Abstract
Porcelloderes impenetrabilis gen. & sp. n. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Physoderinae) is described, based on males, females, and larvae from different localities in northeastern Tanzania. The new discovery extends the range of the subfamily (previously known from the Oriental Region and the Pacific, from Madagascar and neighbouring islands, and from Central and South America) to mainland Africa. In contrast to all previously described physoderine species, the new species is apterous, which is probably a result of neoteny; the neotenous aptery and its morphological consequences are discussed. The diagnosis of Physoderinae is extended in order to make it applicable to apterous taxa. In all examined specimens including larvae, the body surface is covered by a firm incrustation of soil, deposited between the long setigerous tubercles. This is the first record in the subfamily Physoderinae of camouflaging by application of material on the body, and the first report of such behaviour in the adult stage in Reduviidae.
Highlights
Physoderinae is a small subfamily within Reduviidae, which has an unusual geographic distribution
Among material collected in Tanzania, a series of a physoderine assassin bug representing a previously unknown genus and species were found and the bug is described in the present paper
All described members of Physoderinae are macropterous, brachypterous specimens probably representing an undescribed species of Physoderes have been deposited in some collections
Summary
Physoderinae is a small subfamily within Reduviidae, which has an unusual geographic distribution. Cryptophysoderes Wygodzinsky & Maldonado Capriles, 1972 and Leptophysoderes Weirauch, 2006, have been described from the New World: Panama and Ecuador, respectively. No species have been known to occur on the mainland of Africa so far (Maldonado Capriles 1990; Weirauch 2006a). Among material collected in Tanzania, a series of a physoderine assassin bug representing a previously unknown genus and species were found and the bug is described in the present paper. This discovery represents the first record of the subfamily from the African continent
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