Leucodellus variegatus ( Duwal, Yasunaga & Lee, 2010 ) Duwal, Yasunaga & Lee, 2010

Konstantinov, Fedor V., 2012, Leucodellus Reuter, 1906 (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylini): key to species, revised species composition and diagnosis, Zootaxa 3157, pp. 18-30 : 24

Leucodellus variegatus ( Duwal, Yasunaga & Lee, 2010) comb. nov.

Figures 9 , 16

Leucophylus variegatus Duwal, Yasunaga & Lee 2010: 24 .

Material examined. Paratypes: NEPAL: Bagmati: Kathmandu District Co.: Bhaktapur, Dadhikot, 27.38219 ° N 85.23594 ° E, 1408 m, 22 May 2007, R. K. Duwal, Artemisia sp. ( Asteraceae ), 23 ( AMNH _PBI 00383607), 2Ƥ ( AMNH _PBI 00383597) ( SNUK).

Diagnosis. Recognized by the relatively small size, 3.1–3.8 male, 3.0–3.5 female, dorsum usually partly covered with minute brown spots, venter of hind femora with a series of dark spots along fore margin ( Fig. 9 ), pale bases of all tibiae and tibial spines, middle-sized vesica strongly narrowing and abruptly curving distal to secondary gonopore, membranous lobe around secondary gonopore not projecting, apically with 1–2 irregular rows of denticles along outer edge, spatula-shaped small blade of vesica, located close to secondary gonopore and apically almost adjoining to large blade, lanceolate large blade, flattened and somewhat widened at middle. Most similar to L. pallescens and L. xizangensis in size, coloration and shape of small blade but differing from both species in the location of secondary gonopore, distinct narrowing and curving of vesica distal to secondary gonopore, presence of dark spots on dorsum and other characters mentioned in the key.

Distribution. Temperate and subboreal zones of Nepal ( Duwal, Yasunaga & Lee 2010).

Host. Artemisia sp. ( Asteraceae ).

Discussion. Two alternative spellings of the specific epithet were given in the original description, namely variegates and variegatus ; the latter is selected here as the correct one.

Figures

FIGURES 6 – 11. Color pattern on ventral side of hind femur in males of Leucodellus spp. 6 — L. albidus; 7 — L. amygdali; 8 — L. pallescens; 9 — L. variegatus; 10 — L. xizangensis; 11 — L. zagdani.

FIGURES 12 – 17. Vesicae of Leucodellus spp. 12 — L. albidus; 13 — L. amygdali; 14 — L. zagdani; 15 — L. pallescens; 16 — L. variegatus; 17 — L. xizangensis.