Meschia Distant, 1910

Malipatil, M. B., 2014, Meschiidae, a new family of Lygaeoidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from India and Australia, with descriptions of a new genus and two new species, Zootaxa 3815 (2), pp. 233-248 : 235

Meschia Distant, 1910

( Figs. 1–33 )

Meschia Distant, 1910: 36 –37.

Type species: Meschia pugnax Distant, 1910 , original designation.

Redescription. Head: much broader than long ( Figs. 2 , 14 , 24 ); anterior to eyes almost parallel-sided and slightly incurved at antennifers; antennifers produced anteriorly and rounded to a shiny smooth pad-like area ventrally ( Fig. 3 ). Clypeus prominent, somewhat strongly produced, slightly exceeding juga;. Head dorso-ventrally narrowed from base to apex; ventrally deeply furrowed to receive labium ( Figs. 3 , 25 ); bucculae extending posteriorly to about three-fourths length of head ( Fig. 3 ). Ocelli on extreme basal margin, nearer to eyes than to each other. Labium long, 1st segment reaching base of head, 2nd segment longest. Labrum about one-fourth length of 1st labial segment. Antennae robust, with 1st segment short not passing apex of head, 2nd longest, 3rd and 4th subequal in length, segments 2–4 of equal thickness.

Thorax: Pronotum very large, much broader than long ( Fig. 2 ), lateral margins slightly sinuate; posterior lateral angles sub-prominent; anterior margin prominent and almost appearing as a very slight collar; posterior margin slightly transversely ridged ( Figs. 13, 14 ); with transverse impression demarking anterior lobe; coarsely punctate above and on pleura, each puncture with a short scale-like seta. Scutellum large, a little broader than long, coarsely punctate, with a low mid-longitudinal carinate ridge. Thoracic pleura with coarse punctures, evaporative area distinct from adjoining area. Hemelytral membrane slightly passing abdominal apex and with a distinct basal cell and five longitudinal veins. Clavus longitudinally punctate in more or less 3 complete rows, inner row less complete ( Figs. 1 , 22 ); corium faintly punctate, more prominently near claval and costal margins. Hind wing with hamus completely absent, intervannals indstinct, anterior vannal and posterior vannal present, jugal vein indistinct.

Abdomen: Abdominal connexivum either exposed or fully covered beyond middle of corium. Sutures between terga III–IV, IV–V and V–VI curved caudad as in Fig. 5 . Trichobothria present, as in Fig. 6 .

Female genitalia: Spermatheca ( Fig. 32 ) generally short, bulb moderately sclerotized, with a distinct basal rim but no flange; duct short, saccoid, narrowing to 2–3 tightly coiled turns. Ovipositor As in Figs. 30, 31 .

Male genitalia: Pygophore as in Fig. 7 . Paramere as in Figs. 8 , 19 ; with long setae; blade sickle-shaped, broadly pointed. Aedeagus as in Figs. 9–12 , long and tubular; phallotheca lightly pigmented; ejaculatory reservoir ( Fig. 12 ) large, with body and wings moderately developed, wings slightly wrapped around body, neck not prominent; vesica short and slightly pigmented; helicoid process slightly irregularly sclerotized ( Figs. 11 , 20, 21 ); gonoporal process beyond helicoid process short, with 2–4 narrow coils, and slightly flared tip ( Fig. 11 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1 − 4. Meschia pugnax, male: 1, habitus; 2, head and pronotum; 3, head, ventral view; 4, left antenna.

FIGURES 5 – 12. Meschia pugnax, male: 5, abdominal dorsum; 6, abdominal venter; 7, pygophore, dorsal view; 8, left paramere; 9, adeagus; 10, aedeagus, basal part; 11, aedeagus, apical part; 12, ejaculatory reservoir, enlarged. Abbreviations: b, body; c, conjunctiva; gp, gonoporal process; hp, helicoid process; ph, phallotheca; w, wing; III-VII, abdominal tergites.

FIGURES 13 – 15. Meschia woodwardi, male: 13, habitus; 14, head and pronotum; 15, right antenna.

FIGURES 16 – 21. Meschia woodwardi, male: 16, abdominal dorsum; 17, abdominal venter; 18, pygophore, dorsal view; 19, left paramere; 20, adeagus; 21, aedeagus, apical part.

FIGURES 22 − 27. Meschia barrowensis, holotype female: 22, habitus, excluding antennae; 23, habitus; 24, head and pronotum; 25, head, ventral view; 26, abdominal dorsum; 27, abdominal venter.

FIGURES 28 – 33. Meschia barrowensis: holotype female: 28, abdominal dorsum; 29, abdominal venter; 30, 31, ovipositor; 32, spermatheca. 33, egg, side view. Abbreviations, bulb; d, duct; Ga, gonangulum; 1 Gpo, 2 Gpo, first and second gonapophysis; 1 Gx, 2 Gx, first and second gonocoxa; pt VIII, pt IX, eighth and ninth paratergite; 1 r, 2 r, first and second ramus; sp 8, spiracle of eighth segment; III-VII, abdominal tergites.