Valdasus henryi, Wolski & Chérot & Carpintero, 2020

Valdasus henryi n. sp.

( Figures 5 View FIGURES 1–10 , 15 View FIGURES 11–27 , 30–32 View FIGURES 28–33 , 48–51 View FIGURES 40–51 , 61–64, 67, 68 View FIGURES 61–70 )

Examined specimens: Holotype ( ♂): Ecuador: Napo: Tiputini Biodiversity Station , 216 m, 00º37′55″S; 76º08′39″W, 22 Oct. 1998, Erwin, T. L. et al. leg.; Insecticidal fogging of mostly bare green leaves, some with covering of lichenous or bryophytic plants, Lot 1976, Transect T-8 ( USNM); 1♀: the same data as for holotype ( USNM). GoogleMaps

Diagnosis: Recognized by the following set of features: antennal segment I shorter than vertex width, with three dark brown annulations; clypeus strongly convex basally ( Fig. 31 View FIGURES 28–33 ); mesepimeron punctate ( Fig. 31 View FIGURES 28–33 ); scutellum convex medially ( Figs 30, 31 View FIGURES 28–33 ); mesofemur and mesotibia with setae longer than leg segment diameter ( Fig. 31 View FIGURES 28–33 ); left paramere with apical process furnished with distinct process dorsobasally ( Fig. 49 View FIGURES 40–51 ); endosoma furnished with four sclerites ( Fig. 48 View FIGURES 40–51 ); sclerotized ring unpaired, encircling bursa copulatrix, its basal inner portions connected by broad sclerite (s) ( Fig. 61, 63, 64 View FIGURES 61–70 ); sclerotized areas of ventral wall of bursa copulatrix well-developed ( Fig. 62 View FIGURES 61–70 ).

Description. Measurements. Holotype ( ♂): Body. Total length in dorsal view (from vertex apex to membrane apex): 5.0, total width hemelytra median: 2.0. Head. Vertex width in dorsal view: 0.4, head width across eyes in dorsal view: 1.0. Antenna. Length segment: I 0.4, II 1.9, III and IV missing. Labium. Length segment: I 0.4, II 0.7, III 0.6, IV 0.2. Pronotum. Length (including collar): 0.8, posterior width (between humeral angles): 1.9. Scutellum. Length (including mesoscutum): 0.9, anterior width: 1.1. Cuneus. Length: 0.7, width: 0.4.

Paratype ( 1♀): Body. Total length in dorsal view (from vertex apex to membrane apex): 5.8, total width hemelytra median: 2.6. Head. Vertex width in dorsal view: 0.5, head width across eyes in dorsal view: 1.0. Antenna. Length segment: I 0.4, II 1.9 , III 3.0, IV missing. Labium. Length segment: I 0.5, II 0.8, III 0.5, IV 0.2. Pronotum. Length (including collar): 0.9, posterior width (between humeral angles): 2.2. Scutellum. Length (including mesoscutum): 1.1, anterior width: 1.2. Cuneus. Length: 0.7, width: 0.4 .

Male. COLORATION. Head. Fuscous tinged with yellow; first antennal segment yellow with three dark brown annulations situated basally, medially, and apically; second segment dark yellow on basal half and dark brown on apical half, apex with narrow, yellow annulation; third and fourth segments missing; labium dark brown ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 1–10 , 15 View FIGURES 11–27 ). Thorax. Pronotum, mesoscutum and scutellum. Uniformly black; scutellum with small, yellow patch apically. Thoracic pleura. Black; evaporative area of metepisternum dark brown, ventral portion dark yellow. Hemelytron. Black; outer angle of exocorium and basal part of cuneus yellow; membrane fuscous, veins dark brown. Legs. Procoxa dark castaneus, narrowly yellow apically; meso- and metacoxae yellow; trochanters yellow; pro- and mesofemora dark castaneus; profemur with broad, yellow annulation subapically; mesofemur with two broad annulations: one situated basally and other subapically; pro- and mesotibiae dark castaneus with two broad annulations: on situated basally and other subapically ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 1–10 ). Abdomen. Dark brown dorsally, laterally and ventrally. TEXTURE AND VESTITURE. Head. Covered with dense, long, erect setae; antennal segment I shiny, with several stiff setae; segment II shiny, covered with fine, sparse, semi recumbent setae, becoming longer on apical half ( Figs 15 View FIGURES 11–27 , 31 View FIGURES 28–33 ). Thorax. Pronotum. Collar covered several fine, erect setae. Mesoscutum and scutellum. Mesoscutum impunctate medially, punctate laterally. Thoracic pleura. Covered with long, erect setae; proepisternum impunctate; proepimeron deeply and densely punctate; mesepisternum rugose, mesepimeron rugopunctate; metepisternum rugose. Hemelytron. Covered with long, erect setae; margin of exocorium with well-developed spine near base. Legs. All coxae, protibia and pro- and mesofemora covered with long, erect and semi recumbent setae, not longer than diameter of these segments; mesotibiae covered with long, erect and semi recumbent setae, longer than diameter of leg segments, shorter on apical part ( Figs 5 View FIGURES 1–10 , 30, 31 View FIGURES 28–33 ). STRUCTURE. Head. Clypeus strongly convex near base; antennal segment I broadly widened medially, shorter than width of vertex; segment II weakly curved, thin, much thinner than first segment; labium reaching mesocoxae ( Figs 15 View FIGURES 11–27 , 30, 31 View FIGURES 28–33 ). Thorax. Scutellum. Medial part strongly convex. Thoracic pleura. Covered with long, erect setae; proepisternum impunctate; proepimeron deeply and densely punctate; mesepisternum rugose, mesepimeron rugopunctate; metepisternum rugose, peritreme oval, moderately raised evaporative areas. Hemelytron. Margin of exocorium with well-developed spine near base ( Figs 5 View FIGURES 1–10 , 30, 31 View FIGURES 28–33 ). Genitalia. Endosoma furnished with four sclerites, sclerotized, distal part of ductus seminis inside endosoma weakly developed, secondary gonopore rather narrow, with distinct microsculpture ( Fig. 48 View FIGURES 40–51 ); left paramere C-shaped, apical process furnished with distinct process dorsobasally ( Figs 49, 50 View FIGURES 40–51 ); right paramere sickle-shaped, apical process relatively long ( Figs 51 View FIGURES 40–51 ).

Female. Similar in coloration, structure, texture, and vestiture. Body slightly bigger and more oval. Genitalia. Bursa copulatrix ovoid; sclerotized ring unpaired, encircling bursa copulatrix, its basal inner portions connected by broad sclerite (s); lateral oviduct relatively long; sclerotized areas of ventral wall of bursa copulatrix well-developed (sv) ( Figs 61–64 View FIGURES 61–70 ).

Etymology. It gives us a great pleasure to dedicate this new species to Dr. Thomas J. Henry for his many outstanding contributions to the study of the Heteroptera .

Biology. Collected using insecticidal fogging of mostly bare green leaves, some with covering of lichenous or bryophytic plants.

Distribution. Ecuador ( Napo).

Discussion. Valdasus henryi n. sp. can be separated from the other species of the genus by the following combination of characters: Size relatively reduced (total length about 5 mm), pronotum and embolium evenly coloured, dark, similar in color to clavus and corium, endosoma with four sclerites and the shape of the female genitalia