Ectmetopterus, REUTER, 1906

Tatarnic, Nikolai J. & Cassis, Gerasimos, 2012, The Halticini of the world (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae): generic reclassification, phylogeny, and host plant associations, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 164 (3), pp. 558-658 : 596-599

ECTMETOPTERUS REUTER ( FIGS 3 , 24–25 )

Ectmetopterus Reuter, 1906: 59 [gen. nov. type species: Ectmetopterus angusticeps Reuter, 1906 by monotypy (junior synonym of Halticus micantulus Horváth, 1905 )]; Oshanin, 1910: 802 (cat.); Reuter, 1910: 147 (cat.); Hsiao, 1942: 253 (key); Carvalho, 1952: 73 (cat.); Carvalho, 1955: 65 (key); Carvalho, 1958: (10 cat.); Schuh, 1995: 52 (world cat.).

Diagnosis: Similar to Halticus and Microtechnites , but readily distinguished by its trifurcate left paramere and broad and flat right paramere.

Redescription: Macropterous. Coloration ( Fig. 3 ): generally black or brown, sometimes with brown and orange-brown markings. Surface and vestiture ( Figs 3 , 24A–H ): body smooth and impunctate, with both simple reclining setae and short scale-like setae. Setae on legs and antennae semi-erect and spine-like. Structure: head ( Figs 3 , 24A–D ): transverse, slightly broader than anterior of pronotum; vertex with shallow transverse depression, posterior margin thin and carinate; genae height greater than eye height; eye short and tall; frons steeply sloping; clypeus slightly projecting; maxillary plate swollen; buccula thin. Labium ( Fig. 24C, D ): LI swollen and elongate, approximately as long as genae height; labium reaches metacoxae. Antennae ( Figs 3 , 24A–D ): insertion in line with lower half of eye; longer than body, cylindrical; AI approximately as long as eye height; AII almost 1.5¥ as long as pronotal width; antennae longer than body length. Thorax ( Figs 3 , 24A, D, E ): pronotum trapezoidal, short, steep, collar thin, lateral margins weakly concave, humeral angles rounded, posterior margin thin, weakly declivent, straight to weakly medially cleft; mesoscutum not visible; metathoracic spiracle tear-drop shaped, surrounded with thin border of evaporative bodies extending up along posterior margin of mesepimeron; MTG external efferent system tear-drop shaped, angled posterodorsally, ostiole rounded and orientated laterally, peritreme tongue-like, tapered at apex. Hemelytra ( Fig. 3 ): costal margins evenly curved, broader subapically; clavus apically broadened; R + M vein long, extending almost to cuneus; membrane surpasses apex of abdomen. Legs ( Figs 3 , 24F ): metatibiae slightly swollen; pretarsi with pulvilli. Abdomen: parallel-sided, slightly broader in females. Male genitalia ( Figs 25A–C , 24G, H ): pygophore conical, posterior margin sinuate, deeply concave below left paramere; parameres with long, thick base; left paramere broad, L-shaped and trifurcate, with apex of first branching apophysis hooked, sometimes with apophyses slightly twisted; right paramere straight, flat, and broad, extends out of pygophore, apicolateral margins sometimes strongly recurved; phallotheca elongate-oval, tapering to apex; ductus seminis truncate, with flexible ribbing; secondary gonopore basally sclerotized, apically indistinct; endosoma with weakly sclerotized medial structure extending apically from secondary gonopore. Female genitalia ( Fig. 25D, E ): DLP unmodified; sclerotized rings widely separated, elongate-ovoid, diagonal, tapered laterally and medially, lateral margins slightly upturned; DLP with a thin transverse sclerotized band adjacent to juncture with posterior wall; margins of VLP sclerotized, medially membranous; posterior wall of bursa copulatrix membranous, medially and laterally with linear fields of spines, laterally with paired, swollen tumescences. Vestibulum symmetrical, swollen, and uniformly weakly sclerotized.

Diversity and distribution: All six species of Ectmetopterus are found in eastern Asia.

Included species: Ectmetopterus bicoloratus Kulik, 1965 * comb. nov. East Russia

Ectmetopterus comitans Josifov & Kerzhner, 1972 * comb. nov. East Russia

Ectmetopterus fuscosus Zou, 1985 comb. nov. China

Ectmetopterus maculipes Zou, 1985 comb. nov. China

Ectmetopterus micantulus ( Horváth, 1905) * East Asia

Ectmetopterus niger Zou, 1985 comb. nov. China

Biology and host plant associations: No information available.

Remarks: Based on similarities in male genitalia, herein we transfer to Ectmetopterus five species of Halticus : Ec. bicoloratus , Ec. comitans , Ec. fuscous , Ec. maculipes , and Ec. niger (all comb. nov.). As with Ec. micantulus , all of these species have East Asian distributions and very similar overall structure. The trifurcate left paramere, long and flat right paramere, and structure of the aedeagus clearly place them in this genus. This redescription is based on examination of Ec. micantulus , Ec. comitans , and Ec. bicoloratus . Although we have not seen the three Chinese species of Zou (1985), based on the descriptions and illustrations of the parameres they are congeneric with the above.

Figures

Figure 3. Photographs of Halticini genera: Acratheus–Halticus. Abbreviations: F, female; M, male.

Figure 24. Scanning electron micrograph images of Ectmetopterus micantulus (male). A, head and pronotum, dorsal view; B, head and pronotum, anterior view; C, head, ventral view; D, head and thorax, lateral view; E, thoracic pleura, lateral view; F, tarsus; G, pygophore, posterodorsal view; H, pygophore, ventral view.

Figure 25. Male and female genitalia of Ectmetopterus micantulus. A, aedeagus; B, left paramere; C, right paramere; D, bursa copulatrix, dorsal view; E, posterior wall; F, first gonapophyses, ventral view.