Pityopsallus sakuraii n. sp.

(Figs. 11E; 12D, H−I; 16; 26G−L; 27F−G, 28J)

Material examined. Holotype (♂). JAPAN: Honshu, Niigata Pref., Naka-Uonuma-gun, Tsunan Town, Kettou, UV lighting, 36.93, 138.63, 4 Aug 2002, S. Sakurai (NIAES) (AMNH _ PBI 00380708).

Diagnosis. Recognized by its smallest size among Japanese congeners; comparatively narrow vertex; short labium that is shorter than basal width of pronotum; faint spots on tibiae; and somewhat widened, less twisted subapical part of vesica. These diagnostic characters enable this new species to be distinguished from two close relatives, P. maeharai n. sp. and P. vittatus .

Description. Male: Body generally dark brown, elongate-oval, parallel-sided (Fig. 11E); dorsal surface weakly shining, with uniformly distributed, semierect, brown, simple setae and silvery, lanceolate setae (Fig. 26H). Head dark brown; vertex relatively narrow. Antenna pale grayish brown; extreme base of segment I infuscate; segment II longer than mesotibia, slightly shorter than labium. Labium pale brown, its apex not exceeding apex of mesocoxa. Pronotum uniformly fuscous, relatively shining; scutellum almost flat; thoracic pleura fuscous; metathoracic scent efferent relatively narrow (Fig. 28I). Hemelytra uniformly dark brown; anterior margin of cuneus pale, semitransparent; membrane pale smoky brown. All coxae dark brown; trochanters pale brown; all femora dark brown, with pale apex; tibiae somber yellowish brown, without spots; tibial spines brown; tarsi yellowish brown, with dark apices; pretarsal structures as in Fig. 26J, L; all claws smooth. Abdomen fuscous. Male genitalia (Figs. 12D; 27F–G): Subapical part of vesica somewhat widened, less twisted; apical flagellate process relatively short (Fig. 12D). Female: Unknown.

Measurements: See Table 1.

Etymology. Named for the deceased lepidopterist, Mr. S. Sakurai (1940–2008, Niigata, Japan) who provided quite a few heteropteran specimens including the holotype of this new species.

Distribution. Japan (North Honshu: Niigata).

Biology. Unknown; an available male specimen was collected by UV-lighting.