Plagiognathus suffuscipennis Knight, 1923: 454

SCHUH, RANDALL T., 2001, Revision Of New World Plagiognathus Fieber, With Comments On The Palearctic Fauna And The Description Of A New Genus (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2001 (266), pp. 1-267 : 224-225

Plagiognathus suffuscipennis Knight, 1923: 454

(n. sp.).

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the usually tan coloration of hemelytra contrasting with the castaneous head, pronotum, and scutellum, posterior half of pronotum sometimes more or less unicolorous with hemelytra (fig. 13: suffuscipennis 1); hemelytra in Rocky Moun­ tain populations dark as rest of dorsum (fig. 13: suffuscipennis 2). Most similar in size, general appearance, and structure of male genitalia to tsugae (fig. 13) and tumidifrons (fig. 14), but those two species with dorsum unicolorous castaneous and with distinctive genitalia.

REDESCRIPTION: Male: Elongate ovoid, size relatively small; total length 3.03–3.26, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.07– 2.28, width across pronotum 0.90 –0.98. COLORATION (fig. 13): Head, pronotum, and scutellum castaneous, posterior lobe of pronotum often much lighter and nearly unicolorous with hemelytra; hemelytra tan in eastern populations, castaneous in Rocky Mountain populations; antennal segment 1 castaneous except for a pale apical annulus, segments 2, 3, and 4 entirely pale, or at least contrastingly lighter than segment 1 (fig. 19) in eastern populations, all segments castaneous in Rocky Mountain populations; labium ranging from mostly pale to largely infuscate; venter entirely castaneous; coxae castaneous except at articulation with trochanter; remainder of legs pale to very weakly infuscate; femora sometimes with weakly contrasting brown spots; tibial spines with at most faint dark spots at bases. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum weakly granular, smooth, weakly shining. Vestiture of dorsum composed of recumbent, moderately long, neat, pale, weakly shining, simple setae. STRUCTURE: Body appearing somewhat flattened, lateral corial margins moderately convexly rounded; frons moderately tumid and weakly bulging beyond anterior margin of eyes in dorsal view, clypeus barely visible; head weakly projecting anteriorly, anteocular distance 1.5 times diameter of antennal segment 1; head projecting below eye by diameter of antennal segment 1; labium reaching to about apex of hind coxae. GEN­ ITALIA (fig. 32): Body of vesica short and relatively stout, apical spines erect, anterior spine flattened, sharply angled near apex, posterior spine elongate, conical, straight.

Female: Very similar to male in general structure and coloration. Total length 2.96– 3.20, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.09–2.30, width across pronotum 0.91– 1.01.

HOSTS: Picea spp. (Pinaceae) .

DISTRIBUTION: Eastern North America from Ontario south to Tennessee, west to the Rocky Mountain system from Alaska south to Arizona and New Mexico.

DISCUSSION: This species was compared by Knight (1923) with Plesiodema pinetellum (Zetterstedt) . Comparison of the male genitalia of suffuscipennis, tsugae , and tumidifrons —all three of which were described in the same publication—indicates that the three form a group based on distinctive structure of the vesica, even though the general vesical structure is of the Plagiognathus type. The bases of the tibial spines of suffuscipennis may be weakly darkened, although in some cases they are entirely pale.

The specimens I have identified as suffuscipennis —on the basis of vesical structure— from the Rocky Mountain system have antennal segment 2 almost totally dark, whereas those from the eastern United States are somewhat smaller and have antennal segment 2 entirely pale in most cases.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: CANADA.— Alberta: Coal Valley , August 31, 1970, L. A. Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 73, 22♀ (CNC). Drumheller, June 18, 1957, Brooks and MacNay, 43, 1♀ (CNC). High Prairie, July 17, 1961, A. R. Brooks, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 6♀ (CNC). British Columbia : 5.5 km W of Paulson Pass on Rt 3, August 31, 1993, M. D. Schwartz, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 23 (CNC). Glacier Natl. Park, August 26, 1989, G. G. E. Scudder, 1♀ (CNC). Manitoba: E of Braintree, June 30, 1972, L. A. Kelton, 1♀ (CNC). Falcon Lake, July 20, 1978, L. A. Kelton, Abies sp. ( Pinaceae ), 1♀ (CNC). Pine Falls, August 2, 1962, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 53, 4♀ (CNC). Riding Mt. Natl. Park, July 21, 1972, L. A. Kelton, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 13, 5♀ (CNC). Turtle Mt., July 17, 1953, Brooks and Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 23, 7♀ (CNC). University of Manitoba campus, near Red River, July 6, 1990, M. D. Schwartz, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 23, 9♀ (CNC). New Brunswick: Berwick, August 2, 1966, L. A. Kelton, 23 (CNC). Edmunston, July 25, 1966, L. A. Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 23, 8♀ (CNC). Fredericton, June 28, 1976, L. A. Kelton, 13, 8♀ (CNC). Kouchibouguac Natl. Park, July 22, 1977, D. J. Brown, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 63, 5♀ (CNC). Nova Scotia: Big In­ tervale, July 23, 1966, L. A. Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (CNC). Cape Breton Natl. Park, July 22, 1966, L. A. Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 123, 14♀ (CNC). Halifax, July 22, 1976, L. A. Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 43, 4♀ (CNC). Ingonish, August 2, 1976, L. A. Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 13, 3♀ (CNC). Ingonish, July 30, 1976, L. A. Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 23, 3♀ (CNC). Kentville, July 10, 1976, L. A. Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 13, 1♀ (CNC). Middleton, August 9, 1966, L. A. Kelton, Pinus resinosa (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (CNC). Ontario: 20 mi N of Red Lake, August 11, 1960, Kelton and Whitney, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 23, 5♀ (CNC). 20 mi W of Ignace, August 12, 1960, Kelton and Whitney, 33, 6♀ (CNC). 5 mi E of Thessalon off Rt 17, Round Barn Road, July 2, 1990, M. D. Schwartz, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 23, 2♀ (CNC). 5 mi E of Willard, August 10, 1960, Kelton and Whitney, 23 (CNC). Biscotasing, July 24, 1931, Karl Schedl, 13 (CNC). Black Hawk, August 3, 1960, Kelton and Whitney, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 223, 18♀ (CNC). Capetown, July 16, 1962, Kelton and Brumpton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 23 (CNC). Dryden, August 12, 1960, Kelton and Whitney, 1♀ (CNC). Dundas, July 16, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 13, 4♀ (CNC). Fergus, July 24, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 63, 6♀ (CNC). Greensville, July 26, 1962, L. A. Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 83 (CNC). Ignace, August 12, 1960, Kelton and Whitney, 33, 4♀ (CNC). Jerseyville, July 16, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 23, 8♀ (CNC). Kintore, July 10, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 33, 8♀ (CNC). Lambeth, July 29, 1961, Kelton and Brumpton, 13 (CNC). Mer Bleue, August 9, 1932, G. S. Walley, 73, 4♀ (CNC). Niagara Falls, July 7, 1955, L. A. Kelton, 13, 1♀ (CNC). One Sided Lake, August 2, 1960, Kelton and Whitney, 13 (CNC). Ottawa, Central Experimental Farm, July 7, 1991 – June 19, 1991, M. D. Schwartz, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 103, 4♀ (CNC). Pautois Creek on Hwy 17, July 1, 1990, M. D. Schwartz, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 2♀ (CNC). Queenston, July 8, 1955, L. A. Kelton, 13, 3♀ (CNC). Raith, August 13, 1960, Kelton and Whitney, 2♀ (CNC). Sault Ste. Marie, July 27, 1960, Kelton and Whitney, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 63, 12♀ (CNC). Sturgeon Falls, July 27, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, 13, 1♀ (CNC). Quebec: Laniel, July 16, 1963, L. A. Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 103, 5♀ (CNC). Laniel, July 20, 1963, W. Gagne, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 243, 18♀ (CNC). Saskatchewan: Prince Albert, July 23, 1959, A. and J. Brooks, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 13, 1♀ (CNC). USA.— Alaska: Eagle, July 11, 1936, F. Grinnell, 1♀ (LACM). Arizona: Apache Co. : 2 mi N of Alpine, August 16, 1982, J. C. Schaffner, Picea pungens (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (TAMU). Eagar, Apache Natl. Forest , August 12, 1967, L. A. Kelton, 53, 10♀ (CNC). Colorado: Archuleta Co.: Pagosa Springs, July 22, 1968, L. A. Kelton, 63, 6♀ (CNC). Clear Creek Co.: Idaho Springs, July 30, 1968, L. A. Kelton, 13 (CNC). Squaw Pass, Arapahoe Natl. Forest, July 27, 1968, L. A. Kelton, Pinus contorta (Pinaceae) , 2♀ (CNC). Gilpin Co.: Rollinsville, Roosevelt Natl. Forest, August 5, 1968, L. A. Kelton, 13, 1♀ (CNC). Jackson Co.: 1 mi E of Gould, August 11, 1969, J. C. Schaffner, 13 (TAMU). Gould, 9200 ft, August 12, 1968, L. A. Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 153, 27♀ (CNC). Larimer Co.: Chambers Lake, Roosevelt Natl. Forest, 9200 ft, August 11, 1968, L. A. Kelton, Pinus contorta (Pinaceae) , 43, 15♀ (CNC). Rocky Mountain National Park, Fall River Road, 9500 ft, August 16, 1968, L. A. Kelton, 63, 10♀ (CNC). Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake Entrance, August 18, 1968, L. A. Kelton, Picea engelmanni (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (CNC). Rocky Mountain National Park, Milner Pass, 10,500 ft, August 18, 1968, L. A. Kelton, 1♀ (CNC). Mineral Co.: 5 mi N of Wolf Creek Pass, August 20, 1969, J. C. Schaffner, 3♀ (TAMU). Pitkin Co.: Aspen, White River Natl. Forest, August 24, 1968, L. A. Kelton, 43, 5♀ (CNC). Saguache Co.: 1 mi E of North Pass, August 19, 1969, J. C. Schaffner, Picea pungens (Pinaceae) , 63, 5♀ (TAMU). Idaho: Benewah Co.: 4 mi W of Emida on Hwy 6, July 9, 1979, G. M. Stonedahl, Abies amabilis (Pinaceae) , 13 (OSU). near Emida, St. Joe Natl. Forest, T42N R53W, 3000 ft, August 5, 1986, Schuh, Schwartz, Stonedahl, 13, 1♀ (AMNH). Caribou Co.: 8 mi E of Way­ an, 1 mi E of mp 101 on Rt 34, 6000 ft, July 30, 1981, M. D. Schwartz, Picea engelmanni (Pinaceae) , 3♀ (AMNH). Idaho Co.: Lochsa River Valley, E of Wilderness Access Campground (milepost 127), 2400 ft, August 1, 1987, G. M. Stonedahl, Picea sitchensis (Pinaceae) , 2♀ (AMNH). Illinois: Jo Daviess Co.: Galena, June 30, 1932, Dozier and Mohr, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 13 (AMNH). Mercer Co.: Keithsburg, June 15, 1932, H. L. Dozier, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (AMNH). Iowa: Henry Co.: Mt. Pleasant, June 20, 1966, J. C. Schaffner, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 113, 13♀ (TAMU). Story Co.: Ames, June 13, 1962, J. C. Schaffner, Picea pungens (Pinaceae) , 13, 1♀ (USNM). Ames, June 25, 1949, J. A. Slater, ex Pinaceae , 1♀ (AMNH). Maine: Kennebec Co.: Augusta, July 1, 1947, A. E. Brower, 1♀ (USNM). Michigan: Cheboygan Co.: No specific locality, July 27, 1950, J. D. Lattin, 13, 5♀ (AMNH). Minnesota: Cook Co.: Beaver Dam, August 12, 1922, H. H. Knight, Picea mariana (Pinaceae) , paratypes: 53, 5♀ (USNM). New Hampshire: Cheshire Co.: Mount Monadnock State Park, July 22, 1954, J. A. Slater, 1♀ (AMNH). New Mexico: Taos Co.: Tres Ritos, July 25, 1968, J. C. Schaffner, 93, 15♀ (TAMU). New York: Essex Co.: Lake Placid, July 4, 1991, M. D. Schwartz, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 13 (CNC). Monroe Co.: Rochester Junction, July 18, 1914, M. D. Leonard, paratype: 13 (USNM); holotype male (USNM). Nassau Co.: East Meadow near Rt 25, June 16, 1986, M. D. Schwartz, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 23, 8♀ (CNC). Flower Hill near Rt 25A on Ridge Drive East, June 10, 1986, M. D. Schwartz, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 23, 3♀ (CNC). Suffolk Co.: Bayshore, Brentwood Road, June 22, 1985, M. D. Schwartz, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 13, 1♀ (CNC). Caumselt State Park, July 30, 1985, M. D. Schwartz, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 13, 1♀ (CNC). East Quogue, Quogue Wildlife Refuge, July 19, 1988, M. D. Schwartz, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 13, 2♀ (CNC). Oregon: Hood River Co.: T3S R9E Sec 18, 4300 ft, September 13, 1979, J. D. Lattin, Picea engelmanni (Pinaceae) , 13 (OSU). Pennsylvania: Allegheny Co.: Pittsburgh, North Park, July 18, 1989, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Blair Co.: Altoona, Pleasant Valley Nursery, July 11, 1972, S. M. George, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 13 (PDA). Duncansville, Hillside Nursery, July 25, 1972, S. M. George, Pinus mugo (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Bucks Co.: Morrisville, Shires Nursery, June 16, 1972, Haussert and Stearns, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 3♀ (PDA). Southhampton, Ulmill Creek Nursery, June 26, 1972, Semmel, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Centre Co.: State College, Autoport Motel, June 9, 1973, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 33 (PDA). Chester Co.: Marshalton, Fethcroft Nursery, June 11, 1974, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Abies fraseri ( Pinaceae ), 2♀ (PDA). Clearfield Co.: DuBois, Nelson Tree Nursery, July 20, 1972, 7♀ (PDA). DuBois, R. Nelson Tree Nursery, July 20, 1972, 53 (PDA). Clinton Co.: Lock Haven, St. Mary’s Cemetery, July 5, 1973, T. Killian, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Cumberland Co.: Allen, July 19, 1972, F. Negley, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Camp Hill, June 25, 1972, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Dauphin Co.: 3 mi S of Hershey, June 9, 1977, Schuh, Henry, Wheeler, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 2♀ (AMNH). Harrisburg, Agriculture Building, July 6, 1972, T. J. Henry, 13, 1♀ (PDA). Harrisburg, East Harrisburg Cemetery, June 11, 1973, T. J. Henry, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 13, 2♀ (PDA). Harrisburg, William Penn High School, June 4, 1974, B. R. Stinner, Pseudotsuga taxifolia (Pinaceae) , 13 (AMNH). Erie Co.: Fairview, Black Hills, July 11, 1972, F. Negley, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 2♀ (PDA). Union City, July 19, 1972, H. G. Wolff, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 33, 1♀ (PDA). Indiana Co.: 14 mi E of Indiana, Carino Nurseries, June 27, 1972, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 13, 2♀ (PDA). Fleming’s Trailer Park, June 28, 1972, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 13 (PDA). Indiana, Oakland Cemetery, June 15, 1973, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 13 (PDA). Strongstown, Carino’s Nursery, July 14, 1972, T. J. Henry, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 13 (PDA). Lancaster Co.: Lancaster, Huber’s Nursery, June 13, 1973, W. Blosser, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 13, 1♀ (PDA). Lebanon Co.: Rt 22 at I­81 exit (Rt 934), June 24, 1974, T. J. Henry, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Montgomery Co.: Lansdale, St. John’s Church, June 24, 1976, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 13, 3♀ (PDA). Schuykill Co.: Barnesville, Skeeth’s Nursery, June 12, 1972, Semmel, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Washington Co.: Burgettstown, Iannetti’s Nursery, June 21, 1973, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). South Dakota: Lawrence Co.: Englewood, Black Hills, August 5, 1971, L. A. Kelton, 1♀ (CNC). Tennessee: Knox Co.: Knoxville, May 27, 1985, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 13, 1♀ (PDA). Utah: Duchesne Co.: Uinta Mountains, Ashley National Forest, Hades Campground, 7400 ft, August 17, 1986, Schwartz and Stonedahl, Picea pungens (Pinaceae) , 3♀ (AMNH). Virginia: Roanoke Co.: Hollins College, May 5, 1985, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 13 (PDA). Washington: Okanogan Co.: Washington Pass Meadow, 5400 ft, August 11, 1978, J. D. Lattin, 13 (OSU). Yakima Co.: 3 mi E of Dog Lake on Hwy 12, August 23, 1979, G. M. Stonedahl, Abies amabilis (Pinaceae) , 23, 1♀ (OSU). West Virginia: Greenbrier Co.: White Sulphur Springs, June 25, 1978, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 13, 3♀ (PDA). Kanawha Co.: Charleston, April 12, 1977, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 13 (PDA). Pendleton Co.: Franklin, June 10, 1979, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 43, 1♀ (PDA). Randolph Co.: Elkins, June 9, 1979, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 33, 9♀ (PDA).