Sejanus brittoni Carvalho and Gross, 1982

Menard, Katrina L. & Schuh, Randall T., 2011, Revision Of Leucophoropterini: Diagnoses, Key To Genera, Redescription Of The Australian Fauna, And Descriptions Of New Indo-Pacific Genera And Species (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2011 (361), pp. 1-159 : 130-131

Sejanus brittoni Carvalho and Gross Figures 34 , 38A–D ; plate 7

Sejanus brittoni Carvalho and Gross, 1982: 17 , figs. 16–18, 99 (n. sp., descr., DV, MG).

DIAGNOSIS: Distinguished from other members of Sejanus by deep burgundy-red coloration of hemelytron, partial pale transverse fascia across medial area of claval suture (pl. 7), and presence of a serrated membrane along dorsal surface and apex of endosoma. Sejanus brittoni similar in coloration to S. palumae , but red basal coloration of femora in S. brittoni and structure of apex of endosoma clearly separate the two species. Female nearly identical in coloration and patterning to male and identical to female of S. palumae .

REDESCRIPTION: Male: Macropterous, small, elongate, and parallel sided. Total length 2.47–3.12, width pronotum 0.85– 0.96, maximum width across hemelytra 0.99–1.24. COLORATION: Eyes deep red to purple. Labium pale brown with medial segments paler gold color. Antennal segment 1 gold, segment 2 gold basally and dark distally for last M of total length, segment 3 gold basally for first M of total length, segment 4 completely dark brown. Dorsolateral margin of metepisternum and scent gland unicolorous with thorax. Coxae mostly dark red to brownish with distal margin with faintly white. All femora reddish proximally, gold distally. Tibiae gold, metatibia with parallel rows of dark spicules. Basal tarsomeres gold, distally brown. Hemelytra pale red to dark red with partial, faint gold transverse fascia across medial area of clavus just posterior to apex of scutellum (pl. 7). Anterior margin of cuneus with two white spots confluent in some specimens, one along lateral margin and one next to anterior margin with membrane, remainder of cuneus dark red. Membrane pale brown with medial lightening, posterior margin of veins tinted red. Abdomen dark red. STRUCTURE: Frons convex, clypeus exserted and visible in dorsal view of head. Vertex flat, posterior margin flat, width approximately equal to one eye. Eyes distinctly removed from dorsal surface of vertex in anterior view, occupying entire height of head in lateral view, posterior margin partially obscuring anterior margin of pronotum. Labium extending past apex of metacoxa. Antennal segment 2 1.33 times longer than head width. Metafemur approximately 1.33 times longer than pro- and mesofemora. GENITALIA: Pygophore: Small, lacking elaborations, occupying about J length of abdomen, ventral margin sloping upward toward apex. Endosoma: Small, slender, tubular, C-shaped. Secondary gonopore small, horse-collar shaped, in lateral view of illustration, located at apex of endosoma (fig. 38A). Phallotheca: Fairly small, L-shaped, apex relatively wide and gently tapering toward a point (fig. 38D). Right Paramere: Paramere small, smaller in total size than left paramere, parallel sided with tapering, pointed apex (fig. 38B). Left Paramere: Small; posterior process slender and pointed, straight, with apex directed perpendicular to base of paramere, relatively short and close in size to anterior process, possessing sensory pits; anterior process stout but without pits on interior margin, dorsal surface near midpoint of total height of paramere (fig. 38C).

Female: Macropterous, small, elongate ovoid. Total length 2.33–2.77, width pronotum 0.90–1.02, maximum width across hemelytra 1.14–1.29. STRUCTURE: Width of vertex just short of half total head width. Length antennal segment 2 1.10 times total head width. COLORATION: Same pattern as in male with following exceptions: hemelytron darker and browner and partial transverse fascia more obvious (pl. 7).

HOSTS: Primarily Myrtaceae , but also found on Rhamnaceae , Lauraceae , Elaeocarpaceae , Fabaceae , Araliaceae , Casuarinaceae , and Cunoniaceae .

DISTRIBUTION: Eastern Australia.

DISCUSSION: Carvalho and Gross (1982) stated that this species was collected at the same locality and time as S. palumae . Both share nearly identical external morphologies, but differ in the structure of the endosoma. Our investigation of the two nominal species confirms that they do in fact have subtle differences in the external morphology as well as the male genitalia. Both species have a serrated membrane along the dorsal and medial margins of the endosoma, which was not documented in the original descriptions. Sejanus brittoni differs from S. palumae in that the serrated membrane terminates subapically, whereas the apex in S. palumae has an extended serrated portion (fig. 38A).

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Queensland: Paluma Dam , 30–31.xii.1964, H.A. Rose 18 ( QM).

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 0.5 km SE of Lansdowne, 29 Oct 1990, G. Williams, Elaeocarpus obovatus G.Don (Elaeocarpaceae) , 18 (00393667) ( AM); 12 Nov 1990, G. Williams, Syzygium smithii (Poir.) Nied. (Myrtaceae) , 1♀ (00393665) ( AM); 19 Nov 1990, G.A. Williams, Rhodomyrtus psidioides (G.Don) Benth. (Myrtaceae) , 18 (00371965) ( AM). 3 km N of Lansdowne, via Taree, 31.757 ° S 152.534 ° E, 30 Oct 1990, G. Williams, Cryptocarya microneura Carl Meissner (Lauraceae) , 18 (00274182) ( AM). 4 km NNW of Lansdowne, 33.865 ° S 150.951 ° E, 13 Feb 1992, G. Williams, Alphitonia excelsa (Fenzl) Benth. (Rhamnaceae) , 18 (00274183) ( AM); 22 Feb 1992, G. Williams, Alphitonia excelsa (Fenzl) Benth. (Rhamnaceae) , 18 (00274162) ( AM). Ashfield, 33.8991 ° S 151.1246 ° E, 13 Apr 1980, D.A. Doolan, 1♀ (00393688) ( AM). Bournda National Park, North Wallagoot, Turingal Head, 36.78452 ° S 149.9568 ° E, 16 m, 20 Nov 2002, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Kunzea ambigua (Sm.) Druce (Myrtaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW658199, 28 (00272717, 00272718), 1♀ (00272716) ( AMNH). Dee Why Beach, off Dee Why Parade Road, 33.75 ° S 151.28333 ° E, 22 Nov 2006 – 23 Nov 2006, K. Menard and N. Tatarnic, Acacia mearnsii (Fabaceae) , 1♀ (00108575) Melaleuca sp. (Myrtaceae) , 1♀ (00108560) ( AMNH). Dorrigo National Park, 30.382 ° S 152.751 ° E, 13 Nov 1990 – 15 Nov 1990, Kireychuk, 28 (00229510, 00229511) ( ZISP). O’Sullivan Gap, 10 km NE by N of Buladelah, 32.33333 ° S 152.31666 ° E, 15 Nov 1976, I.F.B. Common & E.D. Edwards, 1♀ (00393664) ( AM). Royal National Park, Lady Carrington Drive, 34.15 ° S 151.0293 ° E, 78 m, 02 Dec 2006, K. Menard and N. Tatarnic, Acacia mearnsii (Fabaceae) , 18 (00108578) ( AMNH). St. Forest W of Ulladulla, above Carters Creek, 35.5152 ° S 150.0346 ° E, 200 m, 11 Nov 1995, Schuh and Cassis, Astrotricha latifolia Benth. (Araliaceae) , det. B.M. Wiecek 1996 NSW 396004, 18 (00272715) ( AMNH). Wingham, 31.865 ° S 152.368 ° E, 22 Nov 1990, G. Williams, Waterhousia floribunda (F.Muell.) B.Hyland (Myrtaceae) , 1♀ (00393666) ( AM); 24 Dec 1990, G. & T. Williams, Tristaniopsis laurina (Sm.) Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh. (Myrtaceae) , 1♀ (00371964) ( AM). approx. 0.5 km SE of Lansdowne via Taree, 31.785 ° S 152.538 ° E, 29 Oct 1990, G. Williams, Elaeocarpus obovata G.Don (Elaeocarpaceae) , 18 (00371992) ( AM). Queensland: North Queensland Co.: Cardstone, 29 Dec 1965, K. Hyde, 1♀ (00393684) ( AM). Acacia Ridge, Brisbane , 17 Oct 1964, Unknown, 18 (00392787) ( MVMA). Atherton Tablelands, Curtain Fig. Tree National Park, 17.28736 ° S 145.57233 ° E, 762 m, 30 May 2006, Cassis, Barrow, Finlay, Symonds, 1♀ (00195668) ( AMNH). Brisbane, 27.46785 ° S 153.02801 ° E, 10 Apr 1961 – 15 Apr 1961, J.L. & M. Gressit, 18 (00318931) ( BPBM). Crediton Creek, near Eungella, 12 Dec 1961, McAlpine & Lossin, paratype, 18 (00393298) ( AM). Millaa Millaa, 12 km S Rt. 25, 31 ° S 147.61666 ° E, 01 Sep 1990, T.J. Henry, 38 (00374130–00374132), 9♀ (00374133– 00374141) ( USNM). Monto, 25 Km N., 24.68333 ° S 150.96666 ° E, 13 Dec 1990, T. Gush, 18 (00274273) ( AM). Moses Ck. 4 km N by E of Mt. Finnigan, 15.47 ° S 145.17 ° E, 14 Oct 1980 – 16 Oct 1980, T. Weir, 2♀ (00393686, 00393687) ( AM). Mt. Lewis, 11.3 km along Mt. Lewis Road, 16.59194 ° S 145.27083 ° E, 30 Apr 1998, G. Cassis, 38 (00371867–00371869) ( AM). National Park, Mcpherson Range, 28.35 ° S 153 ° E, 14 Mar 1982, Darlington, 1♀ (00318930) ( BPBM). Paluma, 2 km W of, 19.01666 ° S 146.2 ° E, 02 Dec 1990, T. Gush, 48 (00274269–00274272), 1♀ (00274268) ( AM). Tully Falls, 17.783 ° S 145.567 ° E, 900 m, 10 Mar 1956, J.L. Gressitt, Light Trap, 18 (00318914) ( BPBM). Tasmania: 3 km E of Orford, 42.55999 ° S 147.8482 ° E, 25 m, 14 Nov 2002, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, 1♀ (00272383) ( AMNH). Freycinet National Park, 41.99339 ° S 148.2814 ° E, 70 m, 14 Nov 2002, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Allocasuarina littoralis (Salisb.) L.A.S.Johnson (Casuarinaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW658170, 1♀ (00272382) ( AM), 6♀ (00108577, 00272378– 00272381, 00272384) ( AMNH). Friendly Beaches, Freycinet Peninsula, 41.98819 ° S 148.2876 ° E, 19 m, 13 Nov 2002, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Allocasuarina littoralis (Salisb.) L.A.S.Johnson (Casuarinaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW658165, 108 (00108561, 00272365–00272372, 00272374), 3♀ (00108559, 00108574, 00272375) Kunzea ambigua (Sm.) Druce (Myrtaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW658156, 18 (00108566), 98 (00272357–00272364, 00272373), 2♀ (00272376, 00272377) ( AMNH). Victoria: Lower Glenelg National Park, 38.0476 ° S 141.1596 ° E, 20 m, 07 Nov 2002, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, 1♀ (00272814) ( AMNH). nr Belka R., Mallacoota, 02 Sep 1989 – 03 Sep 1989, McAlpine & Martin, 1♀ (00393663) ( AM).

Figures

Figure 34. Distribution of Sejanus spp. in Australia.

Figure 38. Male genitalia of Sejanus spp. A–D. S. brittoni. A. Endosoma, B. Right paramere, C. Left paramere, D. Phallotheca. E–G. S. howardae. E. Endosoma, F. Left paramere, G. Phallotheca. H–K. S. palumae. H. Right paramere, I. Endosoma, J. Left paramere, K. Phallotheca.