Review of the seven new species of Isometopinae (Heteroptera: Miridae) in Australia and discussion of distribution and host plant associations of the subfamily on a worldwide basis

Abstract

The Isometopinae are a poorly known subfamily of Miridae (Heteroptera) with 42 genera and 239 described species worldwide. Prior to this study, the subfamily was represented in Australia by a single species, Eurocrypha thanatochlamus. In this work, three isometopine genera, Jozefus, Paratopus and Myiomma, are reported from Australia for the first time, and Australotopus gen. nov. is described as new to science. The following seven new species are described: Australotopus cooperensis sp. nov., Jozefus brunetus sp. nov., Jozefus monteithi sp. nov., Myiomma albalata sp. nov., Myiomma basseti sp. nov., Paratopus brunocapitus sp. nov. and Paratopus flavocapitus sp. nov. Habitus images, scanning electron micrographs, measurements and illustration of male and female genitalia are provided to support the diagnoses of the above taxa. The distribution and plant associations of the subfamily Isometopinae are discussed.

First record of the subfamily Psallopinae (Heteroptera: Miridae) from Australia and discussion of its systematic position and diagnostic characters

“…All Cylapinae and Isometopinae examined to date have a near identical pretarsus, including a unique combination of characters within the Miridae, as follows: three rows of lamellae on the unguitractor plate, with the middle row acute, slender claws, often with a subapical tooth and setiform parempodia (Namyatova et al . ; Namyatova & Cassis , ; Namyatova & Cassis ; see also discussion in Wolski and Henry ). Parempodia are often asymmetrical in Cylapinae, whereas they are always symmetric in the Isometopinae (Namyatova et al .…”

“…), and all Australian Psallops species have a similar shape of the left paramere (Figs e, j and e). However, this structure is very simple and occurs in some Isometopinae (Namyatova & Cassis ). Illustrations of the right paramere are rare for Psallops , but in all species where it is documented, it is at least half the size of the left paramere (e.g.…”

“…The hyperdiverse family Miridae is not an exception with numerous Australian species awaiting description arising from concerted survey efforts over the past 25 years (e.g. Cassis & Symonds ; Namyatova & Cassis ). Currently, the Miridae comprises eight subfamilies, with Psallopinae being the least diverse (Schuh ; Cassis & Schuh ).…”

“…; Cassis & Symonds , ; Cassis et al . ; Russel & Weirauch ; Namyatova & Cassis , ; Hosseini & Cassis ).…”

Sulawesimetopus henryi, a new genus and species of Isometopinae (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae) from Sulawesi

“…The group has a worldwide distribution (Schuh 2002–2013, Casis and Schuh 2012, Cassis 2016) but, due to a cryptic habitus, the representatives are relatively rare in collections. Forty-three genera and 249 species have been described in this most thoroughly studied subfamily of Miridae.…”