Osellaptera, Heiss, Ernst, 2013

Heiss, Ernst, 2013, New Aradidae from Ecuador (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Aradidae), ZooKeys 319, pp. 137-151 : 138-139

Osellaptera gen. n.

Type species:

Osellaptera setifera sp. n.

Diagnosis.

Although superficially resembling the habitus of Mystilocoris pubescens Usinger & Matsuda, 1959 from Colombia, the new species cannot be placed in any of the apterous or micropterous Neotropical Mezirinae genera; here therefore Osellaptera gen. n. is proposed. It is distinguished from Mystilocoris pubescens (the only species of this genus) by its micropterous condition (apterous im Mystilocoris ), more slender antennae, head as long as wide (about 1.5x wider in Mystilocoris ), different structure and fusion of thorax and abdomen, and position of spiracles II-IV ventral, V sublateral and hardly visible from above, VI and VI sublateral on a prominent tubercle and visible, VIII lateral (II-VI ventral, VII sublateral and visible, VIII lateral), and the shape of the pygophore.

Description.

Small sized micropterous Mezirinae ; body oval, laterally constricted at metanotum, attenuated posteriorly, surface of body with deep punctures and long pubescence on carinate structures; legs and antennae beset with long setae; colouration cinnamoneous, legs and antennae are lighter.

Head. Triangular as wide as long, clypeus narrow reaching ½ of antennal segment I; antenniferous lobes short; antennae slender twice as long as width of head, segment I longest, II+III shorter, IV shortest; eyes stalked; postocular lobes converging to constricted neck.

Pronotum. Distinctly wider than long, lateral margins converging anteriorly with a vertically reflexed triangular expansion, disk with 2 ovate callosities depressed between them.

Mesonotum. Strongly transverse, median elevated ridge fused to that of metanotum and mtg I+II; lateral sclerites callous delimited laterally by flap-like structures these regarded as reduced remnants of wingpads.

Metanotum. Fused to mtg I+II, lateral sclerites oval and callous; surface of mtg I+II punctured delimited posteriorly by carinae expanding laterally from median ridge.

Abdomen. The median ridge of thorax continues along the tergal plate of mtg III-VI and highest on mtg IV; lateral sclerites with subrectangular punctured depressions; deltg II+III fused, anteriorly constricted, reaching mesonotum; lateral margins of deltg II-VI reflexed, those of deltg II-IV laterally expanded and pilose.

Venter. Metathoracic scent gland canal curved anteriorly and upward, not visible from above; spiracles II-IV ventral, V sublateral and barely visible from above, VI and VII sublateral on a prominent tubercle and fairly visible, VIII lateral and visible from above.

Legs. Long and slender, claws with thin pulvilli.

Etymology. It is a pleasure to dedicate this conspicuous new flat bug genus to my friend Giuseppe Osella (Verona), appreciating his long time friendship and generosity donating to me Aradidae from his collection trips, and recognizing his important contributions to various matters of coleopterology.