Neolygus chichibumontis, Yasunaga, 2024

Yasunaga, Tomohide, 2024, New species of the plant bug genus Neolygus Knight from Japan, Taiwan and Thailand (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirini), Zootaxa 5446 (4), pp. 451-487 : 462

Neolygus chichibumontis n. sp,

Figs. 4G–H , 7A–D , 14J–O

Material examined. Holotype (♂). JAPAN: Honshu, Saitama Pref., Chichibu City, Otaki , near Mameyaki-bashi (bridge), 35.911, 138.821, UV lighting, 28 Jun 2014, T. Tago ( AMNH _ PBI 00378766 ) ( NWHS).

Diagnosis. Currently known by a single male specimen. Recognized by its moderate size; almost immaculate, yellowish green dorsum; relatively narrow head and wide vertex; and structure of the male genitalia. Externally very similar to N. flavoviridis (Yasunaga) ( Fig. 3A ), N. hoberlandti (Kulik) ( Fig. 3B ), N. kawasawai Yasunaga (female unknown), N. makiharai (Yasunaga) ( Fig. 16O ) or N. nozakii Yasunaga ( Fig. 7E–F ) (female unknown); exact identification of these similar species with uniformly pale green and small- to moderate-sized bodies requires dissection and careful examination of the male genitalia.

Description. Holotype male: Body elongate ovoid, moderate in size; basic coloration pale yellowish green ( Fig. 4G–H , fading to stramineous in dry-preserved specimen), almost immaculate; dorsal surface shining, with uniformly distributed, pale, simple, semierect setae ( Fig. 14J ). Head uniformly pale, relatively narrow. Antenna pale brown; segment III slightly longer than head width across eyes; segments III and IV brown. Labium shiny pale reddish brown, slightly exceeding apex of mesocoxa; apical 1/3 of segment IV dark brown. Pronotum, scutellum and pleura pale; scent efferent system creamy white. Hemelytron immaculate; membrane pale smoky brown, with pale veins. All coxae and legs pale brown; metafemur with two pale brown, incomplete rings; apex of each tarsomere III darkened; meta-tarsomere II about as long as III ( Fig. 14L ); pretarsal structure as in Fig. 14M . Abdomen uniformly pale.

Male genitalia (7A–D, 14N–O): Right paramere short, with bulbous sensory lobe ( Fig. 7A–B ); left paramere with weak apical protuberance on sensory lobe; vesica with sharp, straight spiculum and slender, sword-like ventral sclerite ( Fig. 7C–D , 14O ).

Female: Unknown.

Measurements: See Table 1 .

Etymology. Named for Chichibu City, the type locality of this new species, combined with Latin adjective montis [= of mountain].

Distribution. Japan (Honshu: Saitama Pref.).

Biology. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Habitus images of living individuals of Japanese Neolygus spp. A. N. flavoviridis (Yasunaga). C. N. hoberlandti (Kulik). C. N. lobatus (Linnavuori). D. Same, greenish variant lacking dark dorsal macula. E. N. pteleinus (Kerzhner). F. Same, pale variant lacking dark dorsal macula. G. N. nipponicus (Yasunaga), extremely darkened variant. H. Same, paler variant. I. N. esakii (Yasunaga). J. N. obesus (Yasunaga). K. N. juglandis (Kerzhner). L. N. similis (Yasunaga). M. N. longiusculus (Kulik) O. N. nemoralis (Kulik).

FIGURE 4. Ventral (E, F, H), lateral (C) and dorsal habitus images of Japanese Neolygus spp., dry-preserved specimens. A. N. autumnus n. sp., holotype male. B–C. Same, female. D–E. N. chikanoshima n. sp., male. F. holotype female. G–H. N. chichibumontis n. sp., holotype male. I. N. hasegawai n. sp., holotype male.

FIGURE 7. Male genitalia of chichibumontis n. sp. (A−D) and N. nozakii Yasunaga (E–F). A. Apex of genital segment (pygophore) with parameres, dorsal view. B, E. Same, ventral view. C, F. Vesica, ventral view. D, Same, dorsal view (side of secondary gonopore opening). Scale bars 0.2 mm. Abbreviations – BS: basal sclerite, GP: secondary gonopore, MS: median sclerite, PH: phallotheca, SP: spiculum, VS: ventral sclerite.

FIGURE 14. Scanning electron micrographs for Neolygus autumnus n. sp. (A−F) from Oita Pref. (A–C) and Kyoto Pref. (D–F), N. honshuensis (Linnavuori) (G−I) and N. chichibumontis n. sp., holotype male (J−O). A, D, G, O, Vesica. B, E, H, Posterior wall. C, F, I, Interramal lobe and lateral lobe of posterior wall. J, Head and pronotum, left lateral view. K, Metathoracic scent efferent system (left). L, Metatarsus. M, Pretarsal structure of metaleg. N, Apical pygophore (genital segment) with parameres, dorsal view. Abbreviations—BS: basal sclerite, GP: secondary gonopore, IRL: interramal lobe, IRS: interramal sclerite, LLB: lateral lobe, MS: median sclerite, PH: phallotheca, SP: spiculum, VS: ventral sclerite.

FIGURE 16. Scanning electronmicrographs forNeolygus hasegawai n.sp.(A−L), N.flavoviridis (Yasunaga)(M), N.hoberlandti (Kulik) (N) and N. makiharai (Yasunaga) (O). A, Anterior body, left lateral view. B, Head and pronotum. C, Thoracic pleura, left lateral view. D, Vestiture pattern of clavus and corium. E, Metatarsus. F, Pretarsal structure of metaleg. G, Apical pygophore (genital segment) with parameres, dorsal view. H, Vesica. I, Apex of vesical ventral sclerite. J, Genital chamber. K–O, Posterior wall.