Hellica kolla, Carpintero & De Biase, 2019

Carpintero, Diego & De Biase, Sebastián, 2019, Revision of genus Hellica Stål, 1867 and description of three new genera of South American Lanopini (Hemiptera: Acanthosomatidae: Blaudusinae), Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 21 (2), pp. 133-158 : 149-150

Hellica kolla sp. nov.

( Fig. 11 )

Studied material. HOLOTYPE, MACN-En. 34205. Male, ARGENTINA: Salta, 10 km NO Comunidad Kolla de Los Naranjos ( Dto. Orán ), 1000m, VI-2007, 23º05’55.26’’S 64º43’38.37’’W, Carpintero coll. (MACN); PARATYPES: 1 male, 1 female, with same label data as the holotype ( MACN) .

Description. Male ( Fig. 11 A ). Measurements (n=2). Total length: 5.20 (5.36) 5.52; width: 3.27 (3.31) 3.36; head length: 1.18; width: 1.56 (1.57) 1.58; interocular space1.04: (1.05) 1.06; antennal segment lengths, I: 0.39; II: 0.45 (0.45) 0.46; III: 0.46 (0.46) 0.47; IV: 0.74; V: 0.82; pronotum length: 1.26 (1.30) 1.35; width at base: 3.25 (3.29) 3.34; scutellum length: 1.56 (1.62) 1.68; width: 1.94 (1.96) 1.99.

Medium-sized species, less than 6 mm in length. Dorsally orange-brown with basal lobe of pronotum, clavi and mesial margins of endocoria, greenish; head orange yellowish, unicolorous; Calli pale brown with a dark spot on each of them. Scutellum orange yellowish with two black blotches at base. Ventrally, similar coloration as in H. nitida .

Head. Wider than long (0.3 times), entirely covered by sparse, dark-brown punctures, which are more abundant between eyes. Antennal segment I nearly reaching apices of paraclypei, second segment slightly shorter than or subequal to third segment, and second and third segments taken together much shorter than fourth and fifth segments. Eyes small, slightly prominent, rounded laterally, their mesial and basal margins straight, their juncture angulate; ocelli rounded, larger than surface punctures, nearly contiguous with pronotum. Posterior margins of bucculae ending at level near centre of eyes. Labium reaching middle of mesosternum; labial segment I short, slightly surpassing posterior margins of bucculae, second segment longest, third segment shorter than second but slightly longer than fourth; third and fourth segments broadened.

Thorax. Pronotum subquadrangular, two and a half times wider than long, laterally without carinae ( Fig. 11 B ), humeral angles rounded; dorsal surface covered by sparse, strong, brown punctures; anterior and posterior margins of calli, and pronotal collar, smooth. Scutellum 20% wider than long, apically narrow, with uniform, disperse, brown punctures, except smooth sublateral margins and two small, ivory calli, one in each humeral angle. Hemelytra quite convex; clavi and coria densely punctured; membranes hyaline with a few weak, longitudinal veins. Thoracic sterna covered with dense brown punctures interspersed with some smooth patches. Legs concolorous with body, tibiae and tarsi with broad, suberect, golden hairs on their inner margins becoming more dense on their apical halves; second tarsal segment longer than first.

Abdomen. Connexival segments in dorsal and ventral views concolorous with body. Genitalia: Pygophore hairy along its margins, centrally punctured; ventral rim straight medially. Parameres narrow, quite curved, with basal portions apically black, gently curved; apex of each paramere somewhat rounded, not sharpened and touching each other ( Fig. 11 E ).

Female ( Fig. 11 A ): Measurements: (n=1) Total length: 5.72; width: 3.56; head length: 1.20; width: 1.65; interocular space: 1.11; antennal segment lengths, I: 0.36; II: 0.36; III: 0.42; IV: missing; V: missing; pronotum length: 1.44; width at base: 3.57; scutellum length: 1.71; width: 2.17.

Similar to male in coloration. Pendergrast’s organs present, large, well-developed, slightly dark-er than rest of the segment ( Fig. 11 C ). Genitalia: First gonocoxae elongate, wide, surfaces rugose; second gonocoxae small, each gonocoxite nearly triangular posteriorly; paratergites 8 narrow, short, widely rounded posteriorly; paratergites 9 subtriangular ( Fig. 11 D ).

Etymology. The specific name comes from “ kolla ” the ethnic group that inhabits the area where this species was found.

Distribution. ARGENTINA: Salta ( Fig. 10 ).

Host plant. Unknown.

Discussion. This species differs from H. johnpolhemi , its closest relative, by its smaller size and different coloration, especially by the presence of two dark spots on the base of the scutellum (in H. johnpolhemi , there is a continuous dark band on the base of the scutellum).

Figures

Fig. 11. Hellica kolla sp. nov. A. Female, dorsal view. B. Female, lateral view. C. Female, abdomen showing genitalia ventral view. D. Female, genitalia caudal view. E. Male, pygophore dorsal view. F. Metapleura.

Fig. 10. Map of the distribution of genus Hellica species.