Cataractocoris shepardi Sites, Reynoso
Creators: name: Sites, Robert W.
name: Reynoso-Velasco, Daniel
name: Novelo-Gutiérrez, Rodolfo
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Naucoridae
Cataractocoris
Cataractocoris shepardi

description: Cataractocoris shepardi Sites, Reynoso, and Novelo, NEW SPECIES
Figs. 10–14, 15 c
Description. Macropterous male. HOLOTYPE, length 10.56; maximum width 6.24. Paratypes (n = 10), length 10.48–11.12 (mean = 10.72); maximum width 6.08–6.56 (mean = 6.26). Head and pronotum triangular when taken together, rest of thorax and abdomen elongate-oval; widest across embolia (Fig. 10). Overall coloration dorsally with dark brown scutellum and hemelytra; brown head, pronotum and legs. Exposed connexiva with alternating light and dark checkered appearance. Light color of embolium continuing anteriorly on lateral margins of pronotum (Fig. 10). Dorsal surface coarsely tuberculate. Ventrally, uniformly light to medium brown with dark brown propleuron and prosternum, with yellow glabrous perimeter band on prothorax (Fig. 11) and abdomen; all legs yellow proximally grading to brown distally.
Head length 1.72; maximum width 2.52; synthlipsis at middle of eye 1.16; lateral hyperoche negligible; anterior margin between eyes truncate, eyes bulbous and protuberant; posterior margin of head strongly convex between eyes; labrum 1.6x as wide as long, evenly rounded; antennal proportions 2:4:7:3.
Pronotum mostly brown; profuse dark punctation; coarsely tuberculate; broad, 3.2 x as wide as long; length at midline 1.72; maximum width at posterolateral corners 5.52; lateral margins yellow, straight, explanate, strongly convergent anteriorly; anterior margin between eyes dark brown, deeply concave to embrace convex posterior margin of head; posterior margin with distinctly flattened, tuberculate transverse band; surface contour irregular, slight depression medially. Prothorax ventrally strongly bicolored, brown, pruinose medially with broad, yellow, glabrous lateral band (Fig. 11); width of yellow band at widest point 0.77; wide transverse band of dark, recumbent hairs along posterior margin of propleura; strong median carina between coxae with acute anterior point. Scutellum concolorous dark brown, triangular with nearly straight posterolateral margins, densely punctate, coarsely tuberculate, 1.7x as wide as long, width 3.64, length 2.12; scutoscutellar suture strongly sinuate. Hemelytra densely punctate, coarsely tuberculate. Claval commissure length 1.12. Embolium length 3.64, greatest width 0.72; lateral margin nearly straight anteriorly to humerus, then narrowly rounded right angle, anterior 2/3 yellow, posterior 1/3 dark brown. Mesosternum medium brown with yellow-brown longitudinal band with long, dark hairs at midline. Metaxyphus small, triangular. Prothoracic coxae dorsally yellow-brown with dark punctures and tubercles; coxae ventrally, trochanters, femora yellow; remainder of legs darkening distally. Leg measurements as follows: foreleg, femur 2.92, tibia 2.24, tarsus 0.64; middle leg, femur 3.56, tibia 3.40, tarsomeres 1-3 (0.30, 0.52, 0.76); hind leg, femur 3.96, tibia 4.80, tarsomeres 1-3 (0.40, 0.64, 0.92).
Abdomen dorsally with connexiva of III–IV partially exposed, posterior half brown, anterior half yellow, with scattered black tubercles, lateral margin shallowly crenulate; submarginal band of dark hairs beginning at anterolateral corner of II extending posteriorly to VIII; terga yellowish; posterior margin of V asymmetrical with two deep median convexities and lateral concavities, right concavity and convexity broader than those on left. Medial lobes of VIII (pseudoparameres) with apical corners rounded (Fig. 13). Ventrally mostly yellow with brush of elongate brown hairs midventral on IV–V and submedian on V–VIII. Irregular line of brown hairs extending from anterolateral corner of II posteriorly to posteromedian corner of VII setting off broad glabrous lateral band. Posterior margin of mediosternite V strongly concave asymmetrically to left. Aedeagus elongate, linear, right margin tapering gently in distal 1/4, apex rounded; parameres oval, symmetrical; anterior margin of pygophore between parameres with pronounced notch (Fig. 14); genital capsule with fine setae.
Macropterous female. Paratypes (n = 10), length 10.88–11.84 (mean = 11.38); maximum width 6.40–6.88 (mean = 6.66). Similar to male in general structure and coloration except as follows: abdominal terga and sterna symmetrical. Posterior margins of terga V–VI deeply concave. Abdominal sterna with broad band of dark hairs midventral on III–V, continuing as thinner line on VI; submedian line of dark hairs on IV–VII; subgenital plate (VII) about as long as wide, sometimes slightly longer, with patch of light colored hairs in middle, thick band of hairs on apical margin more prominent on either side of midline (Fig. 12); valvulae extending beyond apex of subgenital plate. Ventral laterotergite VII angled ventrolaterad ca. 45 degrees, with dense brush of light colored hairs (Fig. 12). Some specimens with strong tubercle at posterolateral corner of mediosternite VI.
Discussion. Females from Nayarit and Jalisco have a pronounced tubercle at the posterolateral corner of mediosternite VI similar to that of C. marginiventris, whereas it is lacking or poorly developed in females from further south in Mexico and Guatemala. Intraspecific variability in this feature is not unique; it has been documented also in the distantly related Neomacrocoris handlirschi (Montandon) in Africa (Sites & Mbogho 2012). In addition, specimens from the northern end of the known range tend to be larger than those of the type series, and some females reach 13.4 mm in length. However, adult size in naucorids has been shown to be associated with environmental temperature during ontogenetic development in species of Ambrysus, a closely related genus (Sites et al. 1996).
We found C. shepardi on the rock surfaces of waterfalls and on large rocks in streams with fast current. At the type locality of Velo de Novia Waterfall in Chiapas (L-1359), we collected all three species of Cataractocoris.
Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from C. macrocephalus by the wide, yellow, glabrous marginal band on the venter; its width at the widest point on the propleuron (Fig. 11) ranged from 0.68 to 0.88 mm (mean 0.77 ± 0.01) which overlaps with that of C. marginiventris. It can be distinguished from C. marginiventris in males by the strong notch at the midline of the pygophore between the parameres (Fig. 14) and by the distolateral corner of the pseudoparameres being rounded (Fig. 13) rather than pointed as in C. marginiventris (Fig. 8). Females of C. shepardi can be distinguished from those of C. marginiventris by ventral laterotergite VII without distal incision and angled ≤45 degrees ventrolaterally (Fig. 12). Females of both species can be distinguished from those of C. macrocephalus by the apical margin of the subgenital plate with the row of dense hairs more prominent on each side of the midline, rather than continuous across the margin.
Etymology. This species is named in honor of our colleague Professor William D. Shepard, formerly of the California State University at Sacramento, now retired near Berkeley. Dr. Shepard collected many specimens of all three species of Cataractocoris and graciously made them available for this study.
Distribution. This species occurs on both sides of the Central Mexican Plateau from Nayarit and Veracruz south to Chiapas, and we have examined specimens from Guatemala (Fig. 15 c).
Type material examined. HOLOTYPE 3: MÉXICO: Chiapas: Velo de Novia waterfall, near Las Hermanas bridge, 15º 55' 11.3'' N, 93º 29' 45.9'' W, 144 m, 21 May 2012, D. Reynoso-Velasco, L-1359. PARATYPES: same data as holotype (123, 25Ƥ); Veracruz: Reserva Ejido Benito Juárez, Cascada Arcoiris, 18° 31.900' N 95° 03.480' W, 404 m, 3 April 2011, colls: Sites, Reynoso-Velasco, Shepard, vertical rock face of waterfall, L-1286 (193, 12Ƥ, 17 nymphs, UMC).
Other material examined. GUATEMALA: [Escuintla Dept.]: El Salto Escuintla, 1934, F. X. Williams (1Ƥ, EMEC). Suchitepéquez Dept.: Fca. Moca, 12 Jun 1966, Flint & Ortiz (13, 1Ƥ, USNM). MÉXICO: Chiapas: 7mi N of Arriaga, CL1072, 1 May 1964, J.T. & M.S. Polhemus (13, 3Ƥ, SEMC); Mpio. Ixtacomitán, Ixtacomitán, Balneario Río Blanco, 17º 25' 21.8'' N, 93º 06' 08.6' W, 106 m, 17 May 2012, D. Reynoso-Velasco, L-1338 (53, 4Ƥ, UMC); km 28 carr. Huixtla-Motocintla, Mpio. Motocintla, Belisario Domínguez, 15º 18' 32.9'' N, 92º 22' 35.7'' W, 984 m, 20 May 2012, D. Reynoso-Velasco, L-1351 (1Ƥ, UMC); Mpio. Motocintla, 20 de Noviembre, 15º 14' 21.9'' N, 92º 24' 38.8'' W, 487 m, 20 May 2012, D. Reynoso-Velasco, L-1352 (23, 2Ƥ, UMC). Jalisco: 9.2 km Tacotán, 10 Jan 2005, 1250', Rio de Tepospisaloya / W.D. Shepard leg. (1Ƥ, EMEC); same data, ca. 6 km N Union de Tula, C.B. Barr / 20° 03.86' N, 104° 20.91' W, elevation 1250 ft. (13, 1Ƥ, EMEC); Las Juntas Verano, Rio Guapinole, 17 Jan. 2005 / W.D. Shepard leg. (1Ƥ, EMEC). Nayarit: La Mesa de Nayar, VII-16-21)-55 / B. Malkin collector (13, EMEC). Oaxaca: Candelaria de Loxicha, 19-VI-84, M. Garcia / Colección del Instituto de Biologia, UNAM, México D.F. (1Ƥ, UNAM); 8 mi. E. Tapanatepec, 3-VII-1974, leg. P.D. Perkins (53, 8Ƥ, EMEC; 23, 2Ƥ, UMC). Veracruz: 4 km N of Sontecomapan, 2 April 2011, small, shallow, high velocity strm. w/ boulders / 93 m, 18° 31.909' N, 95° 03.498' W, colls: Sites, Shepard & Reynoso-Velasco, L-1285 (53, 6Ƥ, 27 nymphs, UMC); Reserva Ejido Benito Juárez, Cascada Congrejo, 18° 31.900' N, 95° 03.480' W, 364 m, 3 April 2011, colls: Sites, Reynoso-Velasco, Shepard, vertical rock face of waterfall, L-1287 (43, 2Ƥ, 7 nymphs, UMC).
description: Published as part of Sites, Robert W., Reynoso-Velasco, Daniel & Novelo-Gutiérrez, Rodolfo, 2013, Revision of the Mesoamerican Genus Cataractocoris Usinger (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae), pp. 475-484 in Zootaxa 3682 (3) on pages 481-483, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3682.3.8, http://zenodo.org/record/224255