Nanophysoderes Hwang & Weirauch 2017, gen. nov.

Nanophysoderes gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B90EE5D9-EDDB-419D-BFC1-141C9E42D4B4

Figs 10–11, 13; Appendix

Diagnosis

This genus is recognized among other genera of Physoderinae by the small size, the pair of prominent setigerous tubercles on the ventral surface of the postocular lobe, the lateral margins of the anterior pronotal lobe being almost straight and not curved, the semicircular shape of the scutellum, the scutellum having distinct paired lateral tubercles, the mesosternum having three longitudinal rows of setae and the armature of the fore femur consisting of two dense rows of setigerous tubercles. The genus is distinct from any other physoderine genus by the straight lateral margins of the anterior pronotal lobe, small size, uniform coloration, sparse setation over the entire body, paired projections on the scutellum, and the three longitudinal rows of setae on the mesosternum.

Etymology

The name combines Physoderes after the type genus of Physoderinae and the Latin noun “nanus”, meaning dwarf, to indicate small body size. The gender is feminine.

Type species

Physoderes dentiscutum Bergroth, 1906.

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. Small, total length 7.66 mm.

COLORATION (Figs 10–11; Nanophysoderes dentiscutum comb. nov.). Brown to straw brown. Head brown, neck straw brown. Antenna straw brown with brown suffusion. Labium straw brown. Pronotum brown, scutellum brown, pleuron brown, sternum brown. Corium of hemelytron brown, membrane brown. Legs straw brown. Abdomen yellow dorsally, straw brown ventrally with lateral brown suffusion, anterior half of connexivum brown, posterior half straw-colored, margin indistinct.

VESTITURE. Sparsely setose. Head with some flat, curved setae or with widespread short, fine, adpressed setae, ventral surface of postocular lobe with only a pair of prominent setigerous tubercles, with pair of long, straight setae wider apart on postocular lobe posterior to ocelli. Anterior lobe of thorax with irregular row of tuberculated, short, curved setae on lateral margins and fine, adpressed setae on dorsal surface, posterior lobe with only short, sparse setae. Corium of hemelytron with short, sparse, adpressed setae. Legs with two rows of setigerous tubercles, tibiae with regular rows of tuberculated, stout, sharp setae. Connexival margin of abdomen glabrous.

HEAD. Short conical; maxillary plate apically truncate; scape not reaching apex of clypeus; eye hemispherical in dorsal view, about 1/5 length of head, not attaining ventral margin of head in lateral view; height of anteocular lobe shorter than postocular lobe.

THORAX. Antero-lateral paired projections acute, diverging; surface of anterior lobe with low ridges; median pronotal depression contiguous with transverse sulcus; paramedian carina weakly defined; posterior lobe medially weakly rugose; anterior pronotal lobe shorter than posterior lobe, narrower than posterior lobe, anterior lobe lower than posterior lobe in lateral view; paramedian lobe bell-shaped and skewed towards median; scutellum semicircular, scutellar process long, with subacute apex; mesosternite without median irregular tuberculated protrusion between fore and mid coxae.

HEMELYTRON. Attaining tip of abdomen.

LEGS. Fore femur distinctly incrassate.

ABDOMEN. Elongate ovoid, with rounded terminal margin; connexival margin smooth, posterior margin not elevated.

Male

Unknown.

Ecology

Unknown.

Distribution

Known only from the locality of the holotype of the type species, which was labelled as “New Guinea ”.

Remarks

Based on the phylogeny, N. dentiscutum comb. nov. is sister to all other physoderines except for the Neotropical and Afrotropical species. The isolated placement of N. dentiscutum comb. nov. in the phylogeny and its distinct morphology warrant the decision to erect a new genus to accommodate this species. This genus is described based on a female specimen as no males are known.