Dampierella, TATARNIC, 2009

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 : 585

DAMPIERELLA TATARNIC ( FIGS 3 , 17–18 )

Dampierella Tatarnic, 2009: 47 (gen. nov.; type species: Dampierella schwartzi Tatarnic, 2009 ).

Diagnosis: Dampierella is superficially similar to Halticus but may be distinguished by the much shorter head height, the presence of a welldeveloped endosoma with a single spine-like spicule, and lack of wing reduction in either sex. The genitalia of both sexes are typical of the Halticini , with the left paramere bearing a thin apical apophysis, the right paramere elongate and clubbed, the female posterior wall lacking inter-ramal lobes, and the vestibulum weakly sclerotized and bilaterally symmetrical. However, unlike in most other halticines, the base of the left paramere is not elongate, a trait shared with another endemic Australian genus, Goodeniaphila .

Diversity and distribution: Dampierella is a monotypic genus, with all specimens collected from two localities in north-west Western Australia.

Included species: Dampierella schwartzi Tatarnic, 2009 * Australia

Biology and host plant associations: Dampierella has only been collected from the plant Dampiera incana var. incana R.Br. (Goodeniaceae) ( Table 1).

Remarks: This is one of two halticine genera endemic to Australia, the other being Goodeniaphila , both of which are found only on the plant family Goodeniaceae . Our phylogeny places these genera as sister taxa, based on several homoplasious characters and one unambiguous synapomorphy (48-2: the base of the right paramere is elongate, whereas that of left paramere is much shorter). A complete description can be found in Tatarnic (2009).

Figures

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

Figure 17. Scanning electron micrograph images of Dampierella schwartzi (male). A, dorsum; B, head, anterior view; C, head and prothorax, lateral view; D, meso- and metathorax, lateral view; E, pygophore, posterior view; F, pygophore, posteroventral view; G, pygophore, lateral view; H, pretarsus. Modified from Tatarnic (2009).

Figure 18. Male and female genitalia of Dampierella schwartzi. A, left paramere; B, right paramere; C, aedeagus; D, bursa copulatrix, dorsal view; E, posterior wall. Modified from Tatarnic (2009).