Miropictopallium coloradmonens, Fabrikant & Novoselska, 2024

Fabrikant, Dolev & Novoselska, Tania, 2024, A peculiar large-eyed aposematic bug Miropictopallium coloradmonens n. gen., n. sp. (Heteroptera: Pentatomomorpha: Yuripopovinidae) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, Israel Journal of Entomology 53, pp. 1-23 : 6-15

Miropictopallium coloradmonens n. sp.

( Figs 1–6)

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:250C0B94-5126-4FD9-AD6B-E8EE83EDD236 .

Etymology: The species name combines the Latin color (colour) and admonens (warning) referring to the presumed aposematic function of the colouration.

Description: Colouration. Head ( Figs 1A, 1B): Head white, clypeus black with thin longitudinal white line dorsally; labrum brown: rostral segments I and II light brown, with external edge black; segments III and IV black; stylet black. Antennifers black ventrally. Frons anteriorly brown, anterior frons spine black, posterior frons spine white. Eyes white, ocellar tubercle brown posteriorly; prominent black spot posterior to each compound eye. Antennae black except for light brown apex of segments I and II.

Thorax ( Figs 1A, 2A, 2B): Collar light brown with dorsal side white. Pronotum: pronotal calli white, with light brown spot in anterior side of each prominence;

anteroposteriorly keeled oval protuberance, laterally black; ventral extensions of middle pronotal lobe light brown; posterior lobe of pronotum brown with two curving white lateral lines on anterior ¾; longitudinal middle line light brown; two pairs of round black spots, annulated with white margin distally as thick as diameter of each spot, narrowing proximally closer to middle line; anterior spots with white margin touching middle pronotal lobe, posterior spots touching posterior pronotal margin with white margin posteriorly vanishing; lateroposterior pronotal laminae light brown.

Scutellum white; basal humerus light brown: rhombus-shaped brown spot in the middle with longitudinal white line, not reaching its apical margin; apical margin of scutellum white.

Pleurites white, mesosternum white, bearing four evenly spaced longitudinal brown lines. Metasternum brown; brown spot on anterolateral side of mid coxae; black oval spot on distal metapleuron, dorsolateral to hind coxae; brown spot on lateroposterior part of hind coxae.

Abdomen ( Figs 4A, 4D): White. Middle anterior half of sternite III brown; brown triangular spots on sternite III, near lateral edge, and another spots immediately posterior to hind coxae and anterior of lateral margin of each sternite and tergite; sternite VII and genitalia black.

Legs ( Figs 1C, 1F): Fore and mid femora basal ¼ white, medially black, with two lateroventral white spots and black apex. Hind femora white at basal ⅓ with black spot near base, apical ⅔ black with white line on posterior-median section and black spot near apex. All tibiae of similar colouration, light brown with three black bands: basal band, middle band (longest), and apical band. Tarsi black, apart to basal half of first tarsomere.

Tegmina ( Figs 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B): Holotype: Tegminal surface white; corium veins and coriaceous region light brown; basal veins of membrane brown, apical veins light brown. Anterior large corium cell bears three irregular brown spots, at apex, at middle and at base; posterior large corium cell with brown semi-square spot apically. Anterior base of membrane with round brown spot surrounded by a white margin. Large rectangular cell on membrane white at its basal ⅓, otherwise light brown, longitudinally bounded by brown veins. Clavus light brown. Anterior membrane apex light brown. Anal vein black, basally dark brown.

Paratype:As in holotype, except for more developed middle brown spot on anterior cell of corium. Prominent brown spot on anterior base of membrane, apically with brown margin, posterolaterally attaching, two brown lines extending apically from rounded margin, posterior line bifurcate. Large rectangular cell brow, white on its basal ⅓.

Structure. Head: Not porrect anteriorly, nearly triangular, nearly as high as long, distinctly narrower and shorter than pronotum, narrower than middle lobe of pronotum; base of head forming neck, hidden from dorsal view by collar ( Figs 1A, 1B).

Eyes large, reniform in dorsal view, ovoid in lateral view, not covering apices of antennifers; closely spaced anteriorly, spreading obliquely posteriorly and protruding backwards, reaching callus; borne on stout eyestalks oriented obliquely upwards. Posterior margin of eyes overhanging collar, reaching callus ( Figs 1A, 1B).

Single pair of contiguous ocelli on prominent tubercle ( Fig. 1B), closer to occiput; posterior margin of ocelli at midline of compound eyes; clypeus well-developed ( Figs 1A, 1B), tapering, unarmed, setose, strongly protruding beyond mandibular plates, longer than first antennal segment, slightly curved down. Labrum narrow, elongated ( Figs 1A, 1B). Bucculae prominent, triangular, exceeding edge of maxillary plate, tapering, sharply pointed apically, posterior margin sinuous; extending anteriorly to compound eyes, in line with anterior edge of maxillary plate and base of antenna, posterior to base of labium, leaving it uncovered; frons slightly bulging anteriorly, anterior margin triangular and carinate, armed with pair of pointing forward spines, placed antero-posteriorly; not covering antennal bases, lightly setose, bearing faint transverse carinae and apically tapering into blunt point; vertex smooth, widening posteriorly encroaching onto eyes; maxillary plate smooth.

Antennifers laterally protruding under the first antennomere ( Figs 1A, 1B).

Antennae short, four-segmented, all segments cylindrical, covered with short setae; first segment very short and thickest; segment II subequal in length to segment IV; segment III longest; third and fourth segments slightly inflated apically; segment IV fusiform ( Fig. 1E).

Rostrum long, straight and slender; adpressed to body, slightly curved following body contour; reaching into anterior quarter or sternite IV. Segment I lightly setose, segments I and II laterally compressed, providing thicker appearance in lateral view, segments III and IV cylindrical. First and third segments are subequal in length; segment II longest; segment IV shortest, tapering; stylet adpressed to the external surface ( Fig. 1C).

Thorax: Pronotum nearly trapeziform, wider then long, with sinuous flanks; somewhat trilobed with boundaries of lobes demarcated by grooves. Integument sparsely setose, densely tuberculated and punctured ( Figs 1A, 1D). Punctures irregularly shaped with single seta in middle of each; located in grooves between tubercles forming a mesh-like pattern. Callus laterally bearing pair of longitudinally keeled protuberances; each protuberance and adjacent ventral surface smooth ( Figs 1A, 1C, 6).

Collar (anterior lobe) well developed ventrally and laterally, but poorly divided from callus region (middle lobe) dorsally. Anterior margin slightly curving up and straight in dorsal view; slightly depressed dorsoventrally; oval in frontal view, ~0.5× as high as wide ( Fig. 1B).

Callus (middle lobe) well developed, much longer than collar in dorsal view; about 2.6× wider than collar; bearing two transverse prominences divided by medial groove, each bearing distinct distal anteroposteriorly keeled oval protuberance ( Fig. 1A). Callus lacking lateral lamella, smoothly curving down body sides. Posterior lobe of pronotum nearly hexagonal in shape, about twice as wide as long; dorsally bulbous; anterolateral margin slightly convex; posterolateral margin convex and laminate; lamina forming a prominent process laterally surpassing humerus; posterior margin slightly concave ( Fig. 1D).

Scutellum surface sparsely setose and densely sculptured with fine tubercles and minute punctures; relatively large, triangular, longer than wide; relatively wide at ⅔ of pronotum width measured at humeri; equal to pronotum length at midline ( Fig. 1D). Level with pronotum anteromedially; slightly bulbous, flattening posteriorly. Posterior margin expanded and laminate, ending apically in laterally compressed rounded lobe. Apex raised above tegmina; margin bounded by downward pointing setae. Basal humerus sharp.Anterior margin slightly convex; lateral margins slightly concave ( Fig. 1D).

Ventrally thorax lightly setose with semi-erect short setae, smooth, punctate distally. Metathoracic scent gland conspicuous, partly obscured by bubbles on both sides. Prosternum, mesosternum and metasternum with longitudinal middle groove. Mesosternum nearly trapezoid, metasternum nearly hexagonal, posterior part of mesosternum extending to midline of mid coxae ( Fig. 2C).

Abdomen: Sclerotized, with small sparse setae, medially smooth and laterally rough; not flattened, rounded apically, extends laterally, exposing laterotergites from below tegmina to form prominent connexivum. Dorsal side of abdomen smooth and flat, tergites unfused, tergites III to V subequal in length, margins straight. Tergites VI and VI shorter. Anterior margin of tergite VI concave posterior margin straight, posterior margin of tergite VII concave ( Figs 2B, 2C).

Ventral side of abdomen convex, median groove extending from the anterior of abdomen to the first quarters of sternite IV. Lateral edges of longitudinal groove not forming a sharp edge but smoothly transiting to sternite surface. Sternites II, III, and IV fused, divided by transverse depressions ( Figs 2C, 4A, 4D). Rest of the sternites telescopic: sternite II narrow; sternites III and IV large, roughly rectangular in ventral view, sternite IV longest, sternite III second widest; sternites IV and V widest laterally; sternites IV and V well delimited; sternite IV bearing transverse carina at about ⅓ of its length from posterior margin, not extending to lateral margins; sternite III not bulged; sternites V to VII progressively more concave ( Figs 2C, 4A). Posterior margin of sternite VII entirely medially cleft.

Ovipositor long and curved up. Valvifers VIII paired, subtriangular and longitudinally elongated. Laterotergites and valvulae invisible.

Legs: Slender, not flattened, mid legs slightly longer than fore legs, hind leg about 1.5× longer than mid leg; trochanters small, triangular; subequal in dimensions; coxae stout, coniform, slightly rounded ( Fig. 2C). Distance between fore coxae about half the distance between mid coxae and between hind coxae; distance between fore, mid and hind coxae subequal.All femora lightly setose; fore femora fusiform, slightly constricted before somewhat rounded apex ( Fig. 1C). Fore femora slightly thinner than mid femora, while hind femora about twice as thick as mid femora. Fore femora subequal in length to mid femora; hind femora about 1.8× longer. Hind femora fusiform, slightly curved inward. Proximal part of hind femora expanded laterally with abrupt narrowing at about 0.4 of its length distally, forming angle; expanded portion bears longitudinal carinae proximally ( Fig. 1C).

Tibiae covered with long setae; apices densely setose; subequal in length to femora, but distinctly narrower, slender, antero-posteriorly expanded at apex to about twice mid width. Fore tibiae subequal in length to mid tibiae, hind tibiae about 1.8× as long as fore or mid tibiae ( Fig. 2C).

All tarsi are subequal in size, three-segmented, densely covered with fine setae, third tarsomere bearing several longer setae ( Fig. 2C). Tarsomere I longest, tarsomere II shortest. Basal tarsomere subequal in length to middle and apical tarsomeres combined.Apical tarsomere thickest, slightly thicker than basal tarsomere. Tarsomere II narrowing proximally until insertion into tarsomere I ( Fig. 1F). Tarsi with a pair of equally sized claws and pulvilli. Claws sharp, slender, hook like. Pulvilli geniculate medially, apically pad-like, arising from between claws ( Fig. 1F).

Tegmina: Macropterous, membranous and well developed, reaching abdominal apex, ~3.4× as long as wide. Wing apex rounded, costal margin basally slightly concave or nearly straight, apically distinctly convex ( Figs 2A, 2B, 3A). Claval margin thickened basally; claval commissure absent. Embolium with C and Sc veins nearly adhering but separate, apically fusing form narrow sclerotized edge. Coriaceous thickening extends posteriorly along crossvein to form elongate triangular pterostigma-like structure with anterior edge slightly convex, nearly straight, posterior edge concave. Corium membranous, hyaline, ~0.6× as long as tegmen, with three longitudinal veins forming two large cells and faint narrow cell, being part of thickened anterior wing edge ( Figs 3A, 3C). Corium veins and sclerotized region are weakly punctate and sparsely covered with closely adhering setae. Crossvein on corium membrane boundary not joined with claval suture. Clavus reduced, lanceolate, apices concealed, slightly shorter than side of scutellum, and ~⅓ of wing length. Anal vein thickened. Membrane hyaline, lacking setae, bearing numerous weakly defined and longitudinal veins ( Fig. 3A, 3C). Basal membrane with large rectangular cell and two smaller irregular cells. Two prominent crossveins on membrane base-apex boundary, apical veins bifurcating.At least 10 veins reaching outer margin. Membrane ornamented with some wide transverse wrinkles at its base and with denser not parallel wrinkles posterior to apex of anal vein, forming wavy texture.

Hindwings: Lanceolate with rounded apex, ⅘ as long as tegmen ( Fig. 2B).

Measurements: See Table 2 .

Holotype (SMNHTAU-I.442144): Macropterous female with subparallel body sides. Body almost completely preserved apart from: right III and IV antennomeres, part of the left antennomere III, and the left margin of the thorax. Locality and horizon: The Upper Albian –Lower Cenomanian Kachin amber yielding the described specimens originates from Northern Myanmar, Kachin Province, Hukawng Valley, Tanaing (near Noije Bum).

Paratype (SMNHTAU-I.442145): Macropterous, sex indeterminable with subparallel body sides. Partially preserved including only the abdominal tergites, tegmina, apices of hind wings, mid tibiae, mid tarsi, and posterior lobe of pronotum. The paratype exhibits minor structural and colour pattern differences from the holotype.The hindwing is longer.The pronotum texture is less pronounced, displaying reduced tubercles between the punctures. For differences in colouration refer to the description.

TAPHONOMY

Holotype. The amber is clear yellow, with sparse syninclusions which include branched plant trichomes, some lepidopteran scales, and boring Pholadidae bivalves ( Smith & Ross 2018). The bug’s hind tibiae are adhered to a slightly darkened amber flow. This surface is likely to have been hardened by the time the bug arrived as no part of it penetrated this surface. The bug was likely adhered to the old flow and covered by a new prolific flow while still alive as evidenced by its completeness.A trail of bubbles is leading to its head from the anterior, which would have formed it the new flow coming from the posterior; the bug was attached at its hind legs, thus while flowing around the bug the different fluid flows would have joined together over the head, allowing the formation of bubbles. The amber did not undergo significant compression as evidenced by spherical bubbles immediately adjoining the specimen, however local deformation is visible in the eye region, possibly as a result of the intersecting pholadid burrow disturbing the amber when it was not fully hardened.

Paratype. The amber is clear yellow, with unidentifiable plant matter syninclusions. Only the dorsal portion of the bug is preserved. It is dorsally attached to an amber flow showing some darkening and cracking, which indicates that a significant time passed before the covering of the second flow. It is likely that the bug had stuck to the first resin flow and was subsequently pulled off of the still sticky resin with

its back portion remaining behind by a predator, before a secondary flow covered it fully. The first flow bears a nematoceran Diptera and a pair of detached wings of Burmacompsocus perreaui Nel & Waller, 2007 ( Psocodea : Compsocidae ), which were probably left behind via a similar process.