A synopsis of Martarega White, 1879 (Insecta: Heteroptera: Notonectidae) occurring in the Brazilian Amazonia, with descriptions of three new species
Author
Barbosa, Julianna Freires
Author
Ribeiro, José Ricardo Inacio
Author
Nessimian, Jorge Luiz
text
Journal of Natural History
2012
2012-05-31
46
17 - 18
1025
1057
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2011.651645
journal article
10.1080/00222933.2011.651645
1464-5262
5199782
Martarega mcateei
Jaczewski, 1928
(
Figures 11A–D
, 14B)
Martarega mcateei
Jaczewski, 1928: 134
[
Brazil
].
Martarega mcateei
:
Truxal 1949: 17
[
Brazil
].
Martarega mcateei
:
Fittkau 1977: 16
(tab.2) [
Brazil
].
Martarega mcateei
: Mazzucconi 2008: 215
[
Argentina
].
Martarega mcateei
:
Mazzucconi et al. 2008: 61
[
Argentina
].
Martarega mcateei
:
Heckman 2011: 492
[South America].
No specimens were collected in the regions sampled.
Martarega mcateei
is not a common species and it is confined to the central-southern South America (Figure 14B), with one record from Amazon Region (
Fittkau 1977
). In addition, this species is relatively uncommon in collections, possibly because of its geographical range, which encompasses the infrequently visited regions. According to
Truxal (1949)
, almost all the
types
of
M. mcateei
were destroyed, except for a single female housed at the collection of C.O. Bare (Museo de La Plata).
According to the original description by
Jaczewski (1928)
, this species is similar to
M. uruguayensis
, but it is longer, more robust and has a shorter ocular commissure. The hemelytral appearance of the macropterous forms of both species is very similar. However, females of the two species may be separated by their greatly differing hind femora. In
M. mcateei
they are not emarginated along their bases.
Here evidence is provided that the female specimens of
M. mcateei
studied by
Nieser (1970)
were erroneously identified. The description by
Nieser (1970)
states clearly that the previously female specimens of
M. mcateei
present hind femora emarginated at their bases, whereas
Jaczewski (1928)
described such female specimens as having hind femora not emarginated. Taken together, the aforementioned comments are consistent with only one conclusion: that Nieser’s description of “female specimens of
M. mcateei
” in fact refers to female specimens of
M. uruguayensis
.