Melaleucaphylus kaputar, Schwartz & Weirauch & Schuh, 2018

Schwartz, Michael D., Weirauch, Christiane & Schuh, Randall T., 2018, New Genera And Species Of Myrtaceae-Feeding Phylinae From Australia, And The Description Of A New Species Of Restiophylus (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae) Michael D. Schwartz Christiane Weirauch, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2018 (424), pp. 1-161 : 39-40

Melaleucaphylus kaputar , new species

Map 2 , plates 2, 13, table 1

DIAGNOSIS: This species and M. sheathianae recognized by similar structure of endosoma— dorsal strap conspicuously bifurcate with strongly divergent apical spines. In M. kaputar entire endosoma smaller and dorsal strap with anterior spine short and posterior spine somewhat thick and directed to right side; in M. sheathianae anterior spine long and posterior spine narrow and directed posteriorly. Additionally, M. kaputar distributed in New South Wales and antennal segment 2 black; M. sheathianae found in Western Australia and antennal segment 2 pale medially with dark base and apex.

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Mean total length 3.32, mean pronotum width 1.32. COLORATION (pl. 2): Dusky yellow to tan; clypeus, labrum, apical one-half of labial segment 4, and antennal segments 1 and 2 black, segments 3 and 4 darkened with pale bases; mesoscutum red, membrane dusky hyaline with black at apex of large membrane cell; cuneus and paracuneus diffusely darkened medially. SURFACE AND VESTI- TURE (pl. 2): Shining; dorsum with moderately densely distributed, curved, reclining to suberect, black, simple setae. STRUCTURE: Labium reaching to apex of metacoxa. Legs missing from all specimens. GENITALIA (pl. 13): Pygophore: Broad in dorsal view, deep in lateral view, otherwise as in generic description. Endosoma: Coiled; ventral strap bifurcate distally with anterior apex terminating proximal of secondary gonopore in smooth, curved margin even with middle of proximal secondary gonopore process, posterior surface with long, narrow, pointed apex, terminating at level of anterior apex, posterior edge not protruding beyond curvature of ventral strap; dorsal strap bifurcate level with base of secondary gonopore, divided into pair of sharply pointed apical spines, large posterior spine extending distad of secondary gonopore 2.5× length of secondary gonopore, small, gently curved anterior spine directed to right side and extending distad of secondary gonopore length of secondary gonopore. Secondary gonopore: Well sclerotized; proximal edge with large, long, well-sclerotized attenuate process; distal edge with small microspiculate membrane on lateral surface; interstrap membrane with extremely thin, wavy gonopore sclerite. Phallotheca: Large, stout, attenuate apical region with posterior and anterior crest shaped projections, anterior crest much larger than posterior crest, aperture on anteroventral surface, moderately and evenly open; strong internal strut on right side. Parameres: Left paramere: Triangular in dorsal view, posterior process abruptly narrowed, base expanded laterally, longer than anterior process; anterior process with short knoblike apex; posterior surface or shoulder of paramere expanded posteriorly into broad rounded prominence, not raised above bases of anterior and posterior processes. Right paramere: Moderately elongate with smoothly rounded margins, narrowed distally, apex short and knoblike.

FEMALE (pl. 2): Coloration as in male; differing from male as in generic description; total length 3.32, pronotum width 1.38. GENITALIA: Not examined.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for its occurrence on Mt. Kaputar, New South Wales; a noun in apposition.

HOST: Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION (map 2): Known from type locality in Mount Kaputar National Park, New South Wales in the southeastern phytogeographic subregion.

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Mount Kaputar [National Park], Bullawa Creek , 30.23261 ° S 150.11138 ° E, 505 m, 28 Apr 1985, G. Hangay, 13 ( AMNH _ PBI 00391149 ) ( AM).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Mount Kaputar [National Park], Bullawa Creek, 30.23261 ° S 150.11138 ° E, 505 m, 28 Apr 1985, G. Hangay, 43 (00391150–00391153), 1♀ (00391154) ( AM), 13 (00391148) ( AMNH).

Figures

MAP 2. Distribution of Melaleucaphylus beaufortiae–M. kaputar.