Psallus (Calopsallus) injensis Duwal

Duwal, Ram Keshari & Lee, Seunghwan, 2015, Additional descriptions of the plant bug genus Psallus from the Korean Peninsula (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae), Zootaxa 3926 (4), pp. 585-594 : 588-590

Psallus (Calopsallus) injensis Duwal sp. nov.

Figures: 1C, 2A −C, 4D

Diagnosis. Recognized by the pale yellow, elongated body with variously distributed orange or orange-red speckles on dorsum, scattered brown spots on head and pronotum, discontinuous transverse brown stripes on the head with pale longitudinal median line, and densely distributed brown spots on large part of metafemora arranged in rows towards the base ( Fig. 1 C), C −shaped endosoma with broad and complex apex, furnished with numerous spinules, and a tooth like spine on outer margin of apical process, and a curved finger like subapical process facing upward to the apex ( Figs. 2 A).

Description. Male. Body elongate. COLORATION ( Fig. 1 C): Dorsum entirely pale yellow with variously distributed irregular orange (or orange-red) speckles. Head with scattered orange speckles and brown spots, and transverse brown stripes on head discontinuous at the center forming a pale longitudinal median line; tylus pale with yellowish-brown or reddish lateral margins; antennal segments pale except the sub-basal region of segment I with brown ring and a pair of small brown spots at bases of brown spine; labium entirely pale yellow with brown apex on segment IV. Pronotum pale with scattered orange speckles and brown spots, mesoscutum and scutellum with dense orange-red speckles except at the corners. Hemelytron pale, clavus arranged with sparse orange speckles; endocorium and exocorium with dense orange speckles, cuneus orange-yellow with base and outer margin white and inner margin with discontinuous red colored patches; membrane pale greyish and dull with dark spots at inner and outer margin of cells near the apical region of cuneus. Venter, greyish brown with pale yellow lateral margin of abdominal segments, ostiolar peritreme pale. All legs pale (or somewhat pale brownish), coxae pale with somewhat darker base, trochanters pale, metafemora with densely distributed irregular brown spots arranged in rows towards the base and extreme apex without any spots; tibiae pale with rows of small brown spots at bases of dark brown spines. Abdomen pale yellow. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum furnished with simple dark brown semi-erect setae and moderately flattened sericeous appressed setae; head, pronotum, mesoscutum and scutellum polished. STRUCTURE: Antennal segment I half the length of tarsus, segment II subequal to basal width of the pronotum, segment III subequal to the width of head across eyes, and segment IV subequal to the width of vertex; interocular space wide; labium reaching apex of metacoxae. Thorax more or less trapezoid with postero-lateral margins semicurved. Hemelytron sub-parallel, somewhat fattened at the level of apex of scutellum and cuneal fracture distinct. GENITALIA ( Figs. 2 A −C, 4D): Endosoma: C −shaped; apex broad and complex with numerous spinules, outer margin of apical process with a tooth like spine, a curved finger-like process facing towards the apex; and secondary gonopore placed subapically between apical and sub-apical processes ( Figs. 2 A, 4D). Left paramere: Body short, anterior process slender and elongated, posterior thumb like process short and elongated ( Fig. 2 B). Phallotheca: Broad, tapered at sub-apical region with blunt apex ( Fig. 2 C).

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. Named for the type locality, Inje; an adjective.

Distribution. Korea (South*).

Measurements. (♂) (n=1). Body length 4.08; length from apex of tylus to cuneal fracture 3.14, width of head across eyes 0.79; width of vertex 0.37, lengths of antennal segments 0.22, 1.14, 0.72, 0.35; mesal length of pronotum 0.59; basal width of pronotum 1.19; maximum width across hemelytron 1.53; and lengths of metafemora, tibiae and tarsus 1.24, 2.04, 0.45.

Specimen examined. Holotype. ♂, South Korea, Gangwon-do, Inje-gun, Buk-myeon, Yongdae-ri, Mt. Maebong, Yongdae Natural Recreation Center, on light trap, 19.vi.2013, R.K. Duwal (SNU).

Remarks. This species is placed in the subgenus Calopsallus, based upon the overall appearance of its endosoma being similar to those of congeners, i.e. broad, complex apex bearing dense spinulus structures.

The new species, Psallus injensis can be easily separated from other members by pattern of spots on metafemora. Male genital structure, endosoma is very similar to P. roseoguttatus but could be differentiated due to dentate spine of endosoma on outer lateral margin of apical process and upturned curved subapical process ( Fig. 2 A).

As a single male specimen was collected at a light trap, biology or host association is unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus images of Psallus spp. A − B. P. sanguinarius; C. P. injensis; D − E. P. taehwana; F − G. P. yongdaeri.

FIGURE 2. Male genitalia of Psallus spp. A − C. P. injensis; D − G. P. yongdaeri. A, D. Endosoma; B, E. Left paramere. F. Right paramere. C, G. Phallotheca. Scale bars: 0.05 mm.