Omoplax karubei Souma 2022

Omoplax karubei Souma, 2022 Figs 1 E, 2 E, 3 E, 4 E, 5 E, 6 E, 7 E, 8 E, 9 E, 10 E, 11 E, 12 E, 13 E, 14 E Omoplax karubei Souma, 2022 a: 118. Holotype: ♂; type locality: Japan • “ 東京都小笠原村, 聟島 ” [= Ogasawara Islands, Mukojima Group, Mukojima Island]; KPMNH. References. Shimamoto and Ishikawa (2023: 94) (catalog); Souma (2023: 9) (monograph). Material examined. Non-types, Japan • 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀; Ogasawara Isls, Mukojima Is.; Rhaphiolepis indica var. tashiroi; 15–16 Jul. 2024; S. Yagi, M. Kimura & J. - H. Park leg.; SIHU. Diagnosis. Omoplax karubei is recognized among the other Omoplax species based on a combination of the following characteristics: rostrum reaching posterior margin of metasternum (Fig. 11 E); pronotal disc pale brown (Figs 3 E, 4 E, 5 E, 6 E); hood more than 0.5 times as wide as maximum width of head across compound eyes, reaching beyond apex of clypeus (Fig. 14 E); paranotum with areolae throughout its length; anterior margin of hemelytron not curved downward in apical half (Figs 7 E, 8 E, 9 E, 10 E); subcostal and discoidal areas of hemelytron not united; costal area narrower than combined width of subcostal and discoidal areas; Sc (subcosta) vein of hemelytron distinct in apical part of dorsal view; R + M (fused radius and media) vein of hemelytron distinct, carinate; and ventral surface of body in various shades of brown (Figs 12 E, 13 E). Remarks. Omoplax karubei can be distinguished from O. mukojimensis, whose distribution range is consistent with that of O. karubei (Souma 2022 a), based on the following six main characters (Figs 3 E, 4 E, H, 5 E, 6 E, H, 7 E, 8 E, H, 9 E, 10 E, H, 11 E, H, 14 E, H): rostrum reaching posterior margin of metasternum (reaching middle part of mesosternum in O. mukojimensis); hood reaching beyond apex of clypeus (not reaching apex of clypeus in O. mukojimensis); anterior margin of hemelytron not curved downward in apical half (strongly curved downward in apical half in O. mukojimensis); subcostal and discoidal areas of hemelytron not united (united in O. mukojimensis); Sc (subcosta) vein of hemelytron distinct in apical part of dorsal view (indistinct in apical part of dorsal view in O. mukojimensis); and R + M (fused radius and media) vein of hemelytron distinct, carinate (indistinct, not carinate in O. mukojimensis). Morphological differences between O. karubei and the five other Omoplax species are presented in the identification key below. Distribution. Japan: Ogasawara Islands: Mukojima Group (Mukojima Island) (Fig. 19) (Souma 2022 a). Omoplax karubei is endemic to Mukojima Island. Host plant. Only Rhaphiolepis indica var. tashiroi (Rosaceae) (Fig. 17 G), which is also known as “ Shimasharinbai ”, was confirmed as a host plant for Omoplax karubei by the field observation of adults, suggesting the possibility of monophagy for this lace bug species. Bionomics. Omoplax karubei inhabits an evergreen broad-leaved forest with a subtropical climate in the Ogasawara Islands (Souma 2022 a), and sucks sap on the abaxial side of the leaves of Rhaphiolepis indica var. tashiroi, causing irregular yellowing on the adaxial side (Fig. 17 G). Adults were collected in June and July; nymphs are unknown (Souma 2022 a).