Mystilus manipurensis, Yeshwanth & Chérot, 2019

Yeshwanth, H. M. & Chérot, F., 2019, The Indian Mecistoscelini (Insecta, Heteroptera, Miridae, Mirinae): A preliminary review, Zootaxa 4711 (1), pp. 157-174 : 166-172

Mystilus manipurensis n. sp.

( Figs 7–8 , 45 , 46–52 )

Diagnosis. Recognised by the elongate body (total length 5.5 mm), the head structure, and male genitalia. Head with three sulci, close to anterior margin of pronotum: two diagonal sulci reaching inner margins of eyes and one very prominent medial sulcus; left paramere L shaped in lateral view with hypophysis flat and curved; right paramere apex with serrated finger-like projection.

Description. Male. Elongate body, measuring 4.8 to 5mm ( Figs 7–8 ). COLOURATION. Dark brown to bluish black. Head shining bluish black with two pale regions between the eyes close to the anterior margin of pronotum. Pronotum collar pale brown to black, posteriorly behind calli pale brown or yellow. All antennal segments and scutellum dark brown. All femora basally pale with apex dark brown. All tibia pale brown, hind femora with pale yellow or white band at apical 1/3 rd, all tarsi brown. Body ventrally brown. Hemelytra with all veins dark brown and claval region brown. STRUCTURE AND VESTITURE. Body dorsally rough with head, pronotum and scutellum distinctly punctate, bearing short fine setae. Hemelytron shining glossy with sparse pubescence. Legs with spine like setae. STRUCTURE. Head projected forward with two prominent spine like projections on the clypeus. Vertex with three sulci: two lateral sulci reaching the inner margins of the eyes and one median prominent sulcus. Head longer than its width. Eyes prominent, reaching anterior margin of pronotum, occupying half the head height in lateral view. Antennal fossae with a prominent rim and well separated from the margins of eyes. Segment I of antenna subcylindrical, basally swollen, 1.5 times longer than pronotum length, segment II 2 times longer than I, segment III subequal to length of I and II together and also longer than length of hemelytra, segment IV slightly longer than I. Labium long, reaching at least 3 rd abdominal segment. Thorax with prominent anterior collar and strongly raised calli, separated by a medial sulcus, lateral margins linear, with prominent posterior lateral angles; posterior margin linear. All femora elongate with apex slightly swollen. All tibia longer than femora. Tarsi 3 segmented, with I segment longer than 2 nd and 3 rd together, segment II shorter than segment III. Claws long, curved, with divergent parempodia. Mesoscutum narrow sunken below the scutellum. Scutellum triangular, raised above hemelytra, with apex rounded. Scent gland evaporatory area ( Fig. 45 ) prominent with larger opening. Hemelytra lateral margins parallel, with prominent punctures. Corium above the cuneus with curved veins. Cuneus triangular, elongate, with a prominent cuneal fracture. Membrane with prominent veins and two cells, inner small triangular cell and outer elongate larger cell. Genital capsule elongate. Left paramere L-shaped in lateral view with hypophysis flat and curved ( Figs 48–50 ). Right paramere lamellate with apex finger-like projection and serrated ( Fig. 47 ). Aedeagus ( Fig. 51–52 ).

Material examined. INDIA: MANIPUR, Holotype (m), Churachandpur, Ngaloi falls , 24º 19’53.7” N, 93º38’47.7” E, 18.viii.2014, Yeshwanth, H.M. leg., Ex: Bamboo ( UASB) . INDIA: MANIPUR, Paratypes 2m, 1f, Churachandpur, Ngaloi falls , 24º 19’53.7” N, 93º38’47.7” E, 18.viii.2014, Yeshwanth, H.M. leg., Ex: Bamboo ( UASB) .

Remarks: Of the three males collected, two were teneral with paler colouration on the posterior pronotal region.

Etymology: Named after Manipur, a north eastern state of India where it was collected.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Habitus in dorsal view of several Mecistoscelini. 1. Mecistoscelis scirtetoides Reuter, 1891. Male, 2–3. Mecistosceloides tonkinensis Carvalho, 1992. 2. Male, 3. Female, 4–5. Mystilus antrami Distant, 1909 displaying variations in pronotal collar coloration., 6. Mystilus carinatus Lansbury, 1963. 7–8. Mystilus manipurensis n. sp. 7. Male, 8. Female.

FIGURES 38–45. 38–40. Male genitalia of Mystilus priamus Distant, 1904. 38. Right paramere. 39. Left paramere. 40. Aedeagus. 41–45. Thoracic pleura of Indian Mecistoscelini. 41. Mecistoscelis scirtetoides Reuter, 1891. 42. Mecistosceloides tonkinensis Carvalho, 1992. 43. Mystilus antrami Distant, 1909. 44. Mystilus carinatus Lansbury, 1963. 45. Mystilus manipurensis n. sp.

FIGURES 46–52. Male genitalia of Mystilus manipurensis n. sp. 46. Pygophore. 47. Right paramere. 48–50. Left paramere. 51 –52. Aedeagus.