Comorocoris estherineae, Baňař & Heiss, 2018

Baňař, Petr & Heiss, Ernst, 2018, A new species of Comorocoris from Northern Madagascar (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae), Zootaxa 4375 (3), pp. 433-440 : 434-437

Comorocoris estherineae sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–2 , 8–9 , 13–14 )

Type material. Holotype: male, ‘MDA/ Jan.2015/11 N MADAGASCAR / MONTAGNE D‘ AMBRE ~ 945m, circuit / „ Sommet “, S12°31’28‘‘E49°09’52‘‘ / sifting litter+rotten wood, Winkler app. extr. / 14.1.2015, P. Baňař & E.M. Rabotoson lgt.’ [printed] // ‘HOLOTYPE / Comorocoris / estherineae sp. nov. / Baňař & Heiss det. 2018’ [printed red label] (MMBC). Paratypes: 3 ♂, 5 ♀, same locality label as holotype [one male gold-coated for SEM] (2 ♂, 2 ♀ MMBC, 1 ♂, 3 ♀ CEHI); 3 ♂: ‘MDA/ Jan.2015/08 N MADAGASCAR / MONTAGNE D‘ AMBRE 1169m, circuit / „ Sommet “, S12°31’52‘‘E49°10’17‘‘ / sifting Pandanus litter, Winkler app. extr. / 8.1.2015, P. Baňař & E.M. Rabotoson lgt.’ (1 ♂ MMBC, 2 ♂ CEHI); 1 ♀: ‘MDA/ Jan.2015/09 N MADAGASCAR / MONTAGNE D‘ AMBRE ~ 1120m, circuit / „ Sommet “, S12°32’14‘‘E49°10’28‘‘ / sifting Pandanus litter, Winkler app. extr. / 12.1.2015, P. Baňař & E.M. Rabotoson lgt.’ (MMBC); 1 ♂: ‘MDA/ Jan.2015/12 N MADAGASCAR / MONTAGNE D‘ AMBRE ~ 1100m / sifting litter close to camp, 16.1.2015 / Winkler apparatus extraction / P. Baňař & E.M. Rabotoson lgt.’ (MMBC). All paratypes are provided with a label: ‘PARATYPE / Comorocoris / estherineae sp. nov. / Baňař & Heiss det. 2018’ [printed red label].

Diagnosis. The general aspect of the new species resembles that of C. testudiformis ; the dorsal surface of thorax and abdomen is densely covered by flat, round granules in both species. However, it is distinguished from the latter species by its larger size, the darker colouration of its body and its pale brown legs, and the shorter antennae (slightly less than 1.5 times as long as width of head). See also the Key to Comorocoris species.

Description. Apterous, dark brown, some specimens almost blackish, antennae and legs pale brown; dorsum of thorax and abdomen bulbously elevated, surface with numerous patches of flat tubercles.

Measurements (in mm). Male holotype (one female paratype in brackets). Total body length: 2.96 (3.54); head length (including collar): 0.56 (0.55); head width across eyes: 0.64 (0.67); minimum interocular distance: 0.42 (0.44); length of antennal segments: I: 0.22 (0.24), II: 0.20 (0.22), III: 0.22 (0.26), IV: 0.22 (0.26); pronotum length: 0.47 (0.47), pronotum width: 1.76 (2.04); maximum width of abdomen: 2.00 (2.45), maximum height of abdomen in strictly lateral view, measured from outline of connexivum to dorsalmost point of dorsal outline and to ventralmost point of ventral outline: dorsal part: 1.11 (1.31), ventral part: 0.44 (0.46).

Head. Wider than long, width: length ratio 1.14 in male, 1.21 in female; clypeus reaching about middle of antennal segment I, antenniferous lobes very short, wide and blunt; antennae short, 1.43 times as long as width of head in male, 1.46 times in female, segment I strongly bent at base (at level of clypeal apex), thickest, segment II thinner, shortest, tapering toward base, segment III approximately as long as segment I, subcylindrical, thinnest with conspicuous basal petiole, segment IV fusiform; eyes oval, slightly exceeding lateral outline of head; postocular lobes inconspicuous in male, slightly exceeding outer margin of eyes in female, ocular index 3.80 in male, 3.82 in female. Rostrum slightly longer than head, rostral groove wide open posteriorly.

Pronotum. Strongly declivous anteriorly, short and wide, ratio length / width 4.33; lateral margins flattened, concave and converging anteriorly, anterior margin straight; disk with six oval callosities bordered by smaller flat round granulation; posterior margin concave medially, straight laterally.

Mesonotum. Five times as wide as long, roundly elevated at middle ( Figs. 8–9 ), surface with flat round granulation of different size and elongate smooth callosities laterad of median elevation along anterior margin ( Figs. 13–14 ).

Metanotum. Fused to mesonotum and mtg I+II with a round median elevation, the fusion line not clearly discernible; structure of surface as of mesonotum, the two anterolateral curved callosities are larger ( Figs. 13–14 ) than those on mesonotum.

Abdomen. Mtg I+II fused to each other, medially roundly elevated; surface with flat granulation and a larger oval callosity laterally; posteriorly strongly sloping and fused to mtg III–VII, the bisinuate posterior margin delimiting the smaller flat granulation of mtg I+II surface and the larger one of mtg III–VII ( Fig.13 ); deltg II–VII flat, laterally expanded, lateral margins slightly sinuate; spiracles II–VII sublateral to lateral placed on rim of laterally reflexed vltg II–VII, visible from above, VIII terminal on ptg VIII. Abdominal scent gland scars present on posterior margin of mtg III (conspicuous), IV (reduced) and on mtg V (strongly reduced).

Ventral structures as in other Comorocoris species.

Legs. Pale brown, unarmed, slender, sparsely covered with short, semi-erect setae. Tibiae straight with preapical comb.

Male genitalia. Exposed posterior part of pygophore oval, strongly declivous, surface transversely rugose. The holotype was not dissected for the study of parameres.

Sexual dimorphism. General structures similar in both sexes, female of larger body size and width.

Etymology. Dedicated to the first author’s good friend and colleague, Marie Estherine Rabotoson (Fianarantsoa, Madagascar) who collected part of the type series and participated in several field trips in Madagascar.

Collecting circumstances. All known specimens were collected by sifting of mountain evergreen rain forest leaf litter in Montagne d’Ambre National Park in Northern Madagascar. Sifted samples were subsequently extracted in Winkler apparatus during two or three days ( Fig. 16 ), mixed several times every day.

Distribution. Known only from Montagne d’Ambre National Park in Northern Madagascar.

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Comorocoris species, dorsal habitus. 1–2, C. estherineae sp. nov., 1, male holotype, 2, female paratype; 3, 6, C.inexpectatusHeiss & Baňař,2012, 3, male holotype, 6, female paratype; 4, 7, C.glabridorsumHeiss & Baňař,2012, 4, male holotype, 7, female paratype; 5, C. testudiformis Heiss, 1985, female paratype.Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURES 8–12. Comorocoris species, lateral habitus. 8–9, C. estherineae sp. nov., 8, male holotype, 9, female paratype; 10, C. testudiformis Heiss, 1985, female paratype; 11, C. inexpectatus Heiss & Baňař, 2012, male holotype, 12, C. glabridorsum Heiss & Baňař, 2012, male holotype.Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURES 13–14. Comorocoris estherineae sp. nov., male paratype, scanning electron micrographs, pygophore removed. 13, dorsal view; 14, anterior view. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 15–16. 15, Microhabitat of part of type series of Comorocoris estherineae sp. nov. in Montagne d’Ambre National Park; 16, extraction of sifted material using Winkler apparatus in Montagne d’Ambre National Park.