Miyamotolygus rufilorum Yasunaga & Schwartz & Chérot 2018, comb. nov.
Creators: name: Yasunaga, Tomohide
name: Schwartz, Michael D.
name: Chérot, Frédéric
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Miridae
Miyamotolygus
Miyamotolygus rufilorum

description: Miyamotolygus rufilorum (Lu & Zheng, 1998) comb. nov.
(Figs 62–63, 87–89, 147–152, 159–163)
Lygocoris (Neolygus) rufilorum Lu & Zheng, 1998a: 3 (original description).
Lygocoris (Neolygus) rufilorum: KERZHNER & JOSIFOV (1999): 116 (catalog).
Neolygus rufilori [incorrect subsequent spelling]: ZHENG et al. (2004): 418 (new combination, diagnosis, key).
Prolygus near tainanensis (misidentification): NOZAKI et al. (2016): 80 (faunal list).
Material examined. JAPAN: KYUSHU: Kumamoto Pref., Amakusa City, Tsuruha-yama Park, 32.15, 130.04, sweeping inflorescence of Rhus javanica, 12 Sep 2015, T. Nozaki, 2 ♁♁ 2 ♀♀ (NIAES, TYCN) (1 ♁, AMNH _PBI 00380508). TAIWAN: KAGI: Fenchihu, 23.50, 120.69, 10. Apr 1965, T. Shirozu, 1 ♁ (TYCN) (AMNH _PBI 00380509). NEPAL: KATHMANDU VALLEY: Samakhusi, Gongabu, 27°43 ′ 59.5 ″ N, 85°18 ′ 49 ″ E, 1,300 m, UV light trap, 31 May 2005, T.Yasunaga 1♁ 1♀ (TYCN) (1♁, AMNH _PBI 00380510); Swayambhu, 27°43 ′ N, 85°15 ′ E, on flowers of broadleaf trees, 15 May 2005,T.Yasunaga, 1♁ 1♀ (TYCN); Bhaktapur, Balkot, 27.66, 85.37, 8 May 2006, Ligustrum inflorescence, T.Yasunaga & R. K. Duwal, 1 ♁ (NMTU). THAILAND: CHIANG MAI: Doi Chiang Khian, near Doi Suthep, 16–17 Nov 1989, T. Yasunaga, 1 ♁ (TYCN); Doi Pui, 1,400 m, 18.80, 98.80, 15 May 2001, S. Sakurai, 1 ♁ (TYCN) (AMNH _PBI 00380511).
Measurements (in mm). ♁/ ♀: Total length of body 3.95– 4.18 / 4.45–4.50; head width including eyes 0.99–1.01 / 1.00–1.01; vertex width 0.25–0.29 / 0.31–0.32; lengths of antennal segments I–IV 0.51–0.53, 1.60–1.70, 0.67–0.78, 0.49–0.54 / 0.52–0.53, 1.66–1.68, 0.87, 0.49–0.50; labial length 1.47–1.55 / 1.50; mesal length of pronotum including collar 0.87–0.90 / 0.87; basal width of pronotum 1.48–1.52 / 1.60–1.61; maximum width across hemelytron 1.78–1.80 / 1.95; and lengths of metafemur, tibia and tarsus 1.63–1.65, 2.25–2.33, 0.45–0.50 / 1.65, 2.40, 0.48.
Differential diagnosis. Recognized by generally pale green, ovoid body; red stripe on maxillary plate; dark or reddish apices of clavus and cuneus; and unique shape of male and female genitalia as in generic description. Detailed description of external structure was provided by LU & ZHENG (1998a). This mirine may be confused with Anthophilolygus bakeri (pale individual as in Fig. 57), Apolygus spinolae (Meyer-Dür, 1841) or Taylorilygus apicalis (Fieber, 1861), from which M. rufilorum can be readily distinguished by maxillary plate with red stripe.
Biology. This mirid has been collected by UV-lighting as well as sweep-netting inflorescences of various broadleaf angiosperms. Teneral adults were collected by sweep- netting inflorescence of Rhus javanica L. (Anacardiaceae) which is presumed to be a breeding host as some teneral adults co-occurred (Nozaki, personal communication). One generation per year is assumed for populations in temperate climatic zones (Kyushu, Japan and Kathmandu Valley, Nepal).
Distribution. Japan (Kyushu) (new record), Nepal (Kathmandu Valley) (new record), P. R. China (Fujian, Guanxi, Yunnan, Zejiang) (LU & ZHENG 1998a), Taiwan (Kagi) and Thailand (Chiang Mai) (new records).
Comments. This unique mirine was recently reported from Kumamoto, Japan as ‘ Prolygus near tainanensis ’(NOZAKI et al. 2016) based on the image available on the NMNS website (Fig. 65). But subsequent closer examination of specimens offered by Nozaki finally made it possible to elucidate the identity of Prolygus tainanensis (actually the junior synonym of Anthophilolygus bakeri) and proper generic placement for Miyamotolygus rufilorum. This small misidentification, which produced unexpected, bigger findings, was a starting point of this lengthy paper. We encourage many more investigations on basic faunas by such enthusiastic amateur researchers (e.g., NOZAKI et al. 2015, 2016), although we are not certain how to draw the borderline between amateur and professional entomologists.
The female of Miyamotolygus rufilorum (Fig. 63) superficially quite resembles pale variant of Anthophilolygus bakeri (Fig. 54). The male of the former can rather easily be distinguished from the latter by the red stripe on maxillary plate and uniformly pale scutellum and anterior hemelytron that lack dark fascia; in female, the former has the red stripe on the maxillary plate. Usually, M. rufilorum is larger than A. bakeri.
description: Published as part of Yasunaga, Tomohide, Schwartz, Michael D. & Chérot, Frédéric, 2018, Review of the plant bug genus Prolygus and related mirine taxa from eastern Asia (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae), pp. 357-388 in Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 58 (2) on pages 380-382, DOI: 10.2478/aemnp-2018-0030, http://zenodo.org/record/4504807