Erysivena sydneyensis, Symonds & Cassis, 2018

Symonds, Celia L. & Cassis, Gerasimos, 2018, Systematics And Analysis Of The Radiation Of Orthotylini Plant Bugs Associated With Callitroid Conifers In Australia: Description Of Five New Genera And 32 New Species (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2018 (422), pp. 1-229 : 203-206

Erysivena sydneyensis , new species

Figures 4A , 5A–B, 14 , 71–74 ; map 5

DIAGNOSIS: Defined by the following characters: midsized; head strongly expanded anteriorly; eyes large; labium extending to metacoxae; cuneus tip and forewing membrane veins red; pygophore with three tergal processes, far right lateral tergal lobe, elongate phalloguide; tergal processes subequal in length; left paramere strongly expanded, subtriangular, sensory lobe prominent, apophysis moderately elongate, apex hooked; right paramere C-shaped, expanded medial flange in inner margin with spiniferous tip, apex weakly curved, serrate; aedeagus with PES simple, unbranched, acuminate, with smooth margins and elongate medial process; DES2 unbranched, possessing subapical threadlike process on outer margin; DES1 unbranched, margins smooth, bifurcate at apex forming small fork; female mIRL half height of laIRL, subquadrate, margin serrate; laIRL slightly curved inward at apex and uniform width, with spiniferous base and small spiniferous basal lobe.

DESCRIPTION: Male: Midsized, elongate, body length 3.51–4.19 mm, pronotal width 0.88–1.08 mm. COLORATION: Dorsum yellowish green, faded; cuneus tip red; forewing membrane light gray-brown with darker patches laterally and in major cell, veins orange-red with color confined to vein, subcuneal clear spot not enlarged (fig. 14). VESTITURE: Dorsum with moderately dense distribution of light to dark simple setae. STRUCTURE: Head: Strongly expanded anteriorly; eyes large, extending well beyond anterolateral angle of pronotum, but only moderately exerted beyond outline of head (fig. 71A–D); antennae with AI subequal to vertex width, AII 1.3× pronotal width; labium medium length, extending to metacoxae. Hemelytra: Cuneus and major cell of forewing membrane elongate; major membrane vein straight (fig. 14). GENITALIA: Pygophore: Dorsal margin of genital opening strongly concave, asymmetrically, three sclerotized, linear, elongate, tergal processes, positioned left lateral, right lateral and right medial (figs. 71H, 73A); tergal processes subequal in length; left tergal process slightly curved downward, apex pointed, margins serrate (fig. 73A); right and right medial tergal processes adjoined at base, margins serrate (figs. 71H, 73A); far right lateral tergal lobe present, elongate, weakly narrowing distally, apex round, directed inward (figs. 71H, 72B, 73A); ventral margin of genital opening convex on left side (fig. 72A); phalloguide with elongate sclerotized process ventrad to right paramere articulation, apex bulbous, without any spines on margin of process (figs. 71H, 72A, B, 73A). Left paramere: Strongly expanded medially, subtriangular; sensory lobe prominent, expanded, margins straight, so lobe does not appear swollen; apophysis moderately elongate, inner margin with serrate edge; apex hooked (figs. 71H, 72A, 73B). Right paramere: C-shaped; medial flange on inner margin directed downward, expanded and constricted to point; subapical dorsal margin with few small spines; apex short and weakly curved; tip of medial flange and margin of apex with large spines (figs. 71H, 72B, 73C, D). Phallotheca: Dorsal opening small (fig. 71H), subovate, closed medially, round distally, lobe present on basal margin of dorsal opening (fig. 73F); weak lateral bicompression subapically on ventral surface, but not flattened, small subapical ventral tumescence (figs. 72B, 73E). Aedeagus: Spicule arrangement (fig. 73): PES left ventrolateral to and partially sheathing secondary gonopore (figs. 72, E), DES2 left dorsolateral to secondary gonopore (fig. 72E), DES1 left lateral to DES2 (fig. 72C), base of all spicules originate proximal with base of secondary gonopore (fig. 73G); PES simple, unbranched, with elongate medial process, directed downward, distally acuminate, margins smooth (figs. 72C, 73G); DES2 unbranched, with subdistal threadlike process (figs. 72D, 73G); DES1 simple, unbranched, margins smooth, straight, not expanded medially, apex bisected evenly and shallow; basal keel (DESk) moderately elongate (figs. 72C–E, 73G).

Female: Slightly shorter on average than male, body length 3.13–4.01 mm, pronotal width 0.85–1.05 mm. GENITALIA: IRS posterior margin medially convex. Interramal lobes (fig. 74): mIRL entirely separated from laIRL; laIRL uniform width, curved inward distally, base spiniferous with small spiniferous lobe; mIRL half height of laIRL, subquadrate, serrations confined to margin.

ETYMOLOGY: Named after the city of Sydney, Australia, as it is the only callitroid-inhabiting Orthotylini species collected within the Sydney region (to date). Also, one of only two species known from Callitris rhomboidea , the Port Jackson pine, which is the only Callitris species commonly found in the Sydney region.

HOST PLANTS: Known from Callitris rhomboidea predominantly, Callitris endlicheri at two localities in inland New South Wales and Callitris baileyi for one population at Tabulum (table 2). Interestingly, where this species was collected from two sites in Wollemi National Park, Callitris rhomboidea grows alongside Callitris endlicheri . However, juvenile bugs and the majority of adults were collected only from Callitris rhomboidea , with a few adults found on Callitris endli- cheri. This species was found in high densities on the Callitris rhomboidea (adults and juveniles) in Wollemi National Park. Callitris rhomboidea occurs in open forest and on exposed sandstone ridgetops in eastern New South Wales and occurs across southeastern Australia. Callitris baileyi is found in open forest on dry inland ranges of northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland and is rare and listed as endangered in New South Wales ( Hill, 1998).

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Woronora Dam Picnic Area , 34.11613 ° S 150.9347 ° E, 211 m, 21 Dec 2004, C. Symonds, R. Silveira, M. Elliott, Callitris rhomboidea , det. Field ID, 1♂ ( AMNH _ PBI 00005389 ) ( AM).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 6 km NW of Hat Head, near Kempsey, 31.08334 ° S 153.05 ° E, 5 m, 22 Oct 1995, Schuh and Cassis, Callitris rhomboidea , det. K.D. Hill 1996 NSW 395915, 27♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00000003, 00000006, 00000008, 00000014, 00000016, 00000017, 00000025, 00000030, 00000035, 00000038, 00000040, 00000041, 00000042, 00000045, 00000047, 00000050, 00000055, 00000057, 00000059, 00000063, 00000066, 00000073, 00000077–00000079, 00000080, 00000083), 57♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00000001, 00000002, 00000004, 00000005, 00000007, 00000009–00000013, 00000015, 00000018– 00000024, 00000026–00000029, 00000031– 00000034, 00000036, 00000037, 00000043, 00000044, 00000046, 00000048, 00000049, 00000051–00000054, 00000056, 00000058, 00000060–00000062, 00000064, 00000065, 00000067–00000072, 00000074–00000076, 00000081, 00000082, 00000084, 00000085) ( AMNH). 12 km E of Tabulam, 1 km N of Bruxner Hwy, W of Culmaran Ck Rd, 28.90217 ° S 152.6938 ° E, 183 m, 19 Jan 2005, C. Symonds, N. Tatarnic, Callitris baileyi , det. Field ID, 25♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00005407–00005431), 8♀ ( AMNH _ PBI 00005432–00005439) ( AM). Crescent Head, Loftus Rd, 31.17238 ° S 152.9684 ° E, 26 m, 18 Jan 2005, C. Symonds, N. Tatarnic, Callitris rhomboidea , det. Field ID, 24♂ ( UNSW _ENT 00027461– UNSW _ENT 00027484), 17♀ ( UNSW _ENT 00027485– UNSW _ENT 00027501) ( AM). Dorrigo National Park, 0.7 km down track off Slingbys Rd, 30.32558 ° S 152.8002 ° E, 658 m, 20 Jan 2005, C. Symonds, N. Tatarnic, Callitris rhomboidea , det. Field ID, 1♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00005343) ( AM). Terrey Hills, McCarrs Ck Rd, 0.5 km N of Mona Vale Rd, 33.68343 ° S 151.2302 ° E, 217 m, 15 Mar 2005, C. Symonds, N. Tatarnic, Callitris rhomboidea , det. Field ID, 1♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00005349), 3♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00005350–00005352) ( AM). Wollemi National Park, Glowworm Tunnel Rd, 21 km N of Bungleboori Picnic Area, 33.26031 ° S 150.2181 ° E, 942 m, 05 Feb 2005, C. Symonds, Callitris rhomboidea , det. RBG Sydney, 14♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00005353–00005363, 00005366– 00005368), 11♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00005369– 00005378, 00005381) Callitris endlicheri , det. C. Symonds, 1♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00005341), 1♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00005342) Callitris sp. , 2♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00005337, 00005339) ( AM), Callitris rhomboidea , det. RBG Sydney, 2♂ ( AMNH _ PBI 00005364, 00005365), 2♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00005379, 00005380) ( UNSW). Woronora Dam Picnic Area, 34.11613 ° S 150.9347 ° E, 211 m, 21 Dec 2004, C. Symonds, R. Silveira, M. Elliott, Callitris rhomboidea , det. Field ID, 10♂ ( AMNH _PBI 00005382, 00005383, 00005390–00005397), 8♀ ( AMNH _PBI 00005398–00005405) ( AM).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRA- LIA: New South Wales: 12 km E of Tabulam, 1 km N of Bruxner Hwy, W of Culmaran Ck Rd, 28.90217 ° S 152.6938 ° E, 183 m, 19 Jan 2005, C. Symonds, N. Tatarnic, Callitris baileyi , det. Field ID, 1 juv. (AMNH_PBI 00005406) (AM). Apple Tree Flat / Riverlea, 1.2 km along Riverlea Rd off Castlereagh Hwy, near Mudgee, 32.68958 ° S 149.72303 ° E, 519 m, 24 Nov 2008, C. Symonds & R. Hazali, Callitris endlicheri , det. Field ID, 4♂ (AMNH_PBI 00005762–00005765), 4♀ (AMNH_PBI 00005766–00005769) (AM). Dorrigo National Park, 0.7 km down track off Slingbys Rd, 30.32558 ° S 152.8002 ° E, 658 m, 20 Jan 2005, C. Symonds, N. Tatarnic, Callitris rhomboidea , det. Field ID, 2 juv. (AMNH_PBI 00005344, 00005345) (AM). Woronora Dam Picnic Area, 34.11613 ° S 150.9347 ° E, 211 m, 21 Dec 2004, C. Symonds, R. Silveira, M. Elliott, Callitris rhomboidea , det. Field ID, 5 juv. (AMNH_PBI 00005384–00005388) (AM).

DISTRIBUTION: A widely distributed species in eastern New South Wales, predominantly from forests on the coast and ranges. Known from nine localities in eastern New South Wales, from the Sydney region, including the Blue Mountains (Woronora Dam, Terrey Hills, Wollemi National Park) to the northern coast (Hat Head and Crescent Head) and northern tablelands of New South Wales (Tabulum and Dorrigo) (map 5). Cooccurring with C. wollemi (table 2).

REMARKS: Erysivena sydneyensis is most closely related to E. endlicheriphila , and the two share the following characters: three tergal processes on the dorsal margin of the pygophore; the enlarged right lateral process of the ventral phalloguide of the pygophore with smooth round margins lacking spines; general shape of the right paramere and its medial flange; an elongate medial process on the PES spicule; and an unbranched, narrow DES2 spicule. This species is distinguished from E. endlicheriphila by the following characters: medial and right pygophore dorsal processes equal length to the left lateral process (cf. figs. 73A, 56A); the small forkshaped apex of the DES1 spicule (cf. figs. 73G, 56F); the presence of a subapical threadlike process on the DES2 spicule (cf. figs. 73G, 56F); and a weakly curved and unexpanded apex of the right paramere (cf. figs. 73C, 56C).

Some morphological variation was observed between populations of E. sydneyensis , but this is continuous and includes: the presence or absence of spines on the medial flange of the right paramere; the position of the middle tergal process; the left tergal process on the genital opening varying from having a blunt to pointed apex; and the length of the PES spicule.

Figures

FIG. 4. A. Erysivena sydneyensis, male, ex. Terrey Hills, New South Wales. B., C., D., Erysivena notodytika, ex. Mosman Park, Perth, Western Australia: B, C. Adult male. D. Nymph. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIG. 14. Erysivena species, dorsal habitus photographs of males. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIG. 71. External morphology of Erysivena sydneyensis. A. Head, dorsal, scale bar = 30 µm. B. Head, lateral, scale bar = 30 µm. C. Head and pronotum, dorsal, scale bar = 100 µm. D. Head, and pronotum, lateral, scale bar = 100 µm. E. Meso- and metathorax, scale bar = 30 µm. F. Metathoracic scent gland, scale bar = 10 µm. G. Tarsal claw, scale bar = 10 µm. H. Pygophore, dorsal, scale bar = 30 µm.

FIG. 72. Male genitalic morphology of Erysivena sydneyensis. A. Pygophore, ventral. B. Pygophore, right lateral. C. Aedeagus, left lateral. D. Aedeagus, ventral. E. Aedeagus, right dorsolateral. Scale bars = 30 µm.

FIG. 73. Male genitalia of Erysivena sydneyensis. A. Pygophore, dorsal with left lateral detail. B. Left paramere, ventral. C. Right paramere, right dorsolateral. D. Right paramere, ventral. E. Phallotheca, ventral. F. Phallotheca, dorsal. G. Aedeagus, left lateral. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIG. 74. Erysivena female genitalia: right interramal lobes of species, posterior wall of E. schuhi, dorsal. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.