Calphurnioides insolitus, Tatarnic, Nikolai J., Wall, Michael A. & Cassis, Gerasimos, 2011

Tatarnic, Nikolai J., Wall, Michael A. & Cassis, Gerasimos, 2011, A systematic revision of the Australian ploiarioline thread-legged assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae), Zootaxa 2762, pp. 1-30 : 6-8

Calphurnioides insolitus n. sp.

Figs. 2 , 4 A–D

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Queensland: 1 Ψ, 3km E. Lockerbie, Cape York, 10.8o S 142.5o E, 19–23 March 1987, G.B. Monteith, Pyrethrum on logs, RF (QM).

Diagnosis. Distinguished by the following combination of characters: small (3.9mm); body primarily stramineous with distinct chestnut-coloured band on posterior lobe of pronotum; M and Cu veins straight and clearly separate basal of discal cell, not joined by dark pigmentation in membrane; legs lacking pigmented annulations.

Description. Body length 3.9mm

Colour. As shown in Figures 4 A–D. Body deeply stramineous, almost testaceous with chestnut-coloured markings. Head stramineous ventrally becoming vaguely testaceous dorsally; antennae and labium deeply stramineous. Pronotum with deeply stramineous anterior lobe; posterior lobe deeply stramineous with chestnut-coloured band across middle third of lobe, posterior margin chestnut-coloured ( Fig. 4 C). Pterothorax chestnut-coloured. Legs deeply stramineous. Forewings as in Figure 4 A. Abdomen deeply stramineous.

Texture and Vestiture. Head highly polished with sparse long sinuous setae, lateral areas of anteocular region with wool-like pile; AI with long relaxed setae, AII-AIV with shorter appressed setae; LI with two dorsal rows of recurved setae (ventral when in repose), LII and LIII with scattered shorter setae. Pronotum highly polished with wool-like pile confined to anterolateral margins and disc of anterior lobe. Pterothorax highly polished, laterally with sparse scattered areas of wool-like pile. Forefemora with mixture of short appressed setae and longer upright setae. Coxae, meso- and metafemora with long setae. Foretibia covered in shorter spine-like setae. Meso- and metatibia with long spine-like setae basally becoming greatly reduced towards apex. Abdomen dorsally blanketed with short, silken velutinous setae interspersed with much longer setae, wool-like pile present on first and second visible abdominal ventrite.

Structure. As shown in Figures 4 A–C. Anteocular region smaller than postocular region, with depressed Vshaped area dorsally. Postocular region subglobose, elevated relative to anteocular region. Interocular groove deep, arching slightly posteriorly. Labium bent between LI and LII, relative lengths 1:0.5:0.7. Pronotum constricted before midpoint; anterior lobe divided bilaterally by a deep pit in the disc; posterior lobe almost 1.5 times longer than anterior lobe. Scutellum semicircular with a posteriorly pointed tubercle on hind margin. Metanotum Ushaped with large spine. Forecoxae elongate, cylindrical. Forefemora elongate, fusiform, posteroventral and anteroventral series similar in structure. Foretarsus 2-segmented ( Fig. 4 D). Meso- and metacoxae globose. Meso- and metafemora thin, elongate, cylindrical. Meso- and metatibia thin, elongate, cylindrical. Meso- and metatarsi 3- segmented, segments approximately equal in length ( Fig. 4 B). Abdomen parallel-sided for most of its length.

Distribution. This species is known from a single specimen collected on the Cape York Peninsula ( Fig. 2 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is from the Latin root insolit -, meaning “unusual, strange, and uncommon”.

Remarks. This species is one of the smallest members of its genus and the only one to possess distinct pigmented markings on the body.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Distribution of Ademula and Calphurnoides in Australia.

FIGURE 4. Calphurnoides insolitus. A. Forewing. B. Hindleg. C. Head and prothorax. D. Foreleg.