Schiodtella africana

Lis, Jerzy A., 2000, Schiodtella africana sp. n. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae), the first African representative of the genus, Polskie Pismo Entomologiczne 69, No. 3, pp. 263-266 : 264-266

Schiodtella africana sp. n.

(Figs. 1 -3)

Diagnosis

The new species is very similar to Indonesian S. javana (J. A. LIS) in body habitus and its vestiture; both species have also almost identical head shape, ocular index, and length of tarsal segments.

They can easily be separated on the basis of a number of suhmargjnal spines (peg-like setae) on each paraclypeus (l l-I 2 in S. afiicana — Figs. l, 7- 9 in Sjavana — Fig. 4), and a number of setae on costal margins (5 › 6 in S. africana, 3 -4 in S. juvuna). Moreover, spines on the outer margin of middle tibia and on the corbicle of posterior tibia are more numerous and stouter in S. qnmna (Figs. 2 -3), whereas they are less numerous and slender in S. jızvana (Figs. 5 -6).

Additionally, female of S. afrícana is somewhat larger than females of S. javana (body length 6.54 mm and 5.25-6.25 mm, respectively).

Description

Body yellowish brown. with apices of anterior tibiae, tibial spines, and margins of head dark brown. Body length 6.54 mm, body width 3.86 mm.

Head slightly transversely grooved in its posterior half; clypeus narrowed apically, clearly shorter than paraclypei (Fig. l), subapically with a pair of spines (peg-like setae); each paraclypeus with 11 - 12 marginal crenulations bearing sharp spines (peg-like setae); eyes red, small, ocular index 5.33; ooelli yellow, interooellar distance about 5.8 times a distance of an oeellus from the eye, ocellar index 7.0; antennae 4-segmented, length of segments (in mm) 0.19 0.31 0.22 0.36; rostrum very short, only slightly surpassing anterior coxae.

Pronotum with numerous colourless punctures, calli impunctate, posterior pan of prenatal disc with shallow transverse rugae; anterior margins medially insinuated, lataally with 4 -5 setigerous punctures bearing hair-like setas; lateral margins with 14- 18 setigerous punctures bearing long hair-like same; margins of postero-lateral pronotal angles without submarginal setigerous punctures.

Scutellum very broad, only 1.1 times longer than broad, its surface almost impunctate, bearing weak, but clear visible transverse rugae, apical part punctured with few very small punctures.

Cerium sparsely and shallowly punctured; clavus with two hardly visible rows of shallow punctures. basally bearing 2 hair-like setae; mesocorium with two rows of shallow punctures paralleling clavmcorial suture; costal margins flattened, and with 5 -6 setigerous punctures bearing long hainlike setae; membrane semihyaline. slightly embrowned, distinctly surpassing the tip of abdomen.

Anterior tibiae strongly reeurved apically, and bearing 6-7 long spines On vmrral margins; middle tibiae broadened. bearing numerous strong setae and spines on outer margins (Fig. 2); posterior tibiae with numerous long spines on the corhicle (Fig. 3); all tarsi present, long; first tarsal segment of fore legs longer than the second and third segments together.

Type material

Holotype female: [ Congo-Brazzaville]: Congo Franc., env. de Brazzaville, M'Bamou , Montezer 1903, Muséum Paris ( MNHN).

Remarks

The new species can easily be distinguished from another Afrotropical representative of the tribe Scaptoeorini [Afrompus bocugei (DE CARVJ] on the basis of a presence of spines (peg-like setae) on head margins and hind tarsi (spines on head margins and hind tarsi are absent in the latter). A detailed key to all the gama of Cephalocteinae was presented in my previous paper ( Lıs 1999 a).