Europiella isodonicola, Yasunaga, 2022

Yasunaga, Tomohide, 2022, The plant bug subfamily Phylinae in Japan, with key to genera and descriptions of eight new species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae), Zootaxa 5094 (1), pp. 1-52 : 14-16

Europiella isodonicola n. sp.

( Figs. 3E ; 5 F−I; 6A−B; 7; 8A−C; 16; 21A−F; 22A−F)

Material examined. Holotype (♂). JAPAN: Honshu, Okayama Pref., Hiruzen Plateau, Kawakami Village, Kamiyubune [current Maniwa City, Hiruzen], 35.31, 133.62, on Isodon inflexus , 4 Sep 2002, T. Yasunaga ( AMNH) ( AMNH _PBI 00380698). Paratypes: JAPAN: Honshu, same data as for holotype, 6♂ 13♀ ( CNC, TYCN); Hiroshima Pref., Mt. Ungetsu (Uzutsuki), 900 m alt., 34.80, 132.23, sweeping herbs, 4 Sep 1992, T. Yasunaga, 1♂ 3♀ ( TYCN); Nara Pref., Kawakami Village, Kitamata, 34.29, 136.01, UV lighting, 15 Jun 1993, Y. Nakatani, 1♀ ( NIAES). Kyushu: Oita Pref., Shonai Town, Shiramizu, 33.12, 131.31, UV lighting, 27-28 Jul 1995, Y. Nakatani, 1♂ ( NIAES) (00380699).

Diagnosis. Recognized by its pale olive green dorsum (in fresh specimens, cf. Fig. 5 F–H ); rather small size; narrow head; short male antennal segment II subequal in length to labium; apical half of metafemur with dark small spots ( Fig. 7 ); relatively small pulvilli ( Fig. 21F ); blunt-tipped right paramere ( Figs. 8B , 22B ); relatively enlarged apical plate of vesica ( Figs. 8C , 22C ); and somewhat triangular female sclerotized rings ( Fig. 3E ), in addition to unique association with a Laminaceae herb. This new species is most closely related to E. miyamotoi , from which E. isodonicola n. sp. can be distinguished by the characters mentioned in the above key (couplet 4), the smaller size and shorter appendages, and different shape of the genitalia (e.g., roundly bent phallotheca, blunt-tipped right paramere, wider apical plate of vesica).

Description. Body elongate-oval (♂)/ ovoid (♀); basic coloration pale olive green ( Fig. 5F–H ) but fading to pale stramineous brown in dry-preserved specimens ( Fig. 6A–B ); dorsal surface weakly shining, with uniformly distributed, brown, simple setae and silvery, reclining setae. Head pale brown, relatively shining, with sparsely distributed, upright setae ( Fig. 21A–B ); eye small. Antenna entirely pale brown; each segment generally linear; segment I with a few dark, small spots at bases of dark spines; segment II in ♂ about as long as labium. Labium shiny pale brown, its apex reaching base of metacoxa; apical half of segment IV dark brown. Pronotum relatively shining, with greenish calli in fresh specimen; metathoracic scent efferent system with relatively wide peritreme ( Fig. 21C ). Hemelytron wholly pale brown but in fresh specimen widely pale olive green with creamy white margins of corium and cuneus ( Fig. 5F–H ); membrane pale smoky brown, semitransparent. All coxae and legs pale brown; apical half of metafemur with dark spots as in Fig. 7 ; each tibia with dark, small spots at bases of fuscous spines; pretarsal structure as in Fig. 21F ; pulvilli small. Abdomen pale brown, partly tinged with green. Male genitalia ( Figs. 8 A−C; 22A−C): Phallotheca roundly bent at middle ( Figs. 8A , 22A ); right paramere nearly parallel-sided, blunt-tipped ( Fig. 8B , 22B ); vesica sigmoid, with relatively slender apical blades and wide apical plate ( Figs. 8C , 22C ). Female genitalia ( Figs. 3E ; 22 D−G): Sclerotized rings relatively triangular ( Figs. 3E ); posterior wall with spinulate scale-like microstructures ( Fig. 22F ), without noticeable comb-like scaly microstructure ( Fig. 22E ).

Measurements: See Table 1 .

Etymology. Named for plant association of this new species with Isodon herbs.

Distribution. Japan (SW Honshu and Kyushu).

Biology. The breeding host was confirmed as Isodon inflexus (Thunb.) Kudo (Laminaceae) . Both adults and late instar immature forms were observed to have sucked on the flower and calyx in early September ( Fig. 5F–G ). Collection records suggest this new species may have a bivoltine life cycle (July and September).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Female genitalia of Eremophylus hirtus (A, C), Er. nakagawai (B, D), Europiella isodonicola (E) and Eu. miyamotoi (F). A–B. Bursa copulatrix, ventral view. C–D. Ovipositor (gonapophysis I). E–F. Bursa copulatrix with ovipositors, ventral view. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 5. Habitus images of living individuals of Japanese Europiella spp. A. E. artemisiae, male. B. E. decolor, male (pale variant). C. Same, female (pale variant). D. Same, female. E. E. lividella, female. F–G. E. isodonicola n. sp., male. H. Same, female. I. Same, 5th instar nymph. J. E. miyamotoi, female. K. Same, 5th instar nymph. L. E. nihonica n. sp., female.

FIGURE 6. Ventral (A, C, D) and dorsal (B, E, F) habitus images of Japanese Europiella spp., dry-preserved specimens. A−B. E. isodonicola n. sp., male. C. E. nihonica n. sp., male. D. E. lividella, female. E. E. senjoensis. F. Same, female.

FIGURE 7. Color pattern of Japanese Europiella spp., named on the figures.

FIGURE 8. Male genitalia of Europiella isodonicola n. sp. (A−C), E. miyamotoi (D–E), E. nihonica n. sp. (F−G) and E. gilva (H, from Primorsky, FE Russia). A, D, F. Apex of genital segment (pygophore) with parameres. B. Right paramere. C, E, G, H. Vesica (endosoma). Scale bars 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 21. Scanning electron micrographs for Europiella isodonicola n. sp. (A−F), E. miyamotoi (G−L), E. lividella (M−N) and E. senjoensis (O). A, G, M. Left lateral habitus. B, H. Head, dorsal view. C, I. Thoracic pleura, left lateral view. D, J. Metafemur, ventral view. E−F, K−L. Metatarsus. N. Male genital segment. O. Corium.

FIGURE 22. Scanning electron micrographs for male (A−C, H−K) and female (D−G, L−O) genitalia of Europiella isodonicola n. sp. (A−G) and E. miyamotoi (H−O). A, H. Genital segment (pygophore). B, I. Right paramere. C, J−K. Vesica. E−F, M−O. Posterior wall. G, L. Bursa copulatrix, dorsal view.