Physopelta (Neophysopelta) fusciscutellata Souma & Ishikawa 2021, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Souma, Jun
name: Ishikawa, Tadashi
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Largidae
Physopelta
Physopelta fusciscutellata

description: Physopelta (Neophysopelta) fusciscutellata sp. nov.
(Figs. 1C, D, 3B, 4B, 5G, 6E, 7E, 8E, 9E, 10E, 11E, 12E, 13D, 14D)
Physopelta cincticollis Stål, 1863: Esaki (1926: 157) (distribution); Miyamoto (1965b: 232) (distribution); Aukema et al. (2013: 401) (checklist: Palaearctic); Stehlík (2013: 523) (distribution). Misidentifications.
Physopelta parviceps Blöte, 1931: Stehlík & Kerzhner (1999: 122) (distribution); Kerzhner (2001: 246) (checklist: Palaearctic); Rédei et al. (2009: 13) (monograph); Stehlík (2013: 536) (distribution); Zheng & Lin (2013: 147) (distribution). Misidentifications.
Type series. HOLOTYPE (macropterous ♂), TAIWAN: Hualien County: S corner, Coastal Range SE of Fuli, 23°09′N 121°17′E, 12–16.xi.2008, leg. L. Dembický (TUA). PARATYPES (macropterous 101 ♂♂ 148 ♀♀ 1 abdo- men missing), JAPAN: Ryukyu Islands: Amami Islands: Amami-Oshima Is., Yamato Village, Onkachi, Yamato Dam, 29.vi.2016, light trap, leg. J. Souma (1 ♂, TUA). Daito Islands: Minamidaito Is., Zaisho, 16.vii.1973, leg. Y. Izumi (2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, TUA). Yaeyama Islands: Ishigaki Is., 13.vi.1973, leg. T. Kobayashi (1 ♂, TUA); Ishigaki Is., Banna Park, 21.vi.1992, light trap, leg. M. Hayashi (1 ♀, TUA); Ishigaki Is., Hirase, Chiteibara, 29.vi.1997, light trap, leg. M. Hayashi (1 ♀, TUA); Ishigaki Is., Tonoshiro, Omoto Forest Road, 30.vi.2003, light trap, leg. M. Hayas- hi (1 ♀, TUA); Iriomote Is., Sonai, 16.vi.1970, leg. K. Sakai (1 ♀, TUA); Iriomote Is., Urauchi, 19.vi.1998, leg. T. Ishikawa (1 ♂, TUA); Iriomote Is., Airagawa River, 3.vi.2006, leg. T. Ban (1 ♀, TUA); Iriomote Is., Toyohara, 1–3.vi.2006, leg. T. Ban & K. Watanabe (4 ♂♂ 9 ♀♀ 1 abdomen missing, TUA); as above but 17.v.2007, leg. T. Ban (1 ♂, TUA); Iriomote Is., Shirahama Forest Road, 28.vi.2011, light trap, leg. M. Hayashi (1 ♀, TUA); Iriomote Is., Shirahama Pass, 29.vi.2011, light trap, leg. M. Hayashi (2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, TUA); Iriomote Is., Funaura, 27.vii.1985, light trap, leg. M. Hayashi (1 ♀, TUA); as above but 24.vi.1992 (1 ♀, TUA); as above but 28–30.vi.2000 (2 ♂♂ 5 ♀♀, TUA); as above but 1–2.vii.2003 (1 ♂ 6 ♀♀, TUA); as above but 21.vi.2004 (7♂♂ 13 ♀♀, TUA); as above but 29.vi.2009 (2 ♀♀, TUA); Iriomote Is., Ubundoru, 20.vi.2004, light trap, leg. M. Hayashi (18 ♂♂ 34 ♀♀, TUA); Yonaguni Is., Mt. Kuburadake, 23.vi.2004, light trap, leg. M. Hayashi (3 ♂♂, TUA); Yonaguni Is., Mantabaru Forest Park, 2.vii.2000, light trap, leg. M. Hayashi (1 ♀, TUA); as above but 18.vi.2004 (1 ♀, TUA); as above but 20.iii.2020, leg. R. Nakamura (1 ♀, TUA); Yonaguni Is., Mt. Yonaguni-dake, 8.xi.2018, light trap, leg. K. Hagiwara (1 ♀, TUA); Yonaguni Is., Iranda Forest Road, 18.iii.2019, alt. 140 m, light trap, leg. R. Nakamura (1 ♀, TUA). TAIWAN: Hualien County: as holotype (1 ♀, TUA). Kaohsiung City: Taoyuan District, Baoshan, near Mt. Jianfu-shan, 23°03'07.6"N 120°44'42.7"E, 1350m alt., 3.iv.2018, light trap, leg. Y. Fukuda, S. Shimamoto & S. Taru (3 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, TUA); Taoyuan District, Mt. Jianfu Shan, 23°02'39.4"N 120°44'42.7"E, 26.iv.2019, leg. S. Shimamoto (4 ♂♂ 5 ♀♀, TUA); “Kuraru” [= Sheding?], 21.viii.1932, leg. T. Esaki (1 ♀, ELKU); as above but 26.viii.1932 (1 ♂, ELKU). New Taipei City: Wulai District, 4–22.v.1968, leg. Y. Watanabe & T. Kikuchi (6 ♂♂ 4 ♀♀, TUA); as above but 4–6.v.1968, leg. M. Nishikawa (4 ♂♂ 5 ♀♀, TUA); as above but 25.v.1971, leg. K. Sakai (1 ♀, TUA); Wulai District, Yeyao, 26.iv.2002, leg. Native Collector (1 ♀, TUA); 4.vii.1932, leg. T. Esaki (1 ♂, ELKU). Taichung City: Dasyueshan logging Rd. 38K, UV light. 19–20.vii.2008, leg. H.H. Liang, Y.L. Chen, C.M. Fu (1 ♀, NMNS); Basianshan Natl. For. Recr. Area, 12.viii.2018, light trap, leg. J.F. Tsai // NMNS ENT 8256-140, 8256- 142, 8256-141 (2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, NMNS); Heping District, Kukuan-Spa, 23.vii.1970, leg. Y. Shibata (1 ♀, TUA); Heping District, Mt. Lishan, 24.vii.1970, leg. Y. Shibata (1 ♀, TUA). Taitung County: Taiyan env., alt. 240 m, 23°082′N 121°284′E, 12.v.2012, leg. J. Halada (1 ♂, NMPC); as above but alt. 420 m, 22°8711′N 121°162′E, 13.v.2012, leg. J. Halada (2 ♀♀, NMPC); Dunghe Township, Taiyuan, 5.vi.1968, leg. T. Kikuchi (1 ♂ 3 ♀♀, TUA); as above but leg. Y. Watanabe (1 ♂ 1 ♀, TUA); Beinan Township, Longquan Road, Chihpen-Spa, 1.vi.1968, leg. T. Kikuchi (3 ♂♂ 1 ♀, TUA). Taoyuan City: Mingehih env., alt. 1,075 m, 24°65′N 121°42′E, 9.v.2012, leg. J. Halada (1 ♀, NMPC); Fuxing District, Paling, 20.x.1983, leg. T. Endo (2 ♂♂, TUA). Chiayi County: Zhuqi Township, Fenchihu Lake, 9–10.viii.1970, leg. Y. Shibata (2 ♀♀, TUA). Nantou County: Highland Exp. Farm NTU, Meifeng, vi.2019, leg. J.F. Tsai & S.R. Wei, sweeping net // NMNS ENT 8248-71 (1 ♂, NMNS); Section between Meifeng and Tsuifeng, 23.x.2016, leg. J.F. Tsai // NMNS ENT 8241-550, 8241-551 (2 ♂♂, NMNS); Ren’ai Township, 24°04'23.6"N 121°09'32.4"E, 15.v.2016, light trap, leg. N. Kaneko (1 ♀, TUA); Yushi Township, 10.v.1968, leg. H. Sawada (3 ♂♂ 7 ♀♀, TUA); “Hori” [= Puli Town Hall?], 26.vi.1965, leg. T. Shirozu (1 ♀, KUM). Pingtung County: Hengchun Township, Kenting National Park, 3.v.1971, leg. K. Sakai (1 ♀, TUA); 22.xi.1932, leg. R. Yamaho (1 ♂ 1 ♀, ELKU). Yilan County: Fu-Shan Botanical Garden, 22.xi.2008, leg. S. Wu & W.C. Chang (1 ♀, NMNS); “Taiheizan (Taihoku-shû)” [= Datong Township, Mt. Taiping-shan?], 24.vii.1932, leg. K. Satô (2 ♀♀, ELKU); as above but 26.vii.1932 (1 ♂, ELKU); as above but 3.viii.1932 (1 ♀, ELKU); as above but 5.ix.1932 (1 ♀, ELKU); as above but 26.ix.1932 (1 ♀, ELKU); as above but 23.x.1932 (1 ♂, ELKU); “Taiheizan (Taihoku-shû), Tamonkei” [= Datong Township, Mt. Taiping-shan, Towenchi?], 23.vii.1932, leg. T. Esaki (6 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, ELKU); as above but 24.vii.1932 (10 ♂♂ 5 ♀♀, ELKU); “Taiheizan (Taihoku-shû), Kamiyodani” [= Datong Township, Mt. Taiping-shan, “Ṗ代ĕ”?], 25.vii.1932, leg. T. Esaki (1 ♂ 1 ♀, ELKU); “Taiheizan (Taihoku-shû), Toganoo-Gerirosan-Tamonkei” [= Datong Township, Mt. Taiping-shan, “Ā尾”– Chililoshan–Towenchi?], 23.vii.1932, leg. T. Esaki (6 ♂♂ 6♀♀, ELKU); Yuanshan Township, Ai Jie, 17.ix.2000, leg. T. Shimada (2 ♀♀, TUA). Lanyu Island: Taitung County, Orchid island [= Lanyu], 22.31. viii.1988, leg. C.S. Lin, Light trap // NMNS ENT 63-65, 63-67 (1 ♂ 1 ♀, NMNS). Two specimens belong to a series which part was recorded as “ Physopelta (Neophysopelta) cincticollis ” from Taiwan by Stehlík (2013).
Diagnosis. Recognized among other species of Physopelta by a combination of the following characters: only macropterous morph known; body 2.8 times as long as maximum width across fore wings (Fig. 1C, D); calli and disc of pronotum dark brown (Fig. 5G); scutellum brown, with numerous pale callosities; membrane of fore wing pale brown (Fig. 6E); abdominal sternites dark brown without contrasting lunulae on sutures (Figs. 3B, 4B); compound eye more than 0.3 times as wide as vertex in dorsal view; antennomere I shorter than antennomere II; antennomere II nearly clavate; calli in male convex; punctures of scutellum in density uniform throughout its surface, as large as punctures of pronotum; anterior margins of fore wings not parallel to each other in rest; procoxal projection present, horn-shaped, straight, less than 1.5 times as long as its maximum width (Fig. 7E); protrochanteral wrinkles present; male profemur more than 2 times as wide as mesofemur at widest part of each; male protibia lacking tooth at apex, with a single row of denticles throughout its length ventrally; peritreme of scent gland ostiole crescent-shaped, pro- truding posterolaterad (Figs. 8E, 10E); infolding of ventral rim of genital capsule more convex in middle part (Fig. 9E); outer margin of endophallic reservoir outgrowth emarginate in apical part (Fig. 11E); stem of paramere not emarginate in basal part (Fig. 12E); crown of paramere at apex convex in posterior view; and inner margins of ring sclerites not parallel to each other (Fig. 13D).
Description. Macropterous male. Head, compound eye, antenna except basal part of antennomere IV, punctures on dorsum, calli, disc of pronotum, two spots on corium of fore wing, legs, and venter dark brown; basal part of antennomere IV white; collar, lateral margin of pronotum, corium of fore wing, and abdominal tergites brown; scutellum brown, with numerous pale callosities; membrane of fore wing pale brown; pubescence on body yellowish (Figs. 1C, D, 3B, 4B, 5G, 6E).
Body oblong, covered with minute pubescence, 2.8 times as long as maximum width across fore wings (Fig. 1C). Head (Fig. 5G) 0.6 times as long as maximum width across compound eyes. Compound eye more than 0.3 times as wide as vertex in dorsal view. Antenna smooth on surface; antennomere I shorter than antennomere II, with three spine-like setae in basal part; antennomere II nearly clavate; antennomere III narrower than compound eye in dorsal view; antennomere IV longest among antennomeres; ratios of lengths from antennomeres I to IV as 1.4: 1.5: 1.0: 1.7.
Pronotum (Fig. 5G) 0.6 times as long as its maximum width; lateral margins slightly emarginate between calli and disc; calli strongly convex, smooth on surface; disc flat, with a number of punctures. Scutellum triangular, with a number of punctures; punctures in density uniform throughout its surface, as large as punctures of pronotum. Fore wings (Figs. 1C, 6E) with a number of punctures; anterior margins not parallel to each other in rest. Foreleg longest among all legs; procoxa (Fig. 7E) with a projection; procoxal projection horn-shaped, straight, less than 1.5 times as long as its maximum width; protrochanter with wrinkles; all femora with two longitudinal furrows throughout its length in ventral surface; longitudinal furrow with a single row of denticles throughout its length; profemur more than 2 times as wide as mesofemur at widest part of each, with three teeth at apex ventrally; protibia without tooth at apex, with a single row of denticles throughout its length ventrally; meso- and metatibia with a number of spine-like setae throughout its length. Peritreme of scent gland ostiole (Figs. 8E, 10E) crescent-shaped, protruding posterolaterad.
Abdomen (Figs. 3B, 4B) longer than combined length of head and pronotum. Genital capsule (Fig. 9E) spherical, semicircular in ventral view, smooth on surface; infolding of ventral rim more convex in middle part. Phallus (Fig. 11E) oblong; capitate process membranous; basal plate and phallotheca coriaceous; conjunctiva with two pairs of partly sclerotized conjunctival appendages; endophallic reservoir with a pair of outgrowths; outer margin of outgrowth emarginate in apical part. Paramere (Fig. 12E) longer than its maximum width across crown; stem not emarginate in basal part; crown at apex convex in posterior view.
Measurements (holotype). Body length with fore wings 10.9 mm, maximum width across fore wings width 3.9 mm; head length 1.2 mm, maximum width across compound eyes 1.9 mm; length of antennomeres I to IV 1.8 mm, 2.0 mm, 1.3 mm, and 2.2 mm, respectively; pronotum length 2.0 mm, maximum width 3.4 mm; scutellum length 1.5 mm, maximum width 1.8 mm; corium length 5.7 mm, maximum width 1.9 mm.
Variations (holotype and 95 paratypes). Body length with fore wings 10.6–12.6 mm, maximum width across fore wings from 3.8–4.4 mm; pronotal maximum width from 3.2–3.9 mm.
Macropterous female. General appearance very similar to that of male except for the following characters: calli less convex than in male; all femora without longitudinal furrow in ventral surface; profemur less than 1.5 times as wide as mesofemur at widest part of each; terminalia (Fig. 13D) triangular in anterior view; valvulae VIII and IX combining to form an ovipositor, fused with valvifers VIII and IX, respectively; ring sclerites coriaceous in marginal part, membranous in central part, protruding inward, with inner margins not parallel to each other. Spermatheca (Fig. 14D) membranous; apical receptacle spherical; intermediate part in width uniform; spermathecal duct apically widened.
Variations (144 paratypes). Body length with fore wings 11.5–13.3 mm, maximum width across fore wings from 4.2–4.7 mm; pronotal maximum width from 3.5–4.2 mm.
Brachypterous morph unknown in both sexes.
Remarks. Among other congeners of Physopelta from Taiwan, this new species is related to Physopelta (Neophysopelta) parviceps according to the key provided by Rédei et al. (2009), and both species are very similar to each other in their morphological characteristics. However, based on a comparison between the type material of the new species and photographs of the male holotype and the female paratype (M. Hayashi, pers. comm. 2016) as well as thousands of non-type materials from different localities (Figs. 2A–H) of Ph. (N.) parviceps, six main characters were recognized to easily differentiate these species. Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. has scutellum brown, with numerous pale callosities (Fig. 5G); membrane of fore wing pale brown (Fig. 6E); punctures of scutellum as large as punctures of pronotum; infolding of ventral rim of genital capsule more convex in middle part (Fig. 9E); crown of paramere at apex convex in posterior view; and inner margins of ring sclerites not parallel to each other (Fig. 13D). In contrast, P. (N.) parviceps has the following features: scutellum dark brown; membrane of fore wing dark brown, without pale callosities; punctures of scutellum smaller than punctures of pronotum; infolding of ventral rim of genital capsule less convex in middle part; crown of paramere at apex not convex in posterior view; and inner margins of ring sclerites nearly parallel to each other. It seems that “true” Ph. (N.) parviceps described from Japan is not distributed in the main island of Taiwan.
This new species strongly resembles Ph. (N.) cincticollis in general appearance, therefore the distributional records of both species from the main island of Taiwan have been confused for a long time (cf. Stål 1863; Esaki 1926; Stehlík 2013). However, based on a comparison between the type material of the new species and photographs of the syntype of Ph. (N.) cincticollis (Swedish Museum of Natural History 2007), together with a single Chinese and three Vietnamese specimens (Figs. 15C, D, 16B, E) of Ph. (N.) cincticollis, five main characteristics were recognized to easily differentiate Ph. (N.) cincticollis from Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov.: scutellum concolorous with corium of fore wing, with black punctures slightly smaller; corium of fore wing in basal part darker; membrane of fore wing dark brown; compound eye less than 0.3 times as wide as vertex in dorsal view; and antennomere II nearly cylindrical. It seems that “true” Ph. (N.) cincticollis described from “ India orientalis” (southeastern Asia) is not distributed in the main island of Taiwan.
Physopelta (Neophysopelta) fusciscutellata sp. nov. is also similar to Ph. (N.) parvula Stehlík, 2013, but the latter is distinguished from the former by the following characteristics: scutellum concolorous with corium of fore wing; corium of fore wing in basal part darker; membrane of fore wing dark brown; compound eye less than 0.3 times as wide as vertex in dorsal view; and antennomere II nearly cylindrical.
Distribution. Japan: Ryukyu Islands (Amami-Oshima Island, Minamidaito Island, Ishigaki Island, Iriomote Island, Yonaguni Island); Taiwan (main island and Lanyu Island) (Esaki 1926; Miyamoto 1965b; Stehlík & Kerzhner 1999; Kerzhner 2001; Rédei et al. 2009; Stehlík 2013; Zheng & Lin 2013; present study).
A number of specimens from Taiwan including “ Physopelta (Neophysopelta) cincticollis ” recorded by Stehlík (2013) were examined, and all of them belong to Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. In addition, the photographs of Ph. (N.) parviceps from Taiwan provided by previous authors (Rédei et al. 2009; Zheng & Lin 2013) in fact represented Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. At least some, possibly all of previous distributional records of Ph. (N.) cincticollis and Ph. (N.) parviceps from main island of Taiwan (Stehlík 2013; Zheng & Lin 2013, etc.) correspond to the new species.
Etymology. The species epithet is the Latin adjective composed of “ fuscus ” (meaning brown) and “ scutellatus ” (meaning “having a shield”), referring to the feature of the brown scutellum.
Host plant. In Taiwan, this new species has been collected from various plants belonging to four families, namely, Mallotus japonicus (Euphorbiaceae), M. paniculatus (Lam.) Müll.Arg., Morus spp. (Moraceae), Sambucus javanica Reinw. ex Blume (Adoxaceae), and Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro. (Poaceae) (Zheng & Lin 2013), but nymphs have not been collected to date. Therefore, the “true” host plant of Physopelta fusciscutellata sp. nov. is still unknown.
Biology. Adults are attracted to artificial light (Rédei et al. 2009) and were collected from March to November (present study).
description: Published as part of Souma, Jun & Ishikawa, Tadashi, 2021, A taxonomic review of the genus Physopelta (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Largidae) from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, with a new record of Ph. parviceps from China, pp. 461-491 in Zootaxa 4951 (3) on pages 467-470, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4951.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4668172