Mertila Distant, 1904

Figs 3A–C, 8, 19–20

Mertila Distant, 1904a: 113

Mertila – Stonedahl 1988: 32–40 (revision).

Type species

Mertila malayensis Distant, 1904a (designated by Distant 1904b: 472).

Diagnosis

Recognized by the following combination of characters: antennae short, segment I thin, slightly shorter than vertex width, segment II shorter than or subequal to head width; dorsum shiny, with dense, whitish, erect simple setae; head reddish, pronotum, scutellum, and base of hemelytron reddish or bluish black to black, apical part of hemelytron bluish black to black (Figs 3A–B, 8A, D, G); disc of pronotum with faint punctures, hemelytron smooth or faintly wrinkled; head broad, with weakly convex frons, broadly depressed lateral margin bordering eye, and indistinct postocular lobe; eyes large, projecting laterally beyond anterolateral angles of pronotum; labium reaching hind coxa; pronotal collar narrow, equals in length to diameter of antennal segment I; calli weakly raised, separated by shallow impressed lines; anterior part of pronotum with shallow subtriangular area between lines delimiting pronotal collar and calli; posterior margin of pronotum slightly convex, moderately exposing mesonotum; membrane twocelled, with large, angulate and distinctly concave larger cell; genital capsule highly modified, short, with posteriorly directed wide aperture, lateral and dorsal margins of capsule with complex posterior processes (Figs 3C, 8C, F, H, 19); parameres and aedeagus reduced, very small; aedeagus with entirely membranous phallotheca, simple membranous endosoma and sclerotized, spine-like apical part of ductus seminis (Fig. 20A–E).

Host

Host data are available for Mertila malayensis based on US port interceptions from Java, Philippines and Singapore (Stonedahl 1988). Similarly to several Lopidolon spp., this species was taken from Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume, Renanthera storiei Rchb. f., and Vanda sp. (Orhidaceae). A single female of M. bhamo Stonedahl, 1988 intercepted from India was also taken on Vanda sp. (Stonedahl 1988).

Distribution

India, Burma, Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia (Stonedahl 1988).

Remarks

Prior to this study, the genus comprised four species, M. sabah Stonedahl, 1988, M. sarawak Stonedahl, 1988 (Malaysia), M. malayensis (Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia), and M. bhamo (Burma) . Stonedahl (1988) also recorded the last species from India based on a single female without locality data from the US port interception material. Description of one new Mertila species from India is given below.

Species of Mertila may be recognized among other eccritotarsines by the bicolored, bright reddish and bluish black dorsum, shape of transverse head, structure of the anterior part of the pronotum and the male genitalia. Refer to discussion of Lopidolon for details.

Key to species of the genus Mertila of India

1. Head dark reddish; pronotum, scutellum and hemelytron uniformly black (Fig. 3A–B). Tibiae reddish; antennal segment II reddish with darkened apex. Male genitalia as in Figs 19– 20 ............................................................................................................... M. rubrocephala sp. nov.

– Head, pronotum, scutellum, and base of hemelytron bright reddish, apical two thirds of hemelytron metallic bluish black (Fig. 8A). Tibiae and antennal segment II dark brown. Male genitalia as in Fig. 8C ..................................................................................................... M. bhamo Stonedahl, 1988