Blattakeraia hochuli, Symonds & Cassis, 2018

Symonds, Celia L. & Cassis, Gerasimos, 2018, Systematics And Analysis Of The Radiation Of Orthotylini Plant Bugs Associated With Callitroid Conifers In Australia: Description Of Five New Genera And 32 New Species (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2018 (422), pp. 1-229 : 84-89

Blattakeraia hochuli , new species

Figures 12 , 24–27 ; map 1

DIAGNOSIS: Defined by the following characters: moderate length of labium, extending to metacoxae; pronotum broad, lateral margins angled 45°; dorsum with pale simple setae; left paramere with expanded and acuminate sensory lobe, elongate, broad and arcuate apophysis; left paramere situated at rest extending well across ventral surface of pygophore; right paramere with weakly arcuate apex and small apical flange, subapical dorsal margin with numerous serrations; phallotheca left dorsal margin retracted laterally below left lateral tumescence; PES with serrate apical margins on submedial process, distally right and left branches serrate, right branch slightly longer than left branch, submedial process twisted at base; DES2 tapering to apex, round lobe on submedial margin; DES1 bifurcate in distal third, distally serrate and pointed; DES1 left dorsolateral to DES2; female interramal lobes basally bifurcate.

DESCRIPTION: Male: Large size, elongate, body length 4.72–5.31 mm, pronotal width 1.10– 1.30 mm. COLORATION: Dorsum bright green to yellowish green overall; AI faded red, reddish orange-brown, remainder of antenna yellowish green; cuneus concolorous and slightly more yellowish green medially; forewing membrane veins bright green, with adjacent bright green suffusion, major cell with large green spot (fig. 12). SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum with light-brown simple setae; antennae with dense distribution of short, light-brown simple setae. STRUCTURE: Head: Strongly expanded anteriorly, ca. three-quarters width of eye, frons strongly protruding beyond anterior margin of eyes (fig. 24A–C); eyes three-quarters height of head (fig. 24B, D); labium medium length, extending to metacoxae. Pronotum: Broad, transverse, at least 1.5× wider than head, lateral margins strongly angled 45° to midline of body, posterior margin very weakly sinuous to straight (fig. 24C, D). GENITALIA: Pygophore: Left paramere extending well over ventral surface of pygophore at rest (fig. 24). Left paramere: Sensory lobe greatly expanded, subtriangular, with an acuminate apex with few small serrations, apophysis elongate, arcuate, broad (figs. 24, 26B). Right paramere: Apex weakly curved inward, with small sclerotized flange, subapical dorsal margin sclerotized, serrate (figs. 25B, 26C). Phallotheca: Left dorsal margin retracted laterally below lateral tumescence (fig. 26D). Aedeagus: PES dorsad to secondary gonopore, DES2 dorsad to PES, DES1 left dorsolateral to DES2 (fig. 26); PES originating proximate to base of secondary gonopore, bases of DES2 and DES1 originating more distal to base of PES; PES bifurcate distally, branches almost equal in length, left branch slightly shorter than right branch, both branches with serrate splayed apices; submedial process of PES narrow, with serrate apical margins, twisted at base; DES2 tapering to apex, with round lobe on left margin submedially; DES1 with serrate apical margins, left branch very short and nar- row, right branch elongate and tapering to arcuate apex, with elongate basal keel (DESk, not illustrated) (fig. 26E).

Female: Large size, elongate, body length 4.34–5.28 mm, pronotal width 1.10–1.27 mm.

GENITALIA: VLP with small spiniferous lateral lobes arising adjacent to rami, adpressed to VLP (fig. 27A); posterior wall of bursa copulatrix with posterior margin undefined and membranous (fig. 27C); IRL divided at base, outer branch elongate, spiniferous with round apex, inner branch subrectangular, two-thirds length of outer branch, margins serrate, apex truncate (fig. 27C).

ETYMOLOGY: Named in honor of invertebrate ecologist Dieter Hochuli in recognition of his support of this project and mentorship of the senior author.

HOST PLANTS: Known from Callitris glaucophylla .

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Gunningbland State Forest , 33.10111 ° S 147.945 ° E, 09 Oct 1998, AM Terr. Ecol. Dept., Callitris glaucophylla , 1♂ ( AMNH _ PBI 00016307 ) ( AM).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Bulbodney State Forest, 32.515 ° S 147.201 ° E, 25 Sep 1997, AM Terr. Ecol. Dept., Callitris glaucophylla , 3♂ ( UNSW _ENT 00041770, UNSW _ENT 00041771, UNSW _ENT 00041915), 3♀ ( UNSW _ENT 00041772, UNSW _ENT 00041773, UNSW _ENT 00041918) ( AM). Gunningbland State Forest, 33.09222 ° S 147.9675 ° E, 08 Oct 1998, AM Terr. Ecol. Dept., Callitris glaucophylla , 4♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00016316, 00016317, 00016319, 00016320), 1♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00016318) ( AM). Gunningbland State Forest, 33.10111 ° S 147.945 ° E, 09 Oct 1998, AM Terr. Ecol. Dept., Callitris glaucophylla , 2♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00016305, 00016306), 8♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00016308–00016315) ( AM). Murda State Forest, 33.015 ° S 147.201 ° E, 24 Sep 1997, AM Terr. Ecol. Dept., Callitris glaucophylla , 3♂ ( UNSW _ENT 00041912– UNSW _ENT 00041914), 2♀ ( UNSW _ENT 00041916, UNSW _ENT 00041917) ( AM). Murda State For- est, Parkes-Condoblin, 33.015 ° S 147.201 ° E, 25 Sep 1997, AM Terr. Ecol. Dept., Callitris glaucophylla , 1♂ ( UNSW _ENT 00041774) ( AM). Roadside remnant near Condobolin tip, 33.07505 ° S 147.14466 ° E, 25 Sep 1997, Australian Museum, Callitris glaucophylla , 5♀ ( UNSW _ ENT 00041782, UNSW _ENT 00041783, UNSW _ENT 00041785 – UNSW _ENT 00041787), 1♂ ( UNSW _ENT 00041784) ( AM). Taratta State Forest, 32.8 ° S 147.03333 ° E, 25 Sep 1997, AM Terr. Ecol. Dept., Callitris glaucophylla , 5♀ ( UNSW _ENT 00041777– UNSW _ENT 00041781) ( AM). Western Australia: Charles Darwin Reserve, track to Seven Mile Well, N of Wanarra Rd, 29.52483 ° S 117.01675 ° E, 265 m, 24 Sep 2009, C. Symonds, Callitris columellaris , det. WA Herbarium, 1♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00030456), 1♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00030457) ( WAMP). Lochada, Kelly Well, 29.08191 ° S 116.58677 ° E, 281 m, 17 Sep 2009, C. Symonds, Callitris columellaris , det. WA Herbarium, 2♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00404860, 00404861), 5♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00404862– 00404866) ( UNSW). Lochada, Steves track, 29.23719 ° S 116.54694 ° E, 253 m, 20 Sep 2009, C. Symonds, Callitris columellaris , det. WA Herbarium, 2♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00030451, 00030452), 3♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00030453–00030455) ( WAMP).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRA- LIA: Western Australia: Lochada, Steves track, 29.23719 ° S 116.54694 ° E, 253 m, 20 Sep 2009, C. Symonds, Callitris columellaris , det. WA Herbarium, 1♀ (UNSW_ENT 00401278) (UNSW).

DISTRIBUTION: Known from 10 localities in southwestern Western Australia and central western New South Wales (map 1). Collected with four other callitroid-inhabiting Orthotylini (table 2).

REMARKS: There is large variation in the body length of Blattakeraia hochuli , within and between populations. Body lengths (table 6) for New South Wales specimens have a large range from 4.72–5.31 mm in males and 4.34–5.28 mm in females. Western Australian specimens are larger (male body length 5.74–5.91 mm) and have a more elongate and more brownish anten-

nal AI (fig. 12). Other than these characters, these disjunct populations cannot be differentiated and the male genitalia are nearly identical. Thus, we regard them as conspecific.

Blattakeraia hochuli and B. actinostrobi both have a large and elongate body, large bulbous eyes, distinctive bright to dark red first antennal segment, and lightly sclerotized and exposed phallotheca in repose. This species is most readily distinguishable from B. actinostrobi by the shape of the left paramere, with an extended and acuminate sensory lobe (fig. 26B), and enlarged, broad curved apophysis that projects onto the ventral surface of the pygophore in repose (see fig. 25). See also remarks for B. actinostrobi . Some specimens are faded to white because of ethanol preservation.

Figures

FIG. 12. Avititerra, Blattakeraia, and Ngullamiris species, dorsal habitus photographs of males. A. Wing membrane without subcuneal clear spot. B. Wing membrane with subcuneal clear spot. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIG. 24. External morphology of Blattakeraia hochuli, male. A. Head, dorsal, scale bar = 30 µm. B. Head, lateral, scale bar = 30 µm. C. Head and pronotum, dorsal, scale bar = 100 µm. D. Head and pronotum, lateral, scale bar = 100 µm. E. Meso- and metathorax, scale bar = 30 µm. F. Mesothoracic spiracle, scale bar = 10 µm. G. Metathoracic scent gland, scale bar = 10 µm. H. Pygophore, dorsal, scale bar = 100 µm.

FIG. 25. Male external genitalic morphology of Blattakeraia hochuli. Pygophore: A. ventral; B. posterior; C. left lateral; D. right lateral. Scale bars = 100 µm.

FIG. 26. Male genitalia of Blattakeraia hochuli (Species 9): A. Pygophore, right dorsolateral. B. Left paramere, dorsal. C. Right paramere, dorsal. D. Phallotheca, left lateral. E. Aedeagus, ventral. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIG. 27. Female genitalia of Blattakeraia hochuli. A. Ventral labiate plate with lateral lobes and lateral portions of dorsal labiate plate (sclerotized rings and mediolateral lobes), dorsal. B. Bursa copulatrix, ventral. C. Posterior wall, dorsal. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.