Physatocheila koreaensis Ji, Kim & Jung, 2023

Ji, Hankyul, Kim, Junggon, Jang, Geunho & Jung, Sunghoon, 2023, A taxonomic review of the genus Physatocheila Fieber (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae) from the Korean Peninsula, with description of a new species and a key to Korean Physatocheila species, Zootaxa 5258 (4), pp. 455-464 : 456-457

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5258.4.6
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E0CCE7C3-CF8D-497D-8CE0-F955932EAD6F
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7784623
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A96056-FF97-3745-F088-D86EB16BFBEA
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Physatocheila koreaensis Ji, Kim & Jung
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Physatocheila koreaensis Ji, Kim & Jung sp. nov.

( Figs. 1A View FIGURE 1 , 2A View FIGURE 2 , 4A View FIGURE 4 , 5A View FIGURE 5 , 6A View FIGURE 6 )

Diagnosis. Body reddish-brown, elongated oval ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ); anterior margin of hood generally rounded ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ); paranota narrow, maximal width from anterolateral margin to inner margin as same as the minimal width between paranota, inner margin reaching anterior margin of lateral carinae ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ); hemelytra with distinct mottled dark markings; costal area with two rows of areolae, areolae size generally consistent except for those of middle part; areolae size of discoidal area subequal or slightly larger than those of subcostal area ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ); middle part of inner margin of paramere distinctly convex and protruding ( Fig. 5A View FIGURE 5 ); middle part of outer margin of pygophore with protuberant parts in ventral view ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ).

Description. Male: Body generally reddish or dark-brown, elongated oval.

Head dark brown, with five spines; antennae brown; first and second segments short and stout; third segment slender, elongate, as long as or slightly longer than head width; fourth segment dark brown; hood brown; middle part of anterior margin rounded.

Pronotum reddish-brown; anterior part of pronotum reddish-brown, posterior third of posterior projection dark brown; paranota brown, narrow, maximal width from anterolateral margin to inner margin as equal as the minimal width between paranota, inner margin reaching anterior margin of lateral carinae on pronotum, with three rows of areolae in dorsal view; three pronotal carinae parallel; both sides of posterior part of lateral carinae pale.

Hemelytra generally brown with dark mottled markings on subcostal and discoidal areas, wider than pronotal maximal width, outer margin rounded; costal area with two rows of areolae, areolae size generally consistent, except for smaller areolae in middle part and slightly larger in posterior part; subcostal area with small areolae, areolae distinctly smaller than areolae of costal area; discoidal area mottled dark brown, areolae size subequal or slightly larger than those of subcostal area.

Genitalia: paramere scythe-shaped; sensory lobe thick, inner margin distinctly protruding (arrow in Fig. 5A View FIGURE 5 ); apophysis rounded, slightly thick, distinctly shorter than inner margin of sensory lobe; pygophore posterolaterally angulated; middle part with tubercles (arrow in Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ) in ventral view.

Female: Head, pronotum, hemelytra: As in male. Genitalia: not examined.

Remarks. This species is similar to a European species, Physatocheila dumetorum Herrich-Schaffer , but it can be distinguished by the paranota and areolae structures: the maximal width of paranota ranging from anterolateral margin to inner margin subequal to distant between paranota in P. koreaensis sp. nov. vs. the maximal width less than distant between paranota in P. dumetorum ; and three rows of areolae of paranota in P. koreaensis sp. nov. vs. two rows of areolae of paranota in P. dumetorum . The new species, P. koreaensis sp. nov. can be also easily distinguished from other Korean Physatocheila species by the unique characters: paranota structure, maximal width from anterolateral margin to inner margin subequal to the minimal width between paranota; convex inner margin of sensory lobe of paramere; and the pygophore with tubercles in ventral view.

Measurements. (1♁/ 4♀♀). Head width, 0.44/ 0.45–0.47; vertex width, 0.28/ 0.30–0.32; lengths of antennal segments, I–IV: 0.07/ 0.08–0.09, 0.08/ 0.08–0.09, 0.56/ 0.56–0.59, 0.27/ 0.28–0.31; total length of antenna, 0.98/ 1.00–1.08; pronotum length, 1.19/ 1.23–1.25; pronotum width (including the posterior margin of paranota), 0.89/ 0.88–0.92; hemelytra length, 2.08/ 2.10–2.12; body length 2.90/ 2.97–3.02.

Distribution. Korea (new record).

Hosts. Unknown.

Etymology. The new species is named according to the country where it was collected.

Biology. Even though the specific host plant of this species is unknown, this species is usually found on small shrubs and plants. The adult is found on the ground or under low shrubs in early April in Korea, suggesting this species hibernates as an adult.

Material examined. [ CNU] Holotype: 1♁ Gajeong-ri, Nam-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Korea, 29.vii.2016, SJ Kim; [ CNU] paratype: 3♀♀ Gajeong-ri, Nam-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Korea, 29.vii.2016, SJ Kim; [ CNU] paratype: 1♀ Bukchang-ri, Jeoksang-myeon, Muju-gun , Jeollabuk-do, Korea, 7.iv. 2016, HK Ji.