Physopelta (Neophysopelta) dembickyi, Stehlík, 2013

Stehlík, Jaroslav L., 2013, Review and reclassification of the Old World genus Physopelta (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Largidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 53 (2), pp. 505-584 : 525-528

Physopelta (Neophysopelta) dembickyi sp. nov.

( Figs 35–37 )

Type locality. Vietnam, Vinh Phuc Province, Tam Dao National Park (21°31′N 105°33′E).

Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♂, VIETNAM: VINH PHUC PROVINCE: ‘Coll. I. R. Sc. B. / Vietnam, Tam Dao N.P. / 21°31′N 105°33′E, 25.- / 30.vii.2011, light trap / leg. J. Constant & J. / Bresseel, I.G.31.933’ [p, yellow label] // ‘♂’ [p, small white label] // ‘Holo- / typus’ [p, red label with black frame submarginally] // ‘ Physopelta / dembickyi / sp. n. [hw, underlined] / det. J.L.Stehlík [p] 2012 [hw]’ [red label with black frame]. Holotype is glued on white card, complete ( IRSB). PARATYPES: VIETNAM: VINH PHUC PROVINCE: 1 ♀, the same data as holotype ( IRSB) ; VIETNAM: THUA THIEN PROVINCE: 1 ♂, ‘C. Vietnam, Bach Ma N.P., 16°12′N 107°52′E, day coll., 12–17.vii.2011, J. Constant & J. Basseel, I.G. 31.933’ ( IRSB) . THAILAND: CHIANG MAI PROVINCE: 2 ♀♀, ‘Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov. / Doi Chiang Dao env., 1,200±50 m / 19°24′45″N 98°51′30″ E / L. Dembický leg., 9.-13.v.2009 / TH 3/2009 MZM EXPEDITION’ [p, white label] ( MMBC) .

Description. Colouration ( Figs 35–37 ). The following body parts are black: antennae (except ca. basal third of antennomere 4), a large spot on vertex reaching up to basal 2/3 of clypeus, pronotum (except anterior, posterior, and lateral margins including margins of callar and pronotal lobes), scutellum, a large round central spot on corium, a large triangular spot on apex of corium, membrane, labium, pleura, profemora dorsally, entire meso- and metafemora, all tibiae and tarsomeres, and crescent-shaped spots on bases of abdominal sternites. Head (except spot on vertex) red. Antennomere 4 basally whitish. Anterior, posterior, and lateral margins of pronotum (including margins of callar and pronotal lobe), pronotal epipleuron, posterior pleural flanges I–III reddish. Costal margin and surface of corium between central and apical spot whitish-orange. Clavus and base of corium anteriad of central spot darkened. Posterior margin of membrane whitish. Abdominal sternites pale orange. Black crescent-shaped lateral spots on bases of abdominal sternites as follows: on sternite II narrow and long, on sternites III–VI shorter, medially rather wide, on sternite V surpassing narrowly on posterior margin of sternite IV, on sternite VII only an indistinct spot (see Fig. 37 ).

Pilosity. Pronotum, thoracic pleura, clavus, and corium covered with silvery pubescence, so dense on pleura that they appear grey. Scutellum posteriorly with black erect hairs.

Punctation. Posterior pronotal lobe, scutellum, clavus, and corium with small, dense punctures, obsolete in posterior portion of corium.

Structure. Body elongate, parallel-sided. Callar lobe distinctly gibbose in male, slightly gibbose in female. Labium reaching between metacoxae. Profemora apically on ventral surface with two remote teeth and row of small denticles. Mesofemora on ventral surface with small denticles in male, unarmed in female. Metafemora without denticles.

Measurements (in mm). Males (holotype / paratype). Body length: 12.69 / 14.53; head: width (including eyes) 1.94 / 2.00, interocular width 1.08 / 1.13; lengths of antennomeres: 1 – 2.05 / 2.05, 2 – 2.21 / 2.37, 3 – 1.51 / 1.57, 4 – 2.97 / absent; pronotum: length 2.67 / 2.81, width 3.56 / 3.73; scutellum: length 1.89 / 1.94, width 2.00 / 1.67; corium: length 6.64 / 6.26, width 1.78 / 2.00.

Females (n = 3). Body length: 12.51 (12.26–12.96); head: width (including eyes) 2.02 (1.97–2.05), interocular width 1.15 (1.08–1.24); lengths of antennomeres: 1 – 1.91 (1.89– 1.94), 2 – 2.20 (2.11–2.27), 3 – 1.46 (1.40–1.51), 4 – 2.40 (2.38–2.43); pronotum: length 2.49 (2.38–2.54), width 3.65 (3.56–3.78); scutellum: length 1.82 (1.78–1.89), width 1.98 (1.94–2.05); corium: length 6.99 (6.43–7.39), width 2.02 (2.00–2.05).

Differential diagnosis. The general habitus of Ph. dembickyi sp. nov. is very similar to that of Ph. gutta gutta , but the new species is smaller and more slender. For comparison, measurements of males and females of Ph. gutta gutta are given (in mm):

Males (n = 5). Body length: 14.18 (12.42–16.63); width (including eyes) 2.15 (2.00–2.32), interocular width 1.18 (1.08–1.30); lengths of antennomeres: 1 – 2.56 (2.27–2.97), 2 – 2.75 (2.43–4.10), 3 – 1.72 (1.54–1.94), 4 – 2.95 (2.70–3.24); pronotum: length 3.26 (2.43–4.10), width 4.35 (3.78–5.05); scutellum: length 2.12 (1.84–2.48); width 2.37 (2.11–2.17); corium: length 7.79 (6.97–9.13), width 2.25 (1.94–2.59).

Females (n = 5). Body length: 14.40 (12.80–15.01); width (including eyes) 2.21 (2.16–2.32), interocular width 1.24 (1.19–1.35); lengths of antennomeres: 1 – 2.21 (2.00–2.38), 2 – 2.56 (2.38–2.70), 3 – 1.49 (1.21–1.73), 4 – 2.86 (2.70–3.13); pronotum: length 2.81 (2.38–3.08), width 4.40 (3.94–4.81); scutellum: length 2.00 (1.89–2.11); width 2.30 (2.16–2.43); corium: length 7.66 (6.86–8.45), width 2.27 (2.05–2.48).

The new species also resembles Ph. cincticollis , although the body of Ph. cincticollis is shorter and wider; both species are easily distinguished by the colouration of the abdominal sternites, which are black in Ph. cincticollis , and pale orange with black crescent-shaped spots laterally in Ph. dembickyi sp. nov. Also, Ph. indra resembles the new species by its size and similar colouration of abdominal sternites, but it differs by its pale scutellum (not black), smaller central black spot on the corium, base of the corium anteriad of the central spot not darkened, and having all femora orange.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to one of its collectors, Luboš Dembický (Moravian Museum, Brno), an excellent collector and discoverer of numerous undescribed Oriental insects.

Bionomics. The type specimens were collected in a primary forest, specifically a subtropical moist evergreen low mountain forest in Tam Dao National Park and moist evergreen tropical forest in Bach Ma National Park (J. Constant, pers. comm). Some of the specimens were collected at light.

Distribution. Northern Thailand, northern and central Vietnam (this paper).

Figures

Figs 35–37. Physopelta (Neophysopelta) dembickyi sp. nov. 35 – male, holotype; 36–37 – female, paratype.(Photos: L. Dembický).