Melaleucaphylus pauperiflorae, Schwartz & Weirauch & Schuh, 2018

Schwartz, Michael D., Weirauch, Christiane & Schuh, Randall T., 2018, New Genera And Species Of Myrtaceae-Feeding Phylinae From Australia, And The Description Of A New Species Of Restiophylus (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae) Michael D. Schwartz Christiane Weirauch, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2018 (424), pp. 1-161 : 50-51

Melaleucaphylus pauperiflorae , new species

Map 3 , plates 3, 19, table 1

DIAGNOSIS: Distinguished by overall reddishorange coloration, including cuneus, and black on head, except for pale vertex, antennae, and calli; endosoma with short, curved subapical spine on posterior edge of ventral strap and contiguous, ventrally curved apical spines of dorsal strap. Somewhat similar in dorsal coloration to M. halmaturorum , but latter species with conspicuous pale margins around red cuneus. Endosoma also similar to M. halmaturorum but larger, with apical spines of dorsal strap longer, divergent at base then converging at apices, and blunt subapical spine on posterior edge of ventral strap; endosoma in M. pauperiflorae smaller, apical spines of dorsal strap shorter, contiguous for entire length, convergent apically, and pointed subapical spine on posterior edge of ventral strap. Length of secondary gonopore in M. halmaturorum longer than in M. pauperiflorae .

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Total length 3.50, pronotum width 1.15. COLORATION (pl. 3): General coloration faintly orange to reddish brown; black on head, except vertex, immediately near eyes, gula, and ventral edge of buccula pale, antenna, calli, mesoscutum medially, ventral aspect of thorax, except dorsal portion of propleuron, basalar plate, posterior edge of mesepimeron, metepisternal scent-gland evaporative area (including auricle but not dorsal modified surface), and venter; legs pale dirty yellow with dark areas on coxae and femora proximally, trochanters, metafemora distally, metatibiae diffusely, and tarsus; hemelytral membrane hyaline, with indistinct fumose areas near cells and within large cell; veins dusky yellow; tibiae without dark spots at bases of black spines. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 3): Shining; dorsum with moderately dense, curved, reclining, black, simple setae; head, pronotum, and thoracic venter with some shining golden setae; coxae with erect golden setae, without strong black setae. STRUCTURE: Labium reaching apex of metacoxa. Pretarsus: Claws moderate sized, slightly curved, bases somewhat enlarged; parempodia setiform, relatively long, par- allel, apices apparently sharp; pulvilli height low, proximal of angle of claw. GENITALIA (pl. 19): Pygophore: As in generic description. Endosoma: Distal one-third with torsion, twisted to left side; ventral strap entire, anterior surface with small rounded apical margin reaching level to middle of proximal secondary gonopore process, posterior edge with hooked, horn shaped, pointed subapical spine, protruding beyond curvature of ventral strap, with length subequal to apex of anterior surface, subapical spine originating just below proximal secondary gonopore process; dorsal strap bifurcate level at proximal end of secondary gonopore, divided into pair of sharply pointed apical spines—large anterior spine extending distad of secondary gonopore 3.5 × length of gonopore; small posterior spine of uniform diameter at base, adjacent to anterior apex for entire length, parallel at apex; apices of dorsal strap separated by length of secondary gonopore. Secondary gonopore: Well sclerotized, located medially, aperture on ventroanterior surface, proximal edge with medium-sized, well-sclerotized lanceolate process, distal surface with microspiculate membrane; extremely thin and obscure gonopore sclerite located within interstrap region, stretching from relatively wavy proximal end of secondary gonopore to region proximal to bifurcation of endosomal straps. Phallotheca: Large, somewhat attenuate apical region with undulate margins, posterior surface with small crest-shaped flanges distally and broad prominence proximally; aperture on anteroventral surface, long, evenly narrow to apex. Parameres: Left paramere: Posterior margin and shoulder region between posterior and anterior processes moderately elongate, otherwise typically phyline; posterior process short, gently attenuate from expanded base, straight distally, apex small, rounded. Right paramere: Subovate, slightly elongate with short distal region and small rounded apex.

FEMALE: Unknown.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for its occurrence on Melaleuca pauperiflora .

HOST: Recorded from Melaleuca pauperiflora ssp. pauperiflora ( Myrtaceae : Melaleuceae ) (pl. 39J).

DISTRIBUTION (map 3): Known from the type specimen collected in Frank Hann National Park, Great Southern region, Western Australia, within the southwestern phytogeographic subregion near collections sites of M. micranthae and M. omnivorus .

DISCUSSION: Both M. pauperiflorae and M. omnivorus were taken near Lillian Stoke Rock but from different species of Myrtaceae , the former on Melaleuca pauperiflora , the latter on Baeckea crispiflora and B. schaueri . The two species can be distinguished by features presented in the above diagnoses. The ventral strap with a curved, stout subapical spine on the posterior edge, a feature of M. pauperiflorae , is also present in M. beaufortiae , M. halmaturorum , M. micranthae , M. nodosae , M. phymatocarpi , and M. rhaphiophyllae .

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Frank Hann National Park, Lillian Stoke Rock, 33.06773 ° S 120.0971 ° E, 400 m, 05 Nov 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Melaleuca pauperiflora F. Muell. subsp. pauperiflora (Myrtaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 05236568, 13 ( AMNH _ PBI 00390855) ( WAMP).

Figures

MAP 3. Distribution of Melaleucaphylus kunzeae–M. pauperiflorae.