Myiomma belavadii, Yeshwanth & Chérot & Henry, 2021

Yeshwanth, H. M., Chérot, F. & Henry, T. J., 2021, The Isometopinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) of India and Sri Lanka: A Review of the Subfamily, with Descriptions of Six New Species, Zootaxa 4903 (2), pp. 151-193 : 168

Myiomma belavadii , n. sp.

( Figs. 3 C–D, 6K, 15A–H, 20C)

Diagnosis. Recognised by the pale brown dorsal coloration, the white spot on the cuneus, the red markings along the cuneal fracture, and the structure of male genitalia.

Type material. Holotype (³): INDIA: Karnataka, Bengaluru , GKVK, 23.i.2020, ex: Pongamia pinnata bark, Yeshwanth H.M. leg. ( UASB) . Paratypes (4♀), same data as for holotype .

Description. Male. Small, oval, elongate, length 2 mm. Colouration: Head with reddish-brown eyes, face with reddish or dark brown markings below eyes; apex of antennal segment II pale brown, segment III and IV reddish brown or dark brown. Dorsum pale brown, with mesoscutum pale yellow; cuneus with white spots and apex dark brown or black; margins of corium with a reddish tinge. Hind tibia with pale and dark brown bands. Abdomen ventrally dark brown. Surface structure and vestiture: Body finely punctate. Pronotum and hemelytra with goldenyellow, shiny, flattened setae. Head rounded in front, with outer margins of eyes elongate; ocelli proximate; eyes holoptic. Antenna arising slightly below the ventral margin of eye laterally; segment I short, tubular; segment II longest, cylindrical; segment III and IV subequal in length; segment IV bulbous. Labium long, surpassing hind coxa and extending to at least 8 th abdominal segment. Pronotum with a flat, carinate lateral margin, weakly curved; posterior margin deeply concave on either side of middle. Mesoscutum raised, width slightly less than head width in dorsal view, with two lateral raised sulci on margin; scutellum raised, equilateral. Metathoracic scent gland evaporatory area large, with prominent opening ( Fig. 15B ). Hemelytron with lateral margin weakly curved; cuneus triangular, slightly longer than wide at base, with a prominent cuneal fracture; membrane with a single cell. Legs with all femora swollen; hind femur greatly enlarged; tibia elongate; tarsi 2 segmented. Male genitalia: as in Figs. 15 C–H.

Female similar to male but slightly paler. Detailed measurements in Table 1 .

Distribution. India (Karnataka).

Biology. Collected on the bark of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre ( Fabaceae ).

Etymology. It is our pleasure to name this new species after Prof. Vasuki V. Belavadi (Department of Entomology UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru), a pollination biologist who provided support and encouragement to the first author during his studies on Miridae .

Discussion. This new species is separated from other Indian Myiomma species by the characters mentioned in the diagnosis and the key, mainly the total length, dorsal coloration, and male genital structures.

Figures

FIGURES 3. Indian Isometopinae: Isometopini and Myiommini. Habitus in dorsal view. A. Paloniella parallela Yasunaga & Hayashi, 2002. B. Isometopidea viraktamathi, n. sp. C. Myiomma belavadii, n. sp. male. D. female. E–F. Myiomma ramamurthyi, n. sp. male. F. female.

FIGURES 15. Myiomma belavadii, n. sp. A. Head, pronotum and scutellum, B. Metathoracic scent gland, C–H. Male genitalia, C–D. Phygophore. E–F. Right paramere. G. Left paramere. H. Phallus.