Ancoraphylus victoriensis, 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 : 68-69

Ancoraphylus victoriensis , new species

Map 5 , plates 4, 26, table 1

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by uniform pale coloration, practically hyaline hemelytral membrane, and J-shaped endosoma with ventral apical process closely adhering to endosomal strap, short dorsal apical process, and faint process arising near secondary gonopore. All other species of Ancoraphylus have longer apical processes providing endosoma with an obvious anchor-shaped profile; in addition, A. victoriensis has a simple C-shaped endosomal strap.

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Macropterous, mean total length 2.99, mean pronotum width 0.89. COLORATION (pl. 4): Uniformly pale with very faint yellow-orange cast, hemelytral membrane faintly fumose; antennal segment 1 pale dusky yellow, antennal segments as dorsum; apical portion of labium brown; pro- and mesofemora with a few and metafemora with many dark spots; tibiae with large black spots; claws pale brown. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum weakly shining, vestiture with moderately dense dark suberect simple setae and flattened, subadpressed silvery setae; tibiae with black spines (pl. 4).

STRUCTURE: Head: Relatively narrow, posterior margin of eyes contiguous with anterior margin of pronotum, eyes medium sized in dorsal view, just reaching to below ventral margin of antennal insertion in lateral view, weakly emarginate at fossa; antennal segment 2 apex with greatest diameter, tapering to base, length approximately equal to 80% of pronotal width. Thorax: Pronotum: Subtriangular, lateral margins gently curved, calli faintly demarcated, posterior lobe flat, posterior margin straight; mesoscutum moderately exposed. Pretarsus: Claws moderately long, parempodia setiform; pulvilli reaching to middle of claw. Hemelytron: Costal margin straight. GENITALIA (pl. 26): Pygophore: Medium sized, conical; ventral posterior region with a few short, blunt bristles distinct from simple setae, paramere insertions without tubercles or discrete patches of bristles. Endosoma: With one primary strap sclerotized to apex, C-shaped, without torsion, only apex curved to left; diameter practically evenly thick, apical region pointed, thin; ventral apical process weakly sclerotized, needlelike, directed proximally; dorsal apical process very short, sharp, projecting from left side of strap; process arising near secondary gonopore very faint or absent. Secondary gonopore: Small, well formed, situated just basad of middle of endosoma, open on ventral surface. Phallotheca: Relatively short and flat; apex broadly pointed; aperture narrow, terminus at apex; small flange on posterior surface; short thumblike process on right anterior margin. Parameres: Left paramere: Large, with posterior margin or shoulder between anterior and posterior processes, enlarged, quadrate in posterior view, anterolateral margin with pointed process with length as long as anterior process; posterior process short, curved ventrad, base with small anterior flange, apex chiselled. Right paramere: Not examined.

FEMALE: Unknown.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for its occurrence in the state of Victoria.

HOST: Recorded from Melaleuca lanceolata ( Myrtaceae : Melaleuceae ) (pl. 39G).

DISTRIBUTION (map 5, table 4): Known only from type locality in Murray Sunset National Park, northwestern Victoria within the eastern desert phytogeographic subregion.

DISCUSSION: We place this new species in Ancoraphylus based on the structure of the male genitalia, especially the presence of a slender spine arising near the secondary gonopore and the dorsal process on the anterolateral margin of the left paramere. This is the first species of Ancoraphylus known to occur in the state of Victoria and taken on a host other than a species of Acacia ( Fabaceae : Mimosoideae ).

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Victoria: 27 km W of Hattah, Murray Sunset National Park, 34.73835 ° S 142.01 ° E, 45 m, 03 Nov 2002, Cassis, Schuh , Schwartz, Silveira, Melaleuca lanceolata Otto (Myrtaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW 658087, 13 ( AMNH _PBI 00414827) ( MVMA).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Victoria: 27 km W of Hattah, Murray Sunset National Park, 34.73835 ° S 142.01 ° E, 45 m, 03 Nov 2002, Cassis, Schuh , Schwartz, Silveira, Melaleuca lanceolata Otto (Myrtaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW 658087, 23 (00414829, 00414830) ( AMNH), 13 (00414828) ( MVMA).

Figures

MAP 5. Distribution of Ancoraphylus victoriensis, Calytriphylus menzies, Leptospermia spp., Melaleucacoris glomeratae, Restiophylus orientalis, Xiphoidellus eucalyptae, and Xiphoides spp.