Astroscopometopus hesaraghattaensis, Yeshwanth & Chérot & Henry, 2021

Yeshwanth, H. M., Chérot, F. & Henry, T. J., 2021, The Isometopinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) of India and Sri Lanka: A Review of the Subfamily, with Descriptions of Six New Species, Zootaxa 4903 (2), pp. 151-193 : 153-157

Astroscopometopus hesaraghattaensis , n. sp.

( Figs. 1 A–E, 6A–B, 11A–I, 18 A–D).

Diagnosis. Recognised by the male genitalia ( Figs. 11 C–I) and the brown body with seven pale white areas on the dorsum: three reduced white spots on each corner of the uniformly dark brown scutellum (versus scutellum yellowish white, with a brownish medial stripe basally widened in A. gryllocephalus ); two large pale areas in the middle of the corium; and a large quadrate white area at the base of the cuneus, contrasting with the dark brown apex. Nymphs have dorsally spinulate eyes ( Fig. 6B ).

Type material: Holotype (³): InDIaWKarnataka, Hesaraghatta, 17.v.2020, ex: Moringa oleifera bark, Yeshwanth H.M. leg. Paratypes (1³, 4♀), same data as for holotype, 3♀ same data except date 28.vi.2020 ( UASB) .

Description. Male. Body oval, length 2.3 mm in dorsal view, 1.8 times longer than wide. Coloration: Body greyish brown; head and segment I of antenna, anterior region of pronotum dorsally and laterally, and all coxae white. Ocelli reddish brown. Antennal segment II basally pale brown, other segments brown. Scutellum brown with three white spots at each corner. Hemelytron brown, corium with two small black spots (in male) on apical third and two large white patches at middle on each side; embolium with an elongate, sub-basal, whitish stripe; cuneus apically brown, with a quadrate white area on basal half. Legs brown, with dark brown markings. Hind tibia with alternate pale and dark brown bands. Abdomen ventrally brown. Surface structure and vestiture: Head finely punctate with prominent bristle-like setae on the outer margins of the eyes. Dorsum shiny, punctate with elongate brown setae. Head vertical, triangular, projecting above pronotum height in lateral view. Eyes small, occupying less than half the head height, ocelli widely separated, touching the inner margins of eyes. Antennal segment I small, tubular; segment II slightly shorter than segment III; segment III thinnest and longest; segment IV narrower and more than twice the length of I. Labium elongate, extending to at least 2 nd or 3 rd abdominal segments. Pronotum with a deep pit between calli, 2.9 times wider than long, lateral margins strongly flattened, collar prominent. Mesoscutum broad, sloping. Scutellum raised, broadly triangular, with a prominent lateral carina. Metathoracic scent gland evaporative area with a prominent opening ( Fig. 11B ). Hemelytra laterally subparallel; cuneus broadly triangular, cuneal incisures prominent; membrane with a single large cell. Hind femur greatly enlarged; tibia slender, slightly longer than femur; tarsi three segmented. Male genitalia as in Figs. 11 C-I. Detailed measurements in Table 1 .

Female. Similar to male but lacks the small black spots on the corium just above the cuneus.

Distribution. India (Karnataka, Bengaluru).

Biology. Adults and nymphs were collected on the bark of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) . The nymphs are distinct with dorsally spinulate eyes ( Fig. 6B ). Nymphs and adults exhibit a jerky movement while walking ( Figs. 18 A–D).

Etymology. Named after the type locality Hesaraghatta where this species was collected.

Discussion. This new species can easily be recognised by the characters mentioned in the diagnosis. It is placed in the genus Astroscopometopus on the basis of its head shape. However, since the description of a “small” Gigantometopus species from Borneo by Akingbohungbe (2012), the separation of Astroscopometopus and Gigantometopus is not clear and should be studied in more detail. Total length is not diagnostic and other characters mentioned by Yasunaga & Hayashi (2002) to separate Astroscopometopus from Gigantometopus (body shape, head relative height, length of pronotal collar, dorsal punctation, etc.) show a gradation in the species of both genera or are even common to all Gigantometopini . Species of the genus Gigantometopus were described from Borneo ( Brunei) and Sumatra ( Akingbohungbe 2012). According to Akingbohungbe (2012: 132), he borrowed a specimen from South India identified as “ Gigantometopus prob. rossi ” (determined by TJH) from the NMNH. It is more than 1.3 mm shorter than the “true” G. rossi (5.67 mm versus 6.98 mm for the female holotype of G. rossi ) and represents a new species that will be described in a forthcoming paper (Akingbohungbe, pers. comm.).

Figures

FIGURES 1. Indian Isometopinae: Gigantometopini. Habitus. Astroscopometopus hesaraghattaensis, n. sp. A. Lateral view of a female paratype. B–C. Male holotype in dorsal and ventral view, respectively. D–E. Female paratype in dorsal and ventral view, respectively.

FIGURES 6. Indian Isometopinae: Gigantometopini, Isometopini and Myiommini. Head in frontal view.A. Astroscopometopus hesaraghattaensis, n. sp. B. Nymph of Astroscopometopus hesaraghattaensis, n sp. C. Isometopus cuneatus (Distant, 1904). D. Isometopus mahal Distant, 1911. E. Isometopus webbi, n. sp. F. Isometopus wolskii, n. sp. G. Isometopus yoshizawai Yasunaga and Duwal, 2006. H. Paloniella feana (Distant, 1904). I. Paloniella parallela Yasunaga & Hayashi, 2002. J. Isometopidea viraktamathi, n. sp. K. Myiomma belavadii, n. sp. L. Myiomma ramamurthyi, n sp.

FIGURES 11. Indian Isometopinae: Gigantometopini. Male genital structures and evaporative area. Astroscopometopus hesaraghattaensis, n. sp. A. Head, pronotum and scutellum in dorsal view. B. Evaporative area. C–D. Pygophore. E. Right paramere. F. Left paramere. G–I. Phallus.

FIGURES 18. Indian Isometopinae: Gigantometopini alive. Astroscopometopus hesaraghattaensis, n. sp. A. Nymph. B–D. Adults.