Wallabicoris baldersoni, Schuh & P. Pedraza, 2010

Schuh, R. T. & P. Pedraza, 2010, Wallabicoris, New Genus (Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Phylini) From Australia, With The Description Of 37 New Species And An Analysis Of Host Associations, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2010 (338), pp. 1-118 : 21-23

Wallabicoris baldersoni , new species Figure 1; map 4; plate 1

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the chalkwhite coloration of the body and appendages (pl. 1), the large size, with a mean total length of 5.85, and the structure of the male genitalia, the secondary strap of the endosoma complete and with a broad submedial undulation and the left paramere relatively short, with an elevated shoulder on the posterior process, closed over most of the dorsal surface, and only weakly exceeding the margin of the pygophore in repose (fig. 1). Host unknown. Somewhat smaller than the similarly colored Asteraceae-feeding W. schwartzi , somewhat larger than the Asteraceae-feeding W. helichrysi , W. olearii , and W. ozothamni , as well as the Lamiaceaefeeding W. dicrastyli ; significantly larger than the Thymelaeaceae-feeding W. pinocchii and the Lamiaceae-feeding W. cassisi , W. lachnostachy os, W. newcastelii , W. paradicrastyli , and W. prostantheri . Potentially confused with pale specimens of W. rutidosi , but that species smaller, mean total length 4.87, and with a broken secondary endosomal strap.

DESCRIPTION: Male: Body greatly elongate, parallel sided, total length 5.69–6.06, ratio l/w 5 3.60. COLORATION (pl. 1): Pronotum unicolorous pale; hemelytron unicolorous pale; membrane unicolorous pale, veins white, extreme base unicolorous with remainder; venter unicolorous pale or mostly so; antennal segment 1 unicolorous pale with one or two black medial setae; antennal segment 2 unicolorous pale; labium pale with segment 4 heavily infuscate; hind femora unicolorous pale, without black spots; hind tibial spines dark without dark spots at bases. SURFACE AND VESTI- TURE: Dorsum with reclining simple setae matching background coloration and with some sericeous or woolly setae. STRUC- TURE: Head: Elongate, projecting anteriorly, ratio wh/lh 5 2.72; antennal fossa with ventral margin 1 diameter above ventral margin of eye; interocular space moderately large, ratio iod/wh 5 0.40; eyes occupying entire height of head in lateral view (hg0–1/ he20); labium just reaching onto abdomen. GENITALIA (fig. 1): Endosoma: Base moderately long, with an open U-shaped bend; distal half of shaft more or less straight and erect; primary endosomal strap weakly elongate apically, ratio lae/lsg 2.00; apex of primary endosomal strap nearly straight; secondary endosomal strap very slender, of uniform width from endosomal bend to gonopore, reaching to level of secondary gonopore, with a broad submedial undulation; secondary gonopore seen laterally in lateral view of endosoma. Phallotheca: More or less right angulate, dorsal surface with a hump; dorsal surface without a conspicuous keel. Left Paramere: Body relatively short, just exceeding margin of pygophore; in dorsal perspective closed over about onehalf length; body not distinctly tapering toward apex; anterior process arising slightly forward of posterior margin of shaft; anterior process angled posterodorsally; posterior process appearing tubular, fingerlike, with strongly projecting shoulder at base; base of posterior process at least somewhat elevated above level of paramere body. Right Paramere: Body moderately elongate, ratio lrp/wrp 3.75; body tapered from base to apex; posterior margin with a distinct protuberance subapically; body elevated at juncture with base; apex with short fingerlike process.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for J. Balderson, CSIRO, Canberra, the collector of the only known specimens.

HOSTS: Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION (map 4): Known only from the type locality in the southeastern part of the Nullarbor Plain, South Australia.

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: 1 mi ESE of Ooldea , 30.463 ° S 131.852 ° E, 03 Oct 1968, Key, Upton & Balderson, 13 (AMNH_PBI 00168785) ( ANIC).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: 1 mi ESE of Ooldea, 30.463 ° S 131.852 ° E, 03 Oct 1968, Key, Upton & Balderson, 33 (00168788–00168790) ( AMNH), 43 (00168783–00168784, 00168786–00168787) ( ANIC).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRA- LIA: South Australia: 1 mi ESE of Ooldea, 30.463 ° S 131.852 ° E, 03 Oct 1968, Key, Upton & Balderson, 13 (00168782) (ANIC).