Micronecta paragoga Tinerella 2013, sp. nov.

Micronecta paragoga Tinerella, sp. nov.

(Figs. 16–19)

Diagnosis: General facies similar to Austronecta gen. nov., however, distinguished by the small size, ovate body form (brachypters), broadly infuscated hemelytral patterning (Figs. 16a–b), and unique male genitalia (Figs. 18a–f). The combination of the prothoracic lobe (Fig. 17a) and metaxyphus (Fig. 17b) will serve to separate females.

Size: (Table 7). Brachypterous form: 1.79–1.94. Macropterous form: 2.28–2.32.

Derivation of specific epithet: From the Greek paragogos, meaning misleading, in reference to my original misplacement of the species based on the superficial similar appearance with Austronecta gen. nov.

Notes on type material: Holotype (♂): AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: GPS Millstream, Chichester National Park, Palm Pool. 21.34S; 117.03E. 1-V-2003. T. Weir. [ANIC]; Paratypes: Northern Territory: 10 mi E Daly River. 28-VI-1972. Light. B. K. Head. (9♀♀). [SAMA]; Western Australia: GPS Millstream, Chichester National Park, Palm Pool. 21.34S; 117.03E. 1-V-2003. T. Weir. (1♂, 2♀♀). [ANIC]; Western Australia: PSW 021, Pelican Pool, Pilbara. 9-IX-2003. J. M. McRae. (4♂, 4♀♀). [PPTC]; same data. (1♂, 1♀). [JTPC].

Description: Based on brachypterous form. Two macropterous females examined and measured, and noted below as [macropterous]; measurement data are included in Table 7. Measurements. Length: male 1.79–1.86; female 1.91–1.94 [2.28–2.32]; Width: male 0.97–1.05; female 1.11–1.17 [1.20–1.24]; Width of head: male 0.58–0.64; female 0.72–0.79 [0.86–0.90]; Synthlipsis: male 0.30–0.36; female 0.33–0.38 [0.39–0.40]; Width of eye: male 0.12–0.17; female 0.17–0.19 [0.22–0.23]; Width of pronotum: male 0.58–0.62; female 0.66–0.69 [0.74–0.76]; Length of pronotum: male 0.14–0.17; female 0.16–0.18 [0.27–0.33].

Color: Ground color yellowish-brown (Figs. 16a–b). Head same color, eyes dark reddish-brown. Vertex unicolorous dark brown, with central darker longitudinal area. Frons and clypeus lighter brown, labium with restricted dark brown area apically. Clypeogenal area light brown, with sparse, small punctations. Antennae pale. Pronotum dark brown, with paler narrow apical band spanning width, lateral margins paler. Hemelytra: clavus and medial corial areas darkened, medial portion of corium pale yellow and apical portion darker. Clavus with broadened paler diagonal area basally, remaining portions of clavus unicolorous. Smooth, transverse microsculpturing present over entire hemelytron with microsculptuirng less dense over ill-developed membrane areas. Defined membrane lacking in both wing morphs. Scutellum short, same color as pale diagonal basal bands of clavus. Embolium of brachypterous form developed, with very short diagonal nodal furrow, not reaching middle portion of embolium. Embolium widened along length, apex triangulate. Embolium of macropterous form welldeveloped and divided by prominent nodal suture which nearly reaches outer wing margin. Prenodal embolar area long and broad, postnodal embolar area short with apex triangulate; terminus not well-defined. Embolar areas with broad infuscation over entire length. Venter dark brown with apical portions of middle and hind legs paler. Natatorial setae of metatarsus not exceptionally darkened.

Structural charactersitics: Ratio of body length/width: males 1.80; females 1.77. Head slightly larger in width to pronotum, interocular space greater than width of eye. Ocular index: males 2.41; females 1.74. General facies of head (vertex, frons, and labium) very short. Antennae densely pilose, segments one and two very short, third segment long, sides sub-parallel, apex rounded. Pronotum short in brachypters, anterior margin triangular, with produced carina. Posterior margin truncate, medial portion widest with lateral margins very narrow, tapering and squared. Pronotum well-developed in macropters, anterior carina ill-developed, apical and basal margins rounded. In brachypters, pronotum averaging 3.5 times as wide as long (W/L: males 0.60/0.15; females 0.71/0.22) and 2.5 times as wide as long (female: 0.76/0.33) in the examined macropters. Prothoracic lobe short, broader, with anterior margin square, lower margin angled and posterior margin narrowly rounded (Fig. 17a). Hemelytra with smooth, transverse microscupturing throughout, short spine-like setae densely distributed over clavus, corium, and membrane. Metathoracic wings very short in brachypters, reaching nearly to abdominal segment V; wings of the examined macropters (females) were fully developed, reaching nearly to apex of hemelytra. Lateral spines on abdominal segments IV–VIII: IV: one stout, short spine, two long, thin setae; V: two stout, short setae, one long, stout seta; VI: two short, stout spines, one medium, stout spine, one long, thin seta; VII: two short, stout spines, one long, stout spine, one long, thin seta; VIII: seven stout, short spines, two long, thin setae. Metaxyphus of both sexes very short, lateral margins straight, apex produced and broadly rounded (Fig. 17b).

(M= macropterous). L= length, LP= length of pronotum, W= body width, WH= width of head, S= synthlipsis, WE= width of an eye, WP= width of pronotum, L:W= ratio body length to width, S:E= ratio of synthlipsis to eye width, OcI= ocular index.

Male foreleg (Fig. 17c): femur with two short, stout spines in basal third near ventral surface, with two thin setae adjacent and four to five setae on medio-ventral surface. One larger spine in apico-medial portion. Tibia with two large spines near ventral surface. Pala with two long setae dorsally; palmar area with eight short spinules in upper row and eight spine-like setae in lower row; ventral row setae robust, more pronounced than dorsal row. Apex of pala with a long thickened seta. Palar claw (Fig. 17d) narrow, strap-like, sides parallel, apical portion with recurved area. Female foreleg with same general setal arrangement as male. Mesotarsal claws short, about onefourth the length of mesotarsus.

Lateral lobes of abdominal tergum IV short, truncate, and asymmetric. Right lobe only slightly longer, with nine to ten setae, left lobe with about six long, evenly spaced apically placed setae. Prestrigilar flap of tergal segment V as in Figure 17e. Strigil small, rectangular, with combs densely packed. Median lobe of sternite VII (Fig. 17f) longer, narrowed, with two longer setae restricted sub-basally, apex pointed, narrowly rounded. Free lobe of tergite VIII (Fig. 17g) broad, outer lobe broadly rounded with five to seven setae of varying lengths placed in upper portion of angle, basal portion of lobe broad, inner angle produced, with 18–24 long setae. Pars stridens processus cleaner ridges of tergite VIII not examined. Male left paramere (Figs. 18a–e) short, base widened, lower lobe rounded, and shaft parallel-sided (Figs. 18a–d), tip rounded, with scooped-out area (Figs. 18c–e). Right paramere (Figs. 18a–e) with long, convexly curved shaft, nearly parallel-sided, and constricted medially, tip expanded with short apical hook (Figs. 18a–e). Base broadly quadrate (Fig. 18f), rear margin emarginate. Pars stridens processus restricted to lower portion of base, plectral ribs wide, numbering about 25 (Fig. 18f). Aedeagus short, broad.

Distribution and Habitat: (Fig. 19). AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory, Western Australia. Specimens recorded from lights (9♀♀) were all macropterous.

Discussion: General facies of the species is similar to Austronecta, however, the male pala is diagnostic, as are the the sternal process of abdominal segment VII and the free lobe of abdominal tergite VIII. Further, the genitalia of M. paragoga are similar in form to those of the M. annae species group, including the apical scales of the left paramere and general form of the right paramere. The species is likely only to be confused with taxa of Austronecta, however, it is readily separated by the discussed characters.