Homoeusa translucida Nozaki & Maruyama, 2025

Homoeusa translucida Nozaki & Maruyama sp. nov.

Figs 3 A View Figure 3 , 4 A – I View Figure 4 , 5 A, B Japanese name: Sukashi-hirata-ariyadori View Figure 5

“ Homoeusa sp. 4 ”: Saitoh et al. 2017: 33, fig. 65 (recorded from Kanagawa-ken).

“ Oxypodini View in CoL ? sp. 2 ”: Nishida 2019: 135, fig. 11 (recorded from Saga-ken).

Material examined.

Holotype (Fig. 1 A View Figure 1 ) • ♂; “ Mt. Minoyama , Minano, ” / “ Saitama, Japan, alt. 500 - ” / “ 560 m; MC:5439-00-69 . ” / “ 21. V. 1999 M. UCHIDA ” ( KUM) . Paratypes. Japan: Hokkaido • 1 ♀; Nopporo Forest Park, Sapporo-shi ; 24. V. & 5. VI. 2008; Tomáš Lackner leg. ( NHMW) . Honshu: Kanagawa-ken • 1 ex.; Yakunimi-yama, Hadano-shi ; 10. V. 2013; O. Saitoh leg. ( KPMNH) • 1 ♀; same locality; 24. V. 2014; O. Saitoh leg. FIT ( KPMNH) • 1 ♂; same locality; 8. VI. 2014; O. Saitoh leg. FIT ( KPMNH) . Shimane-ken • 1 ex.; Urahikimi, Masuda-shi ; 6. VI. 1998; S. Nomura leg. ( KUM) . Okayama-ken • 1 ex.; Nagi-yama, Nagi-chô ; 17. V. 2005; W. Suzuki leg. ( KUM) . Shikoku: Ehime-ken • 1 ex.; Mt. Sara-ga-mine, Toon-shi ; 13. VII. 2008; Y. Yamauchi leg. ( EUMJ) . Kochi-ken • 1 ex.; Kajigamori, Ôtoyo-chô ; 20. V. 1951; M. Miyamoto leg. ( EUMJ) . Kyushu: Fukuoka-ken • 1 ex.; Takasubaru, Mt. Hikosan [ 33.4883, 130.9174], Soeda-machi ; 27. VI. 2021; TS. (Tsubasa) Nozaki leg. LUM ( KUM) GoogleMaps • 1 ex.; Bio. lab. KU. Mt. Hikosan, Soeda-machi ; 28. III – 27. IV. 2023; J. Abe leg. Malaise trap ( KUM) . Saga-ken • 1 ♂; Mt. Seira, Imari-shi ; 28. V. 1984; S. Nomura leg. ( KUM) • 1 ♂; Kurokami-yama, Arita-cho ; 18. V. 2018; M. Nishida leg. FIT ( KUM) .

Diagnosis.

This species can be easily distinguished from the other species of the genus by the following combination of characteristics: body color yellowish orange; pronotum strongly transverse ( PW / PL, 1.84–2.05), postero-lateral angle distinctly acute (Fig. 4 B View Figure 4 ); metaventral process weakly produced (Fig. 4 D View Figure 4 ); pronotum and elytra sparsely covered with modified stout setae (Fig. 4 B, C View Figure 4 ); median lobe of aedeagus apical lobe straight, apex round and slightly humped in lateral view, apical valves very large and cheliform (Fig. 4 G View Figure 4 ); spermatheca (Fig. 4 I View Figure 4 ) L-shaped, basal part very long. This species is slightly similar to H. gigantea sp. nov. in color but differs in its pronotal and setal shapes.

Description.

Body (Figs 3 A View Figure 3 , 5 B View Figure 5 ) small, broad; dorsal surface mostly polished.

Head large; color yellowish orange; eyes large. Antennae (Fig. 4 A View Figure 4 ) long; relative length of each antennal segment from first to 11 th, 2.48: 1.96: 1.39: 1.22: 1.04: 1.09: 1.00: 1.15: 1.15: 1.37: 3.26.

Thorax. Pronotum (Fig. 4 B View Figure 4 ) subrectangular, strongly transverse ( PW / PL, 1.84–2.05), widest near middle, postero-lateral angle distinctly acute, posterior margin distinctly sinuate, color yellowish orange, subtransparent, surface sparsely covered with modified stout setae and punctures, gently polished without reticulation. Elytra (Fig. 4 B, C View Figure 4 ) slightly widened posteriad, widest at middle, then narrowed roundly, posterior margins shallowly notched near lateral corners, color yellowish orange, subtransparent, surface sparsely covered with modified stout setae and punctures, gently polished without reticulation. Hind wings developed. Mesoventral process (Fig. 4 D View Figure 4 ) narrow, with weak medial carina, apex gently pointed, reaching posterior 1 / 3 of mesocoxal cavities, Metaventral process weakly produced.

Abdomen elongate, narrowed posteriad; surface sparsely covered with short setae and each posterior margin with long stout setae; covered with fine vertical furrows.

Male: 8 th sternite (Fig. 4 E View Figure 4 ) widely protruding at middle of posterior margin; median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 4 G View Figure 4 ) elongate, length about 0.57 mm, apical lobe straight, apex round and slightly humped in lateral view, apical valves large and cheliform, dorsal arms boot-shaped; basal part of copulatory piece very large and having claw-shaped projection, basal corner acutely pointed. Paramere (Fig. 4 H View Figure 4 ) length about 0.59 mm; apical lobe of paramere long, length over 1 / 3 of whole paramere, curved ventrally, slightly dilated apicad; four setae, c located a little more apically than b; velum narrow and membranous.

Female: 8 th sternite (Fig. 4 F View Figure 4 ) slightly protruding at the middle of posterior margin; spermatheca (Fig. 4 I View Figure 4 ) L-shaped, basal part very long, apex of basal part not swollen, base almost straight and only slightly swollen.

Measurements (in mm) and ratios.

Body parts (N = 10): BL ≈ 2.13–2.91; AL, 0.93–1.07; HW, 0.51–0.57; PL, 0.5–0.59; PW, 1–1.13; EL, 0.47–0.52; EW, 0.98–1.16; HTL, 0.69–0.76; PW / PL, 1.84–2.05; AL / PL, 1.69–1.95; HTL / PL, 1.29–1.46.

Distribution.

Japan (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu) (Fig. 5 A View Figure 5 ).

Symbiotic hosts.

Lasius umbratus species group: L. meridionalis (only single example).

Bionomics.

Two individuals were collected by FIT, and a single individual was collected by the malaise trap. The behavior with the host ants is unknown.

Remarks.

This species is relatively rare, and most specimens have no information regarding their host ants. However, a single specimen (Fig. 5 B View Figure 5 ) was collected with L. meridionalis using a bait trap set by TN under the stone where the ant trail was located.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Latin adjective, which means “ transparent ” and refers to the character of the pronotum of this new species.