Procryphocricos macoita Sites & Camacho

Sites, Robert W. & Camacho, Jesús, 2014, Neotropical genera of Naucoridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha): New species of Placomerus and Procryphocricos from Guyana and Venezuela, Zootaxa 3753 (5), pp. 469-482 : 475-479

Procryphocricos macoita Sites & Camacho , NEW SPECIES

Figs. 6–7 , 10–13

Description. Brachypterous male. HOLOTYPE, length 5.92; maximum width 3.44. Paratypes (n = 9), length 5.52–6.00 (mean = 5.76); maximum width 3.12–3.44 (mean = 3.26). General shape ovate, widest across abdominal segment III ( Fig. 6 ), strongly dorsoventrally flattened. Overall coloration dorsally medium brown posteriorly, yellowish brown anteriorly; ventral surface mostly medium brown, legs yellow (femora, tibiae, tarsi green in live specimens, see Fig. 12 ).

Head. Length 1.04, maximum width 1.30. Head immaculate yellow with scattered short setae; projecting anterior to eyes 10% of head length. Eyes dark red; approximately 1.5 x as long as wide, length/width 0.46/0.30; inner margins parallel, lateral margins rounded; synthlipsis 0.68; vertex with posterior margin deeply convex, extending behind and around eye diminishing to where pronotum meets eye. Labrum yellowish brown, broadly rounded distally, short hairs scattered over distal half, 1.5 x as wide as long, width/length 0.34/0.20. Maxillary plate yellowish brown, distal margin broadly rounded, extending approximately to 2/3 length of labrum, bordering sides of rostral base. Strong midventral carina with acute anterior terminus caudad of labium. Labium with three yellowish-brown visible segments, short, extending 0.38 beyond labrum. Antenna short, yellow, hirsute, extending slightly beyond lateral margin of eye, relative lengths 4:8:9:14.

Thorax. Pronotum convex with flattened transverse band along posterior margin; yellow with brown infuscation at anterolateral corners extending mesad slightly behind eyes and caudad along lateral margins; coarsely tuberculate and with scattered recumbent setae throughout; maximum width 2.72, length at midline 0.92; posterior margin slightly convex; lateral margins convergent anteriorly, explanate, with shallow concavity in middle half; posterolateral corners broadly rounded. Scutellum yellowish brown, triangular, coarsely tuberculate and with scattered recumbent setae throughout; width 1.88, length at midline 0.86; lateral margins nearly straight. Hemelytra short; medium brown; coarsely tuberculate; with sparse, elongate, erect setae and scattered short, dark, recumbent setae; posterior margin broadly convex to nearly straight; length 1.60; touching or nearly touching at midline; reaching anterior portion of abdominal tergum III. Embolium delimited mesally by thick longitudinal carina. Prosternum with mid-ventral carina in anterior third with darkened, pronounced tubercle at each end; posterior 2/3 with gentle transverse convexity. Propleuron with elongate, dark, recumbent setae continuing onto prosternum; propleura widely separated at midline by prosternum. Mesosternum with weak midventral carina continuing anteriorly to broad, transverse carina at base of prosternum, continuing posteriorly to triangular apex between mesocoxae; mesosternum and meso-and metapleuron with dark, recumbent setae. Metaxyphus transverse, medium brown, posterolateral margins broadly concave and deflected ventrad, produced to rounded apex medially.

Legs. All segments yellowish brown (femora, tibiae, tarsi green in live specimens). Profemur with scattered, short, recumbent setae throughout, row of longer setae on posterior margin near base; row of short, brown spines embedded within dense pad of pale setae of equal length along anterior margin. Protibia and tarsus with occlusal inner surface flattened, with dorsal and ventral inner margins finely crenulate; single immovable tarsal segment; claw minute, triangular. Procoxa with short, dark brown, peg-like setae in basal half of dorsal surface; apical rim dark brown. Meso- and metacoxae recessed into thorax. Meso- and metafemora with weak row of short, peg-like setae on anterior margin, dorsal surface glabrous, remainder with scattered, short, recumbent setae. Mesotibia with ventral row of small reddish-brown spines, widely separated ventrolateral spines, inner row of combs with 3–5 spines each, 2 transverse rows of long, stout spines at apex of ventral margin, slender pale spines ringing most of remainder of apex. Metatibia with ventral row of stout reddish-brown spines, 4–5 widely separated ventrolateral spines, 2 transverse rows of long, stout spines at apex. Metatibia and tarsus with long, pale swimming hairs; rows of swimming hairs absent from mesotibia and tarsus. Meso- and metapretarsi with claws slender, evenly curved, with basal tooth. Leg measurements as follows: foreleg, femur 1.71, tibia 1.40, tarsus 0.36; middle leg, femur 1.62, tibia 1.48, tarsomeres 1–3, 0.14, 0.26, 0.40; hind leg, femur 1.90, tibia 2.16, tarsomeres 1–3 0.14, 0.32, 0.44.

Abdomen. Dorsally, medium brown with scattered, dark, recumbent setae. Terga III–V partially fused but with evidence of antecostal sutures visible, especially laterally; II–IV and anterior part of V rugose, posterior part of V with rugosity replaced by transverse ridges. Small clusters of 2–3 non-rugose glabrous patches 1/3 distance from lateral margin to midline on III–V. Connexiva III-V depressed, with lateral margins smooth and evenly convex, posterolateral corners of III–IV square, V produced posteriorly. Ventrally yellowish brown, mostly pruinose and covered with long, dark, recumbent setae except narrow marginal glabrous band; laterosternites II–VII with glabrous areas [abdominal sense organs, sensu Hamilton (1931)]. Sterna III–IV with small midventral tubercle. Sternum V with concavity of posterior margin displaced slightly asymmetrically to left, VI evenly convex, VII with rounded notch at midline. Genital operculum with apex slightly convex to nearly truncate.

Male genitalia. Pygophore brown, elongate setae generally scattered, more dense posteriorly. Parameres small, tapering medially. Pygophore with median, narrowly-rounded production between parameres ( Fig. 10 ).

Brachypterous female. Paratypes (n = 16), length 6.08–6.60 (mean = 6.28); maximum width 3.44–3.68 (mean = 3.54). Abdominal terga III-VI fused with only weak indication of segmentation becoming more pronounced laterally ( Fig. 1 ); III–V rugose, VI rugose anteriorly, transversely ridged posteriorly. Tergum VI broadly rounded posteriorly, extending over terminal segments. Non-rugose glabrous patches on III–VI. Lateral margin of abdominal tergum VI nearly straight, with posterolateral corner produced caudad to point. Posterior margin of mediosternite III nearly straight, IV-V shallowly concave, VI distinctly concave. Mediosternite VI asymmetrical, with right anterolateral corner expanded laterad ( Fig. 11 ). Subgenital plate 0.8 x as long as greatest width, length at midline 0.66, width at base 0.80; lateral margins convergent posteriorly, lateral carina delimiting dorsal reflexion; apex with broad, shallow medial notch; posterolateral corners rounded, dense pad of golden setae on each side of midline near posterior margin, line of elongate golden setae along posterior third of lateral carina ( Fig. 11 ).

Macropterous male. Paratypes (n = 2), length 6.04–6.24 (mean = 6.14); maximum width 3.28. Maximum width across abdominal segment 3. Similar to brachypterous form with following differences: Overall body shape slightly more elongate and parallel-sided ( Fig. 7 ). Head with medium brown markings on vertex, immaculate yellowish brown band anterior to eyes. Procoxa with dark band in distal third of dorsal surface. Pronotum with distinct transverse sulcus marking the anterior margin of a well developed posterior band; heavily marked with medium brown pattern, becoming dark brown at lateral margins. Scutellum larger, swollen, distinctly elevated above level of clavus, especially closer to apex; medium brown with yellow triangular marking near center of posterolateral margin and yellow apex. Hemelytra dark brown, lighter area in middle of embolium, nearly reaching to posterior end of tergum V; clavus clearly delineated, claval vein evident; embolium clearly defined, length 1.78, maximum width 0.40, with thick carina adjacent to embolar suture; corium, embolium, and clavus coarsely tuberculate; membrane more finely tuberculate. Hindwings well developed. Terga visible lateral to wings, dark brown laterally, remainder mostly medium brown. Ventral surface generally medium brown, lighter mesad.

Macropterous female. Paratypes (n = 2), length 6.52–6.56 (mean = 6.54); maximum width 3.52. Maximum width across abdominal segment 3. Differences from brachypterous female similar to those of macropterous male from brachypterous male.

Diagnosis and comparative notes. The brachypterous form of species of Procryphocricos superficially is very similar. Although it appears that the shape of the posterior margin of the hemelytra might be a valuable diagnostic character, intraspecific variation in P. macoita occurs to the extent that some specimens have the hind margin of the hemelytra straight and others convex, as in the holotype. Thus, this feature is not reliable for identifications. P. macoita can be distinguished from P. p e r p l e x u s by the shallow but distinct concavity in the middle of the lateral margin of the pronotum, which is much less concave to straight in P. p e r p l e x u s, and the profemora are slightly longer and proportionately narrower (1.74 x 0.82) than are those of P. perplexus (1.46 x 0.76). Note that comparisons with P. perplexus are based only on our two specimens; we were not allowed to examine the type series which was housed in the private collection of J. Polhemus. P. macoita can be distinguished from P. quiu most easily in living specimens; the femora, tibiae, and tarsi are green in live specimens, whereas they are brown in P. q u i u ( Figs. 12 , 16 ). In brachypterous P. macoita , there is no dark band on the profemur and the head and pronotum are mostly clear and lightly colored overall; whereas in P. qu i u, a variously developed dark transverse band occurs in the distal third of the dorsal surface of the profemur, and the head and pronotum are more darkly infuscated. (Note that the macropterous form of P. macoita has a dark transverse band on the profemur and dark markings on the head and pronotum).

Habitat description. Although we collected occasional specimens in gravel riffles, the habitat in which this species seems to flourish are dense, fine rootmats at the margins of streams ( Fig. 13 ). Given that this genus appears to use plastral respiration and that the closely related Cryphocricos occurs among rocks in riffles with turbulent, highly oxygenated current, it seems unlikely that this genus would prefer marginal rootmats. Nonetheless, we collected many specimens of both brachypterous and macropterous forms of the type series in a single rootmat ( Fig. 13 ) along with a diverse community of other invertebrates: Ephemeroptera : Leptohyphidae ( Leptohyphes , Tricorythodes , Yaurina ), Leptophlebiidae (Terpides) ; Odonata : Calopterygidae (Hetaerina) , Gomphidae (Progomphus) , Libellulidae (Elasmothemis) ; Plecoptera : Perlidae (Neoperla) ; Hemiptera : Naucoridae ( Ambrysus , Limnocoris ), Veliidae ( Rhagovelia, Stridulivelia ); Coleoptera : Dryopidae (Helichus) , Elmidae ( Heterelmis , Hexacylloepus , Microcylloepus , Phanocerus ), Psephenidae (Psepheninae) ; Trichoptera : Helicopsychidae (Helicopsyche) , Hydropsychidae ( Leptonema , Smicridea ), Calamoceratidae (Phylloicus) , Philopotamidae (Chimarra) , Polycentropodidae (Polyplectropus) , Odontoceridae (Marilia) , Leptoceridae ( Amphoropsyche , Atanatolica , Nectopsyche , Triplectides ); Diptera : Tipulidae , Chironomidae , Empididae , Dixidae ; Diplopoda; Acarina; Araneae ; Gastropoda.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and is the name of the river from which the type series was collected.

Repositories. The holotype is deposited in the Museo del Instituto de Zoologia Agrícola, Maracay, Venezuela; paratypes are deposited in the Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela; Snow Museum, University of Kansas; Enns Entomology Museum, University of Missouri; Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna; and the United States National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂: VENEZUELA: Zulia: Río Macoita , 10º 12.111' N, 72º 35.788 W, 200 m, 24 July 2009, L-1112 / colls. Sites & Camacho, rocky stream with gravel and rootmats. Paratypes: same data as holotype (15 brachypterous ♂, 30 brachypterous ♀, 3 macropterous ♂, 2 macropterous ♀).

Additional material examined. VENEZUELA: Zulia: Sierra de Perijá, Mpio. Mara, Cuenca del Río Socuy, Sector Las Delicias, 400 msnm, 12-14 VIII 2000 / colectores J. Camacho, H. Prieto ( MALUZ, UMC, 2 brachypterous ♂, 3 brachypterous ♀).

Figures

FIGURES 6 – 9. Species of Procryphocricos. (6) brachypterous HOLOTYPE of Procryphocricos macoita n. sp., (7) macropterous PARATYPE of Procryphocricos macoita n. sp., (8) brachypterous HOLOTYPE of Procryphocricos quiu n. sp., (9) brachypterous male Procryphocricos perplexus.

FIGURES 10 – 13. Features of Procryphocricos macoita n. sp. (10) male genital capsule with aedeagus and parameres, (11) terminal abdominal sterna including subgenital plate of female, (12) brachypterous adults in alcohol under microscope; photo taken within 2 hours of collection, (13) rootmat habitat in Río Macoita from which the type series was collected.

FIGURES 1 – 2. Hindwing brachypterous PARATYPES of Placomerus. (1) Placomerus micans collected in Paraguay, housed at USNM, (2) Placomerus obscuratus n. sp. collected in Guyana, housed at USNM.

FIGURES 14 – 17. Features of Procryphocricos quiu n. sp. (14) male genital capsule with aedeagus and parameres, (15) terminal abdominal sterna including subgenital plate of female, (16) live specimen photographed out of water on dead vegetation natural substrate, (17) marginal debris habitat in Río Quiu from which the type series was collected.