Pseudosaldula antioquia, Schuh & Polhemus, 2009

Schuh, RT & Polhemus, JT, 2009, Revision And Analysis Of Pseudosaldula Cobben (Insecta: Hemiptera: Saldidae): A Group With A Classic Andean Distribution, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2009 (323), pp. 1-102 : 24-26

Pseudosaldula antioquia , new species Plate 1; figures 1 , 2 ; map 2

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the relatively small size, with a length of 2.82–3.12, extreme northerly Andean distribution, campanulate pronotum with a concave lateral margin, and the hemelytral vestiture of black, moderately long, suberect setae. Usually strongly brachypterous with only three or four cells in the forewing membrane; most known specimens with largely pale hemelytra. Most similar to P. saxicola and P. yungas in pronotal structure and the presence of a distinctive white macula posteriorly on the exocorium, but both of those species much larger and with a more southerly distribution and P. saxicola with a uniform covering of golden shining setae on the dorsum in contrast to the erect black vestiture found in both P. antioquia and P. yungas .

DESCRIPTION: Male: Total length 2.95, width pronotum 1.07. COLORATION (pl. 1): Hemelytron, including cells of membrane, ranging from largely dark to mostly pale with dark veins, always with contrasting white spots on clavus and corium, including a large contrasting white macula subapically on corium; pronotum with lateral margins broadly and irregularly pale to completely black dorsally, always with at least a small pale spot ventrally; antennal segment 1 usually largely pale, sometimes weakly darkened, segments 2, 3, and 4 more strongly darkened, apex of segment 4 usually weakly pale; legs, including coxae, largely pale, apex of foretibia with a contrasting, narrow, brown band. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Clavus and corium dull except for polished embolar area, membrane weakly polished; hemelytron without pruinose areas. Vestiture of dorsum with numerous, moderately long, suberect, dark setae, except membrane largely devoid of setae. STRUCTURE (pl. 1): Usually brachypterous, rarely submacropterous, body broadest just posterior to apex of claval commissure. Thorax: Pronotum weakly campanulate, lateral margins weakly concave. Hemelytra: Cells of membrane frequently partly coalesced or obscured, usually with four cells. GENITALIA ( figs. 1 , 2 ): Parandria: Inner sclerotized margin smoothly rounded; posterior margin emarginated medially. Parameres: Processus sensualis with 10–15 setae.

Female (pl. 1): Total length 3.13, width pronotum 1.15. COLORATION (pl. 1): As in male; subgenital plate broadly pale apically. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: As in male. STRUCTURE: Abdomen: See generic description. GENITALIA: See generic description.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for its occurrence in the Colombian department of Antioquia; a noun in apposition.

DISTRIBUTION: Known from the central and western Andes in Colombia and from central Ecuador.

HABITAT DATA AND ALTITUDINAL RANGE: Known to occur at altitudes between 1550– 2015 meters. Available habitat data indicate that all specimens were collected on seepage over rock outcrops or from vertical clay banks.

DISCUSSION: Pseudosaldula antioquia is known from relatively low elevations compared to other species of the genus that are found at relatively low latitudes. With the exception of P. andensis , it is apparently the only species of Pseudosaldula that occurs in Colombia —and the northern Andes more generally—as deduced from extensive collecting in suitable habitats by the senior author in the paramos around Bogota, Colombia in 1976 and Merida, Venezuela in 1982, efforts that produced no specimens of Pseudosaldula .

HOLOTYPE: COLOMBIA: Valle del Cauca: upper Rio Pance near El Topacio, Farallones de Cali National Park , [3.355 ° N 76.59856 ° W], 1550 m, 27 Jul 1989, D. A. and J. T. Polhemus, 13 ( AMNH _ ENT 00023- 282 ) ( USNM).

PARATYPES: COLOMBIA: Antioquia: Municipio de El Retiro, Quebrada Agudelo near El Retiro , 6.04833 ° N 75.5225 ° W, 2015 m, 19 Jul 1989, D. A. and J. T. Polhemus, 13 ( AMNH _ ENT 00024009 ) ( AMNH). 63 ( AMNH _ ENT 00023286 , AMNH _ ENT 00023408 – AMNH _ ENT 00023409 , AMNH _ ENT 00024006 – AMNH _ ENT 00024008 ), 6♀ ( AMNH _ENT 000- 23410– AMNH _ ENT 00023412 , AMNH _ ENT 00024010 – AMNH _ ENT 00024012 ) ( JTPC). Municipio de El Retiro , Tequendamita Waterfall , 6.0823 ° N 75.47603 ° W, 2230 m, 19 Jul 1989, D. A. and J. T. Polhemus, 13 ( AMNH _ ENT 00023284 ), 1♀ ( AMNH _ ENT 00023285 ) ( AMNH) . Valle del Cauca: upper Rio Pance near El Topacio , Farallones de Cali National Park , 3.355 ° N 76.59856 ° W, 1550 m, 27 Jul 1989, D. A. and J. T. Polhemus, 13 ( AMNH _ ENT 00024073 ) ( AMNH). 1♀ ( AMNH _ ENT 00023283 ) ( JTPC) ; 29 Jul 1989, J. T. and D. A. Polhemus, 23 ( AMNH _ ENT 00024003 , AMNH _ ENT 00024004 ) ( JTPC) . ECUADOR: Tungurahua: Tungurahua , 32 km E of Banos, 1.449 ° S 78.142 ° W, 1100 m, 29 Jan 1976, P. Spangler, 13 ( AMNH _ ENT 00023781 ) ( JTPC) .

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: COLOMBIA: Antioquia: Municipio de El Retiro, Quebrada Agudelo near El Retiro, 6.04833 ° N 75.5225 ° W, 2015 m, 19 Jul 1989, D. A. and J. T. Polhemus, 2 nymphs (AMNH_ENT 00023413, AMNH_ENT 00024013) (JTPC). Valle del Cauca: upper Rio Pance near El Topacio, Farallones de Cali National Park, 3.355 ° N 76.59856 ° W, 1550 m, 29 Jul 1989, J. T. and D. A. Polhemus, 1 nymph (AMNH_ENT 00024005) (JTPC).

Figures

Map 2. Distribution of Pseudosaldula antioquia.

Fig. 1. Parandria of 14 Pseudosaldula spp. and two Saldula spp.

Fig. 2. Parameres of Pseudosaldula andensis–penai. Note: The point of insertion of many setae on the paramere cannot be seen because the paramere is heavily sclerotized and nearly opaque. Setae are therefore not drawn to show their exact distribution in many cases, but only to show their lengths and numbers. Nonetheless, the setae of the processes sensualis are drawn so as to accurately portray their number and distribution.