March 3, 2026Open Access

First record of silk-loving genus Monteithophila (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Plokiophilidae) from Asia, with description of a new species from China

Key Points

The newly identified species, Monteithophila hainanensis, marks the first occurrence of this genus in Asia.
It features distinct morphological traits including unique corial glands and a small body size, differentiating it from others.
Observational analysis was conducted on the silk-loving bug found on webs of Spinathele sp. in Hainan, China.
This discovery highlights the ecological diversity and distribution of the Plokiophilidae family outside Oceania.

Abstract

The silk-loving bug Monteithophila hainanensis sp. nov. (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Plokiophilidae) is described from Hainan, southern China, where it was found on the webs of Spinathele sp. (Araneae, Macrothelidae). This new species represents the first record of the genus Monteithophila 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 Monteithophila is presented. In addition, the ecological characteristics of the new species and the morphology of the genitalia are briefly discussed.

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