Slaterocoris mohri (Knight)

Schwartz, Michael D., 2011, Revision And Phylogenetic Analysis Of The North American Genus Slaterocoris Wagner With New Synonymy, The Description Of Five New Species And A New Genus From Mexico, And A Review Of The Genus Scalponotatus Kelton (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2011 (354), pp. 1-290 : 243-246

Slaterocoris mohri (Knight)

Figures 12 , 50C , 54 , 55 ; plates 2 , 4J; map 11

Strongylocoris mohri Knight, 1941: 78 . fig. 115 (orig. desc.).

Slaterocoris mohri: Kelton, 1968: 1130 , fig. 16 (disc.); Knight, 1970: 247, fig. 34, (disc.); Henry and Wheeler, 1988: 450 (catalog); Schuh, 1995: 198 (catalog).

Slaterocoris fuscicornis Knight, 1970: 246 , fig. 36 (orig. desc.); Henry and Wheeler, 1988: 449 (catalog); Schuh, 1995: 198 (catalog). NEW SYNONYMY.

DIAGNOSIS: This the only species of Slaterocoris with dense, long, erect, brown dorsal vestiture. Distinguished from S. alpinus and S. hirtus by the arcuate costal margins of both sexes, particularly in the ovoid female, the erect dorsal vestiture, and the male genitalia with predominantly smooth margins of the endosomal spicule (also see Diagnosis under hirtus group).

REDESCRIPTION: Male: Moderately large, ovate; length 3.80–4.50, width 2.10–2.30 (pl. 2, fig. 50C). COLORATION: Black; antennal segment II dusky brownish yellow; femur with apex pale, tibia dusky yellowish brown, paler distally, sometimes hind tibia mostly black, but median surface always paler, tarsomeres pale, except for terminal segment distally darkened (fig. 12). VESTITURE: Dense, long, erect, brown simple setae; setae somewhat unkempt (pl. 4J, 50C). STRUCTURE: Costal margin slightly arcuate (fig. 50C). GENITALIA: Endosomal spicule: Distal portion of ventral lobe long, narrow, with sparse or absent marginal serration (fig. 55D); dorsal lobe with base bifurcate with larger, flat, marginally smooth lateral ramus and short and marginally smooth medial ramus (fig. 55A, B, D arrow); rami narrow and sometimes of similar length (fig. 55C, arrow). Right paramere: Medial process removed from parallel apical spines, prominent, broad basally, slightly bent distally, with strong serration mostly on distal surface; tubercle basal to parallel spines, clearly separated from parallel spines, prominent, without serration (figs. 54B–E, 55G); sometimes parallel apical spines reduced and attenuate (fig. 54A, F).

Female: Moderately large, ovate; length 3.90–4.60, width 2.25–2.58 (pl. 2). STRUCTURE: Costal margin convex. GENITALIA: As in species group except: Second gonapophyses: With anterior medial surface strongly convex.

HOSTS: Unknown, although rosinweed, Silphium sp. (Asteraceae) , is the breeding host of the related species S. hirtus .

DISTRIBUTION: As currently known not as widely distributed as S. alpinus and S. hirtus , extending from southern Wisconsin south through Missouri to western Arkansas inhabiting transitional prairie (grassland or savanna) and forest habitats (map 11).

COLLECTION SUMMARY: 45 specimens from 21 collection events. The phenology ranges from May through July.

DISCUSSION: Knight (1970) described S. fuscicornis based on the female holotype and single male and female paratypes from Missouri, suggesting that antennal segment II was longer (exceeding the head width) than in S. mohri and that the structure of the right paramere was species specific. My examination of the type material, particularly the male paratype (allotype) of S. fuscicornis , indicates that it is identical to a male S. mohri examined by Kelton (1968). Antennal segment II is not longer than head width as claimed by Knight (1970) and although the right paramere is slightly different, it is well within the boundaries of infraspecific variation (cf. figs. 54D to 54A–C, E, F, 55G) of those specimens I consider to be S. mohri . Based on measurements from across the range of S. mohri antennal segment II length (1.09–1.20) in the male is usually longer than the head width (1.04–1.12); in the female antennal segment II is variable, either shorter or just longer than the head width (ratio HW/ AII, 0.98–1.07). Variation in the size and serration of the tubercle adjacent to the parallel apical spines of the right paramere accounts for the structure indicated by Knight (1970) as distinctive for S. fuscicornis . The structure of the endosomal spicule in the nominal species S. fuscicornis is identical to other specimens of S. mohri (cf. fig. 55A, B– D). Based on my observations of the length of antennal segment II and the variation of the male genitalia, I consider S. fuscicornis a junior synonym of S. mohri . A male from Wisconsin, at the known northern limit of the species, has the most divergent structure examined of the right paramere (fig. 54A) and endosomal spicule (fig. 55C).

HOLOTYPES: USA: Illinois: Hancock Co.: Hamilton, 09 Jun 1932, Ross and Mohr, 1♀ not examined (USNM) ( S. mohri : senior synonym). Missouri: Camden Co.: Camdenton [38.008056 N 92.744446 W, 318 m], 29 May 1960, J.C. Schaffner, 1♀ (AMNH_PBI 00122248) (USNM) ( S. fuscicornis : junior synonym).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: USA: Arkansas: Polk Co.: Queen Wilhelmina State Park, 34.68446 N 94.367516 W, 770 m, 04 Jun 1987, G.F. and J.F. Hevel, 18 (00134035) (USNM). Illinois: Unknown co.: ‘‘C. Ill.’’, unknown, 18 (00111436) ( CNC). ‘‘ Central Ill’ ’, unknown, paratype, 1♀ (00133400) ( USNM). Missouri: Barry Co.: Roaring River State Park , 36.550916 N 93.756416 W, 08 Jun 1979 – 09 Jun 1979, E.G. Riley, 1♀ (00243017) ( UMRM) ; 09 Jun 1980, R.L. Blinn, 18 (00242817) ( NCSU). Crawford Co.: 2 mi N of Rosati, 38.09986 N 91.48586 W, 274 m, 19 Jun 1980, R.L. Blinn, 1♀ (00242818) ( NCSU). Miller Co.: Bagnell, 38.224536 N 92.599616 W, 173 m, 17 May 1941, R.C. Froeschner, 1♀ (00134044) ( USNM). Pettis Co. : Paint Brush Prairie Natural Area [T44N R21 W Sec 29 S1/ 2, SW1/4], 38.5536 N 93.26686 W, 305 m, 05 Jun 1983, R.L. Blinn, 18 (00242815) ( NCSU), 18 (00243015) ( UMRM) ; 27 Jun 1984, R.L. Blinn, 1♀ (00242816) ( NCSU), 48 (00243014, 00243027–00243029), 13♀ (00243026, 00243030– 00243041) ( UMRM) ; 13 Jun 1986, R.L. Blinn, 18 (00243013) ( UMRM). Phelps Co.: 4 mi S of Saint James, 37.958096 N 91.558276 W, 322 m, 20 Jun 1973, Wilbur R. Enns, S.E. Thewke, 2♀ (00243016, 00243043) ( UMRM). Pulaski Co.: Devil’s Elbow, 37.845676 N 92.059676 W, 217 m, 31 May 1947, R.C. Froeschner, 28 (00134036–00134037) ( USNM). Stone Co. : Viola, 36.57226 N 93.58346 W, 335 m, 29 May 1947, R.C. Froeschner, 1♀ (00134038) ( USNM). Unknown co. : ‘‘ Me. ’’ [sic ‘‘ Mo. ’’], C.V. Riley, 18 (00122270) ( USNM). ‘‘ Mo. ’’, 01 May, C.V. Riley, paratype of junior synonym, 18 (00133389) ( USNM) ; 01 May, C.V. Riley, paratype of junior synonym, 1♀ (00122249) ( USNM). Vernon Co.: Gay Feather Prairie [T34N R30W SW corner of S1], 37.73256 N 94.17176 W, 274 m, 08 Jun 1980, E.G. Riley, 18 (00243012) ( UMRM). Wisconsin: Dane Co. : Goeden Prairie, T 9N R8 E Sec 26/NW, 43.23266 N 89.51696 W, 305 m, 28 Jun 1996, unknown, 18 (00242039), Silphium sp. , 18 (00242040), 1♀ (00242041) ( IRCW). Green Co. : Rindy Prairie, T 4N R6 E Sec 5/NE, 42.85336 N 89.80326 W, 305 m, 10 Jul 1985, unknown, 18 (00242035) ( IRCW). Iowa Co. : Drachenberg Prairie Unit, T 8N R5 E Sec 30/ N, 43.14116 N 90.06126 W, 244 m, 22 Jul 1997, unknown, 18 (00242036) ( IRCW). Kenosha Co. : Chiwaukee Prairie, T 1N R23 E Sec 32 U: 5, S of Phil Sander W of 2nd Ave. , 42.50576 N 87.813646 W, 176 m, 01 Jul 1996, unknown, 28 (00242037–00242038) ( IRCW) .

Figures

Plate 2. Dorsal habitus photographs of Slaterocoris elongatus—S. pilosus (see appendix 1 for USI codes and localities).

Fig. 12. Hind leg coloration for Slaterocoris species.

Fig. 50. Slaterocoris species, scanning electron micrographs. A, B. S. hirtus. A. Head, anterior view. B. Scutellum and hemelytra, dorsal view. C. S. mohri, body, dorsal view.

Fig. 54. Slaterocoris mohri, right paramere. A. Rindy Prairie, WI. B. Queen Wilhelmina State Park, AR. C. Roaring River State Park, MO. D. Unknown, MO. E. Devil’s Elbow, MO. F. Paint Brush Prairie Natural Area, MO.

Fig. 55. Slaterocoris mohri, male genitalia. A, H. Unknown, MO. B, E–G, I. ‘‘C. Ill.,’’ IL. C. Rindy Prairie, WI. D. Queen Wilhelmina State Park, AR.