Flexitibia, a new genus of Harpactorinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae), with a discussion on the functional morphology of fore legs of the related genera
Author
Zhao, Ping
Author
Pham, Minhlan
Author
Truong, Xuan Lam
Author
Cai, Wanzhi
text
Zootaxa
2014
3795
5
564
570
journal article
45778
10.11646/zootaxa.3795.5.5
1431b45b-cc7d-41d6-b708-3d664acc53f2
1175-5326
230495
B441E091-90A9-435E-9DB9-0A7CA57FCB9B
Flexitibia
gen. nov.
(
Figs. 1–10
,
14
)
Type
species.
Flexitibia orientalis
sp. nov.
Diagnosis.
Body elongate, abdomen laterally nearly parallel (
Fig. 1
). Head slightly shorter than pronotum (
Fig. 2
), with a spine behind base of antennal tubercle; postocular area subequal to anteocular in length, transversely impressed between eyes; first antennal segment nearly as long as hind tibia; first rostral segment distinctly longer than second and third segments combined (
Fig. 2
). Pronotum discally slightly bulging and conspicuously anteriorly declining, lateral margin nearly straight; collar processes obtuse; anterior pronotal lobe much smaller than posterior; disk of posterior lobe not depressed but anteriorly feebly bulgy, and two sides without lateral sulci (
Fig. 1
); lateral pronotal angles produced laterally, short spine-shaped, with a small denticle behind it; posterior and posterolateral margins nearly straight; scutellum somewhat long and subtriangular, apex posteriorly produced. Legs slender; femora apically with a pair of small spines; fore legs somewhat thickened, apical part of fore tibiae bent; apex of fore tibia with a small tubercle (
Fig. 14
). Fore wing membrane area large, inner cell longer than outer cell at base.
Distribution.
China
(Yunnan),
Vietnam
.
Etymology.
The new generic name alluded to its bent fore tibiae. Feminine.
Remarks.
The new genus and four closely related genera (
Camptibia
Cai & Tomokuni 2003
,
Rihirbus
Stål 1861
,
Brassivola
Distant 1904,
Agyrius
Stål 1863) have some common morphological characters in fore legs: the apical part of fore tibia is bent (
Figs. 11–15
), the apex of fore tibia with a small tubercle (
Figs. 11–14
). But in the new genus, the anterior pronotal lobe is distinctly shorter than 1/2 of posterior lobe, the pronotum is medianly discally feebly bulging and anteriorly declining, the femur apically with a pair of spines (vs. in the closely related genera, the anterior pronotal lobe is much larger, and the pronotum is distinctly transversely constricted and not bulging in middle, femur apically without a pair of spines (
Figs. 11–13, 15
)). The genera morphologically related to the new genus can be separated using the following key.