Geotomus ocellatus, Lis, 2000

Lis, J. A., 2000, A review of the Australian species of Geotomus Mulsant et Rey, 1866, with descriptions of three new species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae), Polish Journal of Entomology 69 (4), No. 4, pp. 411-428 : 424-427

Geotomus ocellatus sp. n.

Figs. 18, 21, 27

Description

Body. Elongated, about 1.9-2.0 times longer than broad, in a general appearance similar to G. gracilipes, but puncturation of its dorsal surface denser than that of the latter; head and pronotum black, scutellum blackish brown, corium, antennae, rostrum, and legs more castaneous than remaining body parts; length 4.65-5.20 mm, width 2.38-2.87 mm.

Head. Conspicuously elongated in outline ( Fig. 18); dorsal surface densely punctured, clypeus impunctate in its anterior two thirds; gular plate wrinkled in anterior half, the posterior half coarsely punctured; bucculae entirely wrinkled, punctured only basally; clypeus free, as long as or slightly shorter than paraclypei, broadened apically do a degree and without subapical setigerous punctures ( Fig. 18); each paraclypeus with two primary setigerous punctures bearing long hair-like setae, preocular primary setigerous puncture absent, submargins of paraclypeus with a single secondary setigerous puncture bearing long hair-like seta ( Fig. 18); eyes triangular, very narrow ( Fig. 18), reddish black to blackish brown, ocular index 4.50-7.50; ocelli small, brown or dark brown; rostrum surpassing middle coxae, usually reaching or almost reaching the posterior ones; 2 nd antenna! segment 1.1-1.3 times longer than the 3 rd •

Prothorax. Pronotum subrectangular in outline, about I.5 l-1.66 times broader than long; pronotal disc densely punctured with coarse punctures as large as those on head, calla! areas clearly visible, impunctate, sometimes medially punctured; anterior and posterior part of a disc with numerous longitudinal wrinkles; anterior margin deeply insinuated behind head, as in G. katakadioides; lateral margins with 3-4 submarginal setigerous punctures bearing long hair-like setae. Prosternal carinae well-developed, coarsely punctured; anterior convexity of propleuron coarsely punctured in its anterior half, posterior convexity of propleuron almost impunctate, bearing only a few large punctures, propleural depression with a row of few coarse punctures and wrinkles.

Mesothorax. Scutellum densely punctured with punctures slightly larger than those on pronotum, basal angles impunctate, scutellar apex elongated, tongue-like. Mesopleural evaporatorium large, similar to that of G. karakadioides, reaching anterior and lateral margins of the pleuron, anterior part of mesopleuron distinctly coarsely punctured.

Metathorax. Corium almost entirely evenly punctured, punctures of same size as or larger than those on scutellar disc; clavus with one complete and one or two incomplete rows of punctures; mesocorial disc almost evenly punctured; exocorium depressed, punctured; mesocorium and exocorium separated almost along their entire length by elevated vein R+M; costa moderately flattened, not separated from exocorium, costal margins without setigerous punctures; membranal suture almost straight; membrane narrower than corium, semihyaline, from pale brown to dark brown, bearing paler patches and bands.Metapleural evaporatorium large, triangular, remaining parts of metapleuron coarsely punctured as in G.ka1akadioides; apex of peritreme lobe-like, alutaceous, slightly polished.

Legs. Anterior tibiae sl ightly expanded apically, laterally with a few strong spines; posterior tibia almost cylindrical, bearing strong spines on lateral margins.

Abdomen. Sterna sparsely, coarsely punctured and longitudinally grooved in lateral thirds, except laminated outmost lateral margins. Ventral surface of male pygophore coarsely punctured; aedeagus with theca strongly sclerotized, ductus seminis very long, longer than theca, second conjunctiva! appendages elongated, apically narrowed ( Fig. 2 1), paramere narrow ( Fig. 27).

Type material examined

Holotype male: Northern Territory: N.T. Blast site camp., Fossil area on Camfield Station , 16 Sep. 1985, I. Archibald ( NTM).

Paratypes: Northern territory: 2 males 2 females, N.T. Blast site camp., Fossil area on Camfield Station , 16 Sep. 1985, I. Archibald (2 paratypes in NTM, 2 paratypes in UO) ; 3 females, N.T. 'Alroy Downs' Station, 19.18'S 136.04'E, 5 Mar 1980, G. Gow & P. Homer (2 paratypes in NTM, l paratype in UO) ; 4 females, N.T. 'Frewena' Road House , 19.25'S 135.24'E, 25 Feb - 4 Mar 1980, P. Horner & G. Gow (3 paratypes in NTM, 1 paratype in UO) ; l female, N.T. Frewena/Rockhampton Downs Road , l-X-1976, R. Pengilley ( NTM) ; 1 female, N.T. 4.8 km S of Renner Springs , 8 Mar. 1966, at UV light, N. McFarland ( SAM) ; Queensland: l male, Hughendon , Q: A. M. Lea ( SAM) .

Comparative notes

G. ocellatus sp. n. belongs to the group of species in which the clypeus is lacking subapical setigerous punctures. Within the group of previously known species it is similar, as the other two newly described species, to G. gracilipes , and it can easily be separated from the latter by the costal margins devoid of setigerous punctures, as well as by its opague dorsal body surface. In respect to the latter G. ocellatus is closely related to G. katakadioides sp. n. and G. ocellatus sp. n., from which it can easily be separated using characters given in the key for species identification.

Etymology

The name of the new species is connected with its small both ocelli and eyes.