Pherolepis nigrinus, Zhang, Xu & Liu, Guo-Qing, 2009

Zhang, Xu & Liu, Guo-Qing, 2009, Revision of the pilophorine plant bug genus Pherolepis Kulik, 1968 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae), Zootaxa 2281, pp. 1-20 : 15-17

Pherolepis nigrinus sp.nov.

( Figs. 8, 9 , 49–60 )

Type specimens: Holotype: male, CHINA: Mt. Heng (27°18'N, 112°42'E), Hengyang City, Hunan Province, alt. 610m, 19. VII. 2004, Jing-yang Xu leg.. Paratypes: 1 male, CHINA: same data as holotype, alt. 1250m, Yun-ling Ke leg.; 1 female, CHINA: Dongan County (27°18'N, 112°42'E), Hunan Province, alt. 470–600m, 26. VII. 2004, Jing-yang Xu leg.; 6 females, CHINA: Dongan County, Hunan Province, alt. 1200m, 28. VII. 2004, Yun-ling Ke leg.; 4 females, CHINA: Yanlin County (27°51'N, 113°09'E), Hunan Province, alt. 1000m, 18. VII. 2004, Jing-yang Xu leg..

Diagnosis: Recognized by the relatively small body size ( Figs. 8, 9 ), the almost black dorsum, the sericeous setae arranged into small patches on the hemelytron ( Fig. 50 ), the distinctly elongate labium almost reaching abdominal segment III, and the form of male genitalia ( Figs. 55–59 ). Most similar to P. kiritshenkoi (Kerzhner) in pattern of setae on hemelytron, but distinguished by the coloration of body, the form of male genitalia and the small body size. Vesica of the new species with a mesial projection in the form of a simple lanceolate spine ( Figs. 27–31 ), while that of P. kiritshenkoi with a relatively short projection situated near the distal apex of vesica.

Description: Male ( Fig. 8 ): Macropterous, oval, small-sized.

Coloration: Dorsum generally black; eye pale-black with inner surface reddish brown; antennal segment I yellowish pale, proximal 2/3 of segment II dirty yellow and deep castaneous distally, segment III and IV same as distal segment II in coloration; vertex, frons, and clypeus almost black, mandibular and maxillary plates, buccula and labium deep reddish brown; pronotum, mesoscutum, scutellum, hemelytron nearly black; coxae, femora deep brown, tibiae, tarsi dirty yellow; abdominal segments generally black.

Surface and Vestiture: Pronotum and exposed margin of mesoscutum polished and distinctly shining, basal half of hemelytron dull with remainder weakly shining; dorsal body covered with two types of setae, appressed, sericeous setae arranged into small patches scattered on corium and clavus ( Fig. 50 ), and rigid, decumbent, deep brown simple setae; mesepimeron with a short band of sericeous setae, sericeous setae forming several spots on posterior margin of metepisternum ( Fig. 51 ).

Structure: Head ( Figs. 8, 9 , 49 ): Transverse in dorsal view, triangular in frontal view, vertex and frons flattened, covered with short, recumbent simple setae; posterior margin of vertex forming a complete carina; frons weakly rugose, distinctly projecting; mandibular and maxillary plates relatively small; labium distinctly elongate and cylindrate, almost reaching abdominal segment III, labial segment I distinctly thickened, stout; eyes large, ovoid, occupying most of height of head in lateral view; antennal segment I short and stout, narrow at base, segment II long, tubular and weakly curved, distal half increasing in diameter, segment III equal to segment IV in diameter and length. Thorax: Pronotum weakly tumidiform, trapeziform, lateral margin almost straight, posterior margin weakly concave mesially, anterior margin weakly convex in dorsal view, anterolateral angle on each side with one long, erect, spinelike seta; mesoscutum broadly exposed, weakly declining; scutellum weakly swollen mesially; exterior margin of hemelytron weakly convex; cuneus broadly triangular; femora stout, weakly flattened, tibiae cylindrical and straight, with several rows of deep brown spine; claws stout, curved, length of tarsal segment III subequal to that of segment I and II. Abdomen: Stout and broad, generally covered with recumbent, pale, simple setae.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 55–59 ): Vesica typically L-shaped, with a spinelike, lanceolate, nearly vertical projection on shaft ( Fig. 55 ); left paramere boat-shaped ( Figs. 56, 57 ); right paramere small and leaflike, lanceolate ( Fig. 58 ); phallotheca beaklike apically ( Fig. 59 ).

Female ( Fig. 9 ): Macropterous, surface and coloration similar to male, body weakly bigger and broader than male.

Female genitalia: Structure as figure 60. Host: No data available.

Distribution: China (Hunan).

Etymology: Named for the black coloration of body.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 11. Habitus views of Pherolepis spp. 1. aenescens (male); 2. aenescens (female); 3. amplus (male); 4. amplus (female); 5. kiritshenkoi (male); 6. longipilus (male); 7. longipilus (female); 8. nigrinus (male); 9. nigrinus (female); 10. robustus (male); 11. robustus (female)

FIGURES 49 – 54. Scanning electron micrographs of morphological structures of P. nigrinus (male): 49. Lateral view of head; 50. sericeous setae on dorsum; 51 – 52. Scent-gland evaporatory area; 53 – 54. Parempodia

FIGURES 55 – 60. Pherolepis nigrinus sp. nov.: 55 – 59. Male genitalia (scale = 0.10 mm): 55. Vesica; 56. Left paramere; 57. Left paramere, apical view; 58. Right paramere; 59. Phallotheca. 60. Female genitalia (scale = 0.20 mm), dorsal view

FIGURES 26 – 31. Pherolepis amplus Kulik: 26 – 30. Male genitalia (scale = 0.10 mm): 26. Vesica; 27. Left paramere; 28. Left paramere, apical view; 29. Right paramere; 30. Phallotheca. 31. Female genitalia (scale = 0.20 mm), dorsal view.