Eremophylus hirtus Yasunaga, 2001

Yasunaga, Tomohide, 2022, The plant bug subfamily Phylinae in Japan, with key to genera and descriptions of eight new species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae), Zootaxa 5094 (1), pp. 1-52 : 8

Eremophylus hirtus Yasunaga, 2001

( Figs. 1F ; 2 A−B; 3A, C; 4A; 16; 18A−G; 19A−H)

Material examined. Holotype (♂). JAPAN: Shikoku, Kochi Pref., Nishikuma Valley [= current Kami City, Monobe Town, Kubokage], 33.80, 133.98, UV lighting, 15 Jul 2000, M. Takai ( TYCN) ( AMNH _ PBI 00380694 ) . Paratypes: JAPAN: Honshu, Tokyo, Mt. Takao [Hachioji City], 35.63, 139.25, 25 May 1959, T. Maenami, 1♂ ( NIAES) (0038695). Shikoku: Same data as for holotype, 1♂ ( TYCN) . Additional material examined. JAPAN: Honshu, Nagano Pref., Matsumoto City, Azumi , Japan Alps , Kamikochi , 36.25, 137.67, 1,500 m alt., 4Aug 2004, M. Takai, 1♀ (00380696) ( TYCN). Shikoku: Same data as for holotype, except for date 22 Jul 2001, 5♂ 8♀ ( TYCN) .

Diagnosis. Recognized readily by its scorched brown, elongate-ovoid, medium-sized body ( Figs. 1F , 2A ); dense vestiture on dorsum; large dark spots on pale brown ventral surface of metafemur ( Fig. 2B ); uniformly darkened metatibia; and median protuberance and relatively thick subapical branch of vesica ( Figs. 4A , 19C ), in addition to the characters suggested in above generic diagnosis.

Description. Female: Similar to male in overall appearance and surface structure; no significant sexual dimorphism present. Peritreme on metathoracic scent efferent system relatively large ( Fig. 18E ). Metafemur longer than antennal segment II; meta-tarsomere III slightly longer than II; parempodia hair-like; pulvilli weak ( Fig. 18F ). Genitalia ( Figs. 3A, C , 19D–G ): Sclerotized rings oval ( Figs. 3A , 19D ); ovipositor (gonapophysis) I swordlike, slender ( Fig. 3C ); posterior wall as long as wide ( Fig. 19D ), with distinctly spinulate interramal sclerite ( Fig. 19G ).

Measurements: See Table 1 .

Biology. Unknown; the adults were occasionally attracted to UV light at deciduous broadleaf forests. Collection records suggest E. hirtus has a univoltine life cycle.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitat (A–B) and habitus images of living individuals (C–F) of Eremophylus spp. A–B. Phellodendron amurense, confirmed host plant of Eremophylus nakagawai n. sp. C. E. nakagawai n. sp., male. D. Same, female. E. Same, 5th instar nymph. F. E. hirtus, holotype male. Images courtesy of Y. Nakagawa, Akita (A–E) and M. Takai, Kochi (F).

FIGURE 2. Dorsal (A, C, F, H) and ventral (B, D, E, G, I) habitus images of Eremophylus spp. A–B. E. hirtus, female. C–D. E. nakagawai sp. n., male. E. Same, partly paler variant. F–G. Same, female. H–I. Same, paler variant.

FIGURE 3. Female genitalia of Eremophylus hirtus (A, C), Er. nakagawai (B, D), Europiella isodonicola (E) and Eu. miyamotoi (F). A–B. Bursa copulatrix, ventral view. C–D. Ovipositor (gonapophysis I). E–F. Bursa copulatrix with ovipositors, ventral view. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 4. Male genitalia of Eremophylus hirtus (A), Er. nakagawai (B–D), Europiella artemisiae (E) and Eu. docolor (F). A–B, E–F. Vesica (endosoma). C. Left paramere. D. Right paramere. Scale bars 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 18. Scanning electron micrographs for Eremophylus hirtus (A−G) and P. nakagawai n. sp. (H−O). A, D, H. Left lateral habitus. B, I, J. Dorsal habitus. K. Ventral habitus. C. Corium. E, M. Thoracic pleura, left lateral view. F, N, O. Metatarsus. G, L. Apex of labium.

FIGURE 19. Scanning electron micrographs for male (A−C, I−L) and female (D−H, M−P) genitalia of Eremophylus hirtus (A−H) and P. nakagawai n. sp. (I−P). A−B, I−J. Genital segment (pygophore). C, K−L. Vesica. D, M. Bursa copulatrix, dorsal view. E−G, O−P. Posterior wall (G: interramal lobe). H. Apex of ovipositor (gonapophysis I). N. Sclerotized rings. Abbreviations—bv: broken vesica, IRS: interramal sclerite, LP: left paramere, PMS: posterior margin sclerite, PT: phallotheca, RP: right paramere, SCR: sclerotized rings.