Artchawakomius moteus, 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 : 7-8

Artchawakomius moteus new species

( Figs. 1 C–D, 2, 3, 4, 8)

Diagnosis. Recognized by the amber-brown basic coloration, and polished pronotum and scutellum that are not pruinosed or shagreened, in addition to the characters mentioned in generic diagnosis.

Description. Male: Body generally amber-brown; dorsal surface shiny. Antenna yellowish brown, except for darkened segment IV. Pronotum and scutellum polished; anterior lobe of pronotum transversely wrinkled; apical scutellar spine dark brown; ostiolar peritreme creamy yellow. Hemelytron less shining, with three white maculae each on middle clavus, and base and subapical part of corium; corium chestnut brown posterior to apical white macula (anterior to cuneal fracture); cuneus fuscous; membrane smoky brown, except for pale, translucent apical and posterior margins. All coxae and legs pale brown. Male genital segment widely infuscate. Male genitalia ( Fig. 2 ): Right paramere somewhat tapered toward apex; apical membranous area of endosoma not developed. Female: Unknown.

Measurements. 3: Total body length 3.0–3.1/ 3.0–3.2; length from apex of clypeus to cuneal fracture 2.22–2.35; head width across eyes 0.69–0.71; vertex width 0.25–0.27; lengths of antennal segment I–IV 0.20–0.23, 0.87–0.90, 0.55–0.57, 0.42–0.45; labial length 0.84–0.86; mesal pronotal length 0.63–0.69; basal pronotal width 0.76–0.78; width across hemelytron 0.76–0.84; and lengths of metafemur, tibia and tarsus 0.97–1.02, 1.48–1.52, 0.26–0.27.

Etymology. From a Thai noun ‘Mot (= ant)’, Latinized as an adjective.

Distribution. Thailand (Nakhon Ratchasima Prov.).

Biology. A bivoltine life cycle is assumed for this new species; specimens were each collected in February and August. This species resembles certain ants that similarly have brownish or amber coloration and slender body form, such as very aggressive Oecophylla species ( Formicinae ). If this mirid were associated with these ants, the body form of A. moteus would allude to Batesian mimicry.

Holotype: 3, THAILAND: Nakhon Ratchasima Prov.: SERS, 14˚30'27”N, 101˚55'39”E, 410 m alt., light trap, 25–27 Feb 2009, T. Yasunaga ( AMNH _PBI 00379511) ( SUT).

Paratype. THAILAND: 13, same locality as for holotype, light trap, 19-21 Aug 2008, T. Yasunaga & B Shishido (00379512) ( TYCN).

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 2. Male genitalia of Artchawakomius species named on the figure.