Valleriola javanica Drake & Hottes, 1951

Polhemus, John T. & Polhemus, Dan A., 2012, Guide To The Aquatic Heteroptera Of Singapore And Peninsular Malaysia. Viii. Leptopodomorpha, Families Saldidae, Leptopodidae, And Omaniidae, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (2), pp. 329-341 : 331-332

Valleriola javanica Drake & Hottes, 1951 ( Figs. 3 , 4 )

Valleriola javanica Drake & Hottes, 1951: 22

Material examined. — MALAYSIA, Perak: 3 males, 4 females, Kerunai River, 9 km N. of Grik , 19 Aug.1985, CL 2078, coll. D. A. & J. T . Polhemus ( JTPC). Kelantan: 6 males, 1 female, Pergau River at upper bridge, 24 km W. of Jeli , 20 Aug.1985, CL 2082, coll. D. A. & J. T . Polhemus ( JTPC); 10 males, 3 females, waterfall 10 km NW of Pasir Putih , 21 Aug.1985, CL 2084, coll. D. A. & J. T . Polhemus ( JTPC). Selangor: 8 males, 1 female, Gombak River below Genting Highlands , 750 ft., 10 Mar.1983, coll. R . T . Schuh & B. Massie ( JTPC) .

Extralimital material examined. — HONG KONG, New Territories: 2 males, 2 females, rocky stream in Ho Chung Valley , 21 Nov.1985, CL 2206, coll. D. A. & J. T . Polhemus ( JTPC) . THAILAND, Chiang Mai Prov.: 2 males, 1 female, Fang Dist., rocky trib. to Nam Chai River, above Fang Horticultural Station , 500 m., 15 Nov.1985, CL 2202, coll. D. A. & J. T . Polhemus ( JTPC) . INDONESIA, Jawa Barat Prov.: 1 female , Java, Buitenzorg [Bogor], 11 May 1930, coll. R . W. Becking ( JTPC) .

Diagnosis. — Male length 5.05–5.55, maximum width (across hemelytra) 1.25–1.40; female length 5.10, maximum width (across hemelytra) 1.20. General colouration dark blackish grey; head with frons shining black, eyes and ocelli red, post-ocellar ovate medial patch dark yellow, antennae with segment I dark yellow, segments II–IV very slender and elongate, dark brown; pronotum with anterior section black, posterior section dark brown with humeri black, extreme posterior margin and a broad ovate patch along longitudinal midline dark yellow; scutellum dark brown, central section pruinose grey, extreme posterior apex dark yellow; hemelytra dark blackish grey, clavus broadly marked with dark yellow on inner section and onto posterior apex; corium bearing 3 pale spots of progressively decreasing size moving posteriorly, most anterior of these patches largest, elongate ovate, dark yellow, the 2 posterior patches broadly ovate, white; legs pale straw yellow, posterior margins of all femora longitudinally streaked with black; ventral surface dark brown, intersegmental membranes of abdomen pale; male paramere strongly hooked ( Fig. 4 ).

Distribution. — Originally described from Java (Drake & Hottes, 1951), with subsequent records from Hong Kong, Burma, Thailand, and Peninsular Malaysia (J. Polhemus & D. Polhemus, 1999). The records above are the first specific records for the Malaysian states of Kelantan, Perak, and Selangor, and given the currently documented range, the species is likely to occur in Singapore as well.

Material examined. — MALAYSIA, Perlis: 3 males, 1 female, Gua

Barang, Nov.1940, running on deposits of bat guano in limestone cave, coll. H. T . Pagden (holotype and paratypes, BMNH) .

Diagnosis. — Male length 2.30, maximum width (across hemelytra) 1.00; female length 2.45, maximum width (across hemelytra) 1.00. General coloruation dark brown, overlain with powdery white waxes and pale grey pubescence; head dark brown, eyes reddish, antennae with segments I and II dark yellow, segments III and IV dark brown; pronotum dark brown with lateral humeri grayish-white; scutellum dark brown, apex white; hemelytra dark brown, corium with alternating broad transverse bands of dark brown and greyish-white, wing membrane translucent on basal half, infuscated on distal half; legs yellowish brown, each tibia with a slightly darker annulus on distal half, tibial apices infuscated; ventral surface dark brown with acetabulae and propleurae yellowish-grey. Male paramere elongate, distal section gently curved, apex rounded ( Fig. 6 ).

Distribution. — Known only from the type locality, Gua Barang, in the Perlis state of Peninsular Malaysia.

Discussion. — This species is known only from the type series of 3 males and 1 female, taken on bat guano in a limestone cave ( China, 1941). We have examined these specimens, and know of no subsequent collections. We have reproduced the figure from China’s (1941) original description ( Fig. 5 ), and Discussion. — Among the regional assemblage of Leptopodomorpha , Valleriola javanica is easily recognised by its large size (body length exceeding 5 mm), bulging eyes, and elongate appendages ( Fig. 3 ). The male paramere, which has not been previously illustrated, is distinctively hooked at the apex ( Fig. 4 ).

Ecological notes. — Members of the genus Valleriola occur on large, dry boulders along stream courses, running on the vertical sides or beneath overhanging sections. Being very active and quick to flight, these insects are challenging to capture, and must often be chased onto an open rock face where a net can be swiftly set over them, allowing them to fly outward into the net bag, from which the specimen may subsequently be retrieved. Due to their atypical habitat preferences and elusive nature, individuals of Valleriola are easily overlooked by aquatic collectors concentrating on only wetted habitats, and as such are probably more widespread and abundant in Singapore and Malaysia than current records indicate.

Figures

Fig. 3. Valleriola javanica, male, specimen from Malaysia, Perak, Kerunai River nr. Grik, CL 2078.

Fig.4. Valleriola javanica, male paramere,specimen from Malaysia, Perak, Kerunai River nr. Grik, CL 2078.

Figs. 6, 7. Leotichius speluncularum, details of male genitalia: 6, paramere; 7, endosoma (after China, 1941).

Fig. 5. Leotichius speluncularum, dorsal habitus (after China, 1941).