Isometopidea viraktamathi, 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 : 165-166

Isometopidea viraktamathi , n. sp.

( Figs. 3B , 6J , 14 E–G)

Diagnosis. Easily recognised by the vertical bicolored head in frontal view, with the upper part yellowish orange with white and dark brown markings, the lower basal part below the eyes dark reddish brown; the strongly punctate pronotum; and the scutellum with two lobes and a white apex.

Type material. Holotype (³): INDIA: Kerala, Thekkady , 27.iii. 1977, 884 m, Viraktamath, C. A. leg. ( UASB).

Description: Elongate oval, length 2.7 mm. Colouration: Head bicolored in frontal view, the upper part yellowish orange, with white and dark brown markings, the lower basal part below eyes dark reddish brown ( Fig. 6J ); clypeus yellowish to orange laterally; vertex and eyes reddish brown. Antennal segment I, apex of segment II and segment III reddish brown. Pronotum and scutellum dark brown to black; apex of scutellum yellowish. Peritremal opening white; body ventrally reddish brown. Hemelytra with inner margins of corium and apex of cuneus dark brown. All legs brown; hind femora white basally. Surface structure and vestiture: Head in frontal view shiny and punctate. Pronotum strongly shiny and punctate. Pronotum and scutellum with long scale-like, yellow, shiny setae. Hemelytra with claval and corial margins punctate, with long, curved, bristle-like, black setae. Structure: Head vertical, elongate, triangular below eyes, with two fossae between eyes. Eyes oval, separated by distance equal to length of first antennal segment; ocelli touching inner margins of eyes. Antenna arising on side of head, slightly above ventral margin of clypeus; segment I short, tubular; segment II elongate, cylindrical; segments III and IV subequal in length, short. Pronotum with posterior and lateral margins nearly straight; anterior region with a prominent anterior collar and two raised calli separated by a longitudinal sulcus. Mesoscutum exposed, broad; scutellum with two raised lobes separated by a median sulcus. Metathoracic scent gland evaporative area exposed, with a prominent large opening. Hemelytron elongate, cuneal fracture prominent, elongate; membrane with two closed cells. Legs elongate; fore and mid femora cylindrical; hind femora greatly enlarged; tibia elongate; tarsi 2 segmented. Male genitalia: as in Figs. 14 E–G. Detailed measurements in Table 1 .

Distribution. India (Kerala).

Biology. Unknown.

Etymology. We are pleased to name this new species after Prof. Chandrashekara A. Viraktamath (University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru), collector of the holotype, and who introduced the first author to the study of Miridae and gave him his first specimen of Isometopinae .

Discussion. Isometopidea viraktamathi , n. sp. is separated from other species of the genus by the characters in the key, mainly the total size, general colour, and the pattern of pronotum.

Figures

FIGURES 3. Indian Isometopinae: Isometopini and Myiommini. Habitus in dorsal view. A. Paloniella parallela Yasunaga & Hayashi, 2002. B. Isometopidea viraktamathi, n. sp. C. Myiomma belavadii, n. sp. male. D. female. E–F. Myiomma ramamurthyi, n. sp. male. F. female.

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 14. Male genitalia of Indian Isometopinae. A–D. Paloniella feana (Distant, 1904). A. Phygophore. B. Right paramere. C. Left paramere. D. Phallus. E–G. Isometopidea viraktamathi, n. sp. E. Phygophore. F. Right paramere. G. Left paramere.