A new genus of Microveliinae from New Guinea, with a discussion of multiple independent occurrences of “dwarf males” in Veliidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

Abstract

A new genus of Microveliinae from New Guinea, Shaverdinia gen. n., with two new species, S. shaverdella sp. n. (type species) and S. balkei sp. n., is described. Important characters are a long pronotum of the apterous morph, short tarsi bearing simple claws, a forewing without spots, with four closed cells and in males a long protibial grasping comb and a proctiger that bears an asymmetrical process on the right side. In addition, Shaverdinia gen. n. is characterized by a strong size dimorphism, males being much smaller than females. In New Guinea and Australia this character is shared by Phoreticovelia Polhemus & Polhemus, 2000, but this genus does not exhibit any of the aforementioned characteristics. Microvelia gestroi Kirkaldy, 1901 is discussed. A worldwide overview on size dimorphism in Veliidae is added.