Proteophylus acaciae, Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016

Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016, Nineteen new genera and 82 new species of Cremnorrhinina from Australia, including analyses of host relationships and distributions (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylininae: Cremnorrhinini), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 401, pp. 1-279 : 165-166

Proteophylus acaciae , new species

Figure 71, map 19, table 1, plates 24, 25

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the small size, somewhat flattened body form, entirely black coloration, and reclining simple setae on dorsum; antennal segment 2 weakly swollen (pl. 24); endosoma narrow beyond small secondary gonopore, with small, somewhat hooked apical spine and narrow, marginally serrate lateral sclerite, merging with base of hooked spine (fig. 71, pl. 25). Most similar in coloration to P. grevilleae , but body more strongly cylindrical in that species, antennal segment 2 swollen, setae on dorsum simple and lepidote rather than just simple, and endosoma with prominent secondary gonopore and region distad of secondary gonopore short with small apical spine and variable field of spicules.

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Mean total length 2.33, mean pronotum width 0.76. COLORATION (pl. 24): Almost completely black, including appendages, except for lighter inner angle of cuneus. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 24): Dorsum smooth, polished, weakly shining; dorsal vestiture with recumbent, simple, dark setae. STRUCTURE: Body form somewhat flattened, not as robust as in most of Proteophylus spp. Head (pl. 24): Globular, eyes relatively small, weakly protuberant; frons moderately swollen, projecting beyond anterior margin of eye in dorsal view by about one-half diameter of eye; clypeus barely visible in dorsal view; eyes occupying two-thirds height of head in lateral view; antenna inserted at ventral margin of eye, eye emar ‐ ginate at insertion; labium reaching apex of mesocoxa. Antenna: Segment 1 not enlarged, segment 2 slender, of uniform diameter over length, short (length 0.55), 1.06 times width of head. Thorax (pl. 24): Pronotum flattened, lateral and posterior margins nearly straight, posterior margin straight; calli weakly elevated; mesoscutum moderately exposed. Hemelytron: Corial margin nearly straight. GENITALIA (figs. 70D, 71, pl. 25): Pygophore: As in generic description. Endosoma: Somewhat bent to left and interstrap region wide medially in dorsal view; ventral strap extending beyond secondary gonopore and terminating in flattened apical plate with short hooked apex; dorsal strap extend ‐ ing beyond secondary gonopore as wide band with serrate right margin, extending distad and merging with ventral strap. Phallotheca: Dorsal crest relatively strongly produced. Parameres: As in generic description.

FEMALE (pl. 24): Coloration as in male; structure as in male, except eyes somewhat smaller and vertex broader, antennal segment 2 weakly tapered proximally, and cuneus and membrane shorter; mean total length 2.36, mean pronotum width 0.73.

ETYMOLOGY: Named after the fabaceous genus Acacia , host of this taxon.

HOST: Recorded from Acacia rossei (pl. 33B) ( Fabaceae ).

DISTRIBUTION (map 19): Known only from the type locality near Southern Cross, southwestern Western Australia.

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 13 km E of Southern Cross, 31.27367°S 119.4923°E, 400 m, 0 4 Dec 1997, Schuh, Cassis, Brailovsky, Asquith, Acacia rossei F. Muell. (Fabaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5056039, 1d (AMNH_PBI 00131004) (WAMP).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 13 km E of Southern Cross, 31.27367°S 119.4923°E, 400 m, 0 4 Dec 1997, Schuh, Cassis, Brailovsky, Asquith, Acacia rossei F. Muell. (Fabaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5056039, 8d (00087114, 0 0 0 87429, 0 0 390189– 00390194), 8♂ (00087115, 0 0 390196–00390202) (AM), 6d (00131001–0 0 131003, 0 0 131005, 0 0 131006, 00131009), 15♂ (00131010–0 0 131018, 0 0 131024–00131028) (AMNH), 3d (00131000, 0 0 131007, 00131008), 4♂ (00131019–00131023) (WAMP).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 13 km E of Southern Cross, 31.27367°S 119.4923°E, 400 m, 0 4 Dec 1997, Schuh, Cassis, Brailovsky, Asquith, Acacia rossei F. Muell. (Fabaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5056039, 1 nymph (00390195) (AM), 1 nymph (00411921) (AMNH).