First record of silk-loving genus Monteithophila (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Plokiophilidae) from Asia, with description of a new species from China
The silk-loving bug <i>Monteithophila hainanensis</i> <b>sp. nov</b>. (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Plokiophilidae) is described from Hainan, southern China, where it was found on the webs of <i>Spinathele</i> sp. (Araneae, Macrothelidae). This new species represents the first record of the genus <i>Monteithophila</i> Schuh, Štys & Cassis, 2015 outside Oceania. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by its smaller body size, head uniformly colored yellowish brown to reddish brown, fore major claws slightly longer than mid ones with no significant difference, and distinct morphology of corial glands on the hemelytra. A key to the species of <i>Monteithophila</i> is presented. In addition, the ecological characteristics of the new species and the morphology of the genitalia are briefly discussed.
Authors
- Haoyang Xiong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1086-5115)
- Wanzhi Cai
- Zhuo Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3393-0338)
- Hu Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5453-6084)
Institutions
- China Agricultural University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ZooKeys
- Published
- 2026-02-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1268.180987
- Primary Topic
- Hemiptera Insect Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- China Agricultural University
- Southwest University