Mesovelia easaci Chandra 2017, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Chandra, Kailash
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Mesoveliidae
Mesovelia
Mesovelia easaci

description: Mesovelia easaci sp. nov.
(Figs. 1A–M)
Material examined. Holotype (apterous male): INDIA, MEGHALAYA, West Garo Hills District, Dalu Village, Sacred Heart Church, Pond, 29 m, 25 ° 12’44.73” N, 90 ° 13’21.29” E, 10.vi.2016, Coll. E.E. Jehamalar. Paratypes. East Khasi Hills District, 5 mac-da ♂ (= macropterous form with membrane loss), 2 mac-da ♀, Mawlaitshong Village, Pond, 990 m, 25 ° 14’53.8” N, 91 ° 33’43.5” E, 4.iii.2016; 1 mac-da ♀, Sadew Village, Pond, 1725 m, 25 ° 31’12” N, 91 ° 48’4.4” E, 7.iii.2016; 1 mac. ♂, Mawsynram Stream, 1392 m, 25 ° 17’51.1” N, 91 ° 34’38.9” E, 4.iii.2016; 1 mac. ♂, 1 nymph, Shillong, Ward’s Lake, 1475 m, 25 ° 34’31” N, 91 ° 53’13.9” E, 24.ii.2016; 1 mac-da ♀, Mawsynram, Wahmawiong Stream, 1340 m, 25 ° 18’3.5” N, 91 ° 35’16.6” E, 4.iii.2016; 1 mac-da ♀, Cement Village, Mopum Stream, 968 m, 25 ° 20’35.7” N, 92 ° 28’24.3” E, 12.iii.2016; 1 mac. ♂, 1 mac-da ♀, Sohrarim Village, Wahshari Stream, 1563 m, 25 ° 18’28.7” N, 91 ° 43’39.4” E, 3.iii.2016; 2 mac. ♂, 13 mac. ♀, Mawkynrew, Waiong Stream, 1489 m, 25 ° 25’29.6” N, 92 ° 0’22.3” E, 28.ii.2016; 1 mac-da ♂, 1 mac. ♀, Ksehpongdeng Village, Umbot Stream, 1228 m, 25 ° 33’35.1” N, 92 ° 2’11.4” E, 5.iii.2016; 1 mac. ♀, Kyrdemkhla, 1806 m, 25 ° 26’25.1” N, 91 ° 49’38.2” E, 1.iii.2016; 1 mac. ♂, 1 mac-da ♂, 2 apt. ♀, Shella Bazar, Shella River, 23 m, 25 ° 10’51.4” N, 91 ° 38’7.2” E, 6.iii.2016; 1 mac. ♂, 1 mac. ♀, Dommon Village, Pond, 16 m, 25 ° 9’9.9” N, 91 ° 41’9.4” E, 6.iii.2016; 4 mac. ♂, 1 mac-da ♂, 3 mac. ♀, Liniong Village, Stream, 1675 m, 25 ° 25’1.1” N, 91 ° 42’27.9” E, 7.iii.2016; 1 mac. ♂, Mylliem Village, Umtyngar River, 1679 m, 25 ° 27’58.9” N, 91 ° 49’39.1” E, 1.iii.2016; East Jaintia Hills District, 1 mac. ♂, 2 mac. ♀, Pynthor Sale, 1197 m, 25 ° 22’9.5” N, 92 ° 19’50.4” E, 10.iii.2016; 2 mac. ♂, 8 mac-da ♂, 3 mac. ♀, 8 mac-da ♀, Tuber Village, Pond, 1357 m, 25 ° 26’24.6” N, 92 ° 17’33” E, 10.iii.2016; 1 mac-da ♂, 2 mac-da ♀, Narpuh WLS, Umkiang Village, Wah Apha Stream, 19 m, 25 ° 4’11.9” N, 92 ° 22’42.6” E, 11.iii.2016; West Jaintia Hills District, 2 mac. ♂, Myngngor Village, Myngngor River, 1226 m, 25 ° 23’30.9” N, 92 ° 9’33.6” E, 9.iii.2016; 2 mac. ♂, 1 mac-da ♀, Jowai, Myntdu River, 1240 m, 25 ° 27’6.9” N, 92 ° 11’27.5” E, 14.iii.2016; 2 mac. ♂, 3 mac-da ♂, 2 mac-da ♀, Demthring Village, Laddemthring Pond, 1361 m, 25 ° 25’34.3” N, 92 ° 10’28.4” E, 9.iii.2016; 3 mac-da ♂, Raliang Village, Mukoi Lawai Pond, 1259 m, 25 ° 30’6.1” N, 92 ° 23’56.6” E, 13.iii.2016; 1 mac. ♀, Mukhla Village, Pond, 1365 m, 25 ° 29’50.8” N, 92 ° 10’18.3” E, 14.iii.2016; 1 mac-da ♀, Shangpung Village, Umyurem River, 1245 m, 25 ° 28’56.8” N, 92 ° 20’19.2” E, 13.iii.2016; 1 mac. ♂, 1 mac-da ♀, Laskein Village, Paddy field, 1232 m, 25 ° 30’39” N, 92 ° 24’24.9” E, 13.iii.2016; 1 mac. ♀, Nartiang Village, Umtisong Pond, 1183 m, 25 ° 34’19” N, 92 ° 12’52.5” E, 14.iii.2016; West Garo Hills District, 3 mac. ♀, 3 apt. ♀, Dalu Village, Sacred Heart Church, Pond, 29 m, 25 ° 12’44.73” N, 90 ° 13’21.29” E, 10.vi.2016; 1 apt. ♂, Bhaitbari Village, Jinjram River, 22 m, 25 ° 47’37.5” N, 89 ° 57’50.59” E, 15.vi.2016; 1 mac. ♀, Chibongagre, Sum River, 38 m, 25 ° 40’38.95” N, 90 ° 1’36.55” E, 15.vi.2016. All the materials are collected by E. Eyarin Jehamalar.
Other material examined. INDIA, MADHYA PRADESH, Jabalpur District, Amkhas, Nagpur Road, 4 mac. ♀, 9.xi.1971, Coll. R.K. Singh & Party, Reg. No. A/13303; 1 apt. ♀, Budhagar Tank, 20.iii.1974, Coll. D.S. Mathur & Party, Reg. No. A/15622; CZRC, ZSI, Residential Colony, 5 mac. ♀, 25.ix.2010., 3 mac. ♂, 4 mac. ♀, 30.ix.2010., 1 mac. ♀, 24.vii.2011, Coll. E.E. Jehamalar, Reg. No. A/13484; Panna District, 1 apt. ♂, 2 apt. ♀, Mandla, 14.iii.1987, Coll. R.K. Singh & Party.
Repository. The type specimens are deposited in the CEL, ZSI, New Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Holotype Reg. No. 5649/H15 and Paratypes Reg. No. 5650/H15 to 5678/H15. The specimens from Madhya Pradesh are deposited in CZRC, ZSI, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Etymology. Mesovelia easaci sp. nov. is named after Mr. J. Easac, the father of the first author, for his constant support.
Diagnosis. This species can be identified by the presence of a small gap between the median spinose tuft on the eighth abdominal sternum of the male (Fig. 1G). The hemelytra of the macropterous form has an inverted heartshaped white mark on the membrane (Figs. 1C, D). The sub-basal region of the male paramere is abruptly curved laterally in the dorsal in-situ view (Fig. 1H). The ninth sternum of the female has a flap-like posterolateral projection (Figs. 1L, M).
Description. Apterous male (holotype; range of five specimens given in parentheses for some characters): (Figs. 1A, E, F, I–J). Body length 2.29 (2.15–2.39); body width at metanotum 0.64 (0.63–0.70), body width at tergum IV 0.61 (0.60–0.64).
Colour. Brown; dorsum of body covered with minute brown setae; rostrum brown to black except fourth segment medially pale; apex of tibia, first and last tarsal segments of all legs brown to black, except basal half of third segment of fore tarsus yellow; claws, setose spines on appendages, pair of short spinose tufts on abdominal sternum VIII black; setae on tergum VIII and proctiger brown; frontoclypeal region dark brown to black; fourth rostral segment black except base brown; abdominal sterna IV and VI with orange tinge.
Structural characters. First antennal segment with two sub-apical spinose setae; frontoclypeal region without any characteristic setae, posterolateral region of eye with ocular seta, anterior pair of trichobothria directed anteriorly, other two pairs directed posteriorly. Head length 0.38, head width across eyes 0.51; minimum interocular width 0.19; eye length 0.21, eye width 0.15. Antennal tubercle well developed, outer margin of first antennal segment with two sub-apical setose spines, fourth antennal segment medially annulated (more evident in alcohol). Length of anterior pair of trichobothria 0.10, maximum length of antennal spine 0.07. Lengths of antennal segments I–IV 0.44, 0.32, 0.46, 0.52; rostrum reaching base of hind coxa.
Pronotal length 0.21, width 0.56; mesonotal length 0.28, width 0.60; metanotal length 0.13, width 0.63. Lengths of leg segments: foreleg: femur 0.65, tibia 0.58, tarsomeres I–III 0.03, 0.08, 0.09; mid leg: femur 0.90, tibia 0.87, tarsomeres I–III 0.04, 0.17, 0.14; hind leg: femur 1.11, tibia 1.47, tarsomeres I–III 0.05, 0.24, 0.16. Width of fore-, mid-, hind femora 0.11, 0.11, 0.12. Number of medium sized spines on flexor region of fore femur 1 (1–2), small spines 0–1 (0–3), mid femur, 6–7 (6–11), medium sized spines, 0–4 (0–4) small spines; lengths of large spines of fore femur: extensor region 0.05, flexor region 0.03; lengths of large spines of mid femur: extensor region 0.06, flexor region 0.03.
Lengths of abdominal tergum 1.29; terga I–VII 0.13, 0.13, 0.12, 0.12, 0.12, 0.14, 0.22; sterna VI–VII 0.12, 0.15. Combined length of abdominal sterna V–VII 0.39. Genitalia: lengths of tergum VIII 0.25, dorsal proctiger 0.04, sternum VIII 0.18, pygophore 0.22, ventral proctiger 0.04, sternum VIII sub-basomedially with pair of black spinose tufts, laterally with fringe of setae, mid-laterally with very small tubercle (more evident in alcohol after dissection), length of spinose tuft on sternum VIII 0.05, width 0.02, width between two tufts 0.01; length between posterior margin of abdominal sternum VII and anterior margin of setose tuft on abdominal sternum VIII 0.02; anterior part of proctiger stalk-like, posterior part bowl-shaped, clothed with long setae posteriorly, median lateral process acute, ventral median excavation on posterior part U-shaped and not reaching near apical plate of proctiger (Fig. 1I); dorsomedian process (dmp) of pygophore with pointed tip (Fig. 1F); paramere broad basally, twisted at middle, apical part, curved, beak-like, directed parallel to broad base (Fig. 1J), paramere when attached to pygophore apical part curved and directed laterad in lateral view (Fig. 1F) and apical part directed laterad and tip anterad in dorsal view (Fig. 1H).
Macropterous male (paratype). (Figs. 1C, G–H, K). Body length 2.82 (including hemelytra); body width across humeral angle 0.83.
Colour. Yellowish brown; anterior pronotal lobe with oblique brown mark; posterior pronotal lobe black except with indistinct median longitudinal brown stripe; humeral angle brown; mesoscutellum and metanotal elevation black except medially yellowish brown; abdominal sterna IV–VI with orange hue; hemelytra with basal part of first basal cell (bc-I) (subcostal cell) brown, rarely white apically; basal part of second basal cell (bc-II) white, apical half dark brown; anal veinless part of hemelytra adjacent to bc-II base white, apex brown; membrane with inverted heart-shaped white mark, posterior margin brown (Fig. 1C).
Structural characters. Head with pair of small ocelli; frontoclypeal region without any characteristic setae, ocular setae present on posterolateral region of eye, anterior pair of trichobothria in front of antenna, directed anteriorly, other two pairs directed posteriorly, head in front of eyes dorsally with 2 setae, one laterally and one centrally; head between anterior and posterior pairs of trichobothria with minute setae. Head length 0.34, head width across eyes 0.54, minimum interocular width 0.20, eye length 0.20, eye width 0.14. Antennal tubercle well developed, lateral margin of first antennal segment with two sub-apical setose spines. Lengths of antennal segments I–IV 0.53, 0.36, 0.51, 0.56.
Notum length including metanotal elevation 1.15, length of anterior pronotal lobe 0.17, width 0.58; length of posterior pronotal lobe 0.41; length of mesoscutellum 0.14; length of metanotal elevation 0.09; hemelytra with three closed cells, basal two elongated, apical cell eye-shaped, small, enclosed by thick brown veins. Lengths of leg segments: foreleg: femur 0.77, tibia 0.59, tarsomeres I–III 0.04, 0.09, 0.12; mid leg: femur 0.96, tibia 0.93, tarsomeres I–III 0.04, 0.19, 0.16; hind leg: femur 1.20, tibia 1.54, tarsomeres I–III 0.05, 0.25, 0.18. Width of fore-, mid-, hind femora 0.11, 0.11, 0.12. Number of medium sized spines on flexor region of fore femur 2 (1–2), small spines 2–6 (2–6), mid femur, medium sized spines 8–9 (3–10), small spines 6 (3–7); lengths of large spines of fore femur: extensor region 0.06, flexor region 0.03; lengths of large spines of mid femur: extensor region 0.08, flexor region 0.04. Combined length of abdominal sterna V–VII 0.43, width of sternum V 0.69, hemelytral length 1.93, width 0.54. Structure of genitalia similar to apterous male (Figs. 1G–H, K).
Apterous female (paratype). (Fig. 1B). Colour: similar to apterous male. Body length 2.95 (2.93–3.16, n=5), width across metanotum 0.85 (0.84–0.93, n=5), width across tergum V 1.06 (1.01–1.16), head length 0.46, head width 0.57, eye length 0.23, eye width 0.15, minimum interocular width 0.25, length of anterior pair of trichobothria 0.12; interocular region with three pairs of setae, two near anterior margin of eyes, one above the posterior pair of trichobothria; length of antennal spine 0.07; lengths of antennal segments I–IV 0.38, 0.33, 0.48, 0.60, first antennal segment with two setose spines; pronotal length 0.23, width 0.64; mesonotal length 0.29, width 0.74; metanotal length 0.15, width 0.81; anterior margin of prononum with a short, black, collar-like structure. Lengths of leg segments: foreleg: femur 0.73, tibia 0.58, tarsomeres I–III 0.04, 0.09, 0.10; mid leg: femur 0.99, tibia 0.90, tarsomeres I–III 0.06, 0.20, 0.15; hind leg: femur 1.18, tibia 1.64, tarsomeres I–III 0.06, 0.27, 0.18. Width of fore-, mid-, hind femora 0.11, 0.13, 0.14, flexor region of hind femur rarely with small sub-apical spine. Number of medium sized spines on flexor region of fore femur 1–2 (1–3), small spines 3 (1–7); mid femur, medium sized spines 5–7 (4–7), small spines 4 (2–8); lengths of large spines of fore femur: extensor region 0.06, flexor region 0.03; lengths of large spines of mid femur: extensor region 0.09, flexor region 0.04.
Dorsal abdominal length 1.85, intersegmental suture of abdominal terga I–III indistinct, lengths of abdominal terga I–VIII 0.15, 0.22, 0.19, 0.19, 0.20, 0.23, 0.26, 0.21, tergum VII long, proctiger length 0.14, lengths of abdominal sterna V–VII 0.15, 0.17, 0.16, combined length of abdominal sterna V–VII 0.48. Genitalia: posterior margin of first gonocoxae (gc1) concave, sternum IX (ab9) posterolaterally with a flap-like projection (ab9-lp), posterolateral region of gonoplac (gp) with few setae, first gonapophyses (go1) and second gonapophyses (go2) crenulate laterally, go1 not reaching tip of go2, go2 pointed apically, proctiger (pr) posteriorly with long setae (Figs. 1L, M).
Macropterous female (paratypes, n=5). (Figs. 1D, L–M). Body length 2.68–3.34; width at humeral angle 0.89–0.93; width at tergum IV 0.85–0.98. Hemelytra not completely covering abdomen laterally and posteriorly. Other characters similar to macropterous male and apterous female.
Distribution. Madhya Pradesh and Meghalaya states of India.
Comparative notes. Mesovelia easaci sp. nov. shares a few characters with M. lillyae sp. nov., such as the spinose tuft on abdominal sternum VIII, but it differs in the shape of the male proctiger and the armature of the mid femur; in M. lillyae the median excavation (mex) of the proctiger is shallow and almost half round (Fig. 3H), and the basal half of the male mid femur is bare (Fig. 3D). In M. easaci the excavation is deep, slightly angulated (Fig. 1I) and the basal half of the mid femur has spines (Fig. 1E). The male mid femoral spines of M. easaci are similar to those of M. vittigera; however, the spinal tuft on abdominal sternum VIII is without any narrow space in M. vittigera (see Andersen & Wier, 2004 p. 489, Fig. 28).
description: Published as part of Chandra, Kailash, 2017, Three new species of Mesovelia Mulsant & Rey (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Mesoveliidae) from India, pp. 368-380 in Zootaxa 4312 (2) on pages 369-372, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4312.2.11, http://zenodo.org/record/852762