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| Gorareduvius gajarrangarnang Tatarnic, Chacón & Soley, 2024 |
Abstract
A new species of assassin bug, Gorareduvius gajarrangarnang sp. nov. is described from the Kimberley region, Western Australia, using digital images, scanning electron micrographs and X-ray microtomography. Natural history and prey capture by this species is described, revealing the use of sticky Triodia resin in prey capture. This is only the second documented instance of resin use by an Australian reduviid.
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| Field observations of Gorareduvius gajarrangarnang sp. nov. in the East Kimberley region. A) Shows the characteristic spinifex hummocks (Triodia spp.) where G. gajarrangarnang sp. nov. is usually found. B) Shed exuvia of G. gajarrangarnang sp. nov. clinging on to a grass blade (resin deposits still visible, especially in forelegs). C) Adult female feeding on a scarab beetle; note debris adhering to the sticky body, particularly on the terminal segments of the abdomen. The shiny aspect in B and C is due to the resin coating. First-instar nymphs of Gorareduvius gajarrangarnang sp. nov. A) Recently emerged nymph with resin-covered egg in bottom left of the image; note that the nymph is devoid of resin. The light colours of the nymph will darken within some hours as the exoskeleton hardens. B) Dorsal image of a nymph walking on a paper ruler; each line denotes a millimetre. C) First-instar nymph collecting resin from a leaf of Triodia bitextura that was offered at the campsite. Note resin deposits on the femora of forelegs. |
Gorareduvius gajarrangarnang sp. nov.
Similar to G. westraliensis, being mostly black in colouration, apterous, with an elongate and parallel-sided body, elongate limbs with swollen femoral apices, but distinguished by its somewhat smaller size, by the broad yellow to orange metafemoral annulation (vs yellow to orange profemoral annulation in G. westraliensis), the yellow to orange antennae (vs black with yellow apices) the more prominent and erect tubercles on the abdominal tergites, and by the structure of the male aedeagus.
Etymology: The specific epithet gajarrangarnang, derived from the Miriwoong language, spelled ‘gajarrangarnang’ meaning ‘spinifex dweller, ’ refers the grass (Triodia spp.) from which these assassin bugs extract resin. Miriwoong was once commonly spoken near the region where the type specimen was found, but is now a critically endangered language. This name alludes to both the fact that these assassin bugs are usually found associated with resinous species of Triodia, and that they cover themselves with resin from these plants. This name was suggested and approved by the Elders and language consultants who were contacted through the Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre (https://mirima.org.au)
Nikolai J. Tatarnic, Iria S. Chacón, and Fernando G. Soley. 2024. Gorareduvius gajarrangarnang, A New Species of Resin-using Assassin Bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from Australia, with notes on its behaviour. Australian Journal of Taxonomy 74: 1–13. DOI: doi.org/10.54102/ajt.2tjbq
