Pilophoropsidea Henry

Henry, Thomas J., 2015, Revision of the Ceratocapsine Renodaeus group: Marinonicoris, Pilophoropsis, Renodaeus, and Zanchisme, with descriptions of four new genera (Heteroptera, Miridae, Orthotylinae), ZooKeys 490, pp. 1-156 : 40-42

Taxon classification Animalia Hemiptera Miridae

Pilophoropsidea Henry gen. n.

Type species:

Ceratocapsus camelus Knight, 1930.

Diagnosis.

Characterized by the relatively long labial segment I that extends beyond the gular sulcus by nearly half its length; the strongly convex pronotum, having nearly straight lateral margins that narrow anteriorly before ending to accentuate a distinct narrow collar; the hemelytra uniformly polished, subparallel to weakly contricted through middle (Figs 51, 56, 62), always having two loose bands of silvery scale-like setae, a narrow one at the base of the corium and clavus and a broader one through the middle of the corium onto the apical third of the clavus, and a single row of long, erect, often bristle-like, simple setae on the clavus; and a distinctive ostiolar area (Fig. 110) having a swollen, usually dull red area or knob at the apex of the scent channel.

Description.

Myrmecomorphic. Males macropterous; females brachypterous. Length of males 3.60-5.40 mm. Head broader than long; posterior margin straight or truncate, distinctly carinate, posterior margin of eyes level with base of vertex, hypognathus; eyes large, elongate oval, occupying half or more of dorsal head width, laterally occupying more than 70♂ of height; front rounded, declivent, clypeus acute, visible from dorsal aspect. Labium extending to middle or hind coxae; segment I extending beyond gular sulcus by about half its length, basal half visible below buccula in lateral aspect. Antenna somewhat thickened, subequal to diameters of tibiae; segment I shortest; II longest, gradually enlarging apically to thickness of segments III and IV; III and IV fusiform. Pronotum in males trapeziform, wider at base than long, dull to polished, lateral margins straight or nearly so, anterior margin with a distinct narrow collar separated from calli by a transverse groove; posterior margin weakly rounded; mesoscutum partially visible to hidden by base of pronotum; scutellum equilateral. Pronotum in females more nearly quadrate, disc and calli strongly convex, with hind margin sharply sloping downward posteriorly. Hemelytra shiny to polished, lateral margins subparallel to weakly constricted near level with middle of corium, area at apex of corium and base of cuneus usually depressed; all species with two bands of loosely set, silvery, scale-like setae, one across base of clavus (and across scutellum, but usually disjunct at claval suture) and one through middle of corium and across apical third of clavus, intermixed with a row of long, erect, simple setae through middle of clavus and a few on inner corial margin bordering membrane. Cuneus and membrane fully developed in males. Claval suture absent and apex of cuneus at level across membrane abbreviated in females, exposing apical 3 or 4 abdominal segments, cuneus and membrane entirely wanting in some species. Ventral surface shiny; ostiolar area white, with a distinct knob or raised area at the end of scent channel; second visible abdominal segment with area of dense microsetae (Fig. 112), appearing as a dull or glaucous quadrate patch. Legs unmodified, except the hind tibiae in some species sometimes thickened, somewhat bowed, and laterally compressed; parempodia fleshy and convergent apically. Male aperture of genital capsule large, open, sometimes armed with small to large spines or processes around margins; left paramere variable from beak-like to more slender and apically truncate; right paramere usually with a slender main stem and various lateral arms or spines; phallotheca elongate, slender, variously apically hooked to sometimes more truncate.

Etymology.

The name of this new genus is taken from the generic name Pilophoropsis Poppius and Latin suffix “idea”, meaning form or appearance, and is used to reflect the resemblance of the two genera. The gender is feminine.

Discussion.

Twelve of the 15 species included in this new genus are described as new. Most are represented by only one or a few specimens, suggesting that numerous additional species likely will be discovered with more thorough collecting.

The following key includes some external characters to help distinguish species, but male genitalia (viewed caudally, usually without dissection) are required to identify members of this genus with certainty.

Key to the males of Pilophoropsidea