Filicicoris meyeri, Anna Namyatova & Gerasimos Cassis, 2016

Anna Namyatova & Gerasimos Cassis, 2016, A remarkable new genus and six new species of fern-inhabiting plant bugs endemic to the Society Islands (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirinae: Filicicoris gen. nov.), Insect Systematics & Evolution 47, pp. 285-312 : 297-300

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1163/1876312X-47032144
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5690251
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F0694F-FFD7-022A-2233-FAEF13A1F9BA
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Filicicoris meyeri
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Filicicoris meyeri sp. nov.

Figs. 1 View Fig. 1 , 2 View Fig. 2 A–C, E–I, K 3G–J, 4E, F, 5C, D, 6A, 7A

Etymology

This species is named in honour of Dr Jean-Yves Meyer of the Délégation à la recherche de Polynésie français, who was instrumental in us undertaking research in Tahiti. He was most generous with his time and freely gave information that was critical to our research.

Material

Holotype. French Polynesia: Society Islands: Tahiti Is.: Tahiti Iti, Taravao Plateau, 17.77665 ° S 149.25456 ° W, 877 m, 19 May 2011, G. Cassis and N. Tatarnic, Nephrolepis hirsutula (Nephrolepidaceaee) , 1♂ (00400398) ( MNHN).

Paratypes. French Polynesia: Society Islands: Tahiti Is.: Tahiti Iti, Taravao Plateau, 17.77665 ° S 149.25456 ° W, 877 m, 19 May 2011 – 22 May 2011, G. Cassis and N. Tatarnic, 1♀ (00400385) Nephrolepis hirsutula (Misodendraceae) , 1♀ (00400396) Nephrolepis hirsutula (Nephrolepidaceaee) , 4♂ (00400400, 00400402–00400404), 12♀ (00400384, 0 0 400388, 0 0 400393, 0 0 400394, 0 0 400399, 00400405–00400408, 00400432–00400434) ( UNSW); 19 May 2011, G. Cassis and N. Tatarnic, Nephrolepis hirsutula (Nephrolepidaceae) , 1♀ (00400391) ( MNHP), 2♀ (00400387, 00400389), 2♂ (00400401, 00400410), 1 juvenille (00400395), 5♀ (00400386, 0 0 400390, 0 0 400392, 0 0 400397, 00400409) ( UNSW).

Differential diagnosis

Recognized by the following combination of characters: short body, 3.1–3.5 in male and 3.5–3.7 in female; black body, except appendages and parts of hemelytra ( Fig. 1 View Fig. 1 ), pronotum upraised, higher than head from lateral view; head in dorsal view elongate and slightly acute apically ( Fig. 2 View Fig. 2 A); antenna shorter than body; antennal segment I ca. 0.6–0.9× in male and ca. 0.7–0.8× in female longer than head width, ( Fig. 1 View Fig. 1 ); vesica with three lobes, two long, possessing scarce small tubercles apically, and one short ( Fig. 3 View Fig. 3 H); sclerotized ring on dorsal labiate plate ca. 0.2× as long as dorsal labiate length ( Fig. 5 View Fig. 5 C); distance between interramal lobes on posterior wall as long as interramal lobe width ( Fig. 5 View Fig. 5 D).

Description

Male. Total length 3.1–3.5. Coloration ( Fig. 1 View Fig. 1 ): Mainly black with hemelytra whitish yellow. Head. Mostly black; antennal segment I yellow to pale brown, segment II mostly dark brown to black, with basal one third yellow to pale brown, segments III–IV dark brown to black; labium mostly yellow with apex of segment IV dark brown to black. Eye brown to dark brown. Thorax: Pronotum and scutellum, thoracic pleura including scent gland evaporative area uniformly black. Hemelytron: Clavus uniformly black, corium mostly whitish yellow, translucent, with brownish area along inner margin of corium; embolium whitish yellow, brown anteriorly; cuneus uniformly whitish yellow; membrane and cell uniformly brown. Legs: Coxae brown to black, with whitish yellow apices; femora, tibia and tarsi mostly whitish yellow, tibiae often slightly darker than femora, tarsi sometimes with pale brown to brownish segment III. Abdomen: Uniformly dark brown to black. Surface and vestiture: As in generic description, with some dark setae on head and pronotum. Structure and measurements: As in generic description. Body ca. 3.0–3.5× as long as pronotum; head slightly elongate and acute dorsally ( Fig. 2 View Fig. 2 A); vertex ca. 2.0–2.4× as wide as eye; antenna slightly shorter than body length; antennal segment I ca. 0.6–0.9× as long as head width, 0.4–0.6× longer than pronotum width; antennal segment II ca. 1.8–2.0× longer than head width, ca. 1.2–1.4× longer than pronotum width; segment III ca. 0.75× longer than segment II; mesoscutum not exposed; pronotum ca. 1.5–1.8× wider than long and ca. 1.5–1.6× wider than head. Male genitalia ( Fig. 3 View Fig. 3 G–J): Right paramere folded dorsally ( Fig. 3 View Fig. 3 I); left paramere moderately swollen basally ( Fig. 3 View Fig. 3 J); vesica with three lobes, two long lobes possessing small tubercles apically, short lobe placed dorsally, not bearing tubercles or small sclerotized spicules ( Fig. 3 View Fig. 3 H).

Female. Total length 3.5–3.7. Coloration ( Fig. 1 View Fig. 1 ): Similar to male, but antennal segment II sometimes mostly pale brown, brown apically. Surface and vestiture: As in male. Structure and measurements: Structure as in male; body ca. 3.2–3.4× longer than pronotum width; vertex ca. 1.9–2.6× wider than eye diameter; antennal segment I ca. 0.7–0.8× wider than head width, ca. 0.4–0.5× longer than pronotum width; segment II ca. 1.6–1.9× longer than head width, ca. 1.0–1.2× longer than pronotum width; pronotum ca. 1.6× wider than long and ca. 1.5–1.6× wider than head width. Female genitalia ( Fig. 5 View Fig. 5 C, D): Anterior margin of dorsal labiate plate more or less sclerotized ( Fig. 5 View Fig. 5 C); sclerotized rings on dorsal labiate plate ca. 0.2× longer than dorsal labiate length ( Fig. 5 View Fig. 5 C); distance between interramal lobes subequal to interramal lobe width. ( Fig. 5 View Fig. 5 D).

Distribution

The species was collected from Taravao Plateau, Tahiti Is. ( Fig. 6 View Fig. 6 A).

Host plants

Specimens were collected from fern Nephrolepis hirsutula (Nephrolepidaceae) ( Fig. 7 View Fig. 7 A). This species was found on the underside of Nephrolepis hirsutula fronds, and both sexes and a nymph were collected, which supports this fern species being recognized as a breeding host. The fern was found in mostly a disturbed clearing beneath and near Metrosideros , from which Coridromius taravao Tatarnic and Cassis and C. tahitiensis Tatarnic and Cassis were collected ( Tatarnic and Cassis 2013).

Discussion

The species cannot be confused with any other Filicicoris species due to its coloration and peculiar male genitalia.