Ernestinus mimicus Distant, 1911

Yeshwanth, H. M. & Konstantinov, Fedor V., 2021, Review of the plant bug tribe Eccritotarsini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) of India and Sri Lanka with description of two new genera and six new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 745, pp. 1-69 : 8

Ernestinus mimicus Distant, 1911

Figs 2A , 5H , 12 , 26D–F

Ernestinus mimicus Distant, 1911: 311 .

Ernestinus mimicus – Basnagala et al. 2002: 159 (indication). — Yasunaga & Ishikawa 2016: 32 (key).

Diagnosis

Recognized by the following characters: antenna dark brown except base of segment I, with relatively long segments II and III; scutellum uniformly black; transverse dark spot in medioapical part of corium roughly T-shaped, laterally reaching but not surpassing submarginal vein; cuneus whitish, with extreme apex slightly darkened, cells dark brown except narrow inner area adjoining to cuneus, remaining part of membrane without color pattern ( Figs 2A , 5H ); left paramere with distinctly swollen body, apical process abruptly bent at base, very slightly and gradually curved along entire length and terminating with a small hook; right paramere flag-shaped, forming roughly rectangular plate apically ( Fig. 12 ).

Material examined

Syntypes

SRI LANKA • 1 ♂; Haragama; 7.233° N, 80.733° E; 584 m a.s.l.; May 1911; E. Ernest Green leg.; “ Ernestinus mimicus Dist. Type ”; AMNH_PBI 00085668 , BMNH(E)1633157 ; NHM • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; AMNH_PBI 00340371 ; NHM .

Other material

INDIA • 15 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; Karnataka, Mudigere, Kottigehara ; 13°12ˊ N, 75°50ˊ E; 1006 m a.s.l.; 16 Dec. 2013; H.M. Yeshwanth leg.; Lagenandra sp.; UASB .

Host

According to the original description ( Distant 1911a), the type series was collected on aroid plants on a riverbank in Sri Lanka. Adults and larvae sampled for this study were found breeding on Lagenandra sp. ( Araceae ) ( Fig. 26D–F ).

Distribution

The species had been previously known only from Haragama, a type locality in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Here we report it from the Karnataka state of India for the first time.

Figures

Fig. 2. Habitus of Ernestinus, Harpedona and Lopidolon spp. A. Ernestinus mimicus Distant, 1911, ♂, UASB. B. Ernestinus ramkeshariae Yasunaga & Ishikawa, 2016, ♂, UASB. C. Harpedona sanguinipes Distant, 1904, ♂, UASB. D. Harpedona vittlaensis sp. nov, ♀, UASB. E–F. Lopidolon dandeliensis sp. nov., UASB. E. ♂. F. ♀.

Fig. 5. Dorsal view and label data of type specimens. A–C. Dioclerus bengalicus Stonedahl, 1988, ♀, holotype, BPBM.D–E. Dioclerus lutheri Stonedahl, 1988, ♂, holotype, AMNH_PBI 00338430, FMNH. F–G. Dioclerus praefectus Distant,1910, lectotype, AMNH_PBI 00340384, NHM. H–I. Ernestinus mimicus Distant,1911, ♂, syntype, AMNH_PBI 00085668, BMNH(E) 1633157, NHM. J–K. Harpedona marginata Distant, 1904, ♂, holotype, NHM. L–M. Harpedona sanguinipes Distant, 1909, ♂, lectotype, NHM.

Fig. 12. Male genitalia of Ernestinus mimicus Distant, 1911, UASB. A. Genital capsule in dorsal view. B–C. Right paramere in dorsal view and ventral views. D–E. Left paramere in dorsal and lateral views. F. Aedeagus in lateral view.

Fig. 26. Habitats and living specimens. A–C. Ernestinus ramkeshariae Yasunaga & Ishikawa, 2016 on Colocasia esculenta. A. Nymphs. B–C. Adult. D–F. Ernestinus mimicus Distant, 1911 on Lagenandra sp. D. Aquatic habitat. E. Nymph and freshly moulted adult. F. Adult. All specimens at UASB.