Pseudovelia piliformis, Ye, Zhen, Polhemus, Dan A. & Bu, Wenjun, 2013

Ye, Zhen, Polhemus, Dan A. & Bu, Wenjun, 2013, A taxonomic contribution to the genus Pseudovelia Hoberlandt, 1951 (Hemiptera: Veliidae) from China, with descriptions of ten new species, Zootaxa 3636 (2), pp. 290-318 : 300-301

Pseudovelia piliformis sp. n.

( Figs. 8 , 21 , 33 , 45 , 57 , 68 , 81 , 93 , 105 , 117 , 129 )

Material examined. Holotype: apterous male, CHINA, Guangxi Prov., Nanning city, Wuming County, Damingshan Mountain Nature Reserve, 23 May 2011, Zhen Ye leg (NKUM). Paratypes: CHINA, Guangxi Prov.: 4 apterous males, 6 apterous females, same data as holotype (NKUM).

Description. Apterous male ( Fig. 8 ). Colour: ground colour blackish brown, head dark brown, clypeus, pseudocellar spots and median line of head blackish-brown; labrum black, rostrum yellowish with black apex, buccula brown; basal part of antennal segment I brown, apical part dark, segments II–IV almost black; pronotum dull orange, posterior parts with dense, black spots; legs mainly blackish brown except basal part of femur yellowish; abdomen mainly blackish brown, connexiva dark orange, mediotergites I–III, posterior margin of mediotergite VI, medial part of mediotergite VII, and internal parts of laterotergites IV and V with prominent silvery pubescence; segment VIII and proctiger yellowish, each of them weakly infuscated apically, pygophore dark orange, apically rather black. Structural characteristics: body length: 3.0–3.3 (holotype: 3.1), large-sized and elongate, rather stout, bearing dense, suberect, black hairs, area around the eyes and antennal segment I covered by relatively fewer, long, suberect, grayish hairs. Head relatively small, short and wide, width: 0.66–0.68, length: 0.40–0.41, head width about 1.68 times head length, relatively perpendicular, posteriorly inserted into medially concave anterior margin of pronotum; labrum reverse angular, buccula clearly visible, but not produced posteriorly; eyes bare except for the presence of two ocular setae; antenna about 0.63 times as long as body, lengths of antennal segments I–IV: 0.6, 0.4, 0.45, 0.50. Pronotum relatively narrow, width: 0.91–0.93, length: 0.54–0.56, about 1.65 times as wide as long; dark punctures scattered on the posterior part of pronotal lobe, pronotum with hind margin straight, anterior margin slightly emarginated; metanotum completely hidden beneath pronotal lobe except laterally. Legs stout, fore tibia ( Figs. 21 , 33 ) with dense, suberect and short setae, medial part of venter with distinct, sharp processes, length of grasping comb 0.55, about 0.58 times fore tibial length; medial portion of venter on middle femur with relatively large areas of dense, black, long bristle-like hairs ( Fig. 45 ), middle tibia slightly curved, with suberect, short hairs; hind tibia ( Fig. 57 ) slightly modified, with a row of 6–8 short, black spines on lateral parts, apical half slightly flattened, venter of hind tarsal segment I with a row of dense, black, fibrous bristles ( Fig. 68 ), ventral arolium bristle-like; lengths of leg segments (femur, tibia and tarsus): fore leg: 0.70, 0.69 and 0.43, middle leg: 1.06, 1.11 and 0.57 (0.18+0.39), hind leg: 1.12, 1.31 and 0.66 (0.30+0.36); mediotergites almost flat, connexiva relatively narrow, segments III–VI approximately rectangular, slightly raised; mediotergites I–V subequal in length; abdominal venter flat, medially strongly concave. Genital segments: slightly enlarged, segment VIII ( Figs. 81 , 93 , 105 , 117 ) about 1.6 times as long as wide, posterior margin with long, dense, suberect, blackishbrown hairs, anterior margin bearing 2 very long laminar processes, ventrally with a subtriangular depression, hind margin of this depression with a pair (1+1) of laminar processes laterally, anterolateral margins of depression with a pair (1+1) of short, spine-like setae; anterolateral margins of pygophore ( Fig. 129 ) with clusters of slender, dense and black hairs, posterior part with a large area of dense, long, black hairs; anterolateral margins of proctiger with clusters of slender, dense, brown hairs, posterior margin with sparse, short hairs; paramere symmetrical, rather small, medial part strongly constricted, with apex rounded and widened.

Apterous female. Similar to male, body medium-sized and relatively wide, slightly smaller than male, body length: 2.81–2.84; structure of head including antenna as in male, head width: 0.62–0.64, head length: 0.40–0.41, head width about 1.6 times head length, antenna about 0.6 times as long as body, lengths of antennal segments I–IV: 0.50, 0.32, 0.41, 0.48; hind margin of pronotum straight, pronotum width: 0.90–0.92, pronotum length: 0.49–0.52, about 1.8 times as wide as long; legs more slender than in male, fore tibia without processes and grasping comb, medial portion of venter on middle femur without dense, black, long, bristle-like hairs, middle tibia straight, hind tibia and tarsus unmodified, lateral parts of hind tibia without a row of black short spines, apical half of hind tibia unmodified, venter of hind tarsal segment I without a row or cluster of bristles; lengths of leg segments (femur, tibia and tarsus): fore leg: 0.70, 0.63 and 0.39, middle leg: 0.88, 0.90 and 0.51 (0.15+0.36), hind leg: 1.00, 1.12 and 0.55 (0.17+0.38); abdomen pleurally and ventrally without special modifications, connexiva flat, converging posteriorly and touching caudally; end of abdomen raised in lateral view, gonocoxa I elongate, proctiger blackish brown, directed posteriad, with dense, short hairs.

Macropterous female and macropterous male: unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet “ piliformis ” (from Latin, meaning hairy) refers to the structure of the medial portion of the venter on the male middle femur with its relatively large area of dense, long, black bristle-like hairs.

Diagnosis. The most striking feature of P. piliformis sp. n. is the medial portion of venter on the middle femur, which possesses a relatively large area of long, dense, black, bristle-like hairs ( Fig. 45 ). P. piliformis sp. n. seems to be closely related to P. contorta sp. n. and P. e x t e n s a sp. n. These three species share certain character states different from those seen in other species of this genus: the medial portion of the venter on the fore femur possesses distinct processes, and the lateral portion of the hind tibia bears a row of short, black spines. However, P. piliformis sp. n. can be distinguished from P. contorta sp. n. by blackish brown ground colour; by having the body much larger, with the male length 3.0–3.3 (in P. contorta sp. n., the male body length is 2.29–2.32); by the medial portion of the venter on the middle femur bearing a relatively large area of long, dense, black bristle-like hairs ( Fig. 45 ); by having hind tarsal segment I of the male normal, not curved ( Figs. 57 , 68 ); by the bristles on the venter of hind tarsal segment 1 being much more dense ( Fig. 68 ); and by the structure of abdominal segment VIII ( Figs. 81 , 93 , 105 , 117 ). P. piliformis sp. n. can be distinguished from P. extensa sp. n. by having the body relatively large, with a length 3.00– 3.30 in male (in P. e x t e n s a sp. n. the body length is 2.51–2.54); in having the medial portion of the venter on the middle femur with a relatively large area of dense, long, black bristle-like hairs ( Fig. 45 ); by having the bristles on the venter of hind tarsal segment I much more dense ( Fig. 68 ); by the blunt hind margin of the pygophore ( Fig. 105 ); and by differences in the structure of abdominal ventrite VIII (compare Figs. 81 , 93 , 105 , 117 with Figs. 75 , 87 , 99 , 111 ).

Distribution. China (Guangxi) ( Fig. 138 ).

Figures

FIGURE 138. Geographical distribution of Pseudovelia from China.

FIGURES 8 – 13. Habitus of Pseudovelia spp. (males). 8. P. piliformis sp. n.; 9. P. t a i w a n e n s i s sp. n.; 10. P. vittiformis sp. n.; 11. P. tibialis tibialis Esaki & Miyamoto, 1955; 12. P. pusilla Hecher, 1997, macropterous form; 13. P. pusilla Hecher, 1997, apterous form. Scale 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 14 – 25. Fore legs of Pseudovelia spp. (males). 14. P. anthracina sp. n.; 15. P. c o nt o r t a sp. n.; 16. P. extensa sp. n.; 17. P. fulva sp. n.; 18. P. globosa sp. n.; 19. P. h s i a o i sp. n.; 20. P. longiseta sp. n.; 21. P. piliformis sp. n.; 22. P. taiwanensis sp. n.; 23. P. vittiformis sp. n.; 24. P. pusilla Hecher, 1997; 25. P. tibialis tibialis Esaki & Miyamoto, 1955. Scale 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 26 – 37. Fore tibia of Pseudovelia spp. (males). 26. P. anthracina sp. n.; 27. P. c o n t o r t a sp. n.; 28. P. extensa sp. n.; 29. P. fulva sp. n.; 30. P. globosa sp. n.; 31. P. vittiformis sp. n.; 32. P. longiseta sp. n.; 33. P. piliformis sp. n.; 34. P. taiwanensis sp. n.; 35. P. hsiaoi sp. n.; 36. P. pusilla Hecher, 1997; 37. P. tibialis tibialis Esaki & Miyamoto, 1955. Scale 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 38 – 49. Middle legs of Pseudovelia spp. (males). 38. P. anthracina sp. n.; 39. P. c o n t o r t a sp. n.; 40. P. e x t e n s a sp. n.; 41. P. fulva sp. n.; 42. P. globosa sp. n.; 43. P. h s i a o i sp. n.; 44. P. longiseta sp. n.; 45. P. piliformis sp. n.; 46. P. taiwanensis sp. n.; 47. P. vittiformis sp. n.; 48. P. pusilla Hecher, 1997; 49. P. tibialis tibialis Esaki & Miyamoto, 1955. Scale 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 50 – 61. Hind legs of Pseudovelia spp. (males). 50. P. anthracina sp. n.; 51. P. c o n t o r t a sp. n.; 52. P. extensa sp. n.; 53. P. fulva sp. n.; 54. P. globosa sp. n.; 55. P. h s i a o i sp. n.; 56. P. longiseta sp. n.; 57. P. piliformis sp. n.; 58. P. taiwanensis sp. n.; 59. P. vittiformis sp. n.; 60. P. pusilla Hecher, 1997; 61. P. tibialis tibialis Esaki & Miyamoto, 1955. Scale 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 62 – 73. Hind tarsus of Pseudovelia spp. (males). 62. P. anthracina sp. n.; 63. P. c o n t o r t a sp. n.; 64. P. extensa sp. n.; 65. P. fulva sp. n.; 66. P. globosa sp. n.; 67. P. h s i a o i sp. n.; 68. P. piliformis sp. n.; 69. P. taiwanensis sp. n.; 70. P. vittiformis sp. n.; 71. P. pusilla Hecher, 1997; 72. P. tibialis tibialis Esaki & Miyamoto, 1955; 73. P. longiseta sp. n.. Scale 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 74 – 85. Photographs of abdominal segment VIII of Pseudovelia spp., ventral view (males). 74. P. anthracina sp. n.; 75. P. c o n t o r t a sp. n.; 76. P. e x t e n s a sp. n.; 77. P. fulva sp. n.; 78. P. globosa sp. n.; 79. P. hsiaoi sp. n.; 80. P. longiseta sp. n.; 81. P. piliformis sp. n.; 82. P. taiwanensis sp. n.; 83. P. vittiformis sp. n.; 84. P. pusilla Hecher, 1997; 85. P. tibialis tibialis Esaki & Miyamoto, 1955. Scale 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 86 – 97. Line drawings of abdominal segment VIII of Pseudovelia spp., ventral view (males). 86. P. anthracina sp. n.; 87. P. c o n t o r t a sp. n.; 88. P. e x t e n s a sp. n.; 89. P. fulva sp. n.; 90. P. globosa sp. n.; 91. P. hsiaoi sp. n.; 92. P. longiseta sp. n.; 93. P. piliformis sp. n.; 94. P. taiwanensis sp. n.; 95. P. vittiformis sp. n.; 96. P. pusilla Hecher, 1997; 97. P. tibialis tibialis Esaki & Miyamoto, 1955. Scale 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 98 – 109. Photographs of abdominal segment VIII of Pseudovelia spp., lateral view (males). 98. P. anthracina sp. n.; 99. P. c o n t o r t a sp. n.; 100. P. extensa sp. n.; 101. P. fulva sp. n.; 102. P. globosa sp. n.; 103. P. hsiaoi sp. n.; 104. P. longiseta sp. n.; 105. P. piliformis sp. n.; 106. P. taiwanensis sp. n.; 107. P. vittiformis sp. n.; 108. P. pusilla Hecher, 1997; 109. P. tibialis tibialis Esaki & Miyamoto, 1955. Scale 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 110 – 121. Line drawings of abdominal segment VIII of Pseudovelia spp., lateral view (males). 110. P. anthracina sp. n.; 111. P. c o n t o r t a sp. n.; 112. P. extensa sp. n.; 113. P. fulva sp. n.; 114. P. globosa sp. n.; 115. P. hsiaoi sp. n.; 116. P. longiseta sp. n.; 117. P. piliformis sp. n.; 118. P. taiwanensis sp. n.; 119. P. vittiformis sp. n.; 120. P. pusilla Hecher, 1997; 121. P. tibialis tibialis Esaki & Miyamoto, 1955. Scale 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 122 – 133. Pygophore of Pseudovelia spp., ventral view (males). 122. P. anthracina sp. n.; 123. P. c o n t o r t a sp. n.; 124. P. extensa sp. n.; 125. P. fulva sp. n.; 126. P. globosa sp. n.; 127. P. hsiaoi sp. n.; 128. P. longiseta sp. n.; 129. P. piliformis sp. n.; 130. P. taiwanensis sp. n.; 131. P. vittiformis sp. n.; 132. P. pusilla Hecher, 1997; 133. P. tibialis tibialis Esaki & Miyamoto, 1955. Scale 0.1 mm.