Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2009
Thanks to the courtesy of Mr. G. S. Dun, Government Entomologist to the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, we have been able to study three interesting new species of Mirids found damaging cacao plants in New Britain. The first was discovered by Mr. Dun early in 1950 in abundance at Kabeira Plantation about six miles from the Lowland Experimental Station at Keravat where considerable damage had been done to the crop. This species was at first thought to be the West African Bryocoropsis laticollis Schumacher, 1917, which might have been accidentally introduced into New Britain. Closer investigation showed that it belonged to a distinct genus and species (Parabryocoropsis typicus, gen. et sp. n.). In September 1950, Mr. Dun found a second species attacking an isolated block of Cniollo cacao at the Keravat Experimental Station. On examination this proved to belong to still another genus and species (Pseudodoniella pacifica gen. et sp. n.).
* Reuter's figure of Rhopaliceschatus (1903, Öfv. Finska Vet.-Soc. Förh., 45 no. 16, Tab. 2 fig. 1) is inaccurate in the structure of the paired anterior tubercles of head and in the failure to show the clypeus which is actually visible from above between the two tubercles. The scutellum is different from that in the other three genera being hemispherical as opposed to shield shaped.