Fatumocoris flattirei, a new genus and species of Cotyledon - associated plant bugs from South Africa (Hemiptera, Miridae, Bryocorinae)

The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) is the most plant-dense Mediterranean-type ecosystem on Earth, but the number of described plant bugs (Heteroptera, Miridae) is relatively small. While Miridae are often host-plant specific, an association with succulent plants is only found in ~ 20 plant bug species worldwide. A combination of recent fieldwork in South Africa’s Western Cape region and iNaturalist [inaturalist.org/] observations allows us to document and describe a new genus and species of dicyphine Bryocorinae, Fatumocoris flattirei gen. et sp. nov., associated with Cotyledon orbiculata L. (Crassulaceae).

This new plant bug genus is unusual among dicyphines as it possesses prominent spines on the pronotum, a wider posterior margin of the pronotum, and distinctive dark, white, and reddish coloration. The placement is confirmed with morphological examination and inclusion of Sanger sequence data in a recently published molecular dataset of Miridae. Light microphotographs, SEM micrographs, and female and male genitalic images are provided.