Myrtophylus, 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 : 145-147

Myrtophylus , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Myrtophylus calytrix , new species.

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the elongate, parallel-sided body form, nearly unicolorous yellow-to-orange body and appendages, and moderately exserted head with distinctly protruding eyes (pl. 20); dorsal strap of endosoma bifid distad of secondary gonopore, ventral strap forming a broad lateral spine at level of secondary gonopore (figs. 61–63, pl. 21); phallotheca with a heavily sclerotized dorsal crest; right paramere broadly rounded, with a short apical projection (figs. 61–63). Similar to Dicyphylus and Spinivesica in possession of a lateral endosomal spine at level of secondary gonopore; distinguished from both of those genera by its elongate parallel-sided body in combination with the nearly unicolorous body and appendages; also differing from Dicyphylus in its simple, bifid endosomal apex rather than having the more complex structural forms found in that group, and from Spinivesica by lacking the membranous apical endosomal bag covered with denticles found in all species of that group.

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Total length 3.13–4.59, pronotum width 0.87–1.03. COLORATION (pl. 20): Preserved specimens ranging from entirely yellow green to orange, including all appendages, sometimes with broad infuscate areas on corium and clavus; membrane weakly to moderately fumose, veins pale or fumose as membrane. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (fig. 60A, B, pl. 20): Dorsum smooth, polished, and shining; dorsal vestiture of short, pale, recumbent simple setae. STRUCTURE (pl. 20): General body form elongate, parallel sided, at most weakly flattened. Head (fig. 60A, pl. 20): Narrow with narrow, somewhat swollen vertex and frons and protuberant somewhat globular eyes; frons and clypeus projecting beyond anterior margin of eye in dorsal view; antennal segment 2 very long and slender, nearly parallel sided over entire length. Thorax (fig. 60A, pl. 20): Trapezoidal, lateral margins nearly straight, posterior lobe somewhat elevated, posterior margin straight; calli at most weakly elevated, polished, and without setae; meso ‐ scutum narrowly to rather broadly exposed. Metathoracic pleuron as in figure 60C. Pretarsus as in figure 60D. Hemelytron: Elongate, corial margin straight, or nearly so, cuneus moderately elongate. GENITALIA (figs. 61– 63, pl. 21): Pygophore: Broadly triangular, somewhat truncate posteriorly; diffuse group of long, erect setae located just ventrad of aperture and anteriad of left paramere insertion; dorsal and ventral surfaces without tubercles, clumps of bristles, or field of stout bristles. Endosoma: Sigmoid, distal one-half bent to left to a variable degree; straps adhered to one another from base of endosoma to level of secondary gonopore, with apical and subapical spines supporting variable billowy membrane; ventral strap bifid at level of secondary gonopore, one spine extending distad of secondary gonopore and one spine variably directed laterally; dorsal strap variable, usually with broad plate at level of secondary gonopore, and long spine either reflected or subparallel to long apical spine of ventral strap; rarely dorsal strap bifid distad of secondary gonopore; secondary gonopore weakly sclerotized and open slightly. Phallotheca: Apical portion narrowed toward apex, dorsal surface with variable, well sclerotized crest; aperture large, elongate ovoid, situated on anterior dorsal surface, reaching around apex; basal portion relatively long, reaching to middle of pygophore ventral surface in situ. Parameres: Left paramere typically phyline with flat or slightly undulating dorsoposterior margin; posterior process undulating in dorsal view, elongate, slightly deflected ventrad; anterior process short, narrow apically. Right paramere more or less parallel sided, with a short, medial, apical process and a protuberance on anterior angle.

FEMALE (pl. 20): Coloration similar to male; body more strongly ovoid than in male, corial margins convex; eyes smaller, not so strongly bulging, vertex relatively wider; total length 2.99–4.49, pronotum width 0.94–1.15. GENITALIA (pl. 50): Subgenital plate of sternite 6: Concave medially. Vestibular sclerites: Relatively small, not attaining posterior margins of sclerotized rings. First gonapophyses: Relatively small, elongate basal blocks extending posteriad of gonapophysal base. Ventral labiate plate: Platelike medial anteroventral extension short, weakly covering anterior surface of basal structures. Dorsal labiate plate: Shield shaped, very long. Sclerotized rings: Moderately large, smoothly subtriangular, slightly concave, thick walled. Posteromedial region: Surface without conspicuous microstructure.

Anterolateral region: Rings removed from anterior and posterior margins of dorsal labiate plate; anterior margin extending beyond anterior edge of sclerotized rings by twice length of a ring. Posterior wall: Intersegmental structure: Conspicuous, bulbous, microspiculate, bilobed, transverse outpocket projecting into genital chamber from ventral surface of connecting membrane. Interramal sclerites: Weakly sclerotized with relatively wide, elongate, lateral sclerites and inconspicuous medial sclerite.

ETYMOLOGY: From the generic name Myrtus , in reference to it occurrence on the Myrtaceae , and the generic name Phylus ; masculine.