Witchelinamiris mchughi, Namyatova, Anna A., Elias, Michael & Cassis, Gerasimos, 2011

Namyatova, Anna A., Elias, Michael & Cassis, Gerasimos, 2011, A new genus and two new species of Orthotylinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) from central Australia, Zootaxa 2927, pp. 38-48 : 43-45

Witchelinamiris mchughi sp. nov.

Figures 1 , 2A , B, D, 3, 5.

Etymology. This species is named for the late Robert James McHugh, the former CEO of the Nature Foundation of South Australia, who was instrumental in the purchase of the Witchelina reserve for inclusion in the National Reserve System. It is a great pleasure for us to name this species for Jim McHugh's enormous contributions to conservation in South Australia, which are of national significance.

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: Witchelina Station: Witchelina Nature Reserve, about 40km north west of Lyndhurst, 30.02083 ° S 138.04472 ° E, 50 m, 11 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, Light Trap, 1 3 ( USI 38862) ( SAMA).

PARATYPE: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: Wertaloona Station, Lake Dam nr L. Frome, 30.6 ° N 138.42 ° E, 266 m, 0 9 May 1989, J. Forrest & G.F. Gross, light trap, 1 3 ( USI 17712) ( SAMA). Witchelina Station: Witchelina Nature Reserve, about 40km north west of Lyndhurst, 30.02083 ° S 138.04472 ° E, 50 m, 13 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, light trap, 13 ( USI 4695) ( UNSW).

Differential diagnosis. Witchelinamiris mchughi has distinctive male genitalia, with the following structures: process of phallotheca oval with small serration ( Fig. 3 A), apex of left paramere curved downwards ( Fig. 3 E), large endosomal spicule with three processes ( Figs. 3 B, C). In contrast, in W. viridimaculatus the processes of the phallotheca is smooth and suboval ( Fig. 6 A), the apex of the left paramere is straight ( Fig. 6 E) and large endosomal spicule has two elongate processes (6B, C). In addition, the two species can be distinguished by the labial structure, with LII longer than LI, and LIII as long as segment LII in W. mchughi ; in W. viridimaculatus LII is almost as long as LI and LIII is longer than LII.

Description. Male. Total length 3.3–4.1. COLOURATION ( Fig. 1 ). Head: yellowish with reddish pattern, as in generic description. Eye: pale brown with reddish tinge or uniformly reddish. Antennae: AI with pale brown or with brownish band at base; AII yellow or pale green with brownish bands; AIII pale brown, pale green at base; AIV lost. Labium: LII yellowish or pale green; LIII yellow, somewhat darker apically; LIV brownish with pale brown base. Pronotum: as in generic description, without bright green markings, with yellow stripes distinct or indistinct. Scutellum and mesoscutum: whitish, colour patterns as in generic description. Thoracic pleura: mesopleura pale green, inferior part reddish. Legs: tibiae yellow, without reddish markings, with brownish apices, sometimes hind tibia uniformly yellow; tarsi brownish with segment II yellow or pale brown. Hemelytron: as in generic description, without pale green markings. VESTITURE. As in generic description. STRUCTURE. Body 3.6–4.1x as long as width of pronotum; vertex 2.1–2.2x as wide as eye; AII 1.4–1.7x as long as width of head, 0.8– 0.9x as long as width of pronotum; pronotum 2.1–2.4x as wide as long, 1.7–1.9x as wide as head. Labium: reaching middle of pregenital abdomen; LII longer than LI; LIII as long LII. Male genitalia: left paramere with apex curved downwards ( Fig. 3 E); phallotheca with oval process with small serration ( Fig. 3 A); large endosoma spicule with three processes ( Fig. 3 B, C).

Female unknown.

Distribution. Two specimens were collected in Witchelina National Reserve and a single specimen was collected in Wertaloona Station ( Fig. 5 ).

Collection method. Specimens were collected at light.

Host plants. Unknown.

Remarks. Witchelinamiris mchughi is mostly yellow, but never has green spotting on the pronotum and hemelytra. This is in contrast to some of the specimens of W. viridimaculatus , which can have green spotting on the dorsum.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus view of Witchelinamiris mchughi (male) and W. viridimaculatus (male without green markings on dorsum, male with green markings on dorsum, female). Scale bar is 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 3. Witchelinamiris mchughi, male genitalia. A. Phallotheca. B. Spicules, dorsal view. C. Spicules, lateral view. D. Right paramere. E. Left paramere. Scale bar is 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Distribution map of Witchelinamiris mchughi (circle) and W. viridimaculatus (square).

FIGURE 6. Witchelinamiris viridimaculatus, male genitalia. A. Phallotheca, dorsal view. B. Spicules, dorsal view. C. Aedeagus, lateral view. D. Right paramere, dorsal view. E. Left paramere, dorsal view. Scale bar is 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 2. A. Witchelinamiris mchughi, head and pronotum, dorsal view. B. W. mchughi, head, lateral view. C. W. viridimaculatus, evaporatorium. D. W. mchughi, pygophore.