Proteophylus, Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016

Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016, Nineteen new genera and 82 new species of Cremnorrhinina from Australia, including analyses of host relationships and distributions (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylininae: Cremnorrhinini), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 401, pp. 1-279 : 162-164

Proteophylus , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Proteophylus grevilleae , new species.

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the compact ovoid body form and relatively small size; head relatively small, eyes and frons usually bulging, clypeus usually visible from above; coloration variable, from entirely black to entirely pale; antennal segment 2 in male variable, often swollen, sometimes only apically, but also often terete (pl. 24); endosoma usually with dorsal strap terminating at about level of secondary gonopore and ventral strap with single apical spine of varying configuration, weakly to rather strongly surpassing secondary gonopore (figs. 71–75, pl. 25). Structure and coloration similar in both male and female. Along with Dicyphylus an Telophylus eremophilae , distinctive among Australian Cremnorrhinina in having a compact, tubular body; body form more robust and not so elongate as Dicyphylus spp. and T. eremophilae ; endosoma without spine subtending secondary gonopore as in Dicyphylus or conspicuous microtrichiate plates as in T. eremophilae .

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Total length 2.30–3.18, pronotum width 0.74–1.13. COLORATION (pl. 24): Ranging from largely pale yellow (in preserved specimens) to almost completely black; antennal coloration variable, sometimes as body coloration, but often black, or with rings. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 24): Dorsum usually smooth, ranging from dull to shining, sometimes granular and dull; dorsal vestiture with recumbent simple setae, pale or dark, sometimes also with lepidote setae (fig. 70B, C), very easily removed during collecting). STRUCTURE: Body form robust, not so strongly flattened as many Australian Cremnorrhinina. Head (fig. 70A, pl. 24): Globular with protuberant globular eyes; frons weakly to strongly swollen, frons sometimes projecting well beyond anterior margin of eye in dorsal view and clypeus distinctly protruding in dorsal view. Antenna: Segment 1 often robust, segment 2 slender to strongly terete, segments 3 and 4 much more slender than preceding two segments. Thorax (fig. 70A, D, pl. 24): Pronotum ranging from nearly flat to posterior lobe being conspicuously elevated, lateral and posterior margins moderately concave to nearly straight; calli weakly to distinctly elevated, posterior margin straight to weakly concave; mesoscutum barely to moderately exposed. Thoracic pleuron as in figure 70C. Pretarsus as in figure 70E, F. Hemelytron: Corial margin weakly to distinctly convex; cuneus short and broad. GENITALIA (figs. 70F, 71–75, pl. 25): Pygophore: Broadly conical, posterior margin relatively pointed; dorsal surface without tubercles or clumps of bristles. Endosoma: Sigmoid, with dorsal and ventral straps usually contiguous from base to secondary gonopore, medial width and length distad of secondary gonopore variable; secondary gonopore at base of apical spines and usually well sclerotized, rarely with apical extension; ventral strap usually terminating at about level of secondary gonopore and dorsal strap narrow, pointed with variable length apical spine; thin apical membrane of limited extent. Phallotheca: Apical portion narrowly conical, usually with short, narrow crest, rarely with small additional crest; aperture on anterior surface, usually with somewhat broad apex with undulating margin; basal portion reaching to middle of ventral surface of pygophore in situ. Parameres: Left paramere typically phyline; dorsoposterior margin usually straight and barely elevated above posterior and anterior processes; posterior process short, slightly undulating laterally, straight apically; anterior process relatively long, prominent seta usually placed on lateral margin of anterior process. Right paramere roughly lanceolate in shape and with small apical point on near midpoint of apical margin or closer to posterior angle.

FEMALE (pl. 24): Sexual difference indicated under individual species; total length 2.17–3.49, pronotum width 0.73–1.26. GEN- ITALIA (pl. 52): Subgenital plate of sternite 6: Concave medially. Vestibular sclerites: Moderately large, reaching anterior margins of sclerotized rings. First gonapophyses: Relatively small or medium-sized quadrate basal blocks, with rounded margins. Ventral labiate plate: Platelike medial anteroventral extension relatively long, width and anterior extent variable, narrowly prominent or wide and gently curved; anterior surface smoothly curved, covering anterior surface of basal structures. Dorsal labiate plate: Medium size, medium length. Sclerotized rings: Small subovoid, widely separated with sclerotized extension on posterior angle or medium sized and subtriangular; gently concave, thick walled. Posteromedial region: Surface with obvious microstructure. Anterolateral region: Anterior margin just extending beyond anterior edge of sclerotized rings. Posterior wall: Intersegmental structure: With broad, transverse outpocket on dorsal surface of connecting membrane. Interramal sclerites: Strongly sclerotized, lateral sclerites relatively broad, medial sclerite strongly extending ventrad.

ETYMOLOGY: From the generic name Protea , in reference to its frequent occurrence on the Proteaceae , and the generic name Phylus ; masculine.

DISCUSSION: In our diagnosis above we compare Proteophylus with Dicyphylus . It is worth noting that this comparison applies not only to morphology of preserved specimens but also to the bugs in life. Our greatest numbers of collecting events apply to Proteophylus grevilleae , which on all occasions appeared deceptively dicyphinelike in appearance, although the very rapid movements of these bugs are not necessarily like those seen in the Dicyphini .