Isometopus (Jehania) mahal Distant, 1911

Yeshwanth, H. M., Chérot, F. & Henry, T. J., 2021, The Isometopinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) of India and Sri Lanka: A Review of the Subfamily, with Descriptions of Six New Species, Zootaxa 4903 (2), pp. 151-193 : 161

Isometopus (Jehania) mahal Distant, 1911

( Figs. 2B , 6D , 9 C–D, 10A, 19D–F)

Jehania mahal Distant, 1911: 294 (as new species, DV). Synonymized with Isometopus mirificus Mulsant & Rey by Carvalho 1951: 391.

Isometopus (Jehania) mahal: Akingbohungbe 1996: 62 (resurrected from synonymy with I. mirificus ); Yasunaga & H a y a s h i 2002: 99, 100 (recorded from Japan, DV); Schuh 2002 –2013 (online catalogue, as synonym of I. mirificus ).

Diagnosis. Small, greyish-white species, length 2.2 mm. Colouration: Head shiny with a reddish-brown patch medially on the frons. Ocelli reddish. Antennal segments I and II white dorsally and pale brown ventrally; segment III and IV pale brown. Pronotum with anterior part medially and lateral margins yellowish to pale brown, remainder darker brown. Mesoscutum dark brown, with lateral margins brown. Scutellum pale brown on basal 1/3 rd and white toward apex. Clavus near apex pale brown; corium with more than basal half brown; cuneus white; membrane pale brown. Legs with basal 3/4th of fore and mid femur white, apical 1/3 rd pale brown; hind femur white with a median pale brown marking. Head shiny, smooth; pronotum and hemelytra having prominent punctures, with semierect setae; cuneus broadly triangular, with prominent cuneal commissure. Detailed measurements: See Table 1 .

Type material examined. India: Syntype (♀), West Bengal (as “ E. Himalayas ”), Darjeeling, Kurseong, 400 feet, among lichens on tree-trunk, Annandale N. Leg. ( BMNH) .

Other specimens examined: InDIa: 2♀, Karnataka, Bangalore , GKVK, 21.vii.2011, ex: bark, Yeshwanth, H. M. leg. ; 2♀: Chikkaballapura, Nandi Hills , 18.vii.2015, ex: Grewia sp. bark, Yeshwanth, H. M. leg. ( UASB) ; 6♀ Bengaluru , GKVK, 23.i.2020, Yeshwanth, H. M. leg. ex: Pongamia pinnata bark .

Distribution. India (Karnataka and West Bengal).

Biology. Nymphs and adults were collected on Grewia sp. ( Malvaceae ) and Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre ( Fabaceae ), with lichens on bark ( Figs. 19 D–F).

Discussion. Although the habitus and, particularly, the colour pattern of both species are similar, I. mahal Distant, 1911 differs from I. mirificus Mulsant & Rey, 1872 by the absence of a short gula in females and the vertical head in frontal view ––two states “typical” of the subgenus Jehania , according to Akingbohungbe (1996), but also by the less strongly explanate and arcuate pronotal lateral margins and the rounded anterior angles of pronotum, barely produced anteriorly and never partially surrounding eyes laterally. The non-type Indian specimens agrees with I. mahal in these character states but have a different pronotal and hemelytral color pattern than the drawing of J. mahal by Distant (1911) and photographs of I. mahal from Japan by Yasunaga & Hayashi (2002). The sig-nificance of such differences remains difficult to interpret. It could be only intraspecific variability. However, we cannot exclude the presence of multiple, closely related species that are impossible to clearly separate based on the material available to us. The relationships between I. mahal and I. mirificus (particularly if the differences between both sexes of European I. mirificus are considered) and the taxonomic validity of the subgenus Jehania need more detailed study.

Figures

FIGURES 2. Indian Isometopinae: Isometopini. Habitus in dorsal view.A. Isometopus cuneatus (Distant, 1904). B. Isometopus mahal Distant, 1911. C. Isometopus webbi, n. sp. D. Isometopus wolskii, n. sp. E. Isometopus yoshizawai Yasunaga and Duwal, 2006. F. Paloniella feana (Distant, 1904).

FIGURES 6. Indian Isometopinae: Gigantometopini, Isometopini and Myiommini. Head in frontal view.A. Astroscopometopus hesaraghattaensis, n. sp. B. Nymph of Astroscopometopus hesaraghattaensis, n sp. C. Isometopus cuneatus (Distant, 1904). D. Isometopus mahal Distant, 1911. E. Isometopus webbi, n. sp. F. Isometopus wolskii, n. sp. G. Isometopus yoshizawai Yasunaga and Duwal, 2006. H. Paloniella feana (Distant, 1904). I. Paloniella parallela Yasunaga & Hayashi, 2002. J. Isometopidea viraktamathi, n. sp. K. Myiomma belavadii, n. sp. L. Myiomma ramamurthyi, n sp.

FIGURES 9. Historical types of Isometopinae Isometopini and Myiommini mentioned in the text. A. Holotype of Isometopus cuneatus (Distant, 1904) in dorsal view. B. Labels. C. Holotype of Isometopus mahal Distant, 1911 in dorsal view. D. Labels. E–G. Holotype of Isometopus feanus Distant, 1904. E. Dorsal view. F. Ventral view. G. Lateral view. H. Label. I–J. Holotype of Alcerocoris globosus Carvalho, 1951 in dorsal view. J. Labels.

FIGURES 19. Indian Isometopinae Isometopini alive. A–C. Isometopus yoshizawai Yasunaga and Duwal, 2006. D–F. Nymph (D) and adults (D, F) of Isometopus mahal Distant, 1911.