Leucodellus albidus Reuter, 1906

Li, Xiao-Ming & Liu, Guo-Qing, 2007, The genus Leucodellus Reuter, 1906 in China (Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae), Zootaxa 1478, pp. 33-40 : 35-37

Leucodellus albidus Reuter, 1906

( Figs. 1–2 , 7 , 10–13 , 22 )

Leucodellus albidus Reuter, 1906: 69 .

Diagnosis: Large, total length 3.98–4.52 (male), 3.75–4.51 (female); pale coloration; vestiture with pale simple setae only; fore and middle femora without dark spots ( Fig. 7 ); tibial spines pale, fore tibia without dark spots at bases of spines; vesica sigmoid with spicules on dorsal surface near secondary gonopore ( Fig. 10 ), anterior spine much longer than posterior. Most similar to L. pallescens in body shape and coloration. Distinguished from L. pallescens by larger size and structure of vesica. The shape of the male genitalia is similar to that of L. amygdali ; but, in L. amygdali , the two apical spines of vesica are all very long. The coloration of tibial spines also differs.

Description: Male ( Fig. 1 ): Body elongate, elliptical.

Coloration: Head, pronotum, scutellum, hemelytra, abdomen, appendages unicolourous pale, membrane transparent; vestiture always with pale simple setae; with 4 or 5 black spots on venter of hind femur ( Fig. 7 ); tibial spines pale, fore tibia without dark spots at bases of spines, basal portion of hind tibia black; tarsal segment III and claws slightly darkened. Structure: Dorsum smooth, covered with recumbent, shining simple setae; clypeus visible from above; antenna inserted below ventral margin of eye, antennal segments III and IV more slender than II, combined total length shorter than segment II; labium just reaching abdomen; hemelytra nearly parallel-sided, only slightly deflexed at fracture; genital capsule rather large, occupying nearly 1/2 length of abdomen.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 10–13 ): Vesica sigmoid with spicules dorsally near secondary gonopore, two spines at apex of vesica, anterior spine much longer than posterior one, strongly bent, sharply attenuated apically. Female ( Fig. 2 ): Coloration and structure similar to those of male, but interocular distance greater. S pecimens Examined: CHINA: 13 males, 14 females, Xiaojin (30°59'N, 102°21'E), Sichuan Province, alt. 2350m, 26.viii.1963, Le-yi Zheng leg.; 1 male, Xiaojin (30°59'N, 102°21'E), Sichuan Province, alt. 2350m, 25.viii.1963, Huan-guang Zou leg. (paratype of Plagiognathus pallescens Zheng and Li, 1991 ); 1 male, 2 females, Xiaojin (30°59'N, 102°21'E), Sichuan Province, alt. 2350m, 25.viii.1963, Huan-guang Zou leg..

Distribution: China (Sichuan).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Dorsal habitus photographs of Leucodellus spp. 1. albidus (male); 2. albidus (female); 3. pallescens (male); 4. pallescens (female); 5. xizangensis (male); 6. xizangensis (female)

FIGURES 7 – 9. Patterning of legs of Leucodellus spp. (ventral view) 7. albidus; 8. pallescens; 9. xizangensis

FIGURES 10 – 21. Male genitalia of Leucodellus spp. (lateral views) 10 – 13. albidus: 10. Vesica; 11. Right paramere; 12. Left paramere; 13. Phallotheca. 14 – 17. pallescens: 14. Vesica; 15. Right paramere; 16. Left paramere; 17. Phallotheca. 18 – 21. xizangensis: 18. Vesica; 19. Right paramere; 20. Left paramere; 21. Phallotheca

FIGURES 22 – 24. Female genitalia of Leucodellus spp. (dorsal view) 22. albidus; 23. pallescens; 24. xizangensis