Marinonicoris Carvalho

Henry, Thomas J., 2015, Revision of the Ceratocapsine Renodaeus group: Marinonicoris, Pilophoropsis, Renodaeus, and Zanchisme, with descriptions of four new genera (Heteroptera, Miridae, Orthotylinae), ZooKeys 490, pp. 1-156 : 38-39

Taxon classification Animalia Hemiptera Miridae

Marinonicoris Carvalho

Marinonicoris Carvalho, 1988: 877 (orig. descrip.); Schuh 1995: 141 (cat.). Type species: Marinonicoris myrmecoides Carvalho, 1988. Original designation. Monotypic.

Diagnosis.

This ant mimetic genus is recognized by the convex, finely punctate, shiny pronotum, the shiny constricted hemelytron with a large patch of golden scale-like setae through the middle of the clavus and corium and bordered on either side by a narrow band of silvery scale-like setae, and the male genitalia, especially the parameres. All known males and females are macropterous.

Description.

Myrmecomorphic. Males and females macropterous. Length of males 2.98-3.36 mm, length of females 2.62-2.98 mm. Head broader than long, shiny, alutaceous, posterior margin weakly concave, base finely carinate, posterior margin of eyes level with base of vertex; eyes large, elongate oval, occupying more than half dorsal width of head, laterally occupying nearly 90♂ of height; eyes much smaller in females, occupying little more the one third dorsal width of head; front broadly rounded, clypeus acute. Labium extending to about middle coxae (imbedded in glue); segment I short, not extending beyond buccular sheath. Antennal somewhat thickened, subequal to two times diameter of tibiae; segment I shortest; segment II longest, gradually thickening to apex; segments III and IV subequal, fusiform. Pronotum similar in male and female; shiny, very finely punctate, calli more alutaceous; convex, raised above level of scutellum and hemelytra; lateral margin weakly sulcate, posterior angles flared; with a few short, recumbent simple setae. Mesoscutum hidden by posterior margin of pronotum. Scutellum equilateral, somewhat concave from base to apex; with a broad band of silvery scale-like setae through middle. Hemelytra shiny throughout, weakly constricted through middle; costal margin in males and females with a distinct row of small black spicules along costal margin; each hemelytron with two rows of silvery scale-like setae, one across base of corium and clavus and one through middle of corium and apex of clavus; area between silvery bands densely covered with golden silvery scale-like setae; membrane entire, with two areoles. Ventral surface shiny, impunctate; abdomen with long, semierect, simple setae; glaucous stridulatory patch distinct. Ostiolar evaporative area dark reddish brown, with a distinct shiny red knob on auricle. Legs unmodified; parempodia fleshy, convergent. Male aperture large, unarmed. Left paramere elongate, apical beak-like process slender, middle process short, slender, apically rounded. Right paramere stout with one slender, apically bifid arm. Phallotheca stout, with three comb-like processes.

Discussion.

In the original description, Carvalho (1988) compared this genus with Renodaeus and said "differs from Renodaeus by the absence of long setae on the body". Marinonicoris is superficially similar to Renodaeus in overall appearance, including the somewhat swollen pronotum, the constricted hemelytra, dark, shiny brown coloration, and the large patches of golden, scale-like setae on the clavus and corium. It differs from Renodaeus , however, in lacking erect bristle-like setae on the hemelytra and the file-like spicules on the costal margin, as well as having quite different parameres, more closely resembling those found in Pilophoropsis .