Leucodellus pallescens (Zheng and Li, 1991) Zheng and Li, 1991

Li, Xiao-Ming & Liu, Guo-Qing, 2007, The genus Leucodellus Reuter, 1906 in China (Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae), Zootaxa 1478, pp. 33-40 : 37-38

Leucodellus pallescens (Zheng and Li, 1991) n. comb.

( Figs. 3–4 , 8 , 14–17 , 23 )

Plagiognathus pallescens Zheng and Li, 1991: 114 ; Schuh, Lindskog, and Kerzhner, 1995: 392; Kerzhner and Josifov, 1999: 394; Schuh, 2001: 248 .

Diagnosis: Body moderately elongate ( Figs. 3–4 ), total length 3.18–3.40 (male) 3.00–3.21 (female); coloration of body uniformly pale; vestiture with pale simple setae only; all femora with dark spots ( Fig. 8 ); tibial spines black with dark spots at bases; vesica with small serrations on dorsal surface near secondary gonopore ( Fig. 14 ).

Discussion: Le-yi Zheng and Hong-yang Li (1991) described their new species Plagiognathus pallescens from China. We have examined the genitalia of the holotype (male, from Baoxing (30°22'N, 102°50'E )), which Le-yi Zheng and Hong-yang Li had documented in their paper. We find that the serrations on vesica are obvious. But in the original paper, the illustration and description of the male genitalia did not indicate that the vesical strap is serrate on the dorsolateral edge. According to the general aspect and structure of genitalia, P. pallescens should be transferred from Plagiognathus to Leucodellus . In addition, we have examined the genitalia of a paratype (male) from Xiaojin (30°59'N, 102°21'E) and find that it is not conspecific with the holotype; it is L. albidus Reuter (see above).

Specimens Examined: 1 male, CHINA: Baoxing (30°22'N, 102°50'E), Sichuan Province, alt. 950– 1360m, 17.vi.1963, Le-yi Zheng leg.(holotype); 2 males, 10 females, same data as above (paratypes).

Distribution: China (Sichuan).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Dorsal habitus photographs of Leucodellus spp. 1. albidus (male); 2. albidus (female); 3. pallescens (male); 4. pallescens (female); 5. xizangensis (male); 6. xizangensis (female)

FIGURES 7 – 9. Patterning of legs of Leucodellus spp. (ventral view) 7. albidus; 8. pallescens; 9. xizangensis

FIGURES 10 – 21. Male genitalia of Leucodellus spp. (lateral views) 10 – 13. albidus: 10. Vesica; 11. Right paramere; 12. Left paramere; 13. Phallotheca. 14 – 17. pallescens: 14. Vesica; 15. Right paramere; 16. Left paramere; 17. Phallotheca. 18 – 21. xizangensis: 18. Vesica; 19. Right paramere; 20. Left paramere; 21. Phallotheca

FIGURES 22 – 24. Female genitalia of Leucodellus spp. (dorsal view) 22. albidus; 23. pallescens; 24. xizangensis