Metoisops punctatus Popov & Herczek, 1993

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 : 405-409

Metoisops punctatus Popov & Herczek, 1993

( Figs. 4–6 )

Diagnosis. M. punctatus belongs to the group of species with a width of head not more than 2.5x than their length ( M. variabilis , M. punctatodiffusus , M. intergerivus , and M. groehni ) from which it has the widest vertex (dorsal width of eye 1.85x wider than vertex) but can be differentiated from the other species by shorter claval commissure ( M. consimilis ) or very short 1st rostral segment ( M. kerzhneri , M. intergerivus ).

Redescription. Holotype. About 3 mm long; body elongate, 2.54x as long as wide. General coloration uniform reddish-yellow, antennae, rostrum and legs pale brown; scutellum pale. P ronotum, hemelytra and scutellum with very short adpressed setae; antennae covered with short, adpressed hairs. Head, pronotal and confluent calli bare. Dorsal surface of body rather smooth, with deep punctation; green-bluish; outer margin of hemelytra distinctly polished and inpunctate; membrane crumpled ( Figs. 4, 5 ). Head moderately transverse, 2.25x as wide as long, wider than anterior margin of pronotum. Vertex 1.85x narrower than dorsal width of eye; eyes globular; Combined antennal length of 3rd and 4th segments 1.13x longer than 2nd, 4th segment sometimes divided into 2 parts ( Fig. 6 ); 3rd rostral segment shortest, others equal length. Pronotum trapezoidal, moderately transversal, approximately 1.8x as wide as long; ratio length of posterior/anterior margin = 1.92 (1.85–1.95);calli weakly developed, intercallian pit visible; posterior margin weakly convex. Visible portion of mesoscutum 3.2x shorter than length of scutellum. Claval commissura rather long, ratio length claval commissure/ mesoscutum+scutellum = 1.27x. Corial length 4x longer than length of cuneus, which is 1.3x as long as wide.

Large cell of hemelytral membrane 2.5x as long as wide. Hind femora rounded and narrow, more than 5x longer than wide and 1.43x longer than tibia; tibia 3.3x longer than tarsus; 1st tarsal segment half as long as 2nd.

Dimensions. Length of body 2.8, width 1.1; length of head 0.26, width 0.70, dorsal width of eye 0.26, diameter of ocellum 0.05; width of vertex 0.14; antennal segments I:II:III:IV= 0.26:0.78:0.39:0.49; rostral segments I:II:III:IV= 0.39:0.39:0:29:0:39; length of pronotum 0.39 (min.) and 0.52 (max.), width 0.47 (ant.) and 0.93 (post.); length of mesoscutum 0.06; length of scutellum 0.36; claval commissure 0.49; length of hind femur 0.83, width 0.16; length of tibia 1.19; length of tarsus 0.37 (I+II = 0.13+0.27).

Specimens Examined. Holotype, ♂. Nr. 364/2; light red and small-sized piece of amber (15 x 9 mm) of almost rectangular shape. The holotype is deposited in the collection of the Borissiak Paleontological Institute Russian Academy of Sciences (Arthropod laboratory), Moscow.

Other specimen was examined: macropterous ♂, Nr. K-7057, dark-yellowish and quite large piece of amber (30 x 10 mm) of irregular shape. The specimen is deposited in the collection of the Schmalgausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev ( Figs. 7–8 ).

Dimensions (in mm). Length of body 2.66, width 1.1; length of head 0.26, width 0.65, dorsal width of eye 0.26, diameter of ocellum 0.05; width of vertex 0.15; antennal segments I:II:III:IV = 0.21:0.68:0.34:0.47; rostral segments I, II, III: invisibly, IV 0,31; length of pronotum 0.53, width 0.44 (ant.) and 0.99 (post.); length of mesoscutum 0.1; length of scutellum 0.34; claval commissure 0.51; hind femur and tibia invisibly; length of tarsus 0.31.

Figures

FIGURES 4 – 6. Metoisops punctatus holotype, ♂, in Baltic amber, nr. 364 / 2; Borissiak Paleontological Institute Russian Academy of Sciences (Arthropod laboratory), Moscow—dorsal views, antennal segments.

FIGURES 7 – 8. Metoisops punctatus specimen from Rovno (Ukraine), macropterous ♂, in Baltic amber, nr. K- 7057, Schmalgausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev—dorsal views.