Ngullamiris whadjuk, 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 : 212-215

Ngullamiris whadjuk , new species

Figures 11 , 12 , 75–78 ; map 6

DIAGNOSIS: Defined by the following characters: midsized, elongate body; large eyes; male with relatively narrow pronotum, narrow anterior pronotal margin; dorsum with moderately dense distribution of dark simple setae; bright yellowgreen coloration; forewing membrane uniformly light brown, without subcuneal clear spot; forewing membrane veins bicolored, inner vein green, major membrane vein yellow, all color confined to veins; pygophore with spinelike setae covering entire ventral surface; phalloguide with small, round, very lightly sclerotized lobe ventrad to right paramere articulation; left paramere modified L-shape, sensory lobe unexpanded and round, apophysis weakly curved, uniformly broad, with flattened, serrate flange on dorsal margin subapically, and curved hooklike process on ventral margin subapically; right paramere club shaped to C-shaped, apex strongly curved inward and round, with few small serrations at apex and subapically, subapical dorsal margin unexpanded; aedeagus with PES and DES2 wrapped sheathlike partially around secondary gonopore, DES1 dor- sad to DES2 with narrow tubular base; PES unbranched, medial half narrow with smooth margins, fine apex downcurved; DES2 bifurcate in distal third with narrow downcurved branches and serrate comb proximal to bifurcation point; DES1 bifurcate medially, branches unequal in length and straight, basal keel (DESk) short; female IRL lightly sclerotized, bifurcate, sparsely spiniferous, with broad spiniferous lobes on IRS just posterior to base of IRL.

DESCRIPTION: Male: medium to moderately large size; body elongate, lateral margins parallel; body length 4.22–4.79 mm, pronotal width 1.07–1.16 mm. COLORATION: Dorsum bright yellow-green, including head and hemelytra, sometimes faded with more yellow on head, mesoscutum, and scutellum, and lateral margins of pronotum; antennae yellow green; wing membrane translucent light brown, color uniform; forewing membrane major vein yellow, corium green, color confined to veins; venter and legs pale (faded) yellow-green, tarsi darkened (fig. 12). SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum with moderately dense distribution of dark, almost black, semierect simple setae, some more elongate and bristlelike on head and along lateral dorsal margins; pygophore, ventral surface with short, dark, spinelike setae (fig. 76).

STRUCTURE: Head: subovate in lateral view; weakly to moderately expanded anteriorly (fig. 75A, B); maxillary plate subovate, anterodorsal margin round and aligned with round anterodorsal margin of mandibular plate, clypeus prominent, round or slightly pointed in dorsal view, dorsal edge round in lateral view, eyes large, three-quarters height of head, exerted well beyond outline of head, extending well beyond anterolateral angle of pronotum (fig. 75A, B); antennae with AI subequal to vertex width, AII 1.3× pronotal width, AIII 1.6× AIV, AIV subequal to AI; labium extending to mesocoxae. Pronotum: Trapezoidal, narrow; anterior margin narrow, straight; collar reduced to thin lip; callosite region undefined; lateral margins straight, strongly angled 45° to midline; humeral angles round; posterior margin straight to slightly convex (fig. 75C, D). Metathorax: Metathoracic spiracle elongate, narrow, tear shaped ventrally, with evaporative area spanning anterior margin and not expanded dorsally (fig. 75E); metathoracic scent gland with ostiole subovate, peritreme small, subovate, dorsal to ostiole, evaporative area with elongate evaporative bodies (fig. 75E, F). Hemelytra: Elongate, extending well beyond posterior of abdomen, abdomen extending to cuneal fracture or only slightly beyond; lateral margins parallel; cuneus elongate, narrow; major cell of membrane elongate, major membrane vein straight and parallel to inner margin of cuneus (fig. 12). Legs: Elongate, femora slightly flattened, very weakly incrassate; pretarsus with moderately long claws, pulvilli moderately sized, fleshy parempodia broad, apically convergent, and incurved (fig. 75G). GENITALIA: Pygophore: As in generic description; with medial groove on ventral surface anteriorly; retracted ventral margin at right paramere articulation point; phalloguide round and extending just beyond ventral margin of opening, with small, round, very lightly sclerotized lobe ventrad to right paramere articulation, lobe with rough, but not serrate, surface (figs. 75H, 76A–D, 77A). Left paramere: Modified L-shape; base very short; sensory lobe unexpanded, round; apophysis short, weakly curved, only very weakly at angle to sensory lobe, uniformly broad, with flattened flange on dorsal margin subapically, margin of flange serrate, and curved hooklike process on ventral margin subapically; apex truncate, round with minute spinelike serrations on inner surface; simple setae present on sensory lobe and outer surface (figs. 75H, 76A–C, 77B, C). Right paramere: Between club shaped and C-shaped, subovate in lateral view; apex strongly curved inward and round, with few small serrations at tip; mesiolateral surface weakly excavate; subapical dorsal margin round, unexpanded, with few small spinelike serrations on inner side of margin; simple setae present on outer subapical dorsal surface (figs. 75H, 76A–D, 77D). Phallotheca: As in generic description (figs. 75H, 76A, C, 77E). Aedeagus: Spicule arrangement (fig. 77): PES and DES2 wrapped sheathlike partially around secondary gonopore, PES left dorsolateral and DES dorsad of secondary gonopore, DES1 removed from secondary gonopore and dorsad to DES2; base of PES and DES2 flattened and broad, base of DES1 narrow; PES originating at base of secondary gonopore, DES2 and DES1 originating distad to base of PES; PES unbranched, narrow medially and then uniformly narrow to apex, apex curved downward, margins smooth; DES2 bifurcate in distal third, constricted at bifurcation point, with both branches curved downward, uniformly narrow, unequal in length and with serrate apical margins; margin of DES2 before bifurcation point with short row of prominent spinelike serrations; DES1 bifurcate medially, branches unequal in length and straight (uncurved), ventral branch smooth and short, dorsal branch longer with serrate apical margin, with short basal keel (DESk) (fig. 77F).

Female: As in generic description, significantly smaller in size to male, 0.8× length of male on average; body length 3.69–3.85 mm, pronotal width 1.10–1.17 mm. GENITALIA: IRS with broad spiniferous lobes basally, just posterior to base of IRL (fig. 78B); IRL lightly sclerotized, divided medially with inner branch shorter than outer branch, apical surface sparsely spiniferous (fig. 78B).

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the type locality, after the Whadjuk or Wajuk language group of Noongar people who are the original inhabitants and traditional owners of the Perth region. Noun in apposition.

HOST PLANTS: Known from Callitris preissii on the coast and Callitris glaucophylla inland (table 2).

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Mosman Park, Perth, trail b/w Minum Cove Park and Chidley Point Reserve , 32.01573 ° S 115.7626 ° E, 15 m, 01 Aug 2005 – 03 Aug 2005, G. Cassis, Callitris preissii , det. WA Herbarium PERTH 07620101, 1♂ ( AMNH _ PBI 00005482 ) ( WAMP).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: 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, 2♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00404851, 00404852), 1♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00404853) ( UNSW). Lochada, Kelly Well, 29.08191 ° S 116.58677 ° E, 281 m, 17 Sep 2009, C. Symonds, Callitris columellaris , det. WA Herbarium, 1♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00404846), 1♀ ( AMNH _ PBI 00404850) ( AM), 1♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00404845), 3♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00404847– 00404849) ( UNSW), 5♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00030435– 00030439), 5♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00030440–00030444) ( WAMP). Lochada, Steves track, 29.23719 ° S 116.54694 ° E, 253 m, 20 Sep 2009, C. Symonds, Callitris columellaris , det. WA Herbarium, 1♂ ( UNSW _ENT 00002936), 1♀ ( UNSW _ENT 00002937) ( AMNH), 2♀ ( UNSW _ENT 00002938, UNSW _ENT 00002939) ( UNSW). Mosman Park, Perth, trail b/w Minum Cove Park and Chidley Point Reserve, 32.01573 ° S 115.7626 ° E, 15 m, 01 Aug 2005 – 03 Aug 2005, G. Cassis, Callitris preissii , det. WA Herbarium PERTH 07620101, 1♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00005476), 1♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00005484) ( AM).

DISTRIBUTION: Known from southwestern Western Australia, one locality on the coast at Mosman Park in Perth, and three proximate localities in the Avon Wheatbelt region (map 6). Cooccurring with E. notodytika on Callitris preissii in Perth and B. hochuli at all three inland localities on Callitris glaucophylla (table 2).

REMARKS: Ngullamiris whadjuk is distinguished externally from other callitroid-inhabiting Orthotylini species that are midsized and without contrasting wing membrane coloration, by the bright yellow-green dorsal coloration, the lack of a clear spot below the cuneus in the hemelytral membrane (cf. Callitricola species with subcuneal clear spot) (cf. fig. 12A, B). It is easily distinguished from other callitroid-inhabiting species of similar size and coloration that lack the membrane clear spot, by the presence of only simple setae on the dorsum (cf. Avititerra species with both simple and scalelike setae).

The male genitalia of N. whadjuk is distinctive from all other callitroid-inhabiting Orthotylini species, and in particular, the modified apophysis with an expanded flange and subapical, strongly recurved hook on the left paramere; and the small aedeagus, which does not protrude from the pygophore. Also, the ventral margin of the pygophore is strongly tapered, with the parameres articulated lower on the margins than in all other genera in this work (all have a larger and rounder genital opening and the parameres are articulated more submedially on the genital opening).

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS AND STATES

EXTERNAL

0. Dorsal vestiture with scalelike setae: 0, absent (e.g., Callitricola , fig. 30A); 1, present (e.g., Avititerra , fig. 16A).

1. Antennal segment I color: 0, same as remain- der, yellow-green (e.g., Avititerra , fig. 12); 1, different from remainder, red-brown (e.g., Blattakeraia , fig. 12).

2. Prominent pronotal collar: 0, absent (nonaustromirine Orthotylini ); 1, present (e.g., Austromirini spp.).

3. Tip of cuneus red to red-black: 0, absent (e.g., Callitricola , fig. 13; E. drepanomorpha , E. notodytika , fig. 14); 1, present (e.g., most Erysivena spp. , fig. 14).

4. Wing membrane with subcuneal clear spot: 0, absent (fig. 12A; e.g., Avititerra , Ngullamiris , fig. 12); 1, present (fig. 12B; e.g., Blattakeraia , fig. 12; Callitricola , fig. 13; Erysivena , fig. 14).

5. Wing membrane pattern of coloration: 0, uniform (e.g., Avititerra , fig. 12A); 1, patchy (e.g., Callitricola , fig. 12A; Blattakeraia , fig. 12).

6. Wing membrane vein color: 0, orange or yellow (e.g., C. graciliphila , fig. 13); 1, yellowgreen or bright green (e.g., C. wiradjuri , fig. 13); 2, red (e.g., Erysivena , fig. 14); 3, other, no distinct color (e.g., Orthotylus cuneatus , fig. 7); 4, bicolored—part yellow, part green (e.g., N. whadjuk , fig. 12).

7. Wing membrane with green spot in large areole: 0, absent (e.g., Avititerra , fig. 12; Erysivena , fig. 14); 1, present (e.g., Blattakeraia , fig. 12; C. parawirra , fig. 13).

Figures

FIG. 11. Callitroid Orthotylini + Naranjakotta sidnica. Generic overview of aedeagus and arrangement of endosomal spicules. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

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. 75. External morphology of Ngullamiris whadjuk, 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. Metathoracic scent gland, scale bar = 10 µm. G. Tarsal claw, scale bar = 10 µm. H. Pygophore, posterodorsal, scale bar = 30 µm.

FIG. 76. Male external genitalic morphology of Ngullamiris whadjuk. Pygophore: A. dorsal; B. ventral; C. left lateral; D. right lateral. Arrows indicate short, spinelike setae. Scale bars = 30 µm.

FIG. 77. Male genitalia of Ngullamiris whadjuk. A. Pygophore, dorsal. B. Left paramere, dorsal. C. Left paramere, ventral. D. Right paramere, dorsal. E. Phallotheca, dorsal. F. Aedeagus, ventral. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIG. 78. Female genitalia of Ngullamiris whadjuk. A. Bursa copulatrix, ventral. C. Posterior wall, dorsal. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.