Psallus parshleyi Knight, 1923: 465

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 : 186-188

Psallus parshleyi Knight, 1923: 465 (n. sp.).

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by moderately large size, parallel­sided body form (fig. 11), narrowly scalelike setae on the pronotum (fig. 35C), and the frequent presence of dark stripe on the dorsal surface of hind femur. Frequently dorsum almost entirely dark, but always with a consistent quadrate pale marking on the basal half of the cuneus (fig. 11); sometimes basal one­third of corium also pale (fig. 11). Similar to morrisoni (fig. 10) in coloration and in having scalelike setae on the pronotum, but always larger, having lighter colored femora than morrisoni , and feeding on Betulaceae rather than Myrica­ ceae. Also similar in size and appearance to obscurus (fig. 10) and notodysmicos (fig. 11), but differing from both in having narrowly scalelike silvery setae on the pronotum and golden simple setae on the hemelytra rather than golden, shining, simple setae on the entire dorsum. Vesica (fig. 30) similar in form to that of obscurus (fig. 29), but base not coming as close to attaining level of secondary gonopore as in obscurus , and flange terminating nearer to base of secondary gonopore than in obscurus .

REDESCRIPTION: Male: Elongate, nearly parallel­sided, relatively large; total length 4.48–4.71, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.98–3.10, width across pronotum 1.19– 1.28. COLORATION (fig. 11): Background coloration of dorsum castaneous; vertex, and sometimes frons, not so dark as remainder of dorsum; cuneus always with a white quadrate marking on basal one­third to one­half; corium sometimes pale on basal one­third, the posterior margin of this area nearly perpendicular to the costal margin of the hemelytron; costal vein dark to weakly pale; corium narrowly and vaguely pale adjacent to extreme base of membrane; membrane fumose, veins fumose except on posterior margin of cells; all antennal segments castaneous to black (fig. 18), segment 1 with a pale apical annulus and segments 3 and 4 sometimes appearing only weakly infuscate; labium varying from entirely castaneous to largely pale; venter entirely castaneous, including metathoracic scent­gland evaporatory area; legs usually largely pale, although coxae and femora sometimes mostly infuscate; femora always with some dark spots and dorsal surface frequently with a dark longitudinal stripe; tibiae with pale to weakly infuscate background coloration, dorsal tibial spines with obvious dark spots at bases; tibiae dark at articulation with femora. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum weakly granular, smooth, dull to weakly shining. Pronotum, scutellum, and adjacent areas of hemelytra with flattened, narrowly scalelike, silvery, shining setae; remainder of dorsum with golden, shining, simple setae. STRUCTURE: Body slender, nearly parallel­sided; frons weakly convex, clypeus barely visible from above; anteocular distance 2.0 times diameter of antennal segment 1, head projecting below eye by 1.5 times diameter of antennal segment 1 (fig. 35A); labium reaching to apex of middle coxae; metathoracic scentgland evaporatory area and spiracle as in figure 35B; pretarsus as in figure 35D. GENI­ TALIA (fig. 30): Body of vesica stout, tightly curving, J­shaped, base of vesica falling well below level of base of secondary gonopore; posterior apical spine only moderately long, weakly curving and weakly angled relative to body of vesica, anterior spine more nearly perpendicular to body of vesica, conspicuously longer than posterior spine, nearly straight and uniformly attenuated in lateral view; flange broad, nearly straight along exposed margin, extending somewhat above base of secondary gonopore.

Female: Body shorter, broader, and more strongly ovoid than in male (fig. 11). Total length 3.88–4.18, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.65–2.90, width across pronotum 1.14–1.30.

HOSTS: Recorded by Knight (1923) from Betula pumila (Betulaceae) . Records from the present study indicate breeding on Alnus spp. and Betula spp. (Betulaceae) . The specimens from the western United States all lack host data, but they come from areas where birch might be expected to grow.

DISTRIBUTION: Broadly distributed at high latitudes, extending as far south as New Mexico in mountainous portions of the West, and to Illinois in the East.

DISCUSSION: This species was placed in Psallus by Knight (1923) because of its weakly scalelike vestiture. The genitalia, however, are typically Plagiognathus . The pattern and regularity of coloration are quite distinctive in parshleyi , and therefore the species is comparatively easy to recognize. Compared to most of the large Plagiognathus spp. , however, it is relatively uncommon in collections. This may be because it appears to breed only on Alnus and Betula spp. , and is not swept from ruderal plant species by general collectors the way brunneus , obscurus , and politus are.

Specimens from the western United States that I have identified as parshleyi usually have the legs, including the coxae, darker than in the eastern specimens I have examined. The darker femora make it difficult to recognize western specimens on the basis of the longitudinal stripes on the dorsal surface of the femur, a character which may not be particularly reliable, anyway, as it appears that the muscle bundle in the femur sometimes is stuck to the inner surface of the femur, giving it a dark appearance. Consequently, specimens of other species may possess this attribute of ‘‘coloration’’ that Knight deemed diagnostic for parshleyi .

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: CANADA.— Alberta: Coleman , August 26, 1952, L. A. Konotopetz, 1♀ (CNC). Grande Prairie, July 26, 1961, A. R. Brooks, 33 (CNC). High Prairie, July 16, 1961, A. R. Brooks, 23 (CNC). Jasper Natl. Park, August 7, 1952, L. A. Konotopetz, 13 (CNC). Kananaskis Road, July 27, 1974, L. A. Kelton, 13 (CNC). Labrador: Goose Bay, August 11, 1948, W. E. Beckel, 1♀ (CNC). Manitoba: Aweme, August 9, 1923, N. Criddle, 1♀ (CNC). Aweme, August 9, 1927, N. Criddle, 33 (CNC). New Brunswick: Fredericton, July 1, 1970, C. M. Yoshimoto, 13 (CNC). Fredericton, June 21, 1960, I. W. Varty, Betula lutea (Betulaceae) , 13 (CNC). Kouchibouguac Natl. Park, July 27, 1977, D. J. Brown, Alnus sp. (Betulaceae) , 13, 6♀ (CNC). Newfoundland: Badger, July 31, 1980, L. A. Kelton, Alnus sp. (Betulaceae) , 53, 11♀ (CNC). Terra Nova Natl. Park, July 23, 1980, L. A. Kelton, 13 (CNC). Nova Scotia: Annapolis, October 9, 1923, R. P. Gorham, 1♀ (CNC). Bridgetown, August 9, 1966, L. A. Kelton, 1♀ (CNC). Halifax, August 10, 1980, L. A. Kelton, 33, 2♀ (CNC). Ingonish, July 30, 1976, L. A. Kelton, 13 (CNC). Kings County, September 8, 1936, 13 (CNC). Ontario: 20 mi W of Ignace, August 12, 1960, Kelton and Thorpe, 13 (CNC). Footes Bay, July 23, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, 1♀ (CNC). Otter Lake, July 26, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, 13 (CNC). Wa­ terford, July 17, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, 1♀ (CNC). Quebec: Forestville, August 8, 1950, R. de Ruette, 13 (CNC). Kirks Ferry, August 10, 1950, B. P. Beirne, 23 (CNC). Knowlton, August 2, 1929, G. S. Walley, 1♀ (CNC). Lac Mondor, Ste. Flore, July 8, 1951, E. G. Munroe, 23, 3♀ (CNC). Laniel, July 10, 1963, W. Gagne, 13 (CNC). Magog, August 2, 1961, G. Brumpton, 13 (CNC). Saskatchewan: Amsterdam, August 22, 1954, Brooks and Wallis, 1♀ (CNC). Garrick, August 9, 1951, J. C. Arrand, Betula glandulosa (Betulaceae) , 23, 12♀ (CNC). Hudson Bay, August 25, 1954, Brooks and Wallis, 13, 6♀ (CNC). Saskatoon, July 6, 1951, A. R. Brooks, 13 (CNC). Waskesiu Lake, July 21, 1939, A. R. Brooks, 23 (CNC). Yukon Territory: Dempster Hwy, km 140.5, 900 m, July 27, 1980, Wood and Lafontaine, 1♀ (CNC). Eagle Plain, July 26, 1983, L. A. Kelton, Betula sp. (Betulaceae) , 63 (CNC). Tombstone, July 28, 1983, L. A. Kelton, Betula sp. (Betulaceae) , 33 (CNC). USA.— Alaska: 15 mi W of Nebesna, July 13, 1948, R. I. Sailer, 33, 3♀ (USNM). Chicken, July 22, 1982, L. A. Kelton, Betula glandulosa (Betulaceae) , 13 (CNC). Chicken, July 22, 1982, L. A. Kelton, Betula glandulosa (Betulaceae) , 43, 3♀ (CNC). Fairbanks, August 15, 1948, S. Lienk, 13 (AMNH). California: Mono Co. : Bridgeport, July 8, 1934, E. P. Van Duzee, 1♀ (CAS). Colorado: Larimer Co.: Glen Haven, July 27, 1946, P. B. Lawson, 1♀ (KU). Rist Canyon, July 22, 1898, 13 (USNM). Pitkin Co.: Avalanche, White River Natl. Forest, August 23, 1968, L. A. Kelton, 13 (CNC). Connecticut: Mansfield Center, August 9, 1956, J. A. Slat­ er, 13, 1♀ (AMNH). Mt. Carmel, July 26, 1961, A. Decaprio, 13 (AMNH). Storrs, July 29, 1954, J. A. Slater, 1♀ (AMNH). Idaho: Franklin Co.: Thomas Spring, June 28, 1974, G. F. Knowlton, 23 (USU). Illinois: Lake Co.: Antioch, July 5, 1932, Frison et al., 13 (AMNH). Antioch, July 5, 1932, Frison et al., 13, 1♀ (USNM). Antioch, July 5, 1932, Frison, 13, 2♀ (AMNH). Maine: Hancock Co.: Mount Desert Island, Eagle Lake, July 18, 1917, C. W. Johnson , 1♀ (USNM). Washington Co.: Whiting, July 18, 1958, J. A. Slater, 1♀ (AMNH). Massachusetts: Berkshire Co.: Hartsville, Lake Buel, July 13, 1930, J. R. de la Torre­Bueno, 13 (KU). Essex Co.: Beach Bluff, July 22, 1917, H. M. Parshley, 3♀ (CAS). Beach Bluff, July 23, 1917, H. M. Parshley, paratype: 13 (CNC). Beach Bluff, July 23, 1917, H. M. Parshley, Betula sp. (Betulaceae) , paratypes: 13, 2♀ (USNM). Franklin Co.: Greenfield, along Green River, July 23, 1992, R. W. Jones, 13 (TAMU). Worcester Co.: Southbridge, July 16, 1900, H. M. Parshley, 13 (CAS). Michigan: Cheboygan Co.: Cheboygan, June 26, 1939, R. Sailer, 1♀ (KU). Luce Co.: Soo Junction, July 31, 1938, H. B. Hungerford, 1♀ (KU). Minnesota: Hennepin Co.: No specific locality, August 2, 1920, H. H. Knight, Betula pumila (Betulaceae) , 1♀ (CAS). No specific locality, August 2, 1920, H. H. Knight, Betula gladulifera (Betulaceae) , 2♀ (USNM). Ramsey Co.: St. Anthony Park, August 7, 1924, H. H. Knight, 1♀ (USNM). St. Anthony Park, July 4, 1921, H. H. Knight, paratype: 13 (USNM). Nevada: Washoe Co. : Sparks, June 28, 1927, E. P. Van Duzee, 1♀ (CAS). New Hampshire: Coos Co.: Gorham, August 12, 1900, N. Banks, 2♀ (AMNH). Gorham, July 15, 1929, G. S. Walley, 13 (CNC). Mount Washington, 13 (AMNH). Merrimack Co.: Boscawen, September 12, 1946, R. H. Beamer, 13 (KU). New Mexico: Taos Co.: Columbine Park Recreation Area, July 24, 1968, J. C. Schaffner, 73, 18♀ (TAMU). New York: Rockland Co.: Tuxedo , July 5, 1928, 13 (AMNH). St. Lawrence Co.: Cranberry Lake, July 23, 1924, E. A. Hartley, 13 (USNM). Suffolk Co.: Bayshore, July 4, 1912, C. E. Olsen, 23 (CAS). Bayshore, July 4, 1915, C. E. Olson, 1♀ (USNM). Bayshore, July 4, 1915, C. E. Olsen, paratype: 13 (USNM). Cold Spring Harbor, July 11, 1920, H. M. Parshley, 1♀ (CAS). Pennsylvania: Luzerne Co.: Wilkes­Barre, Rts 115 & 315, June 17, 1974, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Betula populifolia (Betulaceae) , 23, 2♀ (PDA). Schuykill Co.: 2.5 mi N of Rt 51 on I­81, June 20, 1974, T. J. Henry, Betula populifolia (Betulaceae) , 13 (AMNH). I 81 ca. 2.5 mi N of Rt 61, June 20, 1974, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Betula populifolia (Betulaceae) , 13 (PDA). Utah: Cache Co.: Green Canyon, August 2, 1973, G. F. Knowlton, 23 (USU). Logan Canyon, July 10, 1933 – July 21, 1969, G. F. Knowlton, 33, 1♀ (USU). Logan Canyon, July 21, 1959, G. F. Knowlton, 13 (USU). Emery Co.: Emery, August 16, 1929, P. W. Oman, 23, 4♀ (KU). Washington: Yakima Co.: Toppenish, July 8, 1935, R. H. Beamer, 13 (KU).