Two new genera of big-eyed minute litter bugs (Hemiptera, Schizopteridae, Hypselosomatinae) from Brazil and the Caribbean

Rochelle Hoey-Chamberlain,Christiane Weirauch

doi:10.3897/zookeys.640.9690

Abstract

Charismatic Hypselosomatinae (currently 14 extant and fossil genera; 72 species), the “big-eyed minute litter bugs”, are characterized among Schizopteridae (Dipsocoromorpha) by the large eyes, four-segmented labium, and distinctive wing venation. A recent molecular phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of Hypselosomatinae that were recovered as the sister taxon to the Ogeriinae + Schizopterinae (Weirauch and Štys 2014). Hypselosomatinae occur in the Old and New Worlds, but described species diversity is biased towards the Oriental and Australian regions: only three monotypic genera are currently known from the New World (Glyptocombus Heidemann, Ommatides Uhler, and Williamsocoris Carpintero & Dellapé). Based on 28 male, female, and juvenile specimens from Cuba and the Dominican Republic and a single male specimen from Brazil we here describe two new monotypic genera of Hypselosomatinae, Hypselosomops pecki gen. n. and sp. n., and Hypsohapsis takiyae gen. n. and sp. n. We provide habitus images, digital illustrations (light, scanning electron, and/or confocal microscope) of wing and male genitalic structures, line drawings of genitalic structures, and distribution maps. Bizarre morphologies, a worldwide distribution with small endemic species ranges, and a fossil record that dates back to the mid-Cretaceous make the Hypselosomatinae a fascinating group to explore in an effort to understand the evolutionary history of Dipsocoromorpha.

Highlights

Schizopteridae are tiny (1–3 mm) yet charismatic Heteroptera, the study of which is hampered by their cryptic habits and small size that make them rare in collections and difficult to examine
Based on our extensive specimen sorting efforts of Dipsocoromorpha with emphasis on Schizopteridae as part of the NSF-funded ARTS Litter Bug project, it has become clear that Hypselosomatinae are more widely distributed in the New World than previously documented and that a number of undescribed species remain to be described
The present contribution focuses on two new genus-level taxa, but descriptions of additional species are in progress and the analysis of molecular data will provide a phylogenetic framework for both New and Old World Hypselosomatinae (Hoey-Chamberlain and Weirauch, in prep.)

Summary

Introduction

Schizopteridae are tiny (1–3 mm) yet charismatic Heteroptera, the study of which is hampered by their cryptic habits and small size that make them rare in collections and difficult to examine. Emsley (1969) recognized Hypselosomatinae as a well-defined group in his schema of proposed relationships among Schizopteridae, and the only published phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of this group with high branch support, only four of the currently recognized 14 genera were represented in that analysis (Weirauch and Štys 2014). Despite the fact that Hill (1984) suspected that new taxa of hypselosomatines are unlikely to be discovered in South America, the recently described Williamsocoris was collected in Argentina. Based on examination of schizopterid specimens that we have assembled from various natural history collections and that include ~632 specimens of Hypselosomatinae, we have discovered a number of undescribed Hypselosomatinae from Central and South America, Africa, and the Indo–Pacific region. Future publications will focus on the remaining specimens from other localities that are likely new species of already described genera

Materials and methods

Discussion