Jiwarli solanum, Soto & Weirauch, 2009

Soto, Diane & Weirauch, Christiane, 2009, Description of the Australian Plant Bug Genus Jiwarli, n. gen. (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae), American Museum Novitates 3653, pp. 1-16 : 12-14

Jiwarli solanum , new species

Figures 1 , 3 , 4

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: 72 km N of Yunta, Nillinghoo Creek, 32.00924 ° S 139.4523 ° E, 194 m, 09 Nov 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, R.Br. Solanum ellipticum R.Br. (Solanaceae) , det. NSW staff 666382, 13 (00099509) ( AM).

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the brown vertically skewed lines on the hemelytron, the weakly shining dorsum, the apex of labium extending only to the anterior margin of the pygophore, the proximal process of the vesica long and wide, with 3 to 4 spines, and the long apical spine on the vesica. Most similar to Jiwarli heliotropium , n. sp., based on the pattern of bold spots on the pronotum, overall coloration, and presence of the flaplike process distal to the secondary gonopore, but distinguished by the color pattern of the hemelytron and the longer apical spine of the vesica in J. solanum .

DESCRIPTION: Male: Macropterous; total length 3.70–4.15, length from apex of clypeus to cuneal fracture 2.70–3.15, width across pronotum 1.25–1.50. COLORATION (fig. 1): General coloration pale green to pale brownish, appendages pale tan. Head: Vertex pale tan with dark brown spots, clypeus with pale tan stripe with small brown spots, mandibular and maxillary plates pale green to pale tan; antennal segment 1 pale brown with basal ring darker, segment 2 pale brown to dark brown, segment 3 brown, segment 4 dark brown; labium with segment 1 pale greenish, segment 2 pale brown, segment 3 brown. Thorax: Olive green and pale brown with distinct pattern of 6 bold dark brown spots on posterior pronotal lobe and 3 bold dark brown spots each side of pronotal lobe, 8–10 smaller spots usually arranged up in two transverse rows; mesoscutum yellow-orange with several small spots; scutellum pale brown with longitudinal yellowish-green stripe with two bold dark brown spots; pleura pale tan suffused with pale yellowgreenish. Legs: Mixture of pale green and pale brown, few spots on pro- and mesocoxae, femur of metathoracic leg with slightly more spots, tibia pale tan, tarsi brown to dark brown. Hemelytra: Corium including clavus olive green and pale brown, covered with diagonally skewed brown lines, part of corium transparent, cuneus proximally and distally transparent, membrane transparent with pale tan, distal to cuneus with brown triangular mark with apex of membrane pale brown with transparent mark. Abdomen: Pale green suffused with yellowish to pale tan. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum weakly shining, few adpressed setae of moderate length, cuneus densely covered with setae.

STRUCTURE: Head: Mandibular plate relatively small, buccula convex; eyes moderately large; apex of labium extending to anterior margin of pygophore, short, segments 2 through 4 slender, elongate. Abdomen: Corpulent abdomen extending to cuneal base, very translucent adpressed setae present on abdomen. GENITALIA: Vesica: Distal flaplike process of vesica present, beset with spicules, proximal process long and heavily sclerotized, with 3–4 spines, apical spine of vesica long.

FEMALE (fig. 1): Female as in generic description. Total length 4.15–4.60, length from apex of clypeus to cuneal fracture 3.00– 3.45, width across pronotum 1.35–1.55.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the genus of its host plant, Solanum spp.

HOST (table 2): Predominantly recorded from several species of Solanum (Solanaceae) .

DISTRIBUTION (fig. 4): Known to be widely distributed throughout Australia.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Paratypes: AUSTR- ALIA: New South Wales: Sydney, 33.8652 ° S 151.2096 ° E, C. Gibbons, 1♀ (00214548) ( AM). Northern Territory: 8.8 km N of Mt Wedge Stn Rd jct on Tanami Rd, 22.63335 ° S 132.3525 ° E, 598 m, 23 Oct 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Wall, Dunal ex Poir. Solanum orbiculatum orbiculatum Dunal ex Poir. (Solanaceae) , det. NSW staff 658318, 2♀ (00216378, 00216379) ( AMNH). Kings Canyon, Watarrka National Park, 24.25001 ° S 131.5689 ° E, 633 m, 02 Nov 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Wall, 1♀ (00216377) ( AMNH). Queensland: 8.2 km E of Mungallala, 26.46401 ° S 147.6248 ° E, 560 m, 31 Oct 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, F. Muell. Solanum cf. nemophilum F. Muell. (Solanaceae) , det. Royal Bot Gard. NSW 427370, 23 (00130418, 00130419), 1♀ (00130420) ( AMNH). Morven District, Apr 1941, N. Geary, 1♀ (00214547) ( AM). South Australia: 72 km N of Yunta, Nillinghoo Creek, 32.00924 ° S 139.4523 ° E, 194 m, 09 Nov 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, R.Br. Solanum ellipticum R.Br. (Solanaceae) , det. NSW staff 666382, 123 (00099508, 00099512–00099516, 00099518–00099522, 00215360), 33♀ (00099523–00099541, 00099543–00099546, 00099548, 00099550–00099558) ( AMNH). R.Br. Solanum ellipticum R.Br. (Solanaceae) , det. NSW staff 666382, 13 (00099511) ( CNC). R.Br. Solanum ellipticum R.Br. (Solanaceae) , det. NSW staff 666382, 13 (00099517), 1♀ (00099542) ( USNM). R.Br. Solanum ellipticum R.Br. (Solanaceae) , det. NSW staff 666382, 13 (00099510), 1♀ (00099547) ( ZISP). Western Australia: 30 km NW of Lorna Glen HS, 26.13 ° S 121.33 ° E, 10 Aug 1983, T. F. Houston & R. P. McMillan, 13 (00219627), 1♀ (00219628) ( WAMP). 49.1 km N of Norseman, 30.32116 ° S 121.2851 ° E, 600 m, 24 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Poir. Solanum orbiculatum orbiculatum Poir. (Solanaceae) , det. PERTH staff 05054613, 13 (00214543), 1♀ (00214546) ( AM). 53.9 km N of Kalgoorlie, 30.28882 ° S 121.2558 ° E, 600 m, 24 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, (DC.) Benth. Ixiolaena leptolepis (DC.) Benth. (Asteraceae) , det. PERTH staff 05099927, 13 (00216380), 1♀ (00216381) ( AMNH). 79 km W of Sandstone, 28.03737 ° S 118.4983 ° E, 650 m, 26 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Poir. Solanum lasiophyllum Poir. (Solanaceae) , det. PERTH staff 05120721, 13 (00133101), 6♀ (00133102–00133107) ( AMNH). Koolan Island, 16.124 ° S 123.74 ° E, Jul 1967 – Sep 1967, O. Milton, 13 (00219626), 3♀ (00219623–00219625) ( WAMP). Logues Springs, 102 km SE by E. Broome, W.A., 18.25 ° S 123.05 ° E, 18 Aug 1976, I. F. B. Common, 1♀ (00216426) ( ANIC). NW Coastal Hiway 80.7 km N of Kalbarri Rd, 27.25379 ° S 114.5998 ° E, 400 m, 30 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, F. Muell. Anthotroche walcottii F. Muell. (Solanaceae) , det. PERTH staff 05120233, 23 (00087849, 00087850) ( AM). F. Muell. Anthotroche walcottii F. Muell. (Solanaceae) , det. PERTH staff 05120233, 2♀ (00216375, 00216376) ( AMNH).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: Australian Capital Territory: Canberra, 35.33333 ° N 149.16666 ° E, 21 Apr 1966, 1♀ (00214541) ( AM). Western Australia: 49.1 km N of Norseman, 30.32116 ° S 121.2851 ° E, 600 m, 24 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Poir. Solanum orbiculatum orbiculatum Poir. (Solanaceae) , det. PERTH staff 05054613, 2 nymphs (00214544, 00214545) ( AM). unknown locality: 19 May 1966, Unknown, 13 (00214542) ( AM).

Figures

Fig. 1. Habitus photographs of the four species of Jiwarli, new genus.

Fig. 3. Male genitalic structures of Jiwarli spp. (A–D) and female genitalic structures of J. heliotropium (F, G). A. Vesica seen from left. B. Apex of vesica seen from right. C. J. pilotus, process proximal to secondary gonopore. C. J. heliotropium, left paramere. D. J. heliotropium, right paramere. E. J. heliotropium, phallotheca. F. Bursa copulatrix and associated structures. G. Interramal sclerites with hookshaped processes.

Fig. 4. Distribution maps of species of the plant bug genus Jiwarli, based on specimen records examined during this project, and host plants of the four species based on data from the Australia’s Virtual Herbarium. The mapped species of Solanum are Solanum ellipticum (black), S. lasiophyllum (white), and S. orbiculatum (grey).