Leucodellus pallescens (Zheng & Li, 1991)

Konstantinov, Fedor V., 2012, Leucodellus Reuter, 1906 (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylini): key to species, revised species composition and diagnosis, Zootaxa 3157, pp. 18-30 : 23-24

Leucodellus pallescens (Zheng & Li, 1991)

Figures 8 , 15

Plagiognathus pallescens Zheng & H.Y. Li in H.Y. Li & Zheng 1992 (September): 89, 91. Plagiognathus pallescens: Zheng & H.Y. Li 1991 (November) , formal description and designation of the lectotype (as holotype): 114.

Plagiognathus pallescens: Schuh, Lindskog & Kerzhner 1995 , discussion: 392. Leucodellus pallescens: Li & Liu 2007: 37 .

Material examined. Paralectotypes: CHINA: Sichuan: Baoxing, 950–1360 m, 30.36666 ° N 105.83333 ° E, 17 Jun 1963, Le-Yi Zheng, 13 ( AMNH _PBI 00337417), 1Ƥ ( AMNH _PBI 00337418) ( NKMU); 0 1 Jul 1963, Le-Yi Zheng, 1Ƥ ( AMNH _PBI 00337420) ( AMNH). Jinchuan, 2000–2350 m, 31.46666 ° N 102.05 ° E, 10 Sep 1963, Unknown, 13 ( AMNH _PBI 00337419) ( AMNH).

Diagnosis. Recognized by the relatively small size, male 3.2–3.5, female 3.0–3.3, large eyes in male, with vertex almost equal to width of eye, pale dorsum, well developed dark markings on ventral side of hind femur ( Fig. 8 ), pale bases of all tibia, dark tibial spines, weakly sclerotized vesica gradually curving and tapering distal to secondary gonopore, membranous lobe around secondary gonopore not projecting backwards, apically with 1–2 irregular rows of denticles along outer edge, small blade of vesica spatula-shaped, with extreme apex abruptly turned laterally, large blade lanceolate, flattened and somewhat widened at middle ( Fig. 15 ). Most similar to L. xizangensis in the uniformly pale dorsum and structure of the male genitalia but differing from that species in the smaller body size, coloration of tibial spines and under surface of hind femur, and minute distinctions in the vesica structure, viz. location of secondary gonopore in relation to apical blades and shape of the small blade.

Distribution. Sichuan province of China.

Host. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 6 – 11. Color pattern on ventral side of hind femur in males of Leucodellus spp. 6 — L. albidus; 7 — L. amygdali; 8 — L. pallescens; 9 — L. variegatus; 10 — L. xizangensis; 11 — L. zagdani.

FIGURES 12 – 17. Vesicae of Leucodellus spp. 12 — L. albidus; 13 — L. amygdali; 14 — L. zagdani; 15 — L. pallescens; 16 — L. variegatus; 17 — L. xizangensis.