Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania: Hic sunt Aenictopecheidae. The first genus and species of Afrotropical Aenictopecheidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Enicocephalomorpha)

Abstract

A new genus and species of Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Enicocephalomorpha: Aenictopecheidae: Aenictopecheinae, Ulugurocoris grebennikovi gen. et sp. n., based on micropterous females from Tanzania, Uluguru Mts, Budunki, is described and differentiated. The males are probably macropterous. Some general aspects of morphology of U. grebennikovi are discussed in a broader context, such as presence of cephalic trichobothria (suggested to be a groundplan character of Heteroptera), presence of "gular sulci" (suggested to have an ecdysial function), lack of cephalic neck (symplesiomorphy with other Hemiptera), presence of posterior lobe of pronotum associated with the epimeroid (a new term for so called "proepimeral lobe"), and presence of notopleural sulcus on the propleuron. Diagnostic characters of the Aenictopecheinae are summarized and distribution of their seven genera is reviewed. Ulugurocoris grebennikovi is the first representative of the basal family Aenictopecheidae in the Afrotropical Region. The type locality is situated in the Eastern Arc Mountains (Tanzania), a recently identified hotspot of Afrotropical diversity characterized by a high degree of endemism caused by high rates of speciation combined with low rates of extinction. A brief characterization of the area is provided.

Keywords

• hemiptera
• heteroptera
• enicocephalomorpha
• aenictopecheidae
• ulugurocoris grebennikovi gen. n. et sp. n.
• taxonomy
• morphology
• epimeroid (new term)
• true bug
• afrotropical region
• tanzania
• eastern arc mountains
• distribution