Prodromus clypeatus Distant, 1904

Yeshwanth, H. M. & Konstantinov, Fedor V., 2021, Review of the plant bug tribe Eccritotarsini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) of India and Sri Lanka with description of two new genera and six new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 745, pp. 1-69 : 29

Prodromus clypeatus Distant, 1904

Figs 9A–B , 27C

Prodromus clypeatus Distant, 1904b: 437 .

Prodromus cuneatus Distant, 1909: 453 .

Prodromus clypeatus – Stonedahl 1988: 70–72 (redescr.). — Yasunaga & Ishikawa 2016: 30 (biology). — Anitha & Rajamony 1991: 439 (new record for S India).

Prodromus cuneatus – Stonedahl 1988: 70 (syn. with P. clypeatus ).

Diagnosis

Recognized by the following combination of characters: body pale yellow, usually with brown to pale brown scutellum; eyes distinctly elevated, slightly less than anterior half of eye raised above vertex in frontal view; frons and clypeus weakly convex, with weak depression in between; antennal segment II 2.2–2.4× as long as first, narrowly reddish apically, rarely entire segment with reddish tinge; apex of cuneus well surpassing apex of cell ( Fig. 9A ), membranal vein weakly and gradually curved apically; sclerotized portion of aedeagus with long, curved subapical row of spicules, apical membranous lobe without any sclerotization.

Material examined

Lectotype

MYANMAR • ♀; Myitta , Tenasserim Valley; 14.1667° N, 98.5167° E; 183 m a.s.l.; Doherty leg.; NHM.

Paralectotype

MYANMAR • 1 ♀; same collection data as for lectotype; NHM .

Other material

SRI LANKA • 1 ♂, lectotype of Prodromus cuneatus ; Peradeniya ; 7.263° N, 80.603° E; 497 m a.s.l.; May 1909; E.E. Green leg.; AMNH _ PBI 00340350 ; NHM • 1 specimen, sex unknown, paralectotype of Prodromus cuneatus ; same collection data as for lectotype; AMNH _ PBI 00340353 ; NHM .

INDIA • 14 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Karnataka, Yellapura, Idagundi ; 14°55.064ˊ N, 64°37.801ˊ E; 446 m a.s.l.; 6 Dec. 2011; H.M. Yeshwanth leg; Ex: banana.; UASB • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; ZISP • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Uttara Kannada, Dandeli ; 13°.13ˊ N, 77°.63ˊ E; 906 m a.s.l; 10 Nov. 2012; A.R.V. Kumar leg.; UASB • 3 ♂♂; Tirthahalli, Hulgar ; 13.7° N, 75.23° E; A.R.V. Kumar. Leg.; UASB • 5 ♂♂, 1 ♂; Sirsi ; 14°44.023ˊ N, 74°46.711ˊ E; 506 m a.s.l; 25 May 2010; H.M. Yeshwanth leg.; UASB • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Bangalore, Hessaraghatta ; 13°8.294ˊ N, 77°28.53ˊ E; 890 m a.s.l.; 5 Jan. 2014; H.M. Yeshwanth leg; UASB • 1 ♂; Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore ; 11°01ˊ83˝ N, 76°97ˊ25˝ E; 463 m a.s.l; 9 Jun. 2015; H.M. Yeshwanth leg.; UASB • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Kerala, Peechi ; 10.032° N, 76.021° E; 82m a.s.l., 21 Sep. 2008; S. Murthy leg. UASB • 3 ♂♂; Meghalaya, Ri-Bhoi ; 25°41ˊ N, 91°55ˊ E; 1031 m a.s.l; 6 Jun. 2019; H.M. Yeshwanth leg.; Ex: banana; UASB .

Distribution

Widely distributed in India and now documented from Kerala ( Anitha & Rajamony 1991), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Megahalaya states. Also known from Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, southern China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Java, and Ambon ( Stonedahl 1988).

Remarks

This widely distributed species is best distinguished from P. subflavus by the shape of the membranal cell and structure of the aedeagus mentioned in the key. Additional features of P. subflavus that vary from P. clypeatus include comparatively short antennal segment II which is about twice as long as segment I (2.2–2.4× in P. clypeatus ), and broadly subtriangular concave posterior margin of pronotum (broadly concave, without weakly angulate midpoint in P. clypeatus ). According to Stonedahl (1988), P. clypeatus further differs in having weakly elevated eyes and labium reaching only middle of mesosternum. However, the eyes in all studied specimens including the holotype are distinctly elevated, with slightly less than anterior half of eye raised above vertex in frontal view, while labium is reaching or almost reaching middle coxa.

Figures

Fig. 9. Dorsal view and label data of type specimens. A–B. Prodromus clypeatus Distant, 1904, ♀, lectotype,AMNH_PBI00340350, NHM.C–D. Prodromussubflavus Distant,1904,♂,lectotype,AMNH_ PBI 00340343, NHM. E–F. Prodromus subviridis Distant, 1904, ♂, lectotype, AMNH_PBI 00340344, NHM. G–H. Thaumastomiris cotabato Stonedahl, 1988, ♂, holotype, USNM. I–J. Thaumastomiris dissimilis Hsiao 1944, ♂, holotype, USNM.

Fig. 27. Habitats and living specimens. A–B. Harpedona sanguinipes Distant, 1909 on Colocasia esculenta. A. Nymphs.B. Mating adults.C. Prodromus clypeatusDistant, 1904 on banana.D. Stonedahlia mishmiensis gen. et sp. nov. on Colocasia sp. E. Lopidolon dandeliensis sp. nov. on Diplocentrum recurvum. All specimens at UASB.