Sthenarus viticola Johnston, 1935: 16

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 : 244-245

Sthenarus viticola Johnston, 1935: 16 (n. sp.).

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the small size, orange coloration (fig. 14) of dorsum tinged with brown, and entirely pale antennae and tibiae. Similar in coloration of dorsum to cornicola and delicatus , but distinguished from them by the smaller size, the entirely pale antennae, and the tibial spines without dark spots at bases.

REDESCRIPTION: Male: Small, delicate; total length 2.68–2.98, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.68–2.98, width across pronotum 0.97–1.02. COLORATION (fig. 14): Coloration of dorsum very weakly mottled, varying from pale greenish to orange or golden brown, the last being the most common; calli almost always darker than remain­ der of pronotum; antennae entirely pale (fig. 19); clypeus usually castaneous, sometimes much of face below antennal insertions also castaneous; labium pale except at base and apex; venter brown, including metathoracic scent­gland evaporatory area; legs almost entirely pale, including coxae; femora often with some dark spots; tibiae pale over entire length; tibial spines without dark spots at bases. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum weakly granular, smooth, moderately shining. Vestiture of dorsum composed of recumbent, pale, golden, shining, simple setae. STRUCTURE: Body elongate ovoid, hemelytra declivent laterally, dorsum noticeably convex; pronotum declivent anteriorly; frons nearly straight across between eyes, head strongly declivent, clypeus never visible from above; anteocular distance 1.5 times diameter of antennal segment 1; head projecting below eye by diameter of antennal segment 1; labium reaching to apex of hind coxae. GENITALIA (fig. 33): Body of vesica relatively stout, very strongly curving, Ushaped, base of vesica falling somewhat below level of secondary gonopore; posterior apical spine longer, weakly curving and forming a weak angle relative to body of vesica, anterior spine much longer than posterior, curving toward apex, and nearly perpendicular to body of vesica; vesical flange moderately developed, reaching to about base of secondary gonopore.

Female: Very similar to male in coloration but body more strongly ovoid in outline. Total length 2.63–2.85, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 1.81–1.92, width across pronotum 0.97–1.02.

HOSTS: Vitis spp. (Vitacae) .

DISTRIBUTION: Known from widely scattered localities in the eastern United States, from Pennsylvania and Illinois in the north to Mississippi and Texas in the south.

DISCUSSION: This species was described in Sthenarus and has been maintained there by subsequent authors; my concept of it is based on the examination of a single paratype and other material that I consider to be authoritatively identified. Examination of the male genitalia clearly indicates that viticola is a Plagiognathus species , however.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: USA.— Illinois: Hardin Co.: Elizabethtown, June 22, 1932, Ross, Dozier, and Park, 1♀ (USNM). Mississippi: Alcorn Co.: Corinth, May 25, 1931, H. G. Johnston, paratype: 13 (USNM). Pennsylvania: Dauphin Co.: near Clark’s Ferry, June 8, 1983, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Vitis labrusca (Vitaceae) , 53, 3♀ (PDA). Nyes and Willoughby Roads, May 25, 1977 – June 10, 1975, T. J. Henry, Vitis sp. (Vitaceae) , 43, 12♀ (PDA). Tennessee: McNairy Co.: E of Eastview on Rt 57, May 31, 1985, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Vitis sp. (Vitaceae) , 13, 1♀ (PDA). Texas: Brazos Co.: 3 mi NE of Edge, May 25, 1984, T. L. Harrison, 13 (CNC). Travis Co.: Shelberg Tract near Cypress Creek arm of Lake Travis, May 8, 1994, J. C. Schaffner, 1♀ (CNC).