Ectmetopterus nandiensis, Yeshwanth, H. M., 2015

Yeshwanth, H. M., 2015, Two new species of the genus Ectmetopterus (Hemiptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae) feeding on grass in India, Zootaxa 3904 (4), pp. 581-588 : 585-588

Ectmetopterus nandiensis sp. nov.

( Figures 8–14 , 17–19 , Table1)

Diagnosis. Recognized by the brachypterous form of both sexes, ovoid body shape, shining black coloration, excluding the pale inner margins of eyes; rostrum robust and reaching last segment of abdomen; obsolete cuneal fracture, membrane without cells and not covering the abdomen completely; and the right paramere broad, flat, spoon shaped, left paramere trifurcate; endosoma weakly sclerotized without spicules in male genitalia

Description. Brachyterous, body oval, total length 1.86–1.90, width pronotum 0.72–0.74. COLORATION ( Fig.14 ): Dorsum black, head black with pale yellow markings on inner margin of eyes; antennal segment I entirely black, segment II pale brown medially, basal 1/4th and apical 1/3rd dark brown or black, segments III and IV dark brown; labium uniformly reddish brown, scent gland evaporatory area brown; coxae and femora black; tibiae pale brown, except at basal 1/3rd and apical 1/4th dark brown, tarsal segments I and III dark brown, segment II pale brown. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (Figs. 17,18): Head, pronotum and hemelytra shining; entire dorsum covered with erect simple black reclined setae and sparse silvery scale–like setae; lateral margins of meso and metathorax with patches of silvery scale–like setae; antennae and legs with short semierect simple black setae, base of tibia with row of short pines interspersed with long spines. STRUCTURE: Head. Slightly broader than anterior margin of pronotum; frons rounded in front and, strongly sloping ventrally, vertex with weak carina; eyes occupying 1/4th of total head height in lateral view; antennal fossa located anterior to eyes, anterior to ventral margin of eye; antennal segment I short cylindrical, segment II uniform in diameter, tubular, segments III and IV thread like; labium, robust, very long, apex surpassing hind coxa and reaching last segment of abdomen, first segment very broad, reaching mid coxa, segment II subequal to length of I, reaching second or third segment of abdomen, rostral segments III and IV short, subequal in length reaching apex of abdomen. Thorax: Pronotum trapezoidal, with thin narrow collar, lateral margins weakly concave; calli weakly raised; posterior margin concave medially, lateral margins straight, mesoscutum covered by pronotum, scutellum triangular; scent gland evaporatory area elongate laterally, pear shaped with a central slit. Hemelytra: Brachypterous, lateral margins concave; embolium widening towards cuneal fracture, cuneal fracture obsolete; membrane short, not covering abdomen dorsally, membrane joining apex of cuneus on inner margin of cuneus, membrane without closed cells. Legs: Fore and midfemora short cylindrical, hind femora swollen and relatively enlarged, longer than abdomen, hind tibiae elongate, claws long and curved with apically convergent fleshy pulvilli. GENITALIA ( Figs. 8–12 ): Pygophore: Conical, short, concave ventrally, with large aperture, parameres strongly projecting. Left paramere: trifurcate with first apophysis C–shaped with apex flattened, second apophysis short at right angles to third, third apophysis short and broad apex rounded. Right paramere: Longer than left, elongate, apex flattened, spoon shaped. Phallotheca elongate, simple weakly sclerotized; ductus seminis short with flexible ribbing, secondary gonopore sclerotized basally; endosoma with weakly sclerotized medial structure extending from secondary gonopore ( Fig. 12 ).

Female. Similar to male, total length 2.16–2.30, width pronotum 0.75–0.79. Genitalia ( Fig.13 ): Sclerotized rings widely separated, elongate–ovoid, diagonal; posterior wall of bursa copulatrix membranous.

Distribution. The species is known from the sole locality, Nandi Hills, Chickaballapur of Karnataka, India.

Host. Breeds on Paspalum sp. ( Poaceae ) both adults and immature stages feed on the grass surface leaving whitish markings ( Figs.17–19 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality.

Discussion. Ectmetopterus nandiensis can be easily confused with species of other brachypterous genera of Halticini , but is readily distinguished by the trifurcate left paramere and endosoma without elongate serrated spicules. This species is easily distinguished from other species of Ectmetopterus by its brachypterous form whereas all other know species are macropterous.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE 1♂, INDIA: Karnataka: Chickaballapur: Nandi Hills, 1478m, 06.ix.2013, ex Paspalum sp., Yeshwanth, H. M., PARATYPES: 10♂, 10♀, INDIA: Karnataka: Chickaballapur: Nandi Hills, 1478m, 06.ix.2013, ex Paspalum sp., Yeshwanth, H. M., Other material: same data, 26♂ and 10♀ ( UASB).

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 14. Ectmetopterus nandiensis sp. nov. 8 – 12. male genitalia, 8. pygophore, 9. left paramere dorsal view, 10. left paramere ventral view, 11. right paramere, 12. phallotheca, 13. female genitalia—bursa copulatrix, 14. habitus, male. Abbreviations: EN, endosoma; PB, phallobase; SG, secondary gonopore.

FIGURES 15 – 19. Habitus of Ectmetopterus spp. alive, 15. E. mishmiensis sp. nov., female, 16. E. mishmiensis sp. nov., male; 17. E. nandiensis sp. nov., female, 18. E. nandiensis sp. nov., male; 19. Black circles indicating adults and nymphs feeding on its host Paspalum sp., white chloratic patches show feeding damage.