Ernestinus ramkeshariae Yasunaga & Ishikawa, 2016

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 : 8-9

Ernestinus ramkeshariae Yasunaga & Ishikawa, 2016

Figs 2B , 13 , 26A–C

Ernestinus ramkeshariae Yasunaga & Ishikawa, 2016: 36–38 .

Diagnosis

Distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: antennal segment I and sometimes basal half of segment II yellowish white, remaining segments brown; antennal segment II short, subequal in length to segment III and head width; scutellum orange-yellow medially; transverse dark spot on medioapical part of corium roughly T-shaped, at sides always reaching submarginal vein (India) or costal margin ( Nepal); apical ⅓ of cuneus dark brown; cells entirely dark brown but remaining part of membrane without color-pattern ( Fig. 2B ); left paramere question mark-shaped; right paramere bulbous, simple, with slight subapical constriction and small subapical outgrowth ( Fig. 13 ).

Material examined

INDIA • 30 ♂♂, 25 ♀♀; Manipur, Imphal, Lamphelpat ; 24.83° N, 93.93° E; 779 m a.s.l.; 20 Sep. 2013; H.M. Yeshwanth leg.; Ex: Colocasia esculenta ; UASB • 6 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; ZISP • 8 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀; Karnataka; Madikere, Galibeedu ; 12°28.57ˊ N, 75°42.58ˊ E; 1047 m a.s.l.; 6 Jan. 2012; H.M. Yeshwanth leg.; Ex: Colocasia sp.; UASB • 14 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Karnataka, Mudigere; 13°7.190ˊ N, 75°37.670ˊ E; 913 m a.s.l.; 17 Dec. 2013; H.M. Yeshwanth leg; Ex: Colocasia esculenta ; UASB .

Host

In India, nymphs and adults were found aggregating in large numbers on the under surfaces of leaves ( Fig. 26A–C ) and damaging the cultivated edible aroid Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott ( Araceae ). Yasunaga & Ishikawa (2016) provided detailed observations on the biology of E. ramkeshariae in Nepal and reported C. esculenta as a host, suggesting it could become a pest given the severe damage observed in a vegetable garden in Kathmandu.

Distribution

Nepal, northeastern and southwestern India.

Remarks

This species was recently described from Nepal, where it was found in subtropical areas and urbanized zones of Katmandu ( Yasunaga & Ishikawa 2016). The authors provided a detailed description and suggested that this species was introduced to northern Nepal as a pest of cultivated Colocasia esculenta . Here we report this species from northeastern (Manipur province) and southwestern (Karnataka province) India. Indian specimens differ slightly from Nepalese specimens in the color pattern, particularly in having pale labial segment I, uniformly whitish tibiae and slightly less pronounced transverse medioapical spot on the corium, which does not reach costal margin so that the adjoining part of embolium remains whitish yellow or only slightly infuscate. Specimens of E. ramkeshariae from Nepal have a brown labial segment I, red tinged tibia and a transverse spot on the corium that extends to the costal margin ( Yasunaga & Ishikawa, 2016). Otherwise, Indian and Nepalese specimens show no other distinctions in coloration, measurements, and male and female genitalia.

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. 13. Male genitalia of Ernestinus ramkeshariae Yasunaga & Ishikawa, 2016, UASB. A. Genital capsule in dorsal view. B–D. Right paramere. B. Dorsal view. C. Ventral view. D. Apex, magnified. E–F. Left paramere. E. Dorsal view. F. Lateral view. G. Apex, magnified. H. Aedeagus in dorsal 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.