Lepidophylus, 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 : 129-131

Lepidophylus , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Lepidophylus guttatus , new species.

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the relatively small, compact, ovoid body form, weak sexual dimorphism, dorsum and femora densely covered with contrasting dark spots on weakly reddish-brown background, membrane marmorate, and dorsum and thoracic pleuron densely covered with appressed lepidote setae (pl. 18); head very short and closely conforming to anterior margin of pronotum; clypeus and area between clypeus and eye highly polished and maroon, contrasting with surrounding areas; endosoma sigmoid, with three lobelike terminal projections, phallotheca with a dorsal keel, and right paramere tiny with fingerlike apex (fig. 52, pl. 18). Possibly confused with Maculiphylus on basis of size and spotted dorsum, but that taxon with pale background coloration, simple setae on dorsum, head not closely conforming to anterior margin of pronotum, much more pronounced sexual dimor ‐ phism (pl. 18), and a J-shaped endosoma with a terminal secondary gonopore and no apical elaborations (fig. 53); lepidote setae similar to those found in Halophylus , Proteophylus grevilleae , and P. occidentalis , and some Pulvillophyus spp., but colora ‐ tion, including unique marmorate membrane in Lepidophylus , and structure of the male genitalia distinctive in each of these groups.

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Total length 2.90–2.94, pronotum width 0.99–1.07. COLORATION (pl. 18): Overall coloration weakly reddish brown, appendages somewhat lighter, with contrasting, small, brown spots on dorsum and femora; clypeus and area between clypeus and eye highly polished and maroon, contrasting with surrounding pale areas; tibial spines with dark bases on all legs; membrane marmorate. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 18): Body surface, including abdomen, with lepidote sericeous setae and scattered, reclining, black bristlelike setae. STRUC ‐ TURE (pl. 18): Body form elongate ovoid. Head: Head short and moderately broad, vertex broad, eyes moderately bulging; eye occupying three-fifths height of head; antenna inserted at ventral margin of eye, unlike most Australian Cremnorrhinina antennal fossa removed from eye by about one-half diameter of fossa; antennal segment 2 short, stout, of uniform diameter (0.70), 0.86 times width of head; labium reaching to posterior margin of mesosternum. Thorax: Pronotum with sides nearly straight, calli indistinct, posterior margin of pronotum straight; mesoscutum broadly exposed. Hemelytron: Costal margin weakly convex. GENITALIA (fig. 52, pl. 18): Pygophore: Broadly triangular, posterior margin truncate; dorsal surface without tubercles or discrete groups of bristles. Endosoma: Sigmoid, straps continuous proximal to secondary gonopore, diverging distad of gonopore; interstrap region bounded marginally by dorsal and ventral straps forming two large, marginally serrate, attenuate blades, largest blade directed apicad, shorter blade directed ventrad, another shorter apically serrate, flattened projection originating opposite gonopore; secondary gonopore relatively small, well sclerotized situated subapically within interstrap region. Phallotheca: Apical portion broadly conical; dorsomedial surface with prominent crest; large ovoid aperture on anteroapical surface; basal portion reaching to middle of ventral pygophore surface in situ. Parameres: Left paramere typically phyline with middle of dorsoposterior margin strongly elevated above posterior and anterior processes; posterior process short, slightly deflected; anterior process small, prominent seta not observed. Right paramere minute, round with long, pointed, medially placed, apical projection.

FEMALE (pl. 18): Coloration and vestiture as in male, body slightly more broadly ovoid; total length 2.97, pronotum width 1.14. GEN- ITALIA: Not examined.

ETYMOLOGY: From the Greek, lepis, “scale,” in reference to the scalelike setae, and the generic name Phylus ; masculine.

DISCUSSION: Lepidophylus shares the lepidote sericeous setae with Halophylus spp., Proteophylus grevillea , P. occidentalis , and several Pulivillophylus spp., and the spotted tibiae with several Halophylus spp. The structure of the endosoma is distinct in these taxa, however, suggesting that these similarities are the result of convergence.