Pilophorus saovapruki, Yasunaga, Tomohide, Yamada, Kazutaka & Artchawakom, Taksin, 2014

Yasunaga, Tomohide, Yamada, Kazutaka & Artchawakom, Taksin, 2014, Additional records and descriptions of the ant-mimetic plant bug genus Pilophorus from Thailand (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Pilophorini), Zootaxa 3795 (1), pp. 1-15 : 9-10

Pilophorus saovapruki new species

( Figs. 2 A–C, 4, 5, 7)

Diagnosis. Recognized by its rather small size, ocherous brown basic coloration, shiny pronotum, a bunch of scalelike setae on each corner of scutellum, matt anterior 2/3 of hemelytron with two streaks of scalelike setae on middle clavus and anterior corium, and nearly confluent posterior band of scalelike setae, a circular patch of scalelike setae on cuneus, paired dark maculae on ventral surface of abdomen, and form of male genitalia.

Description. Body generally ocherous brown, partly tinged with red or sanguineous, rather small, moderately constricted (HCR = 0.70–0.84); dorsal surface shining, except for matt anterior 2/3 of two-toned hemelytron. Head shiny chestnut brown, with uniformly distributed, silky, short, semierect setae. Antenna pale brown; segment II with chestnut apical half, weakly incrassate toward apex; apex (and sometimes base) of segment III narrowly darkened. Labium shiny reddish brown, reaching or slightly exceeding apex of mesocoxa. Pronotum shiny chestnut brown, tumid posteriorly, with uniformly distributed, silky, short, semierect setae; pleura shiny pale brown to fuscous, with two bunches of scalelike setae on epimeron; scutellum somewhat arched, with a bunch of scalelike setae at each corner. Hemelytron two-toned (ocherous and matt anteriorly whereas shiny chestnut brown posteriorly), with uniformly distributed, simple, semierect setae; anterior ochrous region with 4 streaks of scalelike setae medially and a nearly confluent band at posterior border; cuneus with a patch of scalelike setae; membrane smoky brown. Coxae and legs pale brown, partly tinged with red; apical parts of (especially meso and meta) femora widely darkened; basal 1/3−1/2 of each tibiae reddish or dark brown. Abdomen shiny yellowish brown, ventrally with paired, dark reddish brown, large maculae sometimes fused together mesally. Male genitalia ( Figs. 5 , 7 ): Left paramere with a moderate-sized dorsal protuberance. Endosoma C-shaped, medially with a long flagellum.

Measurements. ♂/♀: Total body length 2.6−2.7/ 2.7−2.9; length from apex of clypeus to cuneal fracture 2.07−2.17/ 2.12−2.28; width of head across eyes 0.68−0.71/ 0.69−0.72; head height 0.58−0.62/ 0.61−0.63; width of vertex 0.27−0.35/ 0.33−0.35; lengths of antennal segments I −IV 0.20−0.24, 0.75−0.84, 0.32−0.26, 0.36−0.41/ 0.24−0.26, 0.81−0.84, 0.36−0.37, 0.36−0.38; basal width of pronotum 0.78−0.80/ 0.78−0.81; minimum width across hemelytron 0.69−0.72/ 0.73−0.75; maximum width across hemelytron 0.84−0.87/ 0.98−1.04; and length of metatibia 1.32−1.35/ 1.42−1.47.

Etymology. Named in honor of Mr. Youngwut Saovapruk (the Governor of Thailand Institute of Scientific & Technological Research) who strongly supports the SERS.

Biology. Although two male adults of this new species were found on leaves of Macaranga trees ( Euphorbiaceae ), its breeding host is yet to be confirmed. The adults are collected almost throughout a year, and frequently attracted to light.

Holotype: ♂, THAILAND: Nakhon Ratchasima: SERS, 14˚30'27”N, 101˚55'39”E, 410 m alt., light trap, 25 Sep 2013, T. Yasunaga ( AMNH _PBI 00380170) ( DOA).

Paratypes. THAILAND: Nakhon Nayok: 1♂, Sarika near Waterfall, 14˚18'32”N 101˚15'20”E ~ 14˚18'09”N 101˚15'38”E, on leaf of Macaranga sp., 17−18 Jun 2009, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada ( AMNH _PBI 00380190) ( TYCN); 1♂, Nakhon Nayok: Sarika, Ban Wang Taklai, 14˚19'48.5”N 101˚18'19.5”E, on leaf of Macaranga sp., 23 Mar 2010, T. Yasunaga (00380191) ( TYCN). Nakhon Ratchasima: 1♂, same data as for holotype (00380171) ( TYCN); 1♂ 1♀, SERS, same data except for date, 23 Sep 2013 (00380172−00380173) ( TYCN); 5♂ 2♀, same locality, light trap, 19−21 Aug 2008, T. Yasunaga, B Shishido (00380174−00380177) ( TYCN); 1♂ 1♀, same locality, light trap, 27 Oct 2008, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (00380178) ( TYCN); 2♂ 2♀, same locality, light trap, 25−27 Feb 2009, T. Yasunaga (00380179−00380180) ( TYCN); 8♂ 3♀, same locality, light trap, 12−14 Jun 2009, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (00380181−00380187) ( AMNH, TYCN); 2♂, same locality, light trap, 31 May & 2 Jun 2013, T. Yasunaga (00380188−00380189) ( TYCN); 12♂ 3♀, same locality, light trap, 21−24 Mar 2014, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (00380208−00380214) ( AMNH, TYCN).

Remarks. This new species appears to be most closely related to P. formosanus Poppius , judging from the general appearance and basic form of the endosoma; C. saovapruki is distinguished from the latter by the presence of silvery, scalelike setae on the median clavus and inner cuneus, and much longer flagellum of the endosoma, in addition to the allopatric distribution.

A male individual shown in Fig. 2 B (AMNH_PBI 00380173) has an aberrant right antenna that seems to lack the segment III.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitus images of Pilophorus saovapruki (A − C) and P. alstoni (D − F), living adult individuals. A. Male (AMNH _ PBI 00380191). B. Male (from SERS). C. Female (SERS). D. Male (SERS). E. Male (SERS). F. Female (SERS).

FIGURE 5. Male genitalia (left paramere and endosoma) of Pilophorus spp. named on the figure.

FIGURE 7. Image of endosoma of Pilophorus spp. named on the figure.