Halophylus rhagodii, 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 : 123-125

Halophylus rhagodii , new species

Figure 49, map 12, table 1, plates 16, 17

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by generally light green to pale coloration of uneven intensity across body surface and wings, elongate oval body, dark spots as bases of tibial spines (pl. 16), and endosoma with one apical spine distinctly hooked and secondary gonopore weakly sclerotized (fig. 49, pl. 17). Body form of female somewhat more robust than in male. Distinguished from H. maireani and H. tecticornii by the frequently brownish coloration in the males of those species (pl. 16) and the detailed structure of the apical endosomal spines, particularly the distinctively hooked spine in H. rhagodii (pl. 17), a form similar to that seen in most Pulvillophylus spp. (pl. 27).

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Mean total length 3.80, mean pronotum width 1.08. COLORATION (pl. 16): Overall coloration mostly pale to light green, forming a variegated pattern, membrane with a distinct dark spot at apex of cells; antennae and legs pale; femora with contrasting dark spots, tibial spines with dark bases. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 16): Dorsum with woolly sericeous setae and some reclining, pale common setae. STRUCTURE (pl. 16): Body form elongate ovoid; eye occupying slightly less than twothirds height of head; antenna inserted just above ventral margin of eye, eye very weakly emarginate above insertion; antennal segment 2 elongate, slender (1.14), 1.34 times width of head; labium reaching apex of mesocoxa. Thorax: Pronotum with lateral margin distinctly convex, calli weakly demarcated along posterior margin, posterior margin straight; mesoscutum moderately exposed. Hemelytron: Costal margin weakly convex. GENITALIA (fig. 49, pl. 17): As in generic description but with the following details. Pygophore: Ventral surface with suberect pale bristles. Endosoma: Dorsal strap notched at level of secondary gonopore, serrate (denticulate) at terminus; secondary gonopore weakly sclerotized, with a region of stout denticles. Dorsal apical spine weakly sclerotized short and straight, somewhat rounded apically; ventral apical spine strongly bent laterad before apex, of broader diameter apically, with parallel orientation and length equal to dorsal apical spine. Parameres: Left paramere small, posterior and anterior processes short. Right paramere with short medial spine apically. Right paramere as in figure 49.

Female (pl. 16): Coloration as in male, body form somewhat more robust; mean total length 3.17, mean pronotum width 1.07.

ETYMOLOGY: From the generic name Rhagodia , one of the halophytic hosts of this species.

HOSTS: Recorded from Maireana appressa , Rhagodia latifolia , and R. preissii (Chenopo ‐ diaceae).

DISTRIBUTION (map 12): Known from widely separated localities in South Australia and Western Australia.

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Useless Loop Rd ca. 20 km W of jct with Shark Bay Rd, 26.56331°S 113.9338°E, 30 m, 25 Oct 2004, Cassis, Wall, Weirauch, Symonds, Rhagodia latifolia (Benth.) Paul G. Wilson (Chenopodiaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH6987605, 1d (AMNH_PBI 00414358) (WAMP).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: Witchelina Nature Reserve, ap. 40 km NW of Lyndhurst, 30.01028°S 137.77611°E, 209 m, 13 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, host undetermined, Cassis Lab, UNSW – Bush Blitz, 1♂ (00414529) (UNSW). Witchelina Nature Reserve, ap. 40 km NW of Lyndhurst, 30.15335°S 137.9362°E, 149 m, 12 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, Maireana appressa Paul G. Wilson (Chenopodiaceae) , det. Peter Lang – Dept. of Env. & Natural Resources, South Australia, 2♂ (00414527, 00414528) (UNSW). Witchelina Nature Reserve, ap. 40 km NW of Lyndhurst, 29.94485°S 138.0795°E, 132 m, 11 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, host undetermined, 2♂ (00414525, 00414526) (UNSW). Witchelina Nature Reserve, ap. 40 km NW of Lyndhurst, 30.02083°S 138.04472°E, 212 m, 11 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, host undetermined, 1♂ (00414524) (UNSW); 13 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, 1d (00414523) (UNSW). Western Australia: 2.5 km W of Brand Hiway (off Red Emperor Rd), Flat Rocks Beach (S of Geraldton), 29.02061°S 114.7863°E, 22 Oct 2004, Cassis, Wall, Weirauch, Symonds, Rhagodia preissii Moq. subsp. obovata ( Chenopodiaceae ), det. PERTH staff PERTH6989543, 3d (00414382, 0 0 414383, 00414391), 7♂ (00414384–0 0 414386, 0 0 414395, 0 0 414397, 0 0 414399, 00414400) (AM), 3d (00414380, 0 0 414381, 00414390), 2♂ (004143 96, 00414398) (AMNH), 2♂ (00414387, 00414401), 1d (00414392) (WAMP). 26 km SE of jct of Manga Rd and Shark Bay Rd, Shark Bay World Heritage Area, 26.26835°S 113.8491°E, 15 m, 25 Oct 2004, Cassis, Wall, Weirauch, Symonds, Rhagodia latifolia (Benth.) Paul G. Wilson (Chenopodiaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH6987915, 1d (00414347) (AMNH). 27.6 km N of Coral Bay Rd on Cardabia-Ningaloo Rd, 22.90198°S 113.8167°E, 25 m, 29 Oct 2004, Cassis, Wall, Weirauch, Tatarnic, Symonds, Rhagodia preissii Moq. subsp. obovata ( Chenopodiaceae ), det. PERTH staff PERTH 6989306, 6d (00412880–0 0 412883, 0 0 414348, 00412884), 4♂ (00412885–00412888) (AMNH), 1♂ (00412889) (WAMP). 79 km W of Sandstone, 28.03737°S 118.4983°E, 650 m, 26 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, 1♂ (00414349) (AMNH). Fowlers Camp (at end of Fowlers Camp Rd), Shark Bay World Heritage Area, 26.10801°S 113.6167°E, 24 Oct 2004, Cassis, Wall, Weirauch, Symonds, Rhagodia latifolia (Benth.) Paul G. Wilson (Chenopodiaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH6987907, 2d (00414340, 00414341), 2♂ (00414342, 00414343) (AMNH). Useless Loop Rd ca. 20 km W of jct with Shark Bay Rd, 26.56331°S 113.9338°E, 30 m, 25 Oct 2004, Cassis, Wall, Weirauch, Symonds, Rhagodia latifolia (Benth.) Paul G. Wilson (Chenopodiaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH6987605, 3d (00414357, 0 0 414359, 00414360), 3♂ (00414364– 00414366) (AM), 3♂ (00414361–00414363) (AMNH), 1♂ (00414367) (WAMP).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 2.5 km W of Brand Hiway (off Red Emperor Rd), Flat Rocks Beach (S of Geraldton), 29.02061°S 114.7863°E, 22 Oct 2004, Cassis, Wall, Weirauch, Symonds, Rhagodia preissii Moq. subsp. obovata ( Chenopodiaceae ), det. PERTH staff PERTH 6989543, 4 nymphs (00414388, 0 0 414389, 0 0 414393, 00414394) (AM). Useless Loop Rd ca. 20 km W of jct with Shark Bay Rd, 26.56331°S 113.9338°E, 30 m, 25 Oct 2004, Cassis, Wall, Weirauch, Symonds, Rhagodia latifolia (Benth.) Paul G. Wilson (Chenopodiaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH6987605, 6 nymphs (00414368–00414373) (AM).