Meridindia, Ghauri, 1982

Salini, S., Gracy, R. G. & Sushil, S. N., 2024, Revision of Meridindia (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), an endemic genus, with description of a new species from India, Zootaxa 5428 (2), pp. 207-234 : 213

Key to species of Meridindia

1 Apex of mandibular plates sinuate with anterior apex of inner lobe rounded or truncate ( Fig. 12 ); ventral margin of transversely divided ventral rim of genital capsule with deep, median U-shaped emargination ( Fig. 19 : vm)..... M. kaniza Ghauri, 1982

- Apex of mandibular plates sinuate with anterior apex of inner lobe acute or subacute ( Figs. 35 , 61 ); ventral margin of transversely divided ventral rim of genital capsule either deeply V-shaped ( Fig. 68 : vm) or with narrow, short, semicircular notch at the middle ( Fig. 42 : vm)................................................................................... 2

2 Humeri subacute, prominent above base of hemelytra ( Fig. 38 ); minute denticle in front of compound eyes absent ( Fig. 35 ); dorsal rim laterally with superior processes of dorsal rim ( Figs. 41 : ds, 43: ds) well developed; ventral margin of transversely divided ventral rim of genital capsule with narrow, short, semicircular notch at the middle ( Fig. 42 : vm)................................................................................................ M. salmana Ghauri, 1982

- Humeri subrounded, not prominent above base of hemelytra ( Fig. 64 ); minute denticle in front of compound eyes present; dorsal rim with superior processes of dorsal rim ( Figs. 67, 69 ) absent; ventral margin (68–69: vm) of transversely divided ventral rim of genital capsule wide and deeply V-shaped ( Figs. 68–69 : vm)...................... M. magnolia sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 12–16. Meridindia kaniza Ghauri, 1982. 12—head (dorsal); 13—head (ventral); 14—head (lateral); 15—pronotum; 16—external scent efferent system; Scale bars: 0.5 mm. Lettering: at—antenniferous tubercle, ms—metathoracic spiracle, p— peritreme.

FIGURES 17–21. Meridindia kaniza Ghauri, 1982, male genitalia. 15—genital capsule (dorsal).17–19—genital capsule (17—dorsal, 18—ventral, 19—caudal); 20–21—paramere (different planes). Scale bars: 0.5 mm (17–19), 0.25 mm (20, 21). Lettering: dm—dorsal margin of ventral rim, dr—dorsal rim, ivr—internal vertical ridges, mp—median process, sr—sclerotized ridge, vm—ventral margin of ventral rim.

FIGURES 35–40. Meridindia salmana Ghauri, 1982.35—head (dorsal); 36—head (ventral); 37—head (lateral); 38—pronotum; 39—external scent efferent system; 40—apex of male abdomen (postero-ventral view). Scale bars: 0.5 mm. Lettering: p— peritreme.

FIGURES 61–66. Meridindia magnolia sp. nov. 61—head (dorsal); 62—head (ventral); 63—head (lateral); 64—pronotum; 65—external scent efferent system; 66—apex of male abdomen (postero-ventral view). Scale bars: 0.5 mm (65–66), 1 mm (64). Lettering: p—peritreme.

FIGURES 67–72. Meridindia magnolia sp. nov., male genitalia. 67–69—genital capsule (67—dorsal, 68—ventral, 69— caudal); 70–72—paramere (different planes). Scale bars: 0.5 mm (67–69), 0.1 mm (70–72). Lettering: dm—dorsal margin of ventral rim, dr—dorsal rim, ivr—internal vertical ridges, sr—sclerotized ridge, vm—ventral margin of ventral rim.

FIGURES 41–46. Meridindia salmana Ghauri, 1982, male genitalia. 41–43—genital capsule (41—dorsal, 42—ventral, 43—caudal); 44–45—paramere (different planes); 46—articulatory apparatus. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (41–43), 0.25 mm (44–46). Lettering: cp—capitate processes, dc—dorsal connectives, dm—dorsal margin of ventral rim, dr—dorsal rim, ds—superior processes of dorsal rim, ivr—internal vertical ridges, vm—ventral margin of ventral rim, sr—sclerotized ridge.