Renodaeus mimeticus Henry

Henry, Thomas J., 2015, Revision of the Ceratocapsine Renodaeus group: Marinonicoris, Pilophoropsis, Renodaeus, and Zanchisme, with descriptions of four new genera (Heteroptera, Miridae, Orthotylinae), ZooKeys 490, pp. 1-156 : 88-89

Taxon classification Animalia Hemiptera Miridae

Renodaeus mimeticus Henry sp. n. Figs 1, 90-92, 289-291

Diagnosis.

At this time, Renodaeus mimeticus can be distinguished from Renodaeus gibbicollis only by the male genitalia. In Renodaeus mimeticus , the left paramere (Fig. 289) has two diverging lobes, the left broader and marginally crenulate, the right paramere (Fig. 291) is C-shaped with a large marginally crenulate process arising from the middle, and the phallotheca (Fig. 290) is apically blunt, whereas in Renodaeus gibbicollis , the left paramere (Fig. 286) has a much broader left lobe, the right paramere (Fig. 288) is C-shaped without a process at the middle, and the phallotheca (Fig. 287) is apically acute.

Description.

Male (n = 3; holotype measurements in parentheses): Length 2.59-2.72 mm (2.72 mm), width 0.86 mm (0.93 mm). Head: Width 0.67-0.69 mm (0.69 mm), interocular width 0.24 mm (0.22 mm). Labium: Length 0.77-0.80 mm (0.78 mm). Antennae: Segment I, length 0.18-0.21 mm (0.19 mm); II, 0.56-0.59 mm (0.56 mm); III, 0.35-0.40 mm (0.35 mm); IV, 0.30-0.32 mm (0.32 mm). Pronotum: Length 0.58-0.59 mm (0.59 mm), basal width 0.80 mm (0.83 mm).

Coloration: Head: Yellowish brown. Antenna: Segment I pale brown, with a broad red stripe on dorsal side; segment II brown; segments III and IV reddish brown. Pronotum: Dark brown to fuscous, paler anteriorly between calli. Scutellum: Fuscous. Hemelytron: Dark brown to fuscous; membrane translucent smoky brown. Ventral surface: Dark brown, abdominal segments reddish brown. Ostiolar evaporative area: Pale brown. Legs: Coxae pale brown, fore and hind coxae tinged with red; remainder of legs missing, except two detached, possibly middle legs, femur brown, paler on apical l/3, with a red mark at apex; tibiae reddish brown; tarsi and claws brown.

Structure, texture, and vestiture: Head: Smooth, shiny, frons with widely scattered, fine, black punctures. Labium: Extending to hind coxae. Antenna: Segment II slender, gradually thickening to apex; segments III and IV fusiform. Pronotum: Polished, smooth, with widely scattered, fine, black punctures, basal angles widely flared, somewhat turned upward and distinctly depressed posteriorly near outer angle, nearly glabrous, with a few scattered, erect, simple setae. Scutellum: punctate, with a thick patch of white scale-like setae through middle, intermixed with a thick bunch of long, erect, white, simple setae. Hemelytron: Distinctly constricted through middle, widest across cuneus, polished, deeply black punctured on clavus and middle of corium, with scattered, fine punctures on cuneus and apical area of corium; densely set with golden scale-like setae on clavus and middle of corium, with patches of white scale-like setae at base of clavus and through middle of corium (along posterior edge of golden setae) and across apical third of clavus, intermixed with several long, erect, nearly bristle-like setae on clavus and corium and along inner margin of cuneus, cuneus and apical third of corium glabrous.

Male genitalia: Left paramere (Fig. 289) with a beak-like left process and a more slender, apically bent right process. Right paramere (Fig. 291) with three large, marginally crenulate processes, the right one most slender (in one specimen, this process is shorter than the stout middle process). Phallotheca (Fig. 290) relatively simple, cone-shaped.

Female (n = 4): Length 2.59-2.75 mm, width 0.86-0.93 mm. Head: Width 0.66-0.67 mm, interocular width 0.32-0.34 mm. Labium: Length 0.78-0.82 mm. Antenna: Segment I, length 0.19 mm; II, 0.51-0.54 mm; III, 0.34-0.37 mm; IV, 0.30 mm. Pronotum: Length 0.58-0.59 mm, basal width 0.78 mm. Similar to male in coloration, structure, texture, and vestiture.

Etymology.

This species is named “mimeticus” for its strong ant-like appearance.

Host.

Unknown; all specimens were collected by insecticidal fogging of forest canopy.

Distribution.

Known only from Orellana Province, Ecuador.

Type material.

Holotype ♂: ECUADOR:Orellana Prov. [as Napo Prov. on label]: Tiputini Biodiversity Station, 216 m, 00E37'55"S, 70E08'39"W, 27 October 1998, T. L. Erwin et al. collectors, insecticidal fogging of mostly bare green leaves, some with covering of lichens or bryophytic plants, Lot 1955, Transect # T-6 (00162231) (Held in trust at USNM). Paratypes: same data as for holotype 5♂♂ (00162232-00162235, 00162240), 4♀♀ (USNM). (00162236-00162239)