Pilophorus alstoni Schuh

Yasunaga, Tomohide, Yamada, Kazutaka & Artchawakom, Taksin, 2014, Additional records and descriptions of the ant-mimetic plant bug genus Pilophorus from Thailand (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Pilophorini), Zootaxa 3795 (1), pp. 1-15 : 4

Pilophorus alstoni Schuh

( Figs. 2 D–F, 4, 7)

Diagnosis. Recognized by its medium-sized, fuscous, rather broad body (length 2.6−3.0, width 0.9−1.2), generally shiny dorsum, club-like antennal segment II that is longer than basal width of pronotum, two nearly confluent scalelike setae, moderately constricted hemelytron (HCR = 0.75−0.80), reddish brown medial clavus and anterior corium, and 3-branched process on endosoma ( Fig. 7 ). Further diagnostic characters and a description were provided by Schuh (1984).

Biology. In Thailand, the adults of this species have been collected by light traps as well as found from the inflorescences of various plants (both herbs and broad-leaved trees). The immature form is yet to be discovered, however.

Specimens examined. THAILAND: Chaiyaphum: 1♂, Chulabhom Dam, 16˚32−33'N, 101˚38−39'E, 760−780 m, 16 Apr 2013, T. Yasunaga (AMNH_PBI 00380198) (TYCN). Nakhon Nayok: 1♂, Sarika, in front of Wat Tham Sarika (Buddhist temple), teak ( Tectona grandis L.f.) flower, 14°17'22"N, 101°16'25"E, 18 Jun 2009, T. Yasunaga (00380199) (TYCN); 1♂ 1♀, Sarika near Sarika Waterfall, 14˚18'32”N, 101˚15'20”E ~ 14˚18'09”N, 101˚15'38”E, on flowers of Macaranga sp. ( Euphorbiaceae ), 17−18 Jun 2009, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (00380200) (TYCN). Nakhon Ratchasima: 1♂ 1♀, SERS near dam, 14˚29'49”N, 101˚54'57”E, 500 m alt., on flowers of Mallotus sp. ( Euphorbiaceae ), 20 Aug 2008, T. Yasunaga (00380201) (TYCN); 1♂, same locality, on fabaceous flowers, 17 Sep 2008, T. Yasunaga (00380202) (TYCN); 1♂ 1♀, same locality, 28 Oct 2008, T. Yasunaga (00380203) (TYCN); 1♂ 1♀, SERS, 14˚30'27”N, 101˚55'39”E, 410 m alt., light trap, 25−27 Feb 2009, T. Yasunaga (00380204) (TYCN); 1♂, same locality, light trap, 12−14 Jun 2009, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (00380205) (TYCN); 2♀, same locality, light trap, 31 May 2012, T. Yasunaga (00380206) (TYCN); 1♂, same locality, light trap, 23 Sep 2013, T. Yasunaga (00380207) (TYCN).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitus images of Pilophorus saovapruki (A − C) and P. alstoni (D − F), living adult individuals. A. Male (AMNH _ PBI 00380191). B. Male (from SERS). C. Female (SERS). D. Male (SERS). E. Male (SERS). F. Female (SERS).

FIGURE 7. Image of endosoma of Pilophorus spp. named on the figure.