Phytocoris (Compsocerocoris) bavanus, Linnavuori, 2009

Linnavuori, Rauno E., 2009, Studies on the Nepomorpha, Gerromorpha, Leptopodomorpha, and Miridae excluding Phylini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Khuzestan and the adjacent provinces of Iran, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 49 (1), pp. 1-32 : 18-20

Phytocoris (Compsocerocoris) bavanus sp. nov.

( Figs. 3–4 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE: 1J, IRAN: FARS: Bavan near Nur Abad , 20.–21.vi.2008 . PARATYPES: 3♀♀, the same data as holotype. The types will be deposited at the National Museum and Galleries of Wales (Cardiff, United Kingdom).

Description. Length: J 6.0 mm, ♀♀ 6.5 mm.

Colouration. Whitish ochraceous with extensive dark-brown pattern. Vertex and frons with longitudinal median stripe and transverse lateral arcs reddish; apical part of tylus and transverse bands on genae and lora blackish; eyes brownish grey. Antennomere 1 whitish, dorsal part with abundant blackish-brown spots; antennomere 2 pale ochraceous with whitish base and faint subbasal ring; antennomeres 3–4 pale ochraceous, antennomere 3 with small whitish basal ring, antennomere 4 somewhat darker. Rostrum apically darkened. Collar and anterior part of pronotum surrounding calli with faint reddish markings, collar also with two reddish-brown spots; disk brownish with undulating blackish-brown subbasal margin containing four blunt tubercles, the very basal margin whitish. Scutellum largely dark brown at base, apical part with dark median spot. Clavus, corium and cuneus largely dark brown, apical part of corium with elongate pale areas; membranes with dense brown irroration, veins pale. Pro-, meso- and metapleura blackish brown, propleura with longitudinal pale stripe, metathoracic scent gland peritremes pale. Ventral surface of abdomen pale, laterally and apically brownish. Legs whitish yellow. Fore femora with irregular longitudinal blackishbrown stripes, apical part of middle femora with blackish-brown spots, apical two-thirds of hind femora blackish brown with pale irroration. Tibiae with numerous dark spots. Tarsi dark brown, hind tarsomere 2 pale.

Structure. Both sexes macropterous. Body 3.5–3.6 times as long as basal width of pronotum. Dorsal surface with short appressed black pubescence and somewhat longer pale hairs. Head 0.6 times as broad as basal width of pronotum, in apical view 1.13 (J) or 1.17 (♀) times as broad as long, in lateral view in both sexes 0.91 times as long as high with shallow notch between frons and base of tylus; ocular index 1.44 (J) or 1.46–1.50 (♀). Antennae gracile, proportions between segments 38: 78: 43:? (J), 40: 80: 45: 40 (♀), antennomere 1 1.46 (J) or 1.38–1.54 (♀) times as long as diatone, with pale erect bristles, antennomere 2 in both sexes 3.0 times as long as diatone, and 1.95 (J) or 1.81–1.82 (♀) times as long as basal width of pronotum. Rostrum extending to base of venter. Pronotum in both sexes 1.9–2.2 times as long as broad, lateral margins straight, basal margin with four blunt tubercles. Tibial spines arising from small dark spots, short and pale. Male genitalia ( Fig. 4B–F ). Pygophore without tubercles; left paramere as in Fig. 4C–E ; spiculum curved with 21 teeth ( Fig. 4F ).

Differential diagnosis. The Middle East species of the subgenus Compsocerocoris Reuter, 1876 were revised by LINNAVUORI (1999). Phytocoris bavanus sp. nov. resembles Ph. thisbe Linnavuori, 1999 , but it is easily distinguished by the male genitalia. In Ph. thisbe ( Fig. 5B–F ) the left paramere is somewhat T-shaped with a strongly produced sensory lobe and the spiculum is serrate with 11 teeth. Moreover the ocular index of Ph. thisbe is 1.12–1.17 (J) and 1.46 (♀) (see LINNAVUORI (1999: 181–182) and the text below).

Habitat. Collected at light in gardens with rich undergrowth, situated on mountain slopes.

Etymology. Named after the type locality.

Distribution. Endemic to Iran.

Figures

Fig. 3. Phytocoris bavanus sp. nov., holotype male. A – habitus, B – dorsal view of head and pronotum.

Fig. 4. Phytocoris bavanus sp. nov. A – male head in lateral view; B – right paramere; C–D – left paramere in two different views (drawn in glycerine slide mount); E – sensory lobe of the left paramere; F – spiculum.

Fig. 5. Phytocoris thisbe Linnavuori, 1999.A – male head in lateral view; B–C – right paramere; D–F – left paramere in different views; G – aedeagus; H – spiculum (after LINNAVUORI 1999).