Tytthus pallidus Henry

Henry, Thomas J., 2012, Revision of the Plant Bug Genus Tytthus (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae, Phylinae), ZooKeys 220, pp. 1-114 : 47

Tytthus pallidus Henry sp. n. Figs 28, 29160-163

Diagnosis.

This species is recognized by the combination of the dark brown head, pronotum, and scutellum; the pale antennal segment I, with only the base fuscous, the brown antennal segment II; and the uniformly pale yellow legs. All known specimens are macropterous.

Tytthus pallidus keys out with Tytthus piceus based on the pale antennal segment I and the pale hemelytra with smoky-brown shading. It can be distinguished from Tytthus piceus by the broader head, the longer antennal segment I that is longer than the interocular width, and the less prominent calli lacking a glaucous sheen.

Description.

Holotype male (Fig. 28): Length to apex of hemelytron 2.88 mm, length to base of cuneus 2.21 mm, width across hemelytra 0.88 mm. Head: Length 0.35 mm, width across eyes 0.61 mm, interocular width 0.29 mm. Labium: Length 1.31 mm. Antenna: Segment I length 0.35 mm, II 1.22 mm, III and IV missing. Pronotum: Length 0.35 mm, basal width 0.75 mm.

Coloration: Head: Uniformly dark brown; pale interocular spot found in all other species apparently absent; fuscous to dark reddish brown. Labium: Pale brownish yellow. Antenna: Segment I uniformly pale yellow, with a dark brown or fuscous ring at base; segments II–IV dark brown. Pronotum: Uniformly dark brown. Mesoscutum: Uniformly dark brown. Scutellum: Uniformly dark brown. Hemelyton: Uniformly pale translucent brown. Ostiolar evaporative area: Dark brown to fuscous. Ventral surface: Thorax dark brown to dark reddish brown; abdomen dark reddish brown on segment II, III, and genital capsule, slightly paler in between. Legs: Coxa pale yellow, reddish brown at bases; femora, tibiae, tarsi, and claws uniformly pale yellow.

Structure, texture, and vestiture: Antenna: Segment I set with a few, scattered, recumbent setae and two erect, subapical, bristlelike setae. Labium: Extending beyond metacoxae to abdominal segment II or III. Pronotum: Shiny, impunctate; anterior angles rounded; lateral margins weakly concave, flaring at posterior angles; posterior margin distinctly sinuate; calli weakly swollen; set with relatively long, semierect setae. Mesoscutum: Impunctate, broadly exposed; with a few scattered semierect setae. Scutellum: Weakly shining, impunctate; equilateral; set with scattered, semierect setae. Hemelytra: Macropterous, cuneus and membrane fully developed, extending well beyond apex of abdomen.

Male genitalia: Left paramere (Fig. 160): Mitt-shaped; right arm long, broad, apically blunt; left arm short, apically acute. Right paramere (Fig. 161): Round. Endosoma: Teneral and damaged; not drawn. Phallotheca (Fig. 162): slender, apically acute.

Female (n = 4) (Fig. 29): Length to apex of hemelytron 2.69-3.33 mm, length to base of cuneus 2.05-2.40 mm, width across hemelytra 0.82-1.02 mm. Head: Length 0.32-0.38 mm, width across eyes 0.56-0.64 mm, interocular width 0.29-0.30 mm. Labium: Length 1.12-1.44 mm. Antenna: Segment I length 0.26-0.34 mm, II 0.85-1.23 mm, III 0.61-0.78 mm, IV 0.51-0.56 mm. Pronotum: Length 0.29-0.37 mm, basal width 0.69-0.85 mm.

Etymology.

The specific epithet “pallidus” refers to the characteristic pale yellow first antennal segment.

Host.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Known from Brazil and Panama.

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (00162199) (USNM): PANAMA:Darien: [Pinogana District], El Real, 19 Mar. 1953, F. S. Blanton, 1 ♂ (USNM). El Real, 08 Aug 1952, F. S. Blanton, 2 ♀♀ (00161392, 00161393) (USNM). Paratypes:BRAZIL: Amazonas: Reserva Ducke, 25 km NNE of Manaus, 120 m, 26 Jul 1973, R.T. Schuh, 2 ♀♀ (00165829) (AMNH).