Pilophorus choii Josifov, 1978

Yasunaga, Tomohide, Duwal, Ram Keshari & Nakatani, Yukinobu, 2021, Reclassification of the plant bug genus Pilophorus in Japan and key to the genera and species of Japanese Pilophorini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae Phylinae), Zootaxa 4942 (1), pp. 1-40 : 7-8

Pilophorus choii Josifov, 1978

( Figs 1A , 11A , 14 A–D)

Pilophorus choii Josifov, 1978: 285 (n. sp., desc.); Schuh, 2002 –2013, online catalog; Duwal et al., 2014: 261 (redesc., key); Aukema, 2018, online catalog; Yamamoto & Yasunaga, 2020: 75 (faunal list).

Material examined. JAPAN: Hokkaido: Otaru City, Estuary of Shinkawa River , N43.165, E141.227, on Quercus dentata , 18 Aug 2007, A.Yamamoto, 1♀ ( OMO) ; Otaru City , Tarukawa-9-sen, 43.186, 141.269, on Quercus dentata , 6 Aug 2009, A. Yamamoto, 1♂ ( OMO) . Kyushu : Oita Pref., Handa Plateau , 33.13, 131.22, 27 Jul 1995, Y. Nakatani, 1♂ ( NIAES) ( AMNH _ PBI 00380663 ) . KOREA: Gyeonggi-do, Yangpyeonggun, Mt. Youngmun , UV light trap, 16 Jul 2009, R.K. Duwal & S. Jung, 1♂ ( SNU) .

Rediagnosis. Recognized by its moderate size; short antennal segment that is shorter than basal width of pronotum(see Table 1 for measurements of male); polished, shiny pronotum; partly interrupted, narrow median stripe of scale-like setae that are easily rubbed off ( Fig. 1A ); narrowly clustered scale-like setae at anterior inner corner of cuneus; and C-shaped, small-sized male endosoma ( Fig. 11A ). Dorsal habitus images available on https:// www.discoverlife.org/20/q?search= Pilophorus +choii.

Biology. The Japanese population were found to inhabit Quercus dentata , as reported for Korea ( Duwal et al., 2014) and Russian Primorsky Territory ( Kerzhner, 1988). A univoltine life cycle is assumed for P. choii and the eggs presumably hibernate.

Discussion. This species is most similar in external appearance to P. lucidus as both are associated with deciduous Quercus trees and have the similar size, short antennal segment II and shiny polished pronotum; however, the characters provided in the above key (couplet 25) will readily distinguish them.

Since only a few specimens of P. choii are currently available from Japan, its food preference or predation is yet to be tested. Fukuda et al. (2020) and Miyazaki et al. (2020) documented that the immature forms of P. lucidus , assumed to be one of the closest relative of P. choii , could develop into adults when feeding on dried red worms and brine-shrimp eggs as a diet. Therefore, P. choii is also supposed to have a carnivorous food habit.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus images of Pilophorus spp. A. P. choii ♂. B. P. maeharai, holotype ♂. C. P. niger ♀. D–E. P. pullulus, holotype ♀ (Taiwan). F–G. P. pullulus ♂ (Amami-Oshima Is., Japan).

FIGURE 11. Male endosoma (vesica) and endosoma of Japanese Pilophorus spp. A. P. choii (from Otaru). B. P. erraticus (Nagasaki). C. P. pseudoperplexus (Kanagawa). D. P.okamotoi (Tsushima Is.). E. P.satoyamanus n. sp. (Kochi).F. P.setulosellus n. sp. (Hiroshima). G. Same (Nara). H. P. setulosus (Sapporo, type locality, Salix). I. Same, (Shiretoko, Artemisia).

FIGURE 14. Scanning electron micrographs for Japanese Pilophorus spp., males (except for E, L, P: ♀). A–D. P. choii. E–K. P. erraticus. L–N. P. pseudoperplexus. O–Q. P. miyamotoi. A, E. Left-dorsolateral habitus. B, I, N. Apex of pygophore, left lateral view. C–D, J–K, Q. Endosoma (vesica).A, E. Dorsal habitus. F. Thoracic pleura, left lateral view. H, L, M, O, P. Lateral habitus. G. Pygophore, dorsal view.