Neomeschia minuta, Malipatil, 2021

Malipatil, M. B., 2021, Neomeschia minuta sp. nov. from Australia (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Meschiidae), Zootaxa 5032 (10), pp. 447-450 : 447-448

Neomeschia minuta , sp. nov.

( Figs. 5–9 , 11–14 )

Type specimen: Holotype male (carded), Australia, Queensland, Landsborough , 30.v.1964, G. Monteith, dissected, genitalia in vial ( QM).

Description. Colouration: Body colour ( Figs. 5, 6 ) pattern generally more uniformly darker than in N. queenslandensis . Antenna ( Fig. 7 ) fuscous, except narrow bases of 3rd and 4th segments pale stramineous. Ventral and lateral body colour and legs as in Fig. 6 . Abdominal connexiva with anterior narrow areas on segments III to VII and also posterior corner of VII stramineous, remainder of connexiva of individual segments fuscous, hence lateral margin of abdomen appearing banded ( Figs. 5, 6 ). Visible abdominal tergum below membrane with dark brown and pale stramineous pattern.

Body short and broad ( Fig. 5 ). Length including wings 4.56; maximum width 1.97.

Head length 0.72; width across eyes 1.33; interocular space 0.91; interocellar space 0.49; eye-ocellar space 0.15; eye length 0.26; eye width 0.22. Labium extending to about middle of sternum IV, length of segments: I 0.72; II 0.70; III 0.60; IV 0.79; length of labrum 0.22. Length of antennal segments: I 0.30; II 0.98; III 0.49; IV 0.64.

Thorax: Pronotum median length 0.95; width at anterior margin 1.02; width at posterior margin 1.86. Scutellum length 0.91; width 1.17. Length of hemelytra 3.04; length of corium 2.09; claval commissure 0.26.

Abdomen: As in genus description.

Male genitalia: Pygophore produced apically to a conical process directed slightly postero-ventrally, entire exposed surface finely punctate, dorsal foramen shape as in Fig. 11 . Paramere ( Fig. 12 ) with blade broad in middle and gradually narrowed to point apically, basal part broad, with inner margin produced to a narrow point above and with a few erect setae below, outer margin broadly rounded. Aedeagus as in Fig 13 ; articulatory apparatus well developed; phallotheca membranous except for lightly sclerotised narrow bands along its length ( Fig. 13 , ph); conjunctiva membranous, about 2 times as long as phallotheca, tubular and gradually narrowed towards ejaculatory reservoir area ( Fig. 13 , co), wings well developed and wrapped around body ( Fig. 14 , w), vesica short, helicoid process 1–2 coiled, gonoporal process long, heavily sclerotised, with 3–4 broad coils ( Fig. 14 , gp),

Distribution. Queensland, Australia.

Notes. The new species differs from N. queenslandensis in the smaller body size, 4.5 mm (in N. queenslandensis , 6.3 mm), the generally broader and darker body, the antennal segment 3 being short, about half as long as 2 ( Fig. 7 ) (in N. queenslandensis , segment 3 long, about 2/3 as long as 2, Fig. 3 ), and the paramere blade narrowed to a point apically ( Fig. 12 ) (in N. queenslandensis , slightly truncate apically, Fig. 10 ).

Figures

FIGURES 5–9. Neomeschia minuta sp. nov., holotype male: 5, body, dorsal; 6, body, lateral; 7, antennae; 8, head and pronotum, dorsal; 9, anterior part of body, lateral. Scale line: Figs. 5 & 6 = 1 mm; Figs. 7 & 8 = 0.2 mm; Fig. 9 of same scale as Fig. 6.

FIGURES 10–14. 10, Neomeschia queenslandensis Malipatil, 2014, right paramere, upper view. 11–14, Neomeschia minuta sp. nov., holotype: 11, pygophore, dorsal view; 12, left paramere, upper view; 13, aedeagus; 14, aedeagus, apical part. Abbreviations: co, conjunctiva; er, ejaculatory reservoir; gp, gonoporal process; hp, helicoid process; ph, phallotheca; ve, vesica; w, wing. Scale lines: Figs. 10 & 14 = 0.1 mm; Figs. 11–13 = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 1–4. Neomeschia queenslandensis Malipatil, 2014, male: 1, body, dorsal; 2, body, lateral; 3, antennae; 4, head and pronotum, dorsal. Scale bars: Figs. 1 & 2 = 1 mm; Figs. 3 & 4 = 0.5 mm.