Nicostratus frontmaculus, Xu, Jing-Yang & Liu, Guo-Qing, 2007

Xu, Jing-Yang & Liu, Guo-Qing, 2007, The genus Nicostratus Distant from China (Hemiptera: Miridae: Deraeocorinae), Zootaxa 1467, pp. 63-68 : 65-66

Nicostratus frontmaculus sp. nov.

( Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 , 9 A–C)

Type specimens: Holotype male, CHINA: Menghai (100°25'E, 21°56'N), Yunnan Province, alt. 1177m, 6. X. 1979, Huanguang Zou leg.. Paratypes: 1 male, 1 female, same data as holotype.

Diagnosis: Recognized by its small size and myrmecomorphic shape, the general yellowish-brown coloration, distinct spots on its forehead, length of antennal segment II almost equal to head width (including eyes), basal half portion of hemelytra pale yellowish brown, scutellum slightly elevated and with coarse blackish brown punctures, and male genitalia distinctively different from those of other Nicostratus : left paramere with almost quadrate sensory lobe, and vesica with a sclerotized spine. Like N. minor China & Carvalho from Borneo in habitus and body size, N. frontmaculus also has the scutellum elevated slightly. But N. frontmaculus can be distinguished by the following characters: eye width as wide as vertex in male; antennal segment II almost as long as head width (including eyes); middle portion of antennal segment III reddish brown; sensory lobe of left paramere quadrate. The new species is also similar to N. sinicus Hsiao & Ren from China and N. luteus China & Carvalho from Thailand; but in the latter two the scutellum is strongly elevated.

Description: Male ( Fig. 1 ): Body shining, yellowish brown covered sparsely with pale hairs.

Head globose, shining, width about as long as length; frons with distinct reddish brown lateral elevations; vertex sparsely covered with pale hairs; eyes dark brown, oval, width longer than length in lateral view. Antennae yellowish brown, with dense pale pubescence, segment I cylindrical, with a reddish brown ring near base, slightly narrowed; segment II dark, with a reddish brown ring near apex, incrassate towards apex; segment III with reddish brown band at middle; segment IV blackish brown, thinner towards apex. Rostrum yellowish brown, extending to procoxae.

Pronotum shining, without punctures, anterior lobe narrowed and posterior lobe elevated, globose; collar pale yellow, anterior and posterior margins reddish brown; calli divergent, tuberculous, separated, pointed ( Fig. 3 ); posterior lateral margins pale yellow, posterior margins concavely sinuate; propleura sparsely punctate.

Scutellum triangular tubercle, reddish brown, elevated slightly; dorsal portion triangular, moderately declivous, with sparsely coarse blackish brown punctures, lateral margins yellowish white.

Hemelytra shining, sparsely covered with coarse reddish brown punctures, basal half pale yellowish brown, apical portion reddish brown; cuneus reddish brown, with sparsely beset with punctures; membranes brown, with pale band near cuneus, veins brown. Legs reddish brown, basal 1/3 of femora and apical 1/3 of tibiae yellowish brown.

Venter reddish brown, with sparse pale pubescence. Ostiolar peritreme pale yellowish white.

Male genitalia: Left paramere ( Fig.9 C) strong, sensory lobe developed, quadrate, with sparse long hairs, hypophysis bent, sharp; right paramere ( Fig.9 A) small, apical portion bent, apex sharp; vesica ( Fig.9 B) with one slender membranous lobe and a sclerotized appendage.

Female ( Fig. 2 ): Coloration as in male, except legs with larger yellowish brown portions. Calli higher than male, apex of elevated calli pointed slightly ( Fig. 4 ).

Distribution: China (Yunnan).

Etymology: Named for the distinct spots on its frons.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Male genitalia of Nicostratus spp. A – C. Nicostratus frontmaculus sp. nov. A. Right paramere; B. Vesica; C. Left paramere. D – F. Nicostratus sinicus Hsiao & Ren. D. Right paramere; E. Vesica; F. Left paramere.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Nicostratus frontmaculus sp. nov. 1. male, dorsal view; 2. female, dorsal view; 3. male, lateral view; 4. female, lateral view. Scale bar: 1.0 mm