Psallus (Psallus) jungaricus Vinokurov et Luo

Vinokurov, Nikolai N. & Luo, Zhaohui, 2012, Psallus jungaricus sp. n. — a new species of plant bugs from Xinjiang (Western China) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae), Zootaxa 3394, pp. 25-30 : 26-30

Psallus (Psallus) jungaricus Vinokurov et Luo , sp. n.

Differential diagnosis. The new species can be recognized by the genitalic structures, viz., the peculiar shape of the apex of the vesica with a large, membranous lobe bearing dentate fields and several variously shaped sclerotized processes ( Figs. 8 9 ); the genital capsule is without keels; and the dorsal labiate plate has small, oval sclerotized rings. This species also differs from congeners in having a pale body without any red spots on its dorsum, or with wide dark grey stripes on the corum in dark specimens ( Fig. 1 ); and hind femora with two rows of dark spots along its anterior margin ( Figs. 5, 6 ). It is similar to the Euro-Siberian P. haematodes (Gmelin, 1790) , and the Middle Eastern P. galilaeus Linnavuori, 1965 , having a uniformly pale white cuneus. Both species differ from P. jungaricus , however, in having a red or brownish red dorsum (pale with reddish markings in the palest specimens of P. haematodes ), and the structure of the vesica (Figs. 15–18). Also similar to the pale, with a yellow dorsum, specimens of south Euro-Anatolien P. anaemicus Seidenstücker, 1966 , but differs in the structure of vesica (Fig. 19).

Description. Male. ( Fig. 1 ). Body pale, oval, robust, 2.1–2.5 x as long as wide, dorsal surface with dense easily obliterated silver scalelike and rare, simple, black, semierect setae. Body length 3.3–3.8, body width 1.4–1.8.

Head ( Fig. 3 ) dirty white, width 0.83–0.91 mm; frons yellow, gray in dark specimens, with two small brownish black spots at middle; vertex along posterior margin with row of long, thin, suberect black setae. Ventral part of head white, with distinctly long, dense, thin white setae near eyes. Clypeus with black base, brown middle, and white apex; maxillary plate black. Labium reaching hind coxae, segments I and II white, last two segments dark brown. Antennae thin, with short white adpressed setae, segments I and II white, segments III and IV reddish; length of segments: I—0.22–0.28, II—0.90–1.00, III—0.40, IV—0.30; segment II twice as long as width of head.

Thorax. Pronotum trapezoidal, with rounded anteriolateral and posteriolateral angles, length 0.62–0.69, basal width 1.30–1.51, 2.03–2.25 x as wide as long; white to grayish white, anterior part yellow with spots at sides of midline; calli basally outlined with long dark brown mark. Thoracic venter white, mesothorax brown black at middle, meso- and metathoracic epipleurons black. Exposed part of mesonotum orange yellow, scutellum with dark brown transverse stripe at base; base of scutellum with fine transverse wrinkles, apex smooth.

Legs white. Fore and middle femora with brown spots ventrally. Hind femur thickened, 3 x as long as wide ( Fig. 5 ); ventral side with longitudinal rows of dark spots at middle and along fore margin, near apex with few black spots and narrow red mark; dorsally hind femur with group of black spots near apex and with narrow dark stripe along anterior margin at base. Tibiae with red spot at base, especially large and clear on hind tibia, and black spots at bases of black tibial spines, length of tibia 1.63–1.89. Tarsal segments I and II dirty yellow, segment III brown; total length of hind tarsus 0.40–0.49; claw smoothly curved, with minute pulvillus.

Forewings. Clavus pale, with narrow dark stripe along outer margin and claval commissure. In pale specimens corium with one or two small dark apical spots; in dark specimens inner part of corium with two longitudinal stripes confluent with apical spot and dark longitudinal stripe along outer margin of corium; outer margin with adpressed thick black setae. Cuneus white or grayish white, laterobasal part with semierect short black simple setae. Membrane smoky gray, semitransparent, veins pale.

Abdomen grayish white, with dense, short, adpressed silver setae, genital segment orange-brown.

Male genitalia. Vesica robust, C-shaped ( Fig. 8, 9 ). Apex of vesica largely membranous, with apically pointed, straight spine, stout and subapically curved blade, smoothly curved downward appendix with two rows of small denticles and directed ventrally, wide, flat, triangle appendix with large obtuse teeth at apex. Apical membranous lobe bearing small sclerotized plate with group of minute denticles. Secondary gonopore subapical, elongate oval, with well developed sculpture. Ventral wall of genital capsule smooth, without keel along midline. Parameres and theca as in Figs. 10–13 .

FIGURES 15–19. Male genitalia of P. haematodes (15, 16), P. galilaeus (17, 18) and P. anaemicus (19): 15, 17, 19—vesica, 16, 18—apex of vesica, (15, 16—after Kerzhner, 1988; 17, 18—after Linnavuori, 1965; 19—after Wyniger, 2004).

Female ( Fig. 2 ). Body 2.00–2.18 x as long as wide, length 3.3–3.8, width 1.4–1.8, vestiture and coloration as in male.

Head ( Fig. 4 ). Width 0.87–0.91, dark spots on frons weakly developed, clypeus pale, dark brown only at base. Length of antennal segments: I—0.22–0.27, II—0.89–1.02, III—0.38–0.42, IV—0.27–0.31; segment II 1.1 x longer than width of head. Pronotum 2.03–2.25 x as wide as long, transversal stripes on calli brown. Hind femur distinctly wider than in male, 2.5 x as long as wide ( Fig. 6 ); length of hind tibia 1.60–1.86, length of tarsus—0.49–0.51. Abdomen white, tergite VII laterally with red marks.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 14 ). Dorsal labiate plate rounded, with weakly sclerotized cup-shaped cavity, with fields of tiny sharp spines at sides, sclerotized rings small and oval, lateral oviducts transverse, narrowed apically.

Material examined. Holotype 3, China, Xinjiang Prov., Kelan River, poplar forest, 20 km NE of Beitun, 425 m (47°32'N; 87°54'E), 29.VI.2011 (N. Vinokurov) ( ZISP). Paratypes. 4 3 5 Ƥ, same labels as holotype; 1 Ƥ, Altai, 29.VI.2011 (N. Vinokurov); 1 3, Jungar Alatau, Guaishiyu, 35 km NE of Bole, 1100–1200 m (45°11'N; 82°16'E), 13.VII.2011 (N. Vinokurov) ( CAU, XJIEG, ZISP).

Distribution. P. jungaricus sp. n. is known from the northern and western parts of Xinjiang, viz. the basin of the Eerqisi (Black Irtysh) River and Jungar Alatau Mountains.

Biology. In the valley of the Kelan River. P. jungaricus sp.n. was sampled from poplar trees ( Populus sp., Salicaceae ) in the grassy poplar forest with brushwood composed of willows and various shrubs ( Fig. 20 ). In Jungar Alatay Mountains a single specimen was collected from a willow ( Salix sp., Salicaceae ) growing near a mountain stream.

Etymology. The species is named after the historical region in the northern part of Xinjiang.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Psallus jungaricus, sp. n.

FIGURE 20. Poplar – willow grassy forest—biotope of P. jungaricus sp. n. in the valley of the Kelan River, right tribute of the Eeqisi (Black Irtysh) River.

FIGURES 8 – 14. Genitalia of P. jungaricus: 8 — vesica (scale bar = 0.1 mm), 9 — apex of vesica, 10, 11 — left paramere in various positions, 12 — right paramere, 13 — theca, 14 — female genitalia, dorsal view (scale bar = 0.1 mm).

FIGURES 2 – 7. Details of body of P. jungaricus: 2 — female (scale bar = 1 mm), 3 — head of male, 4 — head of female, 5 — hind femur of male, ventral view, 6 — hind femur of female, ventral view, 7 — hind tarsus of female.