Metoisops groehni Herczek & Popov

Herczek, Aleksander & Popov, Yuri A., 2014, Revision of the genus Metoisops (Hemiptera: Heteroptera, Miridae, Isometopinae) from late Eocene European amber, Zootaxa 3887 (3), pp. 401-421 : 411-412

Metoisops groehni Herczek & Popov , sp. nov.

( Figs. 12–13 )

Diagnosis. This species different from all species (except M. akingbohungbei ) by the wide (2.4x as wide a long) pronotum. Only M. akingbohungbei has the broader pronotum (ca. 3x as wide as long) and a very short claval commissura which somewhat shorter (0.93) than mesoscutum+scutellum taken together.

Description. Body elongate oval, 1.8x as long as wide. General coloration green-bluish (except partially pale cuneus). Antennae devoid of setae. Anterior of pronotum polished, remaining surface wrinkled. Hemelytra with densely punctuate corium, clavus and cuneus, densely pubescent with reclining golden setae arising from articulate punctures; cuneus semi-transparence ( Figs. 12, 13 ). Head strongly vertical and distinctly transverse, 2. 5 x as wide as long; eyes semi-globular, weakly flattened dorsally; vertex narrow, 2.45x narrower than eye width; ocelli large and adjacent to posterior margin of head; 4th antennal segment and 3rd equal length and width; 4th rostral segment and 3rd equal length and width. Pronotum strongly trapezoidal, 2.4x as wide as long, ratio length posterior/anterior margin 2.5x wider than median length. Visible portion of mesoscutum quite short, 3.5x shorter than scutellum length; ratio length claval commissure/mesoscutum+scutellum 1.26x. Cuneus 4.2x shorter than corium length; large cell of hemelytral membrane very long, 2.6x as long as wide. Hind femur almost reaching apex of abdomen, moderately thickened, 4.39x longer than width and 1.23x shorter than tibia, bare; tibia 3.2x longer than tarsus; 2nd tarsal segment twice as long as 1st.

Dimensions. Length of body 2.89, width 1.6; length of head 0.26, width 0.65, height 0.62; dorsal width of eye 0.25; width of vertex 0.1; antennal segments I:II:III:IV= 0.18:0.75:0.31:0.31; rostral segments I:II:III:IV= 0.34:0.39:0:34:0:34; length of pronotum 0.52, width 0.55 (ant.) and 1.25 (post.); length of mesoscutum 0.10; length of scutellum 0.35, width 0.62; claval commissure 0.57; length of hind femur 1.0 1, width 0.23; length of tibia 1.25; length of tarsus 0.39 (I+II = 0.14+0.28).

Etymology. This species is named after our friend Mr. Carsten Gröhn (Glinde, Germany), who acquired this amber piece for his collection, provided the specimen for scientific study and generously donated the type material to the GPIMH.

Specimens examined. Holotype, ♀, in Baltic amber (coll. C. Gröhn Nr. 5246) light yellowish and moderatesized piece of amber (14 x 10 mm) of irregular shape. The holotype is deposited in the collection of GPIMH.

Remarks. This species strongly resembles M. akingbohungbei by large and slightly flattened eyes and a very transverse pronotum (see key). On the other hand M. groehni shares in similar character like ratio posterior width/ anterior width (2.3–2.4) of pronotum with M. grabenhorsti and M. variabilis , ratio length claval commissure/ mesoscutum+scutellum (1.25–1.27) with M. variabilis and M. intergerivus and also equal length III and IV antennal segments of M. kerzhneri .

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 13. Metoisops groehni — dorsal views.