Notes on the genus Perittopus Fieber, 1860 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) with descriptions of three new species from Indochina

Abstract

Three species of the genus Perittopus Fieber from Indochina are described as new: P. anthracinus sp. n. from Yunnan of China, P. laosensis sp. n. from Laos and P. trizonus sp. n. from Thailand. Photographs of key female and male characters and male genitalic structures are provided, accompanied by a distribution map for the species of Perittopus occurring in Indochina.

Full text

ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)
Accepted by R. Sites: 16 Sept. 2020; published: 1 Oct. 2020 417
Zootaxa 4858 (3): 417–426
https://www.mapress.com/j/zt/
Copyright © 2020 Magnolia Press Article
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4858.3.7
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:13F92F95-67F1-4225-82A4-C2D5F34B0556
Notes on the genus Perittopus Fieber, 1860 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae)
with descriptions of three new species from Indochina
ZHEN YE1,2, MU QIAO1,3, ZEZHONG JIN1,4 & WENJUN BU1*
1Institute of Entomology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
2
�
yezhen1987331@nankai.edu.cn; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2327-1869
3
�
1710788@mail.nankai.edu.cn; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8840-7205
4
�
1710766@mail.nankai.edu.cn; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7223-770X
*Corresponding author.
�
wenjunbu@nankai.edu.cn; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0647-0164
Abstract
Three species of the genus Perittopus Fieber from Indochina are described as new: P. anthracinus sp. n. from Yunnan of
China, P. laosensis sp. n. from Laos and P. trizonus sp. n. from Thailand. Photographs of key female and male characters
and male genitalic structures are provided, accompanied by a distribution map for the species of Perittopus occurring in
Indochina.
Key words: Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Veliidae, Perittopus, new species, Indochina
Introduction
The genus Perittopus was established by Fieber in 1860 based on the type species P. breddini Kirkaldy, 1901 (by
subsequent designation). Species of Perittopus are endemic to the Oriental region from southern India to Indochina
and Malesia (Zettel 2001a; Ye et al. 2013). They prefer to live in quiet secluded areas behind boulders of montane
streams or waterfalls (Zettel 2001a; Ye et al. 2013). Prior to this study, 17 species have been considered valid in this
genus (Distant 1903; Lundblad 1933; Zettel 2001a, 2001b, 2011; Ye et al. 2013). The highest species diversities
are found in the Indochina with eight species known (Distant 1903; Zettel 2001a, 2001b, 2011; Ye et al. 2013). Our
recently collected materials from the mountainous areas in this region yielded three new species: P. anthracinus sp.
n. from Yunnan of China, P. laosensis sp. n. from Laos and P. trizonus sp. n. from Thailand. With these additions,
11 species of Perittopus are now recorded from Indochina. Photographs of key female and male characters, and a
distribution map for the species of Perittopus occurring in Indochina are also provided.
Material and methods
All specimens examined in this study are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai
University, Tianjin, China (NKUM). All measurements are given in millimeters (mm). The majority of the photo-
graphic illustrations were acquired using a Nikon SMZ1000 stereomicroscope equipped with a computer-controlled
SPOT RT digital camera and related software, except photographs of the male genital structures which were made
using an OLYMPUS BX53 microscope equipped with a computer-controlled Canon OLYMPUS DP72 digital cam-
era and Cell sens Standard software.

YE ET AL.
418 · Zootaxa 4858 (3) © 2020 Magnolia Press
Taxonomy
Perittopus anthracinus Ye & Bu, sp. n.
(Figs. 1, 4, 9, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 32)
Type material. Holotype: apterous female, CHINA: Yunnan Province, Honghe, Jinping county, Adebo village
(22°54'N, 103°13'E), 30 July 2016, Yahui Zhen leg. (NKUM). Paratypes: 1 female and 1 male, apterous, same data
as holotype (NKUM).
Diagnosis. P. anthracinus sp. n. seems to be closely related to P. yunnanensis Ye, Chen & Bu. However, P. an-
thracinus sp. n. can be distinguished by these combined characteristics: antennae shining black (Fig. 1); medial part
of pronotum in female with a slightly blackish mark, which is absent in male (Figs. 4, 9); mediotergites II–VI almost
blackish (Figs. 4, 9); mediotergites VII–VIII in female with cluster of dense long, blackish, posterodorsad-directed
hairs (Fig. 14, 17); further difference is found in the shape of paramere, which shows a relatively broad basal part
and pear-shaped distally twisted part, apex slightly blunt (Fig. 26).
Description of apterous female (Figs. 1, 4). Color: ground color reddish, head reddish, labrum brownish, with
buccula orange, rostrum yellowish with black apex; antennal segments I–IV shining black (Fig. 1); pronotum red-
dish, medial part with a slightly blackish mark (Fig. 4), area behind head along anterior margin of pronotum with a
row of dark punctures, posterior part of pronotum with scattered slightly dark punctures; legs mainly blackish, basal
part of femora dull orange, tibiae and tarsi black (Fig. 1); abdominal dorsum mainly blackish except middle parts
of mediotergites V–VII with dull reddish marks (Fig. 4); abdominal venter orange. Structural characteristics: body
length 3.74–3.76 (holotype: 3.76), medium-sized, stout, bearing short, blackish, appressed pubescence and dorsum
anteriorly and laterally covered by suberect and thick hairs; head deflected, head length: 0.37–0.38, head width:
0.81–0.82, about 2.16 times head length, hind margin of head laterally and ventrally with some black peg-like
spiculae; antennae relatively short and stout, about 0.41 times as long as body, lengths of antennal segments I–IV:
0.40, 0.35, 0.35, 0.45; pronotum length: 1.23–1.25, pronotum width: 1.48–1.49, hind margin of pronotum broadly
rounded, medially reaching basal third of mediotergite II, lateral part of pronotum medially with distinct constric-
tion (Fig. 4), posterior part distinctly wider than anterior part, mesonotum and metanotum completely hidden be-
neath pronotal lobe except laterally, prosternum anteromedially with one row of black peg-like spiculae; legs mainly
with decumbent, suberect and blackish hairs, tarsi of fore leg short and incrassate, tarsi of middle and hind legs long
and slender, lengths of leg segments (femora, tibiae, and tarsi): fore leg: 0.80, 0.71, and 0.35 (0.05 + 0.30), middle
leg: 1.05, 1.14, and 0.94 (0.30 + 0.30 + 0.34), hind leg: 1.10, 1.41, and 0.67 (0.10 + 0.24 + 0.33); mediotergites not
flat, areas after mediotergite IV slightly depressed, connexiva strongly raised and moderately convergent (Figs. 14,
17); mediotergites I–III with short pubescence, mediotergites IV–VI with several long hairs, mediotergites VII–VIII
with cluster of dense long, blackish, posterodorsad-directed hairs (Figs. 14, 17), connexiva VIII with dense, black-
ish hairs in caudal aspect. Genital segments: gonocoxa I platelike and exposed; proctiger small, directed posteriad,
with dense, short hairs.
Description of apterous male (Fig. 9). Similar to female in general structure and coloration with following
exceptions: body length 3.40; head length: 0.28, head width: 0.72, about 2.57 times head length, antennae about 0.44
times as long as body, lengths of antennal segments I–IV: 0.35, 0.35, 0.36, 0.45; pronotum medially with a slight
constriction, pronotum length: 1.06, pronotum width: 1.26, medial part without a blackish mark (Fig. 9); lengths of
leg segments (femora, tibiae, and tarsi): fore leg: 0.84, 0.80, and 0.35 (0.05 + 0.30), middle leg: 1.05, 1.14, and 1.00
(0.30 + 0.35 + 0.35), hind leg: 1.19, 1.47, and 0.74 (0.11 + 0.28 + 0.35), grasping comb relatively long, about 0.35
times fore tibiae length; mediotergites II–VI blackish (Fig. 9), mediotergites almost flat, connexiva slightly raised
and weakly convergent (Fig. 9), all mediotergites and laterotergites with sparse and long blackish hairs, medioter-
gites VII–VIII without cluster of dense hairs (Fig. 9); abdominal segment VIII (Fig. 20) about 1.35 times as long as
wide, with dorsal hind margin concave, pygophore and proctiger simple, proctiger about 2.11 times as long as wide
(Fig. 23), paramere with relatively broad basal part and pear-shaped distally twisted part, apex blunt (Fig. 26).
Etymology. The specific epithet “anthracinus” (from Latin, meaning black) refers to the nearly black color of
the male and female dorsa.
Distribution. China (Yunnan) (Fig. 32).

NEW SPECIES OF PERITTOPUS FROM INDOCHINA Zootaxa 4858 (3) © 2020 Magnolia Press · 419
Perittopus laosensis Ye & Bu, sp. n.
(Figs. 2, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 28, 30, 32)
Type material. Holotype: apterous female, LAOS, Oudomxay Province, Muang Xai, KMLL waterfall (20°37'N,
102°02'E), 20 November 2018, Zhen Ye leg. (NKUM). Paratypes: 2 females and 2 males, apterous, 2 females and 2
males, macropterous, same data as holotype (NKUM).
Diagnosis. P. laosensis sp. n. seems to be closely related to P. falciformis Ye, Chen & Bu. However, in the fe-
male, P. laosensis sp. n. can be distinguished by the posterior part of connexiva strongly convergent (Figs. 5, 15); by
the smallest distance between connexiva at apex of segment VII approximately equal to thickness of a connexivum
(Fig. 15); In the male, further difference is found in the shape of the paramere, with a narrow, short basal part and
elongate, slender distal falciform part, pre-apical part with cluster of rather long brownish hairs, and apex acuminate
(Figs. 27, 28).
Description of apterous female (Figs. 2, 5). Color: ground color reddish, head bright reddish, labrum brown-
ish, with buccula orange, rostrum yellowish with black apex; antennae shining black except basal part of antennal
segment I yellowish (Fig. 2); pronotum reddish (Fig. 5), posterior part of pronotum with scattered slightly dark
punctures; legs mainly yellowish brown, apical part of femora brownish, tibiae weakly infuscated, tarsi blackish
brown (Fig. 2); abdominal dorsum dull red (Fig. 5), connexiva mainly dull reddish except internal parts of latero-
tergites bright yellowish; abdominal venter orange. Structural characteristics: body length 2.98–3.01 (holotype:
3.00), medium-sized, rather stout, diamond shape in dorsal view, bearing short, blackish, appressed pubescence and
dorsum anteriorly and laterally covered by suberect and thick hairs; head deflected, head length: 0.37–0.38, head
width: 0.80–0.81, about 2.10 times head length, hind margin of head laterally and ventrally with some black peg-
like spiculae; antennae relatively short and stout, about 0.56 times as long as body, lengths of antennal segments
I–IV: 0.48, 0.35, 0.38, 0.48; pronotum length: 0.91–0.93, pronotum width: 1.09–1.10, hind margin of pronotum
broadly rounded, medially reaching hind margin of mediotergite I, lateral part of pronotum medially without a dis-
tinct constriction (Fig. 5), posterior part slightly wider than anterior part, mesonotum and metanotum completely
hidden beneath pronotal lobe except laterally, prosternum anteromedially with one row of black peg-like spiculae;
legs mainly with decumbent, suberect and blackish hairs, tarsi of fore leg short and incrassate, tarsi of middle and
hind legs long and slender, lengths of leg segments (femora, tibiae, and tarsi): fore leg: 0.81, 0.70, and 0.38 (0.07
+ 0.31), middle leg: 1.00, 1.10, and 0.95 (0.30 + 0.30 + 0.35), hind leg: 1.00, 1.42, and 0.62 (0.11 + 0.19 + 0.32);
mediotergites not flat, areas after mediotergite IV strongly depressed, connexiva stout and raised, posterior part
strongly convergent (Fig. 15), the smallest distance between connexiva at apex of segment VII approximately equal
to thickness of a connexivum (Fig. 15), mediotergites I–III with short, sparse hairs, mediotergites IV–V bare, hind
margin of mediotergite VII with cluster of relatively long, blackish, posterodorsad-directed hairs, posterior part of
connexiva VII with dense, posterodorsad-directed and blackish hairs, connexiva VIII with dense, blackish hairs
in caudal aspect (Figs. 15, 18). Genital segments: gonocoxa I simple, platelike, exposed; proctiger small, directed
posteriorly, with dense, short hairs.
Description of apterous male (Fig. 10). Similar to apterous female in general structure and coloration with
following exceptions: body slightly slender, body length 2.80–2.82; head length: 0.38–0.39, head width: 0.73–0.75,
about 1.92 times head length, antennae about 0.59 times as long as body, lengths of antennal segments I–IV: 0.45,
0.35, 0.40, 0.46; pronotum length: 0.82–0.83, pronotum width: 1.11–1.12; lengths of leg segments (femora, tibiae,
and tarsi): fore leg: 0.75, 0.70, and 0.37 (0.06 + 0.31), middle leg: 0.95, 1.10, and 0.94 (0.28 + 0.31 + 0.35), hind
leg: 1.00, 1.42, and 0.67 (0.12 + 0.20 + 0.35), grasping comb relatively long, about 0.23 times fore tibiae length;
mediotergites almost flat, connexiva narrow, slightly raised, weakly convergent (Fig. 10), all mediotergites and
laterotergites with sparse and long blackish hairs, connexiva VII without cluster of dense hairs (Fig. 10); abdominal
segment VIII (Fig. 21) about 1.29 times as long as wide, with dorsal hind margin concave, pygophore and proctiger
simple, proctiger about 2.05 times as long as wide (Fig. 24), paramere with a narrow, short basal part and elongate,
slender distal falciform part, pre-apical part with cluster of rather long brownish hairs, apex acuminate (Figs. 27,
28).
Description of macropterous female (Fig. 7). Similar to apterous female in general structure and coloration
with following exceptions: body relatively large, body length 3.22–3.23 (including fore wing); head length: 0.30–
0.31, head width: 0.71–0.72, about 2.4 times head length, antennae about 0.41 times as long as body, lengths of
antennal segments I–IV: 0.35, 0.28, 0.30, 0.40; pronotum length: 1.41–1.43, pronotum width: 1.51–1.53, pronotum
with a constriction in front of humeral corners, medial part without blackish mark, humeral corners prominent (Fig.

YE ET AL.
420 · Zootaxa 4858 (3) © 2020 Magnolia Press
7), entire surface with numerous scattered punctures; lengths of leg segments (femora, tibiae, and tarsi): fore leg:
0.65, 0.65, and 0.34 (0.05 + 0.29), middle leg: 0.90, 1.00, and 0.82 (0.25 + 0.28 + 0.29), hind leg: 1.00, 1.35, and
0.60 (0.10 + 0.25 + 0.25); forewings mainly blackish brown, slightly surpassing tip of abdomen, laterally adjacent
to medial edge of raised connexiva, hemelytron with thick corium with two closed cells, veins adjacent to raised
connexiva reddish with short, suberect and black hairs (Fig. 7).
Description of macropterous male (Fig. 12). Ground color as in macropterous female; body length 3.30–3.32
(including fore wing); structure of head including antennae as in female, head length: 0.31–0.32, head width: 0.70–
0.71, about 2.21 times head length, antennae about 0.43 times as long as body, lengths of antennal segments I–IV:
0.40, 0.30, 0.30, 0.41; pronotum length: 1.42–1.43, pronotum width: 1.45–1.46; lengths of leg segments (femora,
tibiae, and tarsi): fore leg: 0.75, 0.65, and 0.34 (0.05 + 0.29), middle leg: 0.90, 1.06, and 0.93 (0.30 + 0.33 + 0.30),
hind leg: 1.10, 1.41, and 0.57 (0.07 + 0.25 + 0.25); grasping comb relatively long, about 0.38 times fore tibiae
length; other characters as in macropterous female.
Etymology. This new species is endemic to Laos and the specific name is derived from the name of type local-
ity.
Habitats: Specimens of P. laosensis sp. n. have been observed and collected in the shaded water surface cov-
ered by boulders near the waterfall (Fig. 30).
Distribution. Laos (Muang Xai) (Fig. 32).
FIGURES 1–3. Habitus of Perittopus spp. (females). (1) P. anthracinus sp. n. (holotype); (2) P. laosensis sp. n. (holotype); (3)
P. trizonus sp. n. (holotype). Scale = 1.0 mm.
Perittopus trizonus Ye & Bu, sp. n.
(Figs. 3, 6, 8, 11, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 29, 31, 32)
Type material. Holotype: apterous female, THAILAND, Nong Bua Lamphu Province, Na Klang (17°24'N,
102°10'E), 13 August 2018, Zhen Ye leg. (NKUM). Paratypes: 1 male, apterous, 1 female and 1 male, macropter-
ous, same data as holotype (NKUM).
Diagnosis. P. trizonus sp. n. is similar to P. zimmermannae Zettel, both having three infuscated zones on the
pronotum (see Fig. 6 in Zettel, 2011 and Figs. 8, 13). However, P. trizonus sp. n. can be distinguished by the dis-
tinguishing color pattern (i.e., for macropterous forms, medial part of pronotum with a linear blackish mark, lateral
part of humeral corners with pair of blackish marks, Figs. 8, 13); by the mediotergites without any infuscated marks
in apterous male (Fig. 11); and by the distinct differences in the structure of the paramere [i.e., relatively broad basal
part and slender, narrow, helicoid distal part, apex slightly blunt (Fig. 29)].
Description of apterous female (Figs. 3, 6). Color: ground color reddish, head reddish, labrum brownish, with
buccula orange, rostrum yellowish with black apex; antennal segments I–IV shining black; pronotum reddish, me-
dial part with a distinctly elongate blackish mark, lateral part of humeral corners with pair of infuscated marks (Fig.
6), area behind head along anterior margin of pronotum with a row of dark punctures, posterior part of pronotum

NEW SPECIES OF PERITTOPUS FROM INDOCHINA Zootaxa 4858 (3) © 2020 Magnolia Press · 421
with scattered slightly dark punctures; legs mainly blackish brown, basal part of femora dull orange, tibiae and tarsi
blackish brown; abdominal dorsum dull red without any blackish marks (Fig. 6); abdominal venter orange. Struc-
tural characteristics: body length 2.90, medium-sized, rather stout, bearing short, blackish, appressed pubescence
and dorsum anteriorly and laterally covered by suberect and thick hairs; head deflected, head length: 0.32, head
width: 0.70, about 2.19 times head length, hind margin of head laterally and ventrally with some black peg-like
spiculae; antennae relatively short and stout, about 0.43 times as long as body, lengths of antennal segments I–IV:
0.33, 0.27, 0.29, 0.37; pronotum length: 1.12, pronotum width: 1.20, hind margin of pronotum broadly rounded,
medially reaching basal third of mediotergite II, lateral part of pronotum medially with distinct constriction (Fig.
6), posterior part distinctly wider than anterior part, mesonotum and metanotum completely hidden beneath pro-
notal lobe except laterally, prosternum anteromedially with one row of black peg-like spiculae; legs mainly with
decumbent, suberect and blackish hairs, tarsi of fore leg short and incrassate, tarsi of middle and hind legs long and
slender, lengths of leg segments (femora, tibiae, and tarsi): fore leg: 0.64, 0.65, and 0.30 (0.04 + 0.26), middle leg:
0.84, 0.92, and 0.86 (0.28 + 0.29 + 0.29), hind leg: 0.90, 1.17, and 0.64 (0.10 + 0.23 + 0.31); mediotergites not flat,
areas after mediotergite IV slightly depressed, connexiva strongly raised and moderately convergent (Figs. 6, 16);
mediotergites I–III with short, sparse hairs; mediotergites IV–VI almost bare, hind margin of mediotergite VII–VIII
with relatively short, posterodorsad-directed blackish hairs, connexiva VI–VII with rather dense, relatively long,
posterodorsad-directed black hairs, connexiva VIII with dense, blackish hairs in caudal aspect (Figs. 16, 19). Genital
segments: gonocoxa I platelike and exposed; proctiger small, directed posteriad, with dense, short hairs.
FIGURES 4–13. Bodies of females (4–8) and males (9–13) of Perittopus spp. in dorsal view. (4, 9) P. anthracinus sp. n. (apter-
ous); (5, 10) P. laosensis sp. n. (apterous); (6, 11) P. trizonus sp. n. (apterous); (7, 12) P. laosensis sp. n. (macropterous); (8, 13)
P. trizonus sp. n. (macropterous). Scale = 1.0 mm.

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422 · Zootaxa 4858 (3) © 2020 Magnolia Press
FIGURES 14–19. Abdomen of Perittopus spp. in dorsal and lateral view (female). (14, 17) P. anthracinus sp. n.; (15, 18) P.
laosensis sp. n.; (16, 19) P. trizonus sp. n.. Scale = 1.0 mm.
Description of apterous male (Fig. 11). Similar to apterous female in general structure and coloration with
following exceptions: body slightly slender, body length 2.85; head length: 0.28, head width: 0.68, about 2.43 times
head length, antennae about 0.46 times as long as body, lengths of antennal segments I–IV: 0.32, 0.29, 0.30, 0.40;
pronotum length: 1.08, pronotum width: 1.18, medial part of pronotum with a distinctly elongate blackish mark,
lateral part of humeral corners with pair of infuscated marks (Fig. 11); lengths of leg segments (femora, tibiae, and
tarsi): fore leg: 0.63, 0.65, and 0.30 (0.04 + 0.26), middle leg: 0.88, 0.96, and 0.87 (0.28 + 0.29 + 0.30), hind leg:
0.95, 1.20, and 0.60 (0.08 + 0.20 + 0.32), grasping comb relatively long, about 0.46 times fore tibiae length; me-
diotergites almost flat without any infuscated marks (Fig. 11), connexiva narrow, slightly raised, weakly convergent,
all mediotergites and laterotergites with sparse and long blackish hairs, connexiva VI–VII without cluster of dense
hairs (Fig. 11); abdominal segment VIII (Fig. 22) about 1.50 times as long as wide, with dorsal hind margin concave,
pygophore and proctiger simple, proctiger about 3.18 times as long as wide (Fig. 25), paramere with relatively broad
basal part and slender, narrow, helicoid distal part, apex blunt (Fig. 29).
Description of macropterous female (Fig. 8). Similar to apterous female in general structure and coloration
with following exceptions: body relatively large, body length 3.22 (including fore wing); head length: 0.30, head
width: 0.71, about 2.26 times head length, antennae about 0.42 times as long as body, lengths of antennal segments
I–IV: 0.37, 0.28, 0.30, 0.41; pronotum length: 1.40, pronotum width: 1.50, pronotum with a constriction in front
of humeral corners, medial part of pronotum with a linear blackish mark, lateral part of humeral corners with pair
of blackish marks (Fig. 8); lengths of leg segments (femora, tibiae, and tarsi): fore leg: 0.66, 0.66, and 0.31 (0.04
+ 0.27), middle leg: 0.90, 0.97, and 0.91 (0.30 + 0.28 + 0.33), hind leg: 1.00, 1.31, and 0.61 (0.09 + 0.21 + 0.31);
forewings mainly blackish brown, slightly surpassing tip of abdomen, laterally adjacent to medial edge of raised
connexiva, hemelytron with thick corium with two closed cells, veins adjacent to raised connexiva reddish with
short, suberect and black hairs.

NEW SPECIES OF PERITTOPUS FROM INDOCHINA Zootaxa 4858 (3) © 2020 Magnolia Press · 423
FIGURES 20–29. Male genitalic structures of Perittopus spp.. Abdominal segment VIII in ventral views (20–22). (20) P.
anthracinus sp. n.; (21) P. laosensis sp. n.; (22) P. trizonus sp. n.. Scale = 0.1 mm. Proctigers in dorsal views (23–25). (23) P.
anthracinus sp. n.; (24) P. laosensis sp. n.; (25) P. trizonus sp. n.. Scale = 0.1 mm. Right parameres (26, 27, 29. in lateral views;
28. in perpendicular view). (26) P. anthracinus sp. n.; (27, 28) P. laosensis sp. n.; (29) P. trizonus sp. n.. Scale = 0.1 mm.
Description of macropterous male (Fig. 13). Ground color as in macropterous female; body length 3.08 (in-
cluding fore wing); structure of head including antennae as in female, head length: 0.25, head width: 0.70, about
2.80 times head length, antennae about 0.43 times as long as body, lengths of antennal segments I–IV: 0.32, 0.29,
0.31, 0.41; pronotum length: 1.36, pronotum width: 1.43, medial part of pronotum with an indistinctly linear black-
ish mark (Fig. 13); lengths of leg segments (femora, tibiae, and tarsi): fore leg: 0.68, 0.66, and 0.33 (0.04 + 0.29),
middle leg: 0.90, 1.00, and 0.95 (0.28 + 0.33 + 0.34), hind leg: 1.07, 1.36, and 0.64 (0.08 + 0.24 + 0.32); grasping
comb relatively long, about 0.36 times fore tibiae length; other characters as in macropterous female.
Etymology. The specific name “trizonus” refers to the three infuscated zones on the pronotum.

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Habitats: Specimens of P. trizonus sp. n. have been collected in an artificial pond near a clear, fast-flowing
forest stream (Fig. 31).
Distribution. Thailand (Nong Bua Lam Phu) (Fig. 32).
FIGURES 30–31. Type localities of Perittopus spp.. (30) P. laosensis sp. n.; (31) P. trizonus sp. n..
Discussion
The three new species described here, P. anthracinus sp. n. from Yunnan of China, P. laosensis sp. n. from Laos
and P. trizonus sp. n. from Thailand and the three closely related species, P. yunnanensis and P. falciformis from
Yunnan of China, and P. zimmermannae from Myanmar probably constitute three pairs of sister species based on
the similarities of typical morphological characters. Perittopus anthracinus sp. n. and P. yunnanensis both have a
relatively large body size, the black color of the dorsum and the similar helicoid shape of parameres. Perittopus
laosensis sp. n. and P. falciformis both have the non-helicoid parameres that clearly correspond to the typical char-
acter of the "western species group" proposed by Zettel (2001a, b), which expands the range of this species group to
the Indochina. Perittopus trizonus sp. n. and P. zimmermannae both are distinctly marked with the three infuscated
zones on the pronotum and present a discontinuous distribution pattern, which indicates this pair of sister species
probably has a wide distribution in the Indochina.
As indicated by the updated distribution map of Perittopus occurring in the Indochina, species richness is high-
est in southern Yunnan of China with five species (i.e., P. anthracinus sp. n., P. asiaticus, P. crinalis, P. falciformis
and P. yunnanensis). Further surveys in the large areas of eastern Myanmar and the border regions between Laos
and northern Vietnam will be expected to find more new species. Most species of Perittopus are endemic to local
mountainous areas without overlapping distributions, which indicates that speciation in this genus is probably due to
long-term isolation by the mountains with limited gene flow. Further molecular phylogenetic and phylogeographical
studies are needed to address the speciation process in the genus Perittopus.
Acknowledgements
The authors express gratitude to Yahui Zhen (Nankai University, China) for collecting the specimens of P. anthra-
cinus sp. n. for this research. We express our appreciation to editor Robert W. Sites and two reviewers Anh Duc
Tran and Herbert Zettel for their careful review and constructive comments. This project was supported by Natural
Science Foundation of China (NO. 31972872, 31820103013) and key project of Science-technology basic condition
platform from The Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (No. 2005DKA21402).

NEW SPECIES OF PERITTOPUS FROM INDOCHINA Zootaxa 4858 (3) © 2020 Magnolia Press · 425
FIGURE 32. Distribution records of species of Perittopus in Indochina.

YE ET AL.
426 · Zootaxa 4858 (3) © 2020 Magnolia Press
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