Pityopsallus maeharai, Yasunaga, 2022

Yasunaga, Tomohide, 2022, The plant bug subfamily Phylinae in Japan, with key to genera and descriptions of eight new species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae), Zootaxa 5094 (1), pp. 1-52 : 24-26

Pityopsallus maeharai n. sp.

( Figs. 11 A−D; 12A−C, F−G; 16; 26A−F; 27A−E, J−L)

Material examined. Holotype (♂). JAPAN: Honshu, Tochigi Pref., Nikko, Yumoto , 36.81, 139.42, on Larix kaempferi , 18 Aug 2020, S. Maehara ( AMNH) ( AMNH _ PBI 00380706 ) . Paratypes: JAPAN: Honshu , same data as for holotype, 2♂ ( TYCN) ; Tochigi Pref., Nikko City , Senjugahama, Lake Chuzenji, 36.75, 139.42, 25 Aug 2007, S. Maehara, 1♂ ( TYCN) ; Nikko City , Chugushi, Lake Chuzenji, 24 Aug 2001, S. Maehara, 1♀ ( TYCN) ; Nikko City , Shobugahama, Lake Chuzenji, 36.75, 139.45, S. Maehara, 1♀ ( TYCN) ; Nagano Pref., Matsumoto City , Azumi , Japan Alps, Kamikochi, 36.25, 137.67, 1,500 m alt., 5 Aug 2004, M. Takai, 1♀ ( TYCN) (00380707).

Diagnosis. Recognized by its uniformly darkened, relatively small body ( Fig. 11 A−D); short labium whose apex does not exceed apex of mesocoxa; pale anterior margin of cuneus; distinctly notched inner surfaces of claws on pro- and metatarsi ( Fig. 26D, F ); relatively narrow left paramere sharply produced caudally ( Fig. 12A ); and thick vesica ( Figs. 12C , 27C ). Most similar and possibly closely allied to P. vittatus , the present new species can be distinguished by its shorter labium; claws of pro- and metalegs minutely notched; thicker vesica with longer apical blade; and wider interramal sclerite with minute comb-like scaly microstructures ( Fig. 27 J−K).

Description. Body generally fuscous, elongate-oval, subparallel-sided (a little more ovoid in ♀) ( Fig. 11A–D ); dorsal surface weakly shining, with uniformly distributed, semierect, brown, simple setae and silvery, lanceolate setae. Head dark brown, relatively vertical; eye small. Antenna pale grayish brown; extreme base of segment I infuscate; segment II about as long as or slightly longer than mesotibia. Labium pale brown or sometimes widely darkened, reaching or slightly exceeding apex of mesocoxa. Pronotum uniformly fuscous; scutellum weakly elevated; thoracic pleura fuscous; metathoracic scent efferent system small. Hemelytra uniformly dark brown; anterior margin of cuneus pale, semitransparent; membrane pale smoky brown, with pale, semitransparent macula along apical part of cuneus. All coxae dark brown; trochanters pale brown; profemur pale brown, with darkened basal half; meso- and metafemora widely darkened, sometimes with spotted pattern, except for apices pale brown; tibiae somber yellowish brown, with small, obscure spots at bases of pale brown spines; tarsi somber brown; inner surface of claws on pro- and metatarsi with minutely notched ( Fig. 26D, F ). Abdomen almost uniformly fuscous. Male genitalia ( Figs. 12 A−C; 27A−D): left paramere relatively narrow, sharply produced posteriad ( Fig. 12A ); vesica comparatively thick ( Figs. 12C , 27C ). Female genitalia ( Figs. 12 F−G; 27K−L): Sclerotized rings reduced, indistinct ( Fig. 12F ); posterior wall with relatively wide interramal lobe and interramal sclerite ( Fig. 27 K−L); apex of ovipositor (gonapophysis I) somewhat rounded ( Fig. 12G ).

Measurements: See Table 4 .

Etymology. Named for Mr. S. Maehara (Tochigi, Japan) who collected most of the specimens of this new species.

Distribution. Japan (Central Honshu: Nagano and Tochigi).

Biology. The breeding host was confirmed as Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr. (Pinaceae) and the adults was collected in August at the type locality (Maehara, pers. comm.).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Dorsal (A, E, C, F) and ventral (B, D) habitus images of Pityopsallus spp. A–B. P. maeharai n. sp., male. C–D. Same, female. E. P. sakuraii n. sp., holotype male. F. P. vittatus, female (from Yakutia, Russia).

FIGURE 12. Male (A−E) and female (F−I) genitalia of Pityopsallus spp. A−C, F−G. P. maeharai. D. P. sakuraii n. sp. E, H−I. P. vittatus (From Yakutia, Russia). A. Left paramere. B. Right paramere. C−E. Vesica (endosoma). F & I. Bursa copulatrix, ventral view. G−I. Apex of ovipositor (gonapophysis I). Scale bar 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 26. Scanning electron micrographs for Pityopsallus maeharai n. sp. (A−F), P. sakuraii n. sp. (G−L), P. nipponicus (Vinokurov) (M) and P. vittatus (N−O). A, M−N. Left lateral habitus. B, H, O. Dorsal vestiture pattern. D. Protarsus. E, J. Mesotarsus. F, L. Metatarsus. G. Dorsal habitus. I. Thoracic pleura, left lateral view.

FIGURE 27. Scanning electron micrographs for male (A−I) and female (J−O) genitalia of Pityopsallus maeharai n. sp. (A−E, J−L), P. sakuraii n. sp. (F−G) and P. vittatus (M−O). A, F, H. Genital segment (pygophore). B. Right paramere. C−D, G−I. Vesica. E. Secondary gonopore. J−O. Posterior wall.

Tables

TABLE 4. Measurements for Japanese Pityopsallus and Psallus species. Abbreviations—Fem: femur, HT: holotype; L: length, Lbm: labium, Pron: pronotum, PT: paratype, Tib: tibia; Vtx: vertex (interocular space); W: width.

	Body L	Head W	Vtx W	Pron W	Max W	Antenna L II III		Lbm L	Hind leg L Fem Tib
Pityopsallus maeharai n. sp. Male (N=3)
MAX	3.92	0.78	0.30	1.17	1.50	1.10	0.78	1.35	1.20	1.80
MIN	3.65	0.75	0.29	1.07	1.26	1.02	0.60	1.20	1.20	1.70
MEAN	3.79	0.77	0.30	1.11	1.41	1.06	0.71	1.26	1.20	1.75
Pityopsallus maeharai n. sp. Female (N=3)
MAX	3.60	0.72	0.38	1.07	1.40	0.90	0.62	1.22	1.19	1.77
MIN	3.43	0.71	0.36	1.02	1.37	0.87	0.60	1.08	1.04	1.53
MEAN	3.50	0.71	0.37	1.05	1.39	0.88	0.61	1.16	1.11	1.63
Pityopsallus sakuraii n. sp. (holotype)
Male	3.43	0.74	0.27	1.07	1.28	0.99	0.65	1.02	1.05	1.50
Psallus castaneae Male (N=6)
MAX	3.96	0.75	0.35	1.34	1.65	0.95	0.57	1.35	1.22	1.79
MIN	3.66	0.71	0.32	1.22	1.47	0.83	0.45	1.20	1.10	1.65
MEAN	3.81	0.73	0.33	1.28	1.54	0.88	0.49	1.27	1.14	1.73
Psallus castaneae Female (N=6)
MAX	4.11	0.77	0.39	1.37	1.68	0.92	0.57	1.37	1.20	1.80
MIN	3.33	0.69	0.33	1.17	1.47	0.80	0.42	1.20	1.05	1.62
MEAN	3.86	0.74	0.37	1.28	1.59	0.87	0.51	1.31	1.17	1.73
Psallus edoensis (N=3)
HT male	3.84	0.71	0.30	1.20	1.50	0.78	0.48	1.20	1.05	1.62
PT male	3.81	0.74	0.34	1.22	1.44	0.78	0.48	1.29	1.07	1.68
PT male	4.17	0.74	0.32	1.35	1.62	0.86	0.47	1.29	1.13	1.77
Psallus ramae n. sp. Male (N=6)
MAX	3.87	0.75	0.33	1.25	1.50	0.92	0.53	1.29	1.14	1.65
MIN	3.27	0.69	0.32	1.16	1.43	0.84	0.45	1.20	1.04	1.53
MEAN	3.62	0.71	0.33	1.20	1.46	0.87	0.48	1.22	1.07	1.59
Psallus ramae n. sp. Female (N=7)
MAX	3.60	0.72	0.38	1.07	1.40	0.90	0.62	1.22	1.19	1.77
MIN	3.43	0.71	0.36	1.02	1.37	0.87	0.60	1.08	1.04	1.53
MEAN	3.50	0.71	0.37	1.05	1.39	0.88	0.61	1.16	1.11	1.63
Psallus tonnaichanus Male (N=4)
MAX	3.96	0.74	0.36	1.23	1.56	0.90	0.56	1.29	1.23	1.80
MIN	3.78	0.69	0.33	1.13	1.44	0.86	0.54	1.22	1.05	1.65
MEAN	3.86	0.72	0.35	1.19	1.50	0.88	0.55	1.25	1.15	1.73
Psallus tonnaichanus Female (N=3)
MAX	3.90	0.74	0.41	1.23	1.62	0.90	0.51	1.29	1.17	1.74
MIN	3.42	0.69	0.35	1.05	1.44	0.77	0.47	1.23	1.02	1.55
MEAN	3.72	0.71	0.38	1.17	1.55	0.84	0.49	1.27	1.10	1.66