Cydnotomus, Lis, 2000

Cydnotomus gen. n.

T ype s peci es: Cydnotomus australis sp. n.

Di a gnos is. In a general habitus, shape of scutellum and head vestiture the new genus is very similar to Australian Paranishadana J. A. Lis. Nevertheless , its representatives differ from species of the latter, as well as from all other Australian genera of Cydnini , in lateral margins of head flattened and clearly reflected upwards (in all remaining genera lateral margins are carinated, not reflected upwards).

D escripti on. Head ( Figs 2, 6). Large, semicircular, narrowed anteriorly; its lateral margins flattened and clearly refiected upwards; each paraclypeus with 3 primary setigerous punctures bearing hair-like setae, and a submarginal row of secondary setigerous punctures bearing a.Isa haiJ·­ like setae; pegs or peg-like setae absent; clypeus subapicalJy with a paiT of hair-like setae; eyes small, immersed in bead at least half an eye width, each eye with spical seta; ocelli small; bucculae very narrow al.ong their entire length; rostrum 4-segmented; antennae 5-segmented, 2nd segment cylindrical, 3rd and 4th club-shaped and slightly natteoed, 5th fusiform, 3rd segment with several long stout setae in its apical part.

Pro thorax. Pronotum broader than long, nru·­ rowed anteriorly, lateral margins carinated, dorsal submargins with numerous long hair-like selae (Fig. I), umbones distinctly swell.en and concealing postero-lateral angles; anterior margin broadly angularly emarginated; posterior margin broadly recurved, aJmost strai.ght only at the base of scutellum. Prosternal carinae very low, almost indistinct; anterior and posterior convexities of propleuron well developed, separated by deep depression.

Mesothorax. Scutellum broader than long, broadly triangular, its apex tongue-like (Fig. l); basal and lateral rows of punctures well developed, latters not reaching base and apex of a disc. Mesopleural evaporatorium large, triangular ( Figs 3, 7).

Metathorax. Hemelytra divided into clavus. meso- and exocorium; costa unseparated from exocorium, submarginally with numerous long hair-like setae; costal margin distinctly reflected downward; membrane large, membranal suture more or less bisinuated. Metapleural evaporatorium large, well visible. Apex of perilreme elongated, forming scimitar-shaped polished auricle ( Figs 3, 7).

Legs. Fore tibiae expanded distally, outer margins with strong spines (Fig. l); middle and posterior tibiae almost cylindrical, but somwhat llattened and totally unarmed on dorsal surface, ventra.1 surface with numerous strong spines and long setae; all femora with numerous long setae on margins (Fig. L).

Abdom e n. Segments with long setae along segmental sutures, and close to lateral margins; trichobothrial arrangement typical of the subfamily Cydninae . Male genital capsule large.

Etymo logy. Cydnotomus (gender: masculine) - a combination of two generic names already existed in the Cyclnidae, namely Cydnus and Geotomus .

Remarks. The new genus has an isolated position within Australian representatives of the tribe Cydnini ; it is the only genus with flattened and upcurved lateral margins of head. In respect to this character it is similar to u,e genus Nishadana Distant (bearing species distributed in the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions); the character is so unique among all Cydnini , that it,night be regarded as a synapomorpby for the group containing the two genera. Nevertheless, it is premature to judge its significance in defining relationships between genera, till whole Cydnidac arc revised cladistically al generic and tribal levels (J. A Lis, in prep.)