Maurodactylus nigrigenis (Reuter, 1890)

Linnavuori, Rauno E., 2010, Studies on the Miridae (Phylinae, addenda to Deraeocorinae and Orthotylinae) of Khuzestan and the adjacent provinces of Iran (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 50 (2), pp. 369-414 : 383-385

Maurodactylus nigrigenis (Reuter, 1890)

Material examined. KHUZESTAN: near Andimeshk, 2 specimens, 5.–6.v.2007 ; Bagh Malek, 1 specimen, 9.–11.v.2007; Behbahan, 1 specimen, 27.–28.iv.2007; near Lali, 5 specimens, 6.–8.v.2007; Sadde-e-Dez, 1 specimen, 6.–7.vi.2005; Zeydoon, several specimens, 26.–28.iv.2007. BUSHEHR: Ab Pakhsh, 3 specimens, 25.–26.iv.2007 ; near Bandar-e- Genaveh, 1 specimen, 23.–24.iv.2007.

Comments. On Artemisia in steppes. At light in gardens and river valleys with Phragmites and other herbs. Eremian species, extending from North Africa to Central Asia.

Megalodactylus grandoculus sp. nov. ( Figs. 6A–G, 26D) Type material. HOLOTYPE: J, IRAN: KHUZESTAN: near Ahvaz , 29.iv.–1.v.2007. The type will be deposited at the

National Museum and Galleries of Wales (Cardiff, United Kingdom).

Description. Length 4.5 mm (J).

Colouration. Pale yellowish ( Fig. 26D). Eyes dark brown. Antennae yellowish. Base of scutellum yellow with two faint dark spots, apical part whitish. Hemelytra pale yellowish with faint dark markings along apical part of claval commissure and across apical part of corium, membranes with cells somewhat darkened. Ventral surface of body pale. Legs yellowish, femora slightly embrowned basally, ventral surface of hind femora with a row of small brownish dots along anterior margin; fore and middle tibiae darkened apically, tibial spines black; tarsi blackish brown.

Structure. Body 3.44× as long as basal width of pronotum. Dorsal surface with long semierect pale hairs. Head 0.8× as broad as basal width of pronotum, in apical view 0.2× as broad as high; eyes large, ocular index 0.82. Antennae long, length ratios of antennomeres 9: 34: 25: 12, antennomere 1 1.32× as long as diatone, antennomere 2 1.37× as long as diatone and 1.1× as long as basal width of pronotum. Rostrum extending to middle coxae. Pronotum twice as broad basally as long in middle, lateral margins strongly diverging anteriorly, disk weakly convex, densely and finely punctate. Apical part of scutellum convex, finely punctate. Hind tibia 1.9× as long as basal width of pronotum. Length ratios of hind tarsomeres 10: 20: 20. Male genitalia in Fig. 6A–G.

Differential diagnosis. The only other species of the genus Megalodactylus , M. macularubra (Mulsant & Rey, 1852; synonym M. bicolor Wagner, 1963 ) is easily distinguished from the new species by: i) different colouration of the hemelytra ( Fig. 7A–B) with distinct red or dark brown pattern and antennomere 1, base of antennomere 2 and bases of tibiae with blackish spots; ii) short hairs on the dorsal surface of the body; iii) much smaller eyes; iv) narrower and more convex pronotum with stronger and sparser punctation; v) lower apical part of scutellum; and vi) different shape of male genitalia ( Fig. 7C–F).

Habitat. At light in a date-palm garden with a small brook with Phragmites .

Etymology. Grandoculus, Latin , a noun in apposition referring to the large eyes.

Distribution. So far known only from the type locality.