Austroplagiognathus, Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016

Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016, Nineteen new genera and 82 new species of Cremnorrhinina from Australia, including analyses of host relationships and distributions (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylininae: Cremnorrhinini), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 401, pp. 1-279 : 38-39

Austroplagiognathus , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Austroplagiognathus parallelus , new species.

DIAGNOSIS: Male recognized by the elongate, parallel-sided body form, green to pale general coloration, presence of a dark, somewhat diffuse, spot on the corium near the inner angle of the cuneus and at the apex of the membrane cells (pl. 3) and uniquely by the two, very long, nearly parallel-sided apical endosomal spines lying nearly parallel to one another (figs. 6, 7, pl. 3). Potentially confused with Gyrophallus spp. (pls. 12, 14) on relatively large size, parallel-sided body form, and general coloration—including two pairs of dark spots on the dorsum—but male genitalia of Austroplagiognathus distinctive with two, long, nearly parallel, apical endosomal spines.

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Total length 4.10–5.70, pronotum width 0.98–1.38. COLORATION (pl. 3): Green or yellowish (in preserved specimens); spot on corium near inner angle of cuneus and at apex of membrane cells; membrane weakly to strongly infuscate; distal half of hind femur without dark spots. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Body surface smooth, weakly polished, weakly shining. Dorsum covered with reclining, dark, simple setae. STRUCTURE: Head: Vertex narrow to somewhat broad, frons barely projecting anterior to eyes in dorsal view. Thorax: Calli weakly differentiated; posterior lobe of pronotum weakly to moderately swollen and elevated, lateral margins straight to weakly convex, posterior margin weakly excavate; mesoscutum broadly exposed. Hemelytron: Moderately to distinctly elongate, costal margin very weakly convex, cuneus elongate triangular. GENI- TALIA (figs. 6, 7, pl. 3): Pygophore: Either broadly or elongate conical, posterior margin truncate. Endosoma: Sigmoid, distal one-half sometimes strongly bent to left; secondary gonopore situated at junction of diverging, equal length, long or moderately long, dorsal and ventral straps; straps more or less parallel; ventral strap bifid with a long spine and a short spine distad of secondary gonopore, short spine situated medially or adjacent to secondary gonopore; apical endosomal membrane of variable structure. Phallotheca: Moderately large or broad with ventral outpocket; aperture variable, situated on anterior surface. Parameres: Left paramere slightly compressed mediolaterally in dorsal view; dorsoposterior margin variably elevated dorsad of anterior and posterior processes, anterior and posterior processes of variable length; long seta situated lateral of anterior process. Right paramere of variable size, apex with one long point and one lateral prominence.

FEMALE: Unknown.

ETYMOLOGY: From the Latin auster, “south,” and the generic name Plagiognathus , in reference to the structure of the endosoma; masculine.

DISCUSSION: Our ability to characterize variation in this taxon is limited because both known species are described on the basis of single specimens.