Bifidostylus occidentalis, Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016

Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016, Nineteen new genera and 82 new species of Cremnorrhinina from Australia, including analyses of host relationships and distributions (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylininae: Cremnorrhinini), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 401, pp. 1-279 : 57-59

Bifidostylus occidentalis , new species

Figure 16, map 5, table 1, plates 4, 5,

42C, E, F

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the relatively large size, greatly elongate, parallel-sided body form, pale yellow-green coloration (in available preserved specimens), and weakly fumose membrane (pl. 4); endosoma sigmoid and twisted, with subapical secondary gonopore surrounded by three slender apical spines and a membrane, longest spine slender, acuminate and exceeding secondary gonopore by about length of gonopore (fig. 16, pl. 5); left paramere with sinuous dorsoposterior margin; right paramere with conspicuously bifid apex (fig. 16). Female broadly ovoid, not as elongate and slender as in male. Sigmoid and twisted endosoma, in conjunction with structure of apical spines, distinctive among Bifidostylus spp., but structure of parameres and endosoma concordant. Most similar in size and body shape to B. kalgoorlie , but general coloration darker in that species, including the heavily fumose membrane; endosoma twisted and sigmoid in both species, but apical endosomal spines also distinct, B. occidentalis having three slender spines, whereas B. kalgoorlie with one.

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Greatly elongate, parallel sided, mean total length 4.85, mean pronotum width 1.14. COLORATION (pl. 4): Pale yellow-orange; membrane weakly fumose. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 4): Dorsum smooth, weakly polished and shining; dorsum clothed with reclining, pale, simple setae. STRUCTURE: Head (pl. 4): Eyes moderately large, vertex relatively broad; frons weakly swollen, rounded, and slightly exceeding anterior margin of eye; eye occupying two-thirds height of head; antenna inserted just above ventral margin of eye, moderately emarginate; antennal segment 2 long (1.40), 1.5 times width of head; labium just surpassing posterior margin of mesosternum. Thorax (pl. 4): Pronotum with calli faintly visible, posterior lobe weakly elevated, lateral and posterior margins straight; meso ‐ scutum narrowly exposed. Hemelytron: Corium greatly elongate, lateral margin nearly straight; cuneus strongly elongate triangular. GENITALIA (fig. 16, pl. 5): Pygophore: Triangular. Endosoma: Sigmoid, straps contiguous to just distad of midpoint, ventral strap narrow, bending laterad medially, terminating as thin spine at level of secondary gonopore; dorsal strap bifid with two narrow undulating sections terminating as diverging spines exceeding gonopore; narrow well-sclerotized secondary gonopore subapical, situated within billowy interstrap membrane. Phallotheca: Apical portion elongate conical, somewhat broadened subapically, aperture ovoid, situated on anterior surface, right side of base with large sclerotized outpocket; basal portion reaching to middle of ventral surface of pygophore in situ. Parameres: Left paramere with dorsoposterior margin strongly elevated above anterior and posterior processes; posterior process long, undulating in lateral view and sinuous in dorsal view; anterior process relatively large, long seta present laterad of process. Right paramere somewhat swollen with one well-defined apical process and small posterior angle.

FEMALE (pl. 4): Very elongate ovoid, mean total length 4.35, mean pronotum width 1.18. Coloration and vestiture as in male. Eyes of similar size to male but vertex appearing somewhat wider. GENITALIA as in plate 42C, E, F.

ETYMOLOGY: From the Latin, occidentalis , “of the west,” referring to the occurrence of this species in Western Australia.

HOST: Recorded from Eremophila ionantha (pl. 38C–E) ( Scrophulariaceae ).

DISTRIBUTION (map 5): Most known specimens collected at the type locality near Peak Charles National Park, Western Australia, southwest of Norseman, with additional material known from 115 km E of Norseman, also on Eremophila ionantha .

DISCUSSION: See also discussion under B. kalgoorlie . This is the only species we place in Bifidostylus with the right paramere lacking the bifid apex. We nonetheless maintain this placement because other features—such as the structure of the endosoma, phallotheca, and left paramere—largely agree with those in most of the remaining species we place in the genus.

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 4.3 km N of Peak Charles National Park, 32.81408°S 121.2114°E, 200 m, 20 Nov 1999, R.T. Schuh, G. Cassis and R. Silveira, Eremophila ionantha Diels (Scrophulariaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5670438, 1♂ (AMNH_PBI 00129839) (WAMP).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 4.3 km N of Peak Charles National Park, 32.81408°S 121.2114°E, 200 m, 20 Nov 1999, R.T. Schuh, G. Cassis and R. Silveira, Eremophila ionantha Diels (Scrophulariaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5670438, 20♂ (00087461, 0 0 413381– 00413399), 50♀ (00413409–0 0 413441, 0 0 413450– 0 0 413461, 0 0 413917–00413921) (AM), 6♂ (00129837, 0 0 129838, 0 0 0 99400, 0 0 413400– 00413402), 17♀ (00129840–0 0 129850, 0 0 0 99401, 0 0 129851, 0 0 129852, 0 0 413442–00413444) (AMNH), 5♂ (00413403–00413407), 5♀ (00413445–00413449) (WAMP). 115.4 km E of Norseman, 32.05143°S 122.9675°E, 600 m, 23 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Eremophila ionantha Diels (Scrophulariaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5056152, 4♂ (00388861–00388864), 1♀ (00388865) (AM), 1♂ (00392819) (AMNH).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 4.3 km N of Peak Charles National Park, 32.81408°S 121.2114°E, 200 m, 20 Nov 1999, R.T. Schuh, G. Cassis and R. Silveira, Eremophila ionantha Diels (Scrophulariaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5670438, 4 nymphs (00413922–00413925) (AM).