Curicta johnpolhemi Keffer, 2000

Curicta johnpolhemi Keffer, 2000 View in CoL

Figs. 4 View Figure 4 A-F, 5

Curicta johnpolhemi Keffer,2000 View in CoL , 107:145–148 (Original description); Moreira et al., 2011: 48–49 View Cited Treatment (List of species and distribution).

Diagnosis – This species can be recognized by the following characteristics: It is the smallest species within the genus, featuring two profemoral teeth ( Fig. 4D View Figure 4 ), and the prominent carinae on abdominal tergum VII are connected, forming a dome ( Fig. 4A–B View Figure 4 ) ( Keffer, 2000).

Supplemental description – Specimens examined: 39 females and 31 males including the holotype: Body length, 16.1; profemur length, 5.0; siphon, 8.5 ( Fig. 4A View Figure 4 ). Additional females: Body length, 16.0–17.3; profemur length, 5.0–6.3; siphon, 8.5–9.5.Female genitalia. Gonapophysis-1 elongate, with dorsal angles formed more anterior than posterior, well-sclerotized.In lateral view, gonapophysis-1 subtriangular, also well-sclerotized. Gonapophysis-2 dorsomedially convex, lanceolate ( Fig.4F View Figure 4 ), flattened basally, slightly convex medially, projecting posteriorly beyond posterior margin of gonapophysis-1 ( Fig.4F View Figure 4 ). Description of male ( Fig. 4 View Figure 4 B-E): Body length, 15.0–16.5 ( Fig. 4B View Figure 4 ); length profemur, 5.0–5.8; siphon, 8.0–9.0. Color dark-brown. Head: Eye width 0.3× interocular distance. Vertex broadly convex; without median longitudinal carina. Lobe of antennal segment II less than 0.5× length of segment III. Thorax: Elongate pronotum; lateral length 1.7× posterior width.Lateral margins parallel at middle and diverging posteriorly and anteriorly. Transverse furrow incomplete. Median longitudinal furrow very shallow; obsolete in posterior 2/3. Median longitudinal ribs rounded. Lateral longitudinal furrows shallow. Lateral longitudinal ribs rounded. Granulations on median furrow and humeral lobes.Posteroventral extension of pronotum located on ventral midline at junction of prosternum and mesosternum. Width of scutellum less than its length with indistinct tridentate pattern; longitudinal section of lateral serrations appears convex medially. Procoxa 0.50× profemoral length. Two profemoral teeth ( Fig. 4D View Figure 4 ); distance from base of femur to tip of anteroventral profemoral tooth 0.52× total length of profemoral. Profemur moderately convex beyond profemoral teeth. Single row of cusps in profemoral groove in distal two-thirds, with no teeth in groove distally ( Fig. 4E View Figure 4 ). When extended posteriorly, metafemur extends only to posterior margin of sternum VI. Lateral margins of hemelytra subparallel from apex of scutellum to base of membranes, narrower anteriorly and posteriorly. Metathoracic wings fully developed with Mp and CuA veins converging in posterior third of wing. Prominent carina on bilateral plates of last abdominal tergum (VII), forming a convex arc in distal two-thirds, reaching its highest elevation along midline, and appearing tomentose distally. Abdomen: Parasternum of last segment without distal processes. Posterior margin of operculum extending beyond distal margin of parasternum. Male genitalia: Parameres elongate and curved inward apically.

Note – The species C. johnpolhemi was previously known from only a single female; the holotype was described from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.Through the collection of both sexes from various streams and by correlating them with the previously described female, as well as comparing them with the holotype, it became feasible to describe the male.

Material examined – BRAZIL, • 3♂, 10♀; Maranhão, Caxias, Areia Branca stream, APA– Inhamum , 04º53’55.4” S 43º25’24.9” W, 29 Oct. 2011 / 28 Feb.2012 / 08 Mar.2013 / 27 Feb. 2014 / 30 Apr.2014 / 28 May. 2015 / 06 Aug. 2015 GoogleMaps ; • 1♂; same locality, Inhamum stream, 04º53’55” S 43º25’60” W, 02 Nov. 2011, G. Gomes leg. GoogleMaps , • 1♂, 4♀; same collection data as for preceding, 27 Mar. 2012 / 07 Mar. 2013 GoogleMaps ; • 1♂; same locality, Buriti stream, APA– Buriti do Meio , 4°54’54” S 43°6’46.8” W, 02 Oct. 2017 GoogleMaps ; • 1♂, 1♀; same locality, Lamego stream, 4°49’01.3” S 43°20’38.1” W, 15 Jan. 2015, J. Campos leg. GoogleMaps ; • 1♀; same locality, Lagoa Merim, APA– Inhamum , 04°53’55.5” S 43°26’25.1” W, 26 Jul. 2013 GoogleMaps ; • 1 ♂; same locality, Olarias stream, 04°57’44.4” S 43°07’37.1” W, 04 Oct. 2013 GoogleMaps ; • 1♂, 1♀; Primavera stream, 4°50’56.4” S 43°29’42” W, 12 Aug. 2022 GoogleMaps ; • 2♀; same locality, Riachão stream, 4°56’8.59” S 43°21’26.65” W, 26 Mar. 2012 / 20 Jun. 2013 GoogleMaps ; • 1♀; same locality, Soledade stream, APA– Inhamum , 04°53’28.1” S 43°25’52.3” W, 28 Jul. 2010, D. Gomes leg. GoogleMaps ; • 1♂; same collection data as for preceding, 28 Jun. 2014 GoogleMaps ; • 2♂, 2♀; same locality, Inhamum stream, 4°53’52.8” S 43°25’58.8” W, 05 Jul. 2011 / 06 Jan. 2012 GoogleMaps ; • 1♂, 3♀; Sumidouro stream, APA– Inhamum , 4°53’24” S 43°25’55.2” W, 29 Jul. 2010 / 10 Oct. 2010 GoogleMaps ; • 1♂, 1♀; same collection data as for preceding, 13 Jul. 2011 / 19 Oct. 2011 GoogleMaps ; • 14♂ and 9♀; 25 Mar. 2012 / 22 Nov. 2013 / 01 Jul. 2014 / 01 Dec. 2014 / 20 Feb. 2015 / 18 Mar. 2015; • 1♂; same collection data as for preceding, 11 May. 2017 GoogleMaps ; • 4♀, 1♂; same collection, Carolina, Mansinha stream, 7°08’07.7” S 47°26’07.3” W, 31 Jan. 2022, C.L. Franco leg; • 1♀; same collection, Codó, Buriti Corrente stream, 4°45’7.2” S 43°39’57.6” W, 18. Aug. 2021 GoogleMaps ; • 1♀; same collection data as for preceding, Baixa Grande stream, 4°45’15.45”S 43°39’20.3”W, 29 Sep. 2022 GoogleMaps ; • 1♀; same collection, Mirador, Riachão stream, 04°56’9.2” S 43°21’26.30” W, 29 Jul. 2018 GoogleMaps , • 1♂; same collection, São João do Sóter, Pedras stream, 4°58’55.2” S 43°37’33.6” W, 17 Jul.2015 GoogleMaps ; • 1♂, 1♀; PARNA Nascentes do Parnaíba, Cachoeira grande, Riozinho River , 9°49’12.9” S 46°16’19.2” W, 12 Set. 2023 GoogleMaps , F. Stefanello, 2023 leg.

Distribution – Brazil: Minas Gerais ( Keffer, 2000), Maranhão (this work) ( Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ).

Note – This represents the first record of Curicta johnpolhemi outside the type locality and the first records from the state of Maranhão and northeastern Brazil. This species appears to inhabit the Cerrado biome but remains poorly collected in other sites .