Zaratus hidekun, Yasunaga, Tomohide, 2012

Yasunaga, Tomohide, 2012, Review of the phyline plant bug tribe Auricillocorini from Asia, with descriptions of a new genus and nine new species from Japan, Nepal and Thailand (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae), Zootaxa 3530, pp. 1-24 : 21-22

Zaratus hidekun new species

( Figs. 1 , 3 , 7 , 8 )

Diagnosis. Recognized by the characters mentioned in generic diagnosis and form of the male genitalia, especially a row of long setae on the left side of the male genital capsule ( Fig. 7 ). This new species can be distinguished from the other congener, Z. repandus Distant , by the amber coloration, wholly shiny pronotum, different pattern of white maculae on the corium and clavus, and weakly constricted anterior part of the hemelytron.

Description. Male: Body generally amber brown, somewhat tinged with red, elongate, rather small in size; dorsal surface polished, shining, with very short, silky, semierect setae. Head shiny, rather vertical; eye small; vertex twice as wide as an eye in dorsal view. Antennae pale brown, almost linear. Labium shiny brown, slightly exceeding apex of mesocoxa. Pronotum polished, rounded, with sparsely distributed, very short, silky setae; collar broad, about as thick as antennal segment I; mesoscutum and scutellum covered with pronotum; pleura amber brown, except for darkened median protuberance of ostiolar peritreme; evaporative area ivory white. Hemelytron weakly shining, with four variable, white maculae each on anterior and posterior parts of clavus, and anterior corner and posterior part of corium ( Fig. 1 F); vestiture on hemelytron very sparse and short; cuneus chestnut brown; membrane somber pale brown. All coxae and legs amber brown, except for yellowish meso- and metacoxae. Abdomen shiny amber brown; male genital segment widely darkened. Male genitalia ( Fig. 7 ): Left lateral side of genital segment with a row of long, noticeable setae. Phallotheca L-shaped, blunt-tipped. Endosoma slender, weakly curved, with short apical spine; secondary gonopore developed. Female: Unknown.

Measurements. 3: Total body length 2.75; length from apex of clypeus to cuneal fracture 2.12; head width across eyes 0.64; vertex width 0.32; lengths of antennal segment I–IV 0.27, 0.89, 0.45, 0.45; labial length 1.02; mesal pronotal length 0.78; basal pronotal width 0.89; width across hemelytron 0.99; and lengths of metafemur, tibia and tarsus 1.05, 1.52, 0.39.

Etymology. Named after the author’s son who loves Thailand much; a noun in apposition.

Distribution. Thailand (Nakhon Ratchasima Prov.).

Biology. No information is available.

Holotype: 3, THAILAND: Nakhon Ratchasima Prov.: SERS, 14˚30'27”N, 101˚55'39”E, 410 m alt., light trap, 27 Oct 2008, T. Yasunaga & K. Yamada ( AMNH _PBI 00379510) ( SUT).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus images of Artchawakomius species (A – D) and Zaratus hidekun (E – F), living individuals taken in Thailand. A – B A. pius: A, holotype male (AMNH _ PBI 00379513); B, female (00379514). C – D A. moteus: C, paratype male (00379512); D, holotype male (00379511). E – F Z. hidekun, holotype male (00379510).

FIGURE 3. Metathoracic scent-efferent system of 10 nominal species of Auricillocorini named on the figure.

FIGURE 7. Male genitalia of Cleotomiris tobii and Zaratus hidekun named on the figure.

FIGURE 8. Habitus images of species of Artchawakomius, Cleotomiris, Cleotomiroides, Wygomiris and Zaratus named on the figure.