Spinivesica, Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016

Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016, Nineteen new genera and 82 new species of Cremnorrhinina from Australia, including analyses of host relationships and distributions (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylininae: Cremnorrhinini), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 401, pp. 1-279 : 182-185

Spinivesica , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Spinivesica eremophiloides , new species.

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the elongate ovoid body in both sexes, head and vertex relatively broad, usually greenish or pale coloration, and hemelytron sometimes with a contrasting dark spot on inner angle of cuneus or at apex of membrane cells (pl. 28); endosoma predominately sigmoid, with a prominent lateral spine, usually proximal to secondary gonopore, and with a flat apical sclerite of variable configuration beset with numerous microtrichia and usually associated with billowy membrane (figs. 82–91, pl. 29); phallotheca usually with strongly sclerotized ridge on dorsoposterior surface. Most easily confused with species of Dicyphylus , Myrtophylus , and Telophylus based on lateral endosomal spine, but Spinivesica never with fields of spicules on phallotheca as in Dicyphylus (pl. 7), lacking bifid apex of endosoma as seen in Myrtophylus (pl. 21), and without medially placed secondary gonopore and apically directed lateral spine as in Telophylus (pl. 31). Potentially confused with Gyrophallus (pls. 13, 15) because of membranous, termi ‐ nal, endosomal “bag,” but that structure covered with spicules (microtrichia) in Spinivesica and ornamented with denticles in Gyrophallus ; endosomal bag absent in Dicyphylus and Myrtophylus .

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Total length 2.23–3.91, pronotum width 0.82–1.06. COLORATION (pl. 28): Pale, yellowish, or green, including all appendages, rarely general coloration infuscate; corium translucent, frequently with infuscate mark adjacent to inner angle of cuneus; membrane pale to weakly infuscate, very rarely fumose, sometimes with a dark marking at apex of cells. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (fig. 81C, D, pl. 28): Dorsum smooth, polished and weakly shining. Dorsum clothed with recumbent pale or dark simple setae, sometimes with flattened appressed black setae. STRUCTURE: Head (fig. 81A, B, pl. 28): Short, transverse, conforming to anterior margin of pronotum; frons at most weakly surpassing anterior margin of eyes; eyes moderately large, weakly bulging; antennal segment 2 relatively short, weakly tapered proximally. Thorax (pl. 28): Pronotum with lateral margins nearly straight to weakly convex, anterior lobe short, calli weakly demarcated along posterior margin, posterior lobe at most weakly elevated, posterior margin straight to weakly concave, with rounded humeral angles; mesoscutum narrowly to broadly exposed; scutellum flat. Pretarsus as in figure 81E, F. Hemelytron: Short to moderately elongate, corial margin nearly straight to weakly convex. GENITALIA (figs. 82–91, pl. 29): Pygophore: Apical portion elongate triangular with truncate posterior margin; rarely left margin of aperture with small flange. Endosoma: Sigmoid, rarely J-shaped; usually of moderately large size, rarely large, with at least one prominent lateral spine proximal or distal to secondary gonopore and with conspicuous, partially sclerotized, flattened, apical plate of variable conformation, beset with numerous surface and marginal microtrichia and usually supporting billowing or conforming membrane; middle of endosoma sometimes with variable shorter spine, usually laterally directed; secondary gonopore strongly sclerotized, usually situated subapically or rarely apically, within interstrap region. Phallotheca: Usually with two parallel ridges on dorsoposterior surface, dorsal aspect usually compressed and with strongly sclerotized crest; elongate ovoid aperture situated on anterior surface; aperture usually attenuate distad. Parameres: Left paramere typically phyline, dorsoposterior margin not elevated above posterior and anterior processes, sometimes posterior margin enlarged and projecting posteriad; posterior process slender and straight or slightly deflected; anterior process relatively long, prominent seta—when present—situated on process. Right paramere usually small, somewhat swollen and lanceolate with one median terminal point; sometimes point or prominence lateral, rarely paramere with broadly flattened apex on posterior angle.

FEMALE (pl. 28): Coloration and structure as in male, except eyes somewhat smaller, costal margin of hemelytron more strongly convex, and body form more strongly ovoid; total length 2.32–3.35, pronotum width 0.80– 1.05. GENITALIA (pl. 54): Subgenital plate of sternite 6: Concave medially. Vestibular sclerites: Very large, reaching beyond anterior margin by distance equal to length of dorsal labiate plate to just surpassing dorsal labiate plate. First gonapophyses: Very large to medi ‐ um-sized wedge-shaped basal blocks. Ventral labiate plate: Large, wide, with nautiloid structure and undulate bifid surface to wide platelike medial anteroventral extension, spanning lateral of anterior surface of basal structures. Dorsal labiate plate: Very long, shield shaped. Sclerotized rings: Large, sub ‐ circular, gently concave, relatively thick walled. Posteromedial region: Surface without obvious microstructure. Anterolateral region: Exceeding anterior margin by one-half width of sclerotized ring. Posterior wall: Intersegmental structure: Wide, transverse, broadly prominent outpocket situated in middle of connecting membrane. Interramal sclerites: Well sclerotized, lateral sclerites wide, medial sclerite shield shaped.

ETYMOLOGY: From the Latin, spina, “thorn,” and vesica, in reference to the distinctive lateral spine on the endosoma, usually subtending the secondary gonopore. Gender feminine.

DISCUSSION: The endosoma in Spinivesica shows substantial variability in the placement and structure of the spines. All species except S. spiculata , have a prominent, dorsally placed spine originating near the secondary gonopore. This spine is usually directed apically except in S. mardathuna and S. tompricensis , where the spine is directed laterally.

Many species possess an additional prominent laterally directed spine placed near the midpoint of the endosoma proximad of the secondary gonopore; this spine is long in S. crenulata , S. eremophilicola , and S. eremophiloides , but short in S. mardathuna and S. tompricensis . Additionally, the position of the secondary gonopore is variable along the apical half of the endosoma, subapical in most species but nearly apical in S. pardalota and S. witchelina , or faintly sclerotized and of indeterminate position in S. spiculata . Regardless of the placement of prominent spines and the secondary gonopore, all the species we place in Spinivesica have a conspicuous flat apical sclerite of variable configuration beset with numerous microtrichia. In the diagnoses and descriptions presented below we have described the nature of the spines, but have not necessarily tried to lay out a theory of homology for all of the observed structures.