Mecistoscelis scirtetoides Reuter, 1891

Yeshwanth, H. M. & Chérot, F., 2019, The Indian Mecistoscelini (Insecta, Heteroptera, Miridae, Mirinae): A preliminary review, Zootaxa 4711 (1), pp. 157-174 : 160

Mecistoscelis scirtetoides Reuter, 1891

Mecistoscelis scirtetoides Reuter, 1891: 132 (as new species). Mecistoscelis scirtetoides: Lansbury 1963: 2 , 3–5 (diagnosis, FG); Schuh 1995: 684 (catalog); Kerzhner & Josifov 1999: 202 (catalog); Schuh 2002 –2013 (online catalog); Zheng et al. 2005: 66, 686, plate I, Fig. 7 (redescription, DV).

Diagnosis. Frons and vertex yellow laterally, almost black medially, extension of black area variable. Eyes reddish-brown. Antennal segments I and II orange brown. Labium yellowish, its apex black. Pronotal collar greenish. Pronotal callosities yellowish to dark brown, rounded, separated medially, covering lateral margins in dorsal view. Pronotal disk greenish with two wide, black, bracket-like areas separated medially by a narrow greenish longitudinal stripe ( Fig. 1 ). Mesoscutum covered. Scutellum yellowish. Corium and cuneus yellowish green. Membrane pale fuliginous, translucent. Clavus and commissure of corium black. Male genitalic structures as in Figs 9–16 . Female genitalic structures poorly known, the elongate ovipositor being illustrated by Lansbury (1963: 3 Figs 13 to 15). Measurements of Indian specimens in table 1.

Material examined. INDIA: KARNATAKA, 2m, 2f, Bangalore , GKVK, 30. xi. 2009, Yeshwanth H.M. leg., Ex: Bamboo; 1m, Hessaraghatta , 13.xii.2009, Yeshwanth H.M. leg., Ex : Bamboo ; 2m, 2f, Magadi, Savandurga,

15.x.2009, 12º55’N, 77º.16 ’ E, Yeshwanth H.M. leg., Ex: Bamboo; 3m, Madikeri , 13.iv.2011, 12.42ºN, 75.74ºE, Yeshwanth H.M. leg., Ex: Bamboo ; 3m, 5f, Belgaum, Shiraguppi, 15º40.995’N, 74º15.404’E, 18.x.2015, Yeshwanth H.M. leg., Ex: Bamboo ( UASB) .

Distribution. Caroline Islands ( Palau, Yap), China, India (“Tenasserim”), Indonesia (Java), Japan (Ryukyu), Sri Lanka (as “ Ceylon ”), Taiwan (as “ Formosa ”) (After Carvalho 1959; Distant 1904; Kerzhner & Josifov 1999).

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Habitus in dorsal view of several Mecistoscelini. 1. Mecistoscelis scirtetoides Reuter, 1891. Male, 2–3. Mecistosceloides tonkinensis Carvalho, 1992. 2. Male, 3. Female, 4–5. Mystilus antrami Distant, 1909 displaying variations in pronotal collar coloration., 6. Mystilus carinatus Lansbury, 1963. 7–8. Mystilus manipurensis n. sp. 7. Male, 8. Female.

FIGURES 9–16. Male genitalia of Mecistoscelis scirtetoides Reuter, 1891. 9–10. Pygophore, 11–12. Right paramere, 13. Left paramere, 14. Theca, 15–16. Aedeagus.