, setigerous tubercles along lateral margins and sparsely distributed on dorsal surface. Corium of hemelytron with short, curved setae. Tibiae with regular rows of tuberculated, stout, sharp setae. Posterior margin of connexivum with short, curved setae.

HEAD. Eye distinctly projecting in dorsal view, about 1/5 length of head, not attaining ventral margin of head in lateral view.

THORAX. Antero-lateral paired projections acute, oriented anteriorly; median pronotal depression contiguous with transverse sulcus; paramedian carina strongly defined (posterior lobe damaged/obscured medially by pin); scutellar process long, with rounded apex; mesosternite with median, irregular, tuberculated protrusion between fore and mid coxae.

HEMELYTRON. Surpassing tip of abdomen.

ABDOMEN. Elongate ovoid, with rounded terminal margin; connexival margin slightly undulating, posterior margin not elevated.

GENITALIA. Not examined.

Female

Unknown.

Ecology

The type specimen was found on the bark of a felled tree along the junction of two rivers.

Distribution

This species is only known from the type locality of Mt Dulit in Sarawak, north-central Borneo. The type locality is shared with B. fulvopicta gen. et sp. nov., B. planicollis comb. nov., B. decora comb. nov. and B. hobbyi comb. nov.

Remarks

This species is described based on a single specimen originally designated as a paratype of B. hobbyi ( Miller, 1940) comb. nov. Even though it shares the collecting event and locality with specimens of that species, closer examination showed distinct morphological differences and we describe this specimen as a separate species. It was collected by B.M. Hobby and A.W. Moore during the Oxford University Expedition in 1932.

Figures

Fig. 4. Dorsal habitus images for species of Breviphysoderes gen. nov. For an explanation of the colored arrows, see key on page 17. Scale bars = 2 mm.

Fig. 5. Ventral habitus images for species of Breviphysoderes gen. nov. Scale bars = 2 mm.

Fig. 6. Distribution map for species of Breviphysoderes gen. nov.