Symphylax handschini kinabaluensis, Hartung, 2019

Hartung, Viktor, 2019, New Oriental and Australasian taxa of Colobathristidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in the collection of the State Natural History Museum Stuttgart, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 59 (2), pp. 403-422 : 417-420

Symphylax handschini kinabaluensis subsp. nov.

( Figs. 49–62 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J ( SMNS), collection number SMNS _ HET_00008:“BORNEO: SABAH, Kinabalu / N. P., Poring , 450-700m; / 30.XI.1996, leg. D.Grimm [printed in black ink on yellow label]”.Mount- ed on a triangle; pygophore with genitalia (left paramere separated) are dissected and stored in a plastic vial with glycerol attached to the same pin.

Differential diagnosis. With the key from ŠTYS & EX- NEROVÁ (2013) the specimen is clearly identified as a Symphylax Horváth, 1904 and with the key from ŠTYS (1977b) as Symphylax handschini Kormilev, 1953 , based on the structure of genitalia. However, although the hypandrium of the SMNS specimen is very much alike that of the holotype (and the only described specimen) of S. handschini , the structure of paramere shows distinct differences. The concavity on the dorsal surface seems to be closer to the posterior margin than in S. handschini , and the posterior lobe is less well developed than in S. handschini . Although the type specimen of S. handschini was not available, KORMILEV’ s (1953) description of S. handschini shows also differences in somatic characters from the SMNS specimen: “the hind border” of the head is black in the holotype, according to KORMILEV (1953), but in the SMNS specimen the head is black as far anterior as the front margin of the eye ( Fig. 51 ); supracoxal lobes are whitish-yellow in the holotype but brown in the SMNS specimen ( Fig. 52 ); the color of abdomen is orange anteriorly and yellow-brown or reddish-brown posteriorly in the holotype but brown to blackish anteriorly and yellowish posteriorly with some reddish hue medially in the SMNS specimen; labium “almost reaches the middle coxae” ( KORMILEV 1953) in the holotype ( ŠTYS 1977b corrects: “reaches apices of mesocoxae”) and reaches beyond middle coxae in SMNS specimen.

Description. Male. Coloration. Head ( Fig. 51 ) black dorsally from hind margin to anterior margin of eyes, gula black, rest of head yellow with some irregular light brown pattern. Ocelli and eyes red; labium ( Fig. 52 ) yellow with black tip; antennae brown, with first antennomere lighter than the others, its base being almost yellow ( Figs 49–50 ). collar and middle lobe of pronotum black ( Fig. 51 ), posterior lobe yellow except small brownish black macula medially on front margin indicating a start of longitudinal stripe present in some other species; two dark brown maculae on humeral angles; posterior margin of pronotum whitish-transparent. Punctation concolorous on collar, middle pronotal lobe and scutellum and dark on posterior pronotal lobe. Scutellum black at base, getting brown closer to top and yellow on top, as well as base of scutellar spine, its apical two thirds light to dark brown ( Fig. 52 ). Meso- and metapleura and sternites greyish black (initially covered by dried rests of metathoracic gland secretion), supracoxal lobes dark brown anteriorly and lighter brown posteriorly, peritreme of metathoracic gland brownish black. Bases of fore wings ( Figs 49, 51 ) dark brown, rest of fore wings mostly light-coloured: veins yellowish brown, except dark brown distal parts of Cu and Pcu, claval organ, proximal part of RP and distal part of dividing vein; membranous parts transparent. Coxae dark brown at base anteriorly and lighter brown posteriorly, yellow at apex; other leg segments yellowish brown with distal parts of middle and hind tibiae and all tarsi darker brown ( Figs 49–50, 52 ). Abdomen yellowish for most part, except segments I and II greyish black to brown, sternite and tergite III with large dark brown medial area and sternite IV and tergite IV with dark brown area medioanteriorly; connexivum yellow ( Figs 55–56 ) except segment II dark brown. Pygophore yellow ( Fig. 57 ).

Vestiture and texture. Head (except the two symmetrical depressions posterolaterally of ocelli and medial sulcus anteriad of them), pronotal collar and middle lobe as well as propleura and prosternum covered by short, relatively sparse, adhering, yellowish setae ( Fig. 51 ). Pronotum with punctures, smaller on collar and middle lobe and larger on posterior lobe where each also with a short seta, surface between punctures glabrous. Punctation of scutellum similar to that of posterior lobe, setae missing. Meso- and metapleura and sterna ( Fig. 52 ) as densely punctate as posterior pronotal lobe and with as little vestiture, but also carrying mycoid microsculpture typical of evaporatoria (such sculpture also present on abdominal sternite II (greyish coloured area). Antennae and legs with sparse cover of short light setae getting slightly longer and darker on tarsi; sparse short setae on veins. Abdomen with adhering light longer setae on distal segments and especially on hypandrium ( Figs 56–57, 61 ).

Structure. Head ( Fig. 51 ) of a length comparable to Phaenacantha species , with a median sulcus starting anteriad of ocelli and reaching middle of vertex. Two other depressions on the head, lateroposteriad of each ocellus, posterior margin being steep and anterior slope smooth, symmetrical on each side; other relief on head not pronounced. Eyes substylate. Angle between gula and clypeus almost right, gula subparallel to horizontal ( Fig. 52 ). Labium reaching beyond middle coxae. Antennae thin, much longer than body, most segments (especially I and IV) slightly to moderately curved, left antennomere IV vestigial ( Fig. 49 ). Pronotum with collar similar to that in Phaenacantha species ( Fig. 51 ). Middle lobe of pronotum with convex lateral outline, broader than collar; posterior lobe with almost straight lateral outline, same width as middle lobe. Middle and posterior lobe ca. in the same plane ( Fig. 52 ), both lobes clearly convex in dorsal outline, separated by a deep transverse impression; posterior lobe only slightly elevated above the head. Hind third of posterior pronotal lobe gradually roundedly sloped posteriad; hind margin with weakly concave median part and two small rounded lateral lobes ( Fig. 51 ). Scutellar spine clearly longer than posterior pronotal lobe, slightly inclined anteriad (the angle to the plane of meso- and metanotum 95–100°), somewhat curved posteriad. Legs generally at least as long as or longer than body, hind legs the longest ( Figs 49–50 ); femora slightly bent and widened distally, fore femora distally with a long straight spine and two small accessory spinules ( Fig. 53 ). Fore tibiae widened distally, with a median groove carrying terminally a comb of setae ( Fig. 54 ). Fore and hind wings well developed (specimen macropterous), fore wings ending very close to tip of abdomen. Abdomen slimmest at segments II and III and broadest at V, difference between broadest and thinnest part larger than in studied Phaenacantha species ( Fig. 49 ). Borders between abdominal segments clear, segment borders smooth and not elevated. Lateral segment outlines straight or almost straight to slightly convex. Posterior border of segment VII in lateral outline almost straight ( Fig. 56 ). Segments VIII and IX (pygophore) sunken into segment VII, sternite VIII with posterior median process sticking out ( Figs 56–57 ). Pilosity on pygophore short, except setae on dorsal region of hypandrium ( Figs 58–61 ). Hypandrium building sharply ending parandria directed dorsoanteriad ( Figs 58, 60–61 ); pygophore rounded posteriorly ( Fig. 59 ); posterior margin of hypandrium in lateral view almost building an angle ( Fig. 61 ). Paramere ( Figs 59 , 62 ) spadelike, with broad dorsal margin with a concavity slightly posteriad from the middle, not forming processes, with anterior and posterior lobes well developed.

Measurements. Body length 6.80 mm; head width (= max. body width) 1.31 mm. Total antenna length 10.47 mm (average segment ratios, I to IV: 1.00-1.49-1.52-1.98). Ratio antenna: body 1.54. Labium length 2.01 mm. Distance between ocelli 0.12 mm, between ocellus and eye 0.22 mm, ratio 1.83. Length of collar + middle lobe of pronotum 0.47 mm; length of posterior pronotal lobe 0.82 mm, ratio of the two measurements 1.74. Scutellar spine tip broken, therefore the length not measurable. Measurements of the hind tarsus (segments I / II / III, respectively): 0.93 / 0.17 / 0.25 mm, total length of the hind tarsus 1.35 mm. Maximum width of abdomen 1.23 mm, minimum width 0.43 mm, ratio 2.86.

Etymology. The name of this subspecies refers to Kinabalu National Park where this specimen was collected; adjective.

Distribution. Malaysia (Sabah).

Figures

Figs 49–54. Symphylax handschini kinabaluensis subsp. nov., holotype. 49 – habitus, dorsal view. 50 – habitus, lateral view. 51 – head and thorax, dorsal view. 52 – head and thorax, lateral view; meso- and metapleura covered by rests of dried metathoracal gland secretion. 53 – right fore femur with the spine. 54 – right fore tibia with a comb of setae. Insert – specimen label. Abbreviations: col = pronotal collar, mp = middle lobe of the pronotum, pp = posterior lobe of the pronotum.

Figs 55–61. Symphylax handschini kinabaluensis subsp. nov., holotype, genitalia. 55 – abdomen tip, dorsal view. 56 – abdomen tip, lateral view. 57 – abdomen tip, caudal view. 58 – pygophore with genitalia, dorsal view. 59 – pygophore with genitalia, lateral view. 60 – pygophore with genitalia, caudal view. 61 – hypandrium, lateral view. Abbreviations: hyp = hypandrium, p = paramere, par = parandrium, pp = posterior process of sternite VIII, pyg = pygophore. Abdominal segments are indicated with Roman numbers.

Fig. 62. Symphylax handschini kinabaluensis subsp. nov., holotype, left paramere, inner view.Abbreviations:al = anterior lobe, pl = posterior lobe.