Megalocoleus stysi, Matocq, 2008

Matocq, Armand, 2008, A new species of Megalocoleus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae) from Morocco, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 48 (2), pp. 419-422 : 419-422

Megalocoleus stysi sp. nov.

( Figs. 1-10)

Type locality. Morocco, Kenitra, Foręt de Mamora.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J, ‘ Morocco / Kenitra / Forêt de Mamora / 5-V-1967 / Eckerlein leg.’ ( MHNG) . PARATYPES: 2 JJ 6 ♀♀, same data as holotype ( MHNG) ; 1 J 1 ♀, same data as holotype (coll. Matocq). The 11 specimens of the type series have lost most of their vestiture ; setae can only be observed in places.

Description (both sexes). Integument rather mat, body and appendages entirely greyish yellow except the last segment of rostrum and the last tarsal segments and claws of all legs, which are black. Dorsal vestiture with two types of setae of unknown distribution (see the note above), fine and adpressed pale setae and semi-erect dark setae observed along lateral margin of hemelytra and on cuneus). Length (J and ♀) = 3.8-4.5 mm.

Head short, not elongated ( Fig. 2 ); length of antennal segments: I – 0.35 mm, II – 1.1 mm, III – 0.9 mm, IV – 0.45 mm ( Fig. 3 ). Rostrum reaching the middle of abdominal sternite VIII.

Pronotum trapezoidal with slightly carinate lateral margin; xyphus concave and carinate.

Hemelytra slightly translucent with more or less darkend spot in the middle (more pronounced in females); membrane smoky transparent with white veins.

Legs: femora without black spots; tibiae with black spines; tarsi: segments I and II greyish yellow, segment III and claw black; hind tarsi: segments II and III of hind tarsus subequal in length ( Fig. 4 ); claws as in Fig. 5 .

Genitalia. Male: vesica slender, U-shaped; with a thin, straight and acute apex ( Fig. 6 ); secondary gonopore removed far from apex of vesica ( Fig. 7 ); left paramere as in Fig. 8 . Female: vagina large and oval ( Fig. 9 ). Ring sclerites subtriangular ( Fig. 10 ).

Differential diagnosis. Megalocoleus stysi sp. nov. shows some similarities with M. lunula (Fieber, 1861) in the colouration and vestiture but differs from the latter species in the structure of the vesica. The vesica of M. stysi sp. nov. is thin with a straight apex and the secondary gonopore is removed far from the apex of the vesica, while the vesica of M. lunula is thicker with a curved apex and subapically placed secondary gonopore. The vesica of M. stysi sp. nov. is similar to that of M. krueperi (Reuter, 1879) , but the latter species is easily distinguished by its general shape, short and incrassate antennae, and vestiture (see MATOCQ 2004).

Megalocoleus stysi sp. nov. runs to couplet 12 in the key presented by MATOCQ (2004). A third choice can be added at that point to accommodate M. stysi sp. nov. in the key. Asterisk (*) means that an examination of the male genitalia is necessary to identify the species with certainty.

12. Second segment of antenna slender, at least 1.5 mm long. Female: pubescence generally pale dense and fine, dark hairs sparse. Male: pubescence brownish, flexible, not dense. Rostrum in both sexes very long, reaching or even surpassing posterior end of abdomen. Large species. ................................................................ * M. longirostris (Fieber, 1861)

– Second segment of antenna much shorter, 1.1 mm long; apex of rostrum reaching middle of abdominal segment VIII. ............................................................... * M. stysi sp. nov.

– Second segment of antenna shorter, 1.25 mm long. .................................................... 13

13. Brown pubescence dense, hairs thick; pale pubescence sparse and fine. Apex of rostrum surpassing abdominal segment VIII (male) or reaching its basal quarter (female). Corium sometimes with a round, more or less pronounced mark. ..... * M. lunula (Fieber, 1861)

– Brown and pale pubescence fine and rather dense, evenly distributed. Apex of rostrum surpassing abdominal segment VIII (male) or reaching its middle (female). Cuneus sometimes orange. ................................................................... * M. naso (Reuter, 1879)

Etymology. The species is dedicated to Prof. Pavel Štys on the occasion of his 75 th birthday and in recognition of his important contribution to our knowledge of the Heteroptera . Distribution. Northwestern Morocco.

Figures

Figs. 2-10. Megalocoleus stysi sp. nov. (male holotype: 2 to 8). 2 – head, lateral view; 3 – antenna; 4 – hind tarsus; 5 – claw; 6 – vesica, lateral view; 7 – apex of vesica, different angle; 8 – left paramere; 9 – vagina, dorsal view; 10 – detail of left ring sclerite of vagina.