Europiella nihonica, Yasunaga, 2022

Yasunaga, Tomohide, 2022, The plant bug subfamily Phylinae in Japan, with key to genera and descriptions of eight new species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae), Zootaxa 5094 (1), pp. 1-52 : 16-18

Europiella nihonica n. sp.

( Figs. 5L ; 6C ; 8 F−G; 16; 19J−O)

Material examined. Holotype (♂). JAPAN: Honshu, Yamanashi Pref., Mt. Daibosatsu (Pass), Kitatsuru-gun , Kosuge Village , 35.74, 138.85, 27 Jul 1991, no collector data ( AMNH) ( AMNH _ PBI 00380700 ) . Paratypes: JAPAN: Honshu , same data as for holotype, 1♂ ( TYCN) ; Tokyo, Okutama, Nippara , 35.84, 139.04, 23 Sep 1976, M. Tomokuni, 1♂ ( NSMT) ; Nagano Pref., Minamisaku-gun, Minamimaki Village, Mt. Meshimori , 35.920, 138.474, 1,600 m alt., sweeping herbs, 29 Jul 1987, T. Yasunaga, 1♀ ( TYCN) . Shikoku: Ehime Pref., Kami-Ukena-gun, Kumakogen Town, Omogo Valley , Tsuchigoya , 33.75, 133.15, UV lighting, 23 Jul 1996, I. Yamashita, 1♀ ( TYCN) (00380701).

Diagnosis. This new species is very similar in external appearance to E. isodonicola n. sp. and E. miyamotoi , but it is separable from the latter two by the ventral surface of metafemur with clear dark spots that are distributed on its apical 3/4−4/5. Europiella nihonica n. sp. is presumed to be a close relative of E. gilva (Kulik, 1965) known from Russian Primorsky Territory, as this continental species exhibits similar color pattern on the metafemur ( Fig. 7 ). However, E. gilva has the obviously larger body and stout vesica with the tumid apical blades (cf. Fig. 8H ).

Description. Body elongate-oval (♂)/ ovoid (♀); basic coloration pale brown ( Fig. 6C ) (pale greenish yellow when alive as in Fig. 5F ); dorsal surface weakly shining, with uniformly distributed, pale brown, simple setae and silvery, reclining setae. Head pale brown, with relatively densely distributed, upright setae ( Fig. 20J–K ); eye small. Antenna entirely pale brown; each segment generally linear; segment I with a few dark, small spots at bases of dark spines; segment II shorter than labium in total length. Labium shiny pale brown, its apex reaching but not exceeding apex of mesocoxa; apical half of segment IV dark brown. Pronotum pale brown, with greenish anterior half when alive; metathoracic scent efferent system as in Fig. 20L . Hemelytron uniformly pale brown, tinged with green when alive; membrane pale smoky brown, semitransparent, with anterior margin narrowly darkened. All coxae and legs pale brown; all femora with dark small spots at bases of spines and trichobothria; ventral apical part of metafemur almost entirely with dark spots as in Fig. 6C ; each tibia with dark, small spots at bases of fuscous spines; pretarsal structure as in Fig. 20N ; pulvilli occupying basal half of claw. Abdomen pale brown, weakly tinged with green. Male genitalia ( Figs. 8 F−G): Phallotheca with relatively stout basal half and tapered apical half ( Fig. 8F ); right paramere generally flat, slightly pointed at apex; vesica sigmoid, with relatively short apical blades and narrow, rounded apical plate ( Figs. 8G ). Female genitalia: Not examined, as available specimens are teneral.

Measurements: See Table 1 .

Etymology. Named for Nihon (or Nippon = Japan); Latinized as an adjective.

Distribution. Japan (Central Honshu and Shikoku).

Biology. No information is currently available.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Habitus images of living individuals of Japanese Europiella spp. A. E. artemisiae, male. B. E. decolor, male (pale variant). C. Same, female (pale variant). D. Same, female. E. E. lividella, female. F–G. E. isodonicola n. sp., male. H. Same, female. I. Same, 5th instar nymph. J. E. miyamotoi, female. K. Same, 5th instar nymph. L. E. nihonica n. sp., female.

FIGURE 6. Ventral (A, C, D) and dorsal (B, E, F) habitus images of Japanese Europiella spp., dry-preserved specimens. A−B. E. isodonicola n. sp., male. C. E. nihonica n. sp., male. D. E. lividella, female. E. E. senjoensis. F. Same, female.

FIGURE 7. Color pattern of Japanese Europiella spp., named on the figures.

FIGURE 8. Male genitalia of Europiella isodonicola n. sp. (A−C), E. miyamotoi (D–E), E. nihonica n. sp. (F−G) and E. gilva (H, from Primorsky, FE Russia). A, D, F. Apex of genital segment (pygophore) with parameres. B. Right paramere. C, E, G, H. Vesica (endosoma). Scale bars 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 20. Scanning electron micrographs for Europiella artemisiae (A, D−F), E. decolor (B−C, G−I) and E. nihonica n. sp., holotype (J−O). A−B. Apex of vesica. C, O. Male genital segment. G−I. Female posterior wall. J−K. Left lateral habitus. L. Thoracic pleura, left lateral view. M−N. Metatarsus. Abbreviations—CLM: comb-like scaly microstructure, IRL: (undifferentiated) interramal lobe, IRS: interramal sclerite, PMS: posterior margin sclerite, SSM: spinulate scale-like microstructure.