Prolygus papuanus (Poppius, 1914)

(Figs 3–5, 18–23, 37–42, 50–53)

Lygus papuanus Poppius, 1914: 353 (original description). Prolygus papuanus: CARVALHO (1987):147 (new combination, redescription).

Material examined. INDONESIA: SUMATRA: Brastagi, North of Toba Lake, 3.18, 98.50, 1,400 m, UV light trap, 5–9 Dec 1989, T. Yasunaga, 80 ♁♁ 45 ♀♀ (AMNH, CNC, TYCN), 1 ♁ 1 ♀ with USIs (AMNH _PBI 00380534–00380535). MALAYSIA: PERAK: Taiping,Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill), 4.8624, 100.7999, 1100 m, UV light trap, 6–8 Jan 1990, T. Yasunaga, 20 ♁♁ 15 ♀♀ (TYCN). NEPAL: KATHMANDU VALLEY: Kirtipur, Horticulture Center Experimental Farm, 27°40 ′ 22 ″ N, 85°17 ′ 11 ″ E, on flowers of pecan nut, 8 May 2006, T. Yasunaga & R.K. Duwal, 1 ♁ 1 ♀ (TYCN). THAILAND: NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Wang Nam Khieo, Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, 14°30 ′ 27 ″ N, 101°55 ′ 39 ″ E, 410 m alt., UV light trap, 12–14 Jun 2009, T. Yasunaga & K. Yamada, 1 ♁ (TYCN).

Biology. In Kathmandu, Nepal, a few adults were found on flowers of a pecan nut, Carya illinoiensis K. Koch (Juglandaceae); however, they are assumed to represent an adventive population, because the pecan nut trees were introduced (probably secondarily from somewhere in Asia) for the growing tests into the Nepal Horticulture Experimental farm.

Distribution. Papua New Guinea (CARVALHO 1987); Indonesia (Sumatra) (new records), Malaysia (Perak) (new records), Nepal (Kathmandu Valley) (new records) and Thailand (Nakhon Ratchasima) (new record).

Comments. CARVALHO (1987) redescribed the type species of Prolygus, based on more than 400 widely dispersed specimens from Papua New Guinea including New Britain Island, which implies P. papuanus could be a common, rather widespread mirid. The first author collected (mostly using UV light traps) hundreds of specimens probably corresponding to P. papuanus in several countries in the Oriental Region. The SEM images and genitalic structures shown in this work were principally based on the Sumatra specimens.