Neolygus chikanoshima Yasunaga 2024, n. sp.
Creators: name: Yasunaga, Tomohide
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Miridae
Neolygus
Neolygus chikanoshima

description: Neolygus chikanoshima n. sp.
Figs. 1E–G, 4D–F, 9A, E, 10E–F, 15
Material examined. Holotype (♀). JAPAN: Kyushu, Nagasaki Pref., Goto Islands, Shin-Kamigoto Town, Nakadori Island, Tsuzuki-Hamanoura, 32.960822, 129.027677, UV lighting, 5–6 Jun 2020, T. Yasunaga (NWHS) (AMNH _ PBI 00378767). Paratypes: JAPAN: same data as for holotype, 1♂ 1♀ (TYCN) [a male specimen was damaged (accidentally squashed) while collecting (Fig. 4D–E)].
Diagnosis. Judging from the similarity in external features and male genitalic structures, this new species is assumed to be most closely related to N. kyushuensis (Yasunaga) (Fig. 2A–B) and its sibling N. tiliicola (Kulik) (Fig. 2D–E), from which N. chikanoshima n. sp. can be distinguished by its ovoid, rather stout body (Fig. 1E, G); antennal segment III longer than width of head across eyes; larger dark macula at apex of corium; right paramere with conical process at apex of sensory lobe (Fig. 10E–F); thick-rimmed, elongate-oval sclerotized ring (Fig. 9E, 15L); and interramal sclerite on posterior wall bearing distinct field of spinules (Fig. 15M–N).
Description. Body oval, rather stout (Figs. 1E–G, 4D–F); dorsum pale viridian, tinged with brown on posterior pronotum and clavus in fresh specimens (Fig. 1E), with uniformly distributed, pale, simple, reclining setae (Fig. 15B). Head olive green, shining; vertex narrow, with basal transverse carina that is rather flat and as thick as pronotal collar (Fig. 15A); apical 1/3 of clypeus darkened (Fig. 1F). Antenna pale brown, in fresh specimens tinged with red; segments III and IV brown; segment III longer than head width across eyes. Labium shiny reddish brown, slightly exceeding apex of mesocoxa (Fig. 4E–F). Pronotum shining, somewhat brownish posteriorly; scent efferent system whitish green, with relatively thick peritreme (Fig. 15D). Hemelytra with a pair of dark maculae on apex of corium; clavus tinged with brown; membrane pale smoky brown, partly speckled with brown spots. Coxae and legs yellowish green; tibiae and tarsi pale brown; apex of each tarsomere III darkened; meta-tarsomere II as long as III (Fig. 15E); pretarsal structure as in Fig. 15F. Ventral side of abdomen uniformly pale viridian (Fig. 4E–F).
Male genitalia (Figs. 9A, 10E–F, 15H–K): Parameres as in Fig. 10E–F; right paramere with conical apical protuberance on sensory lobe; vesica with tumid spiculum and relatively broad ventral sclerite (Figs. 9A, 15H).
Female genitalia (Figs. 9E, 10E–F, 15L–O): Sclerotized rings thick-rimmed, elongate ovoid, mesially contiguous to each other (Fig. 9E, 15L); posterior wall as in Fig. 15M–O, E; anterior part of interramal sclerite with distinct field of spinules (Fig. 15M–N).
Measurements: See Table 1.
Etymology. Named for the type locality, Chika-no-shima [= ancient name of Goto Islands]; a noun in apposition.
Distribution. Japan (Goto Islands-Chain: Nakadori Island).
Biology. One male and two female adults of this new species were collected using UV light trap at night. No biological information is currently available.
description: Published as part of Yasunaga, Tomohide, 2024, New species of the plant bug genus Neolygus Knight from Japan, Taiwan and Thailand (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirini), pp. 451-487 in Zootaxa 5446 (4) on pages 462-463, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5446.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/11102124