Pilophoropsis bejeanae Henry

Henry, Thomas J., 2015, Revision of the Ceratocapsine Renodaeus group: Marinonicoris, Pilophoropsis, Renodaeus, and Zanchisme, with descriptions of four new genera (Heteroptera, Miridae, Orthotylinae), ZooKeys 490, pp. 1-156 : 68-69

Taxon classification Animalia Hemiptera Miridae

Pilophoropsis bejeanae Henry sp. n. Figs 73, 260-262

Diagnosis.

This species (Fig. 73) is distinguished by the small size and the male genitalia, particularly the left paramere (Fig. 260) with two middle processes, the sharply C-shaped right paramere (Fig. 262) similar to that of Pilophoropsis brachyptera , and the short, stout, decurved apical process of the phallotheca (Fig. 261).

Description.

Male (n = 2; holotype measurements in parentheses): Length 3.08 mm (2.80 mm), width 0.96 mm (0.94 mm). Head: Width 0.66 mm (0.64 mm), interocular width 0.30 mm (0.28 mm). Labium: Length 0.86 mm (0.82 mm). Antenna: Segment I, length 0.20 mm (0.18 mm); II, 0.58 mm (0.54 mm); III, 0.34 mm (0.32 mm); IV, 0.34 mm (0.30 mm). Pronotum: Length 0.62 mm (0.60 mm), basal width 0.90 mm (0.88 mm).

Coloration: Head: Pale reddish brown to fuscous, holotype paler, with small red marks on vertex, frons, clypeus, and bucculae. Antenna: Segment I pale brown, with two red marks, one across basal third extending distally and ending before apex and one short mark on opposite side of apical third; segment II slender, gradually enlarging apically, brown, paler on apical half to apical two thirds, pubescence short, pale, recumbent; segments III and IVreddish brown. Pronotum: Reddish brown to fuscous. Scutellum: Reddish brown to fuscous. Hemelytron: Pale brown, darker brown on outer two thirds of clavus and apical third of corium, cuneus red to reddish brown; membrane brown. Ventral surface: Reddish brown to fuscous. Ostiolar evaporative area: Uniformly white. Legs: Coxae whitish, bases of middle and hind coxae and apex of fore coxae reddish brown; femora brown, basal half of middle femur pale, base of remaining hind femur obscured by body and glue; tibiae brown to reddish brown, pale on apical half; tarsi and claws pale brown.

Structure, texture, and vestiture: Head: Shiny, frons weakly rugose. Labium: Extending to middle coxae. Pronotum: Anterior third narrowed nearly half as wide as base, convex, disc strongly shining, calli granulate, depressed and weakly punctate between, flattened anterior collar-like area seen in other species indistinct or absent; with only scattered, short, recumbent simple setae. Scutellum: Dull, with a broad band of silvery scale-like setae across middle. Hemelytron: Dull, cuneus and embolium polished; with bands of silvery, scale-like setae, one across base of clavus (and continuous with that on scutellum) and a broader one across apical third of corium, three narrow, short bands on apical third of clavus, and two short, narrow, somewhat broken patches on basal third of corium adjacent to embolium; intermixed with widely set, erect, stout, black, bristle-like setae on clavus and corium. Ventral surface: Shiny; abdomen with long erect and semierect pale setae.

Male genitalia: Aperture large, without marginal spines. Left paramere (Fig. 260) with a large, triangular apical process and two middle processes, one apically acute, one stout and decurved, and one slender. Right paramere (Fig. 262) C-shaped with a large, dorsally directed, apically serrate, lateral arm. Phallotheca (Fig. 261) slender, with a short, decurved, apical hook.

Female: Unknown.

Etymology.

I name this new species after my late mother, Betty Jean Vitello Walker, who always provided strong support for my interests in natural history that developed at an early age. The specific epithet comes from her affectionate account of my Italian grandfather’s accented pronunciation of her name, “Be-Jean”.

Distribution.

Known only from Sonora, Mexico; also intercepted in commerce at Nogales, Arizona [a border city across from the Mexican state of Sonora], from an unspecified locality in Mexico.

Host.

Unknown.

Discussion.

The male genitalia of this species are most similar to those of Pilophoropsis brachyptera , but they differ in the shape of the middle processes on the left paramere (Fig. 262), certain fine details in the right paramere (Fig. 262), and the much shorter, stouter, apical process on the phallotheca (Fig. 261).

Type material.

Holotype ♂, MEXICO: Intercepted at Nogales, Arizona, from Mexico, XII-29-41, coll. unknown, on tomato (00162226) (USNM). Paratype: MEXICO: Intercepted at Nogales, Arizona, 11 Apr 1966, coll. unknown, on tomato, 1♂ (00285719) (USNM). Mexico, Sonora, sand dunes at Huatabampito, 22 Apr. 1974, Derham Giuliani, 1♂ (CAFA).