Ectmetopterus mishmiensis, Yeshwanth, H. M., 2015

Yeshwanth, H. M., 2015, Two new species of the genus Ectmetopterus (Hemiptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae) feeding on grass in India, Zootaxa 3904 (4), pp. 581-588 : 582-585

Ectmetopterus mishmiensis sp.nov.

( Figures 1–7 , 15, 16 , Table 1)

Diagnosis. Macropterous, dorsum shining, coloration black, antenna longer than body, cuneus with pale white apical spots, right paramere elongate, left paramere trifurcate with the processes broad and thumb–like; membrane with two closed cells and covering apex of abdomen, membrane joining cuneus at apex on inner margin.

Description. Male. Macropterous, body elongate and broad, total length 2.52–2.65, width pronotum 0.97–0.98. COLORATION ( Fig. 7 ): Dorsum shining black, head black with pale yellow markings on inner margin of eyes and posterior margin, pronotum and scutellum completely black; antennal segment I, III and IV black, segment II basal 1/4th and apical 3/4th black, medially pale brown; labium uniformly reddish brown, scent gland evaporatory area brown; cuneus apically with pale white spots; membrane fuscous ; legs with femur reddish brown, tibia with basal one third and apical one fourth black, medially pale brown, tarsi with apical segment black; coxae and femora black; tibiae with basal half and apical 1/4th black, medially pale brown, tarsal segments I and III dark brown, segment II pale brown. SURFACE AND VESTITURE ( Figs. 15, 16 ): Head, pronotum and hemelytra shining; entire dorsum with erect simple black reclined setae and sparse silvery scale–like setae on clavus, inner corial regions and meso and metathoracic regions; antennae and legs with short semi erect, simple black setae, base of tibia with row of short pines interspersed with long spines.

STRUCTURE: Head: Slightly broader than anterior margin of pronotum, frons strongly sloping, ventrally and weakly visible dorsally, vertex with weak carina and a shallow transverse suture; eyes occupying 1/3rd of total head height in lateral view; antennal fossa located anteriorly to eyes, dorsally to ventral margin of eyes; antennal segment I short cylindrical, segment II longest and uniform in tubular diameter, segments III and IV thread like; segment I of labium, stout, apex reaching fore coxa, segment II passing mid coxa subequal to segment I, segments III and IV subequal in length, apex reaching second abdominal segment ventrally. Thorax: Pronotum trapezoidal, with narrow collar, lateral margins weakly concave, posterior margin weakly concave medially, mesoscutum exposed, as wide as diameter of II segment of antenna, scutellum flat; scent gland evaporatory area elongate laterally, pear shaped with a central slit; calli weakly raised. Hemelytra: Brachypterous, lateral margins concave; embolium widening towards cuneal fracture, cuneal fracture prominent, cuneus broadly triangular; membrane with two closed cells, outer large cell and inner small triangular cell, membrane covering abdomen dorsally. Legs: Fore and midfemora short, cylindrical; hind femur swollen, longer than abdomen, hind tibiae elongate, claws long and curved with fleshy apically convergent pulvilli. GENITALIA ( Figs. 1–5 ): Pygophore: Short and broad, concave ventrally, with large aperture, parameres strongly projecting. Left paramere: Trifurcate, with first apophysis long curved, second and third apophysis short, broad and flattened. Right paramere: Broad and flat, longer than left paramere, lateral margins curved. Phallotheca: Simple, elongate, weakly sclerotized; ductus seminis short with flexible ribbing secondary gonopore with irregular sclerotization basally; endosoma with weakly sclerotized medial structure extension of secondary gonopore.

Female. Similar to male, total length 2.51–2.54, width pronotum 0.97–1.00. GENITALIA ( Fig.6 ): Sclerotized rings broad and widely separated, ovoid, rounded; bursa copulatrix membranous.

Distribution. The species is known from one locality Chidu in the Mishmi Hills of Arunachal Pradesh.

Host. Breeds on species of Paspalum sp. ( Poaceae ) ( Fig. 15 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality.

Discussion. The new species closely resembles members of the genus Microtechnities externally but is easily distinguished by its trifurcate left paramere and endosoma without elongate serrated spicules. The left paramere of E. mishmiensis resembles E. micantulus (Horváth) but is differentiated by the long curved first branching apophysis, second and third apophysis are short, broad and flattened, whereas in E. micantulus the first apophysis is hooked and the second and third apophysis are elongate and thumb-like.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE 1♂, INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh: Chidu: Mishmi Hills, 1085m, 13.ix.2014, ex Paspalum sp., Yeshwanth, H.M, PARATYPES: 6♂ and 2♀, INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh: Chidu: Mishmi Hills, 1085m, 13.ix.2014, ex Paspalum sp.,Yeshwanth, H.M. ( UASB).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Ectmetopterus mishmiensis sp. nov. 1 – 5. male genitalia, 1. pygophore, 2. left paramere dorsal view, 3. left paramere ventral view, 4. right paramere, 5. phallotheca, 6. female genitalia – bursa copulatrix, 7. habitus, male. Abbreviations: EN, endosoma; PB, phallobase; SG, secondary gonopore; DS, ductus seminis.

FIGURES 15 – 19. Habitus of Ectmetopterus spp. alive, 15. E. mishmiensis sp. nov., female, 16. E. mishmiensis sp. nov., male; 17. E. nandiensis sp. nov., female, 18. E. nandiensis sp. nov., male; 19. Black circles indicating adults and nymphs feeding on its host Paspalum sp., white chloratic patches show feeding damage.