New genera and species of the Lygus‐Complex (Hemiptera: Miridae) in the New Zealand subregion compared with subgenera (now genera) studied by Leston (1952) and Niastama Reuter

Abstract

Diomocoris, a new genus to contain Lygus maoricus (Walker, 1873), and eight new species from the New Zealand subregion (Diomocoris fasciatus, D. granosus, D. ostiolum, D. punctatus, D. raoulensis, D. russatus, D. sexcoloratus and D. woodwardi), are described, figured, and keyed. A lectotype is designated for Leptomerocoris maoricus Walker, 1873. Lygus plebejus Reuter, 1908 is synonymised withD. maoricus (Walker, 1873), and a lectotype designated. Lygus Hahn, 1833, Lygocoris Reuter, 1875, Taylorilygus Leston, 1952, Agnocoris Reuter, 1875, and Orthops Fieber, 1858 (the subgenera studied by Leston 1952), and Niastama Reuter, 1904 (from Australia) are redescribed including colour habitus photos and details and figures of both male and female genitalia. Taylorilygus apicalis (Fieber, 1861) is recorded from New Zealand, Niue Island, the Kermadec Islands, Norfolk Island, and New Caledonia. Micromimetus n. gen. is described from the Cook Islands. A lectotype is designated for Lygus flavoscutellatus Distant, 1904, which is transferred from Taylorilygus to Dagbertus Distant, 1904. A key is provided to the genera of the Lygus‐com‐plex reviewed in this paper. Economic importance is discussed. A new perspective of the sigmoid process and associated “wings” (inter‐ramal sclerites) is presented.

Keywords:

• Hemiptera
• Miridae
• Mirinae
• Lygus‐complex
• Diomocoris
• Micromimetus
• Taylorilygus
• Niastama
• Dagbertus flavoscutellatus
• economic importance
• new taxa
• key, figures
• genitalia