Plagiognathus fuscipes Knight, 1929c: 268

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 : 86-87

Plagiognathus fuscipes Knight, 1929c: 268 (n.

sp.).

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the moderate size, generally dark coloration of body and antennae (fig. 8), corium adjacent to extreme base of membrane and base of cuneus narrowly and vaguely pale, the weakly infuscate legs, weakly transversely rugose pronotum, and the silvery shining vestiture on the dorsum. Similar in size and coloration to fenderi , laricicola , pemptos , piceicola , and suffuscipennis . Separated from all of these species by the transversely rugulose posterior lobe of the pronotum (fig. 8). Separated from fenderi by anteocular distance in that species being nearly 2 times diameter of antennal segment 2 rather than about equal to diameter. Separated from pemptos by the dull black setae on the dorsum of that species. Separated from the remaining species by their darker colored femora and by their habit of feeding on conifers rather than on Potentilla . The structure of the vesica will also help to separate all of these species.

REDESCRIPTION: Male: Elongate­ovoid to nearly parallel­sided, of moderate size; total length 3.53–4.16, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.44–2.87, width across pronotum 0.99–1.18. COLORATION (fig. 8): Dorsum and venter dark brown or blackish brown, posterior margin of vertex tending toward pale; corium narrowly and weakly pale adjacent to extreme basal area of membrane; base of cuneus narrowly and weakly pale; legs not so dark as body, usually moderately infuscate with some darker spots on femora; membrane smoky, vein on posterior margin of cells pale; all antennal segments blackish brown (fig. 16); labium castaneous; dorsal tibial spines with dark spots at bases; tibiae dark at articulation with femora. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum weakly granular, smooth, weakly shining; posterior lobe of pronotum weakly transversely rugose. Vestiture of dorsum composed of recumbent, silvery, shining, simple setae, appearing somewhat woolly. STRUCTURE: Body elongateovoid, corial margin usually at least weakly convex; frons moderately tumid and weakly bulging beyond anterior margin of eyes in dorsal view, clypeus visible from above; anteocular distance equal to diameter of antennal segment 1; head projecting below level of eye by 1.6 times diameter of antennal segment 1; labium just surpassing apex of hind coxae. GENITALIA (fig. 25): Body of vesica moderately elongate, base falling well below level of secondary gonopore; apical spines long and nearly erect relative to body of vesica, anterior spine longer than posterior and distinctly bent subapically; flange narrow, terminating just below midpoint of secondary gonopore.

Female: Body usually more strongly ovoid than in male; coloration as in male. Total length 3.17–3.47, length apex clypeus– cuneal fracture 2.19–2.51, width across pronotum 0.94–1.06.

HOSTS: Potentilla fruticosa and Potentilla sp. (probably all records from P. fruticosa ) ( Rosaceae ). All records from other plant groups are probably just sitting occurrences.

DISTRIBUTION: Distributed in Canada from Ontario to British Columbia and the Yukon, occurring farther south in Minnesota, South Dakota, widely in the Rocky Mountain system, and also known from the Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon.

DISCUSSION: The species is known from relatively high latitudes and altitudes, almost always being collected on Potentilla fruticosa . A very few specimens I have identified as fuscipes have the base of the corium pale.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: CANADA.— Alberta: Canmore , July 27, 1952, A. R. Brooks and L. A. Konotopetz, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 33, 3♀ (CNC). Coleman, July 26, 1952, L. A. Konotopetz, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 13 (CNC). Elkwater Park, around marina, 3990 ft, July 16, 1990, M. D. Schwartz, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 303, 30♀ (CNC). Elkwater Park, July 29, 1952 – August 16, 1952, L. A. Konotopetz, A. R. Brooks, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 213, 4♀ (CNC). Elkwater, at Marina, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, September 2, 1993, M. D. Schwartz, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 13, 6♀ (CNC). Fisher Creek A. F. S., July 26, 1973, L. A. Kelton, 1♀ (CNC). Kananaskis Hiway, July 25, 1973, L. A. Kelton, ex Fabaceae , 43 (CNC). Lundbreck, July 7, 1970, L. A. Kelton, 1♀ (CNC). Stettler, August 3, 1957, A. and J. Brooks, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 23 (CNC). Waterton Park, July 26, 1972, L. A. Kelton, 103 (CNC). British Columbia : Grand Forks, June 6, 1950, H. R. MacCarthy, Balsamorhiza sp. (Asteraceae) , 13 (CNC). Oliver, May 17, 1959, R. E. Leech, 13 (CNC). Manitoba: 10 mi W of Roblin, August 20, 1954, Brooks and Wallis, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 103, 21♀ (CNC). Braintree, June 30, 1972, L. A. Kelton, Potentilla sp. (Rosaceae) , 153, 5♀ (CNC). Carberry, July 29, 1953, Brooks and Kelton, Potentilla sp. (Rosaceae) , 83, 14♀ (CNC). Riding Mt. Natl. Park, July 20, 1972, L. A. Kelton, Potentilla sp. (Rosaceae) , 73, 5♀ (CNC). Ontario: Black Lake, August 29, 1951, J. F. McAlpine, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 1♀ (CNC). Corkery, July 31, 1963, D. Brown, Pinus sylvestris (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (CNC). Forest, July 17, 1962, Kelton and Brumpton, Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 13, 4♀ (CNC). Howdenvale, September 7, 1961, Kelton and Brumpton, Potentilla sp. (Rosaceae) , 13, 16♀ (CNC). Oakland, July 17, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Potentilla sp. (Rosaceae) , 373, 46♀ (CNC). Saskatchewan: Christopher Lake, July 15, 1959, A. and J. Brooks, 63, 2♀ (CNC). Cypress Hills, Sep­ tember 19, 1951, A. R. Brooks, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 13, 10♀ (CNC). Love, August 6, 1951, J. C. Arrand, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 13 (CNC). Prince Albert, September 2, 1954, Brooks and Wallis, 13 (CNC). Rockglen, July 31, 1955, A. R. Brooks, 3♀ (CNC). White Fox, August 6, 1951, J. C. Arrand, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 43, 5♀ (CNC). Willow Bunch, July 30, 1955, A. R. Brooks, 33, 5♀ (CNC). Yukon Territory: Whitehorse, July 16, 1982, L. A. Kelton, Astragalus sp. (Fabaceae) , 2♀ (CNC). USA.— Arizona: Apache Co. : Greer, August 1, 1940, L. L. Stitt, 1♀ (USNM). McNary, July 26, 1940, L. L. Stitt, 23, 5♀ (USNM). Colorado: Costilla Co.: Veta Pass, August 9, 1925, H. H. Knight, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , paratypes: 23, 1♀ (USNM); holotype male (USNM). Eagle Co.: Vail Pass below Shrine Pass, 9900 ft, August 11, 1987, T. J. Henry, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 83, 15♀ (USNM). Gilpin Co.: Rollinsville, Roosevelt Natl. Forest, August 1, 1968, L. A. Kelton, Potentilla sp. (Rosaceae) , 113, 13♀ (CNC). Gunnison Co.: 2 mi W of Gunnison on Rt 50, Neversink Picnic Area, 7600 ft, July 17, 1986, R. T. Schuh, Salix sp. (Salicaceae) , 13, 1♀ (AMNH). Larimer Co.: 3 mi S of Estes Park, August 2, 1997, J. C. Schaffner, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 83, 9♀ (TAMU). Rocky Mountain National Park, Fall River Road, 9500 ft, August 16, 1968, L. A. Kelton, Potentilla sp. (Rosaceae) , 83, 8♀ (CNC). Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake Entrance, August 18, 1968, L. A. Kelton, 1♀ (CNC). Pitkin Co.: Aspen, White River Natl. Forest, August 24, 1968, L. A. Kelton, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 13, 2♀ (CNC). Summit Co.: Loveland Pass, W slope, 9850 ft, August 8, 1961, B. H. Poole, 43, 9♀ (CNC). Idaho: Shoshone Co.: 3 mi NW of Clarkia on Rt 3, Cedar Creek Rec. Area, 4700 ft, August 3, 1986, Schuh, Schwartz, Stonedahl, 1♀ (AMNH). Minnesota: Cook Co.: Beaver Dam, August 12, 1922, H. H. Knight, 23, 3♀ (USNM). Montana: Deer Lodge Co.: Georgetown Lake on Rt 10A, 6500 ft, August 9, 1986, Schuh, Schwartz, Stonedahl, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 133, 36♀ (AMNH). Silver Lake, 14 mi W of Anaconda on Rt 10A, 6400 ft, August 9, 1986, Schuh, Schwartz, Stonedahl, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 113, 27♀ (AMNH). Flathead Co.: 17 mi E of Kalispell, Jewel Basin Hiking Area, 6000 ft, July 25, 1994, M. D. Schwartz, 13 (CNC). Gallatin Co.: 15 mi S of Big Sky on Rt 191, Teepee Creek, 6600 ft, August 10, 1986, Schuh, Schwartz, Stonedahl, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 13, 2♀ (AMNH). Granite Co.: 15 mi S of Drummond on Rt 10A, 5000 ft, August 9, 1986, Schuh, Schwartz, Stonedahl, Pinus contorta (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (AMNH). Jefferson Co.: 10 mi E of Butte on I­90, Homestake Rest Stop, Deerlodge Natl. Forest, T2N R6W, September 9, 1986, M. D. Schwartz, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 33, 34♀ (AMNH). Teton Co.: 6 mi NW of Choteau on Canyon Road off Rt 89, Eureka Reserv. Fishing Access, 4000 ft, August 2, 1994, M. D. Schwartz, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 143, 23♀ (CNC). Oregon: Baker Co.: 20 mi E of Medical Springs, Wallowa Mts., W Eagle Meadow, 4700 ft, August 3, 1986, Schuh, Schwartz, Stonedahl, Picea engelmanni (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (AMNH). Umatilla Co.: 2 mi W of Tollgate, 4600 ft, August 4, 1986, Schuh, Schwartz, Stonedahl, Holodiscus discolor (Rosaceae) , 23 (AMNH). Union Co.: 4.5 mi E of Tollgate, Woodland Campground, 5000 ft, August 4, 1986, Schuh, Schwartz, Stonedahl, Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) , 13 (AMNH). South Dakota: Lawrence Co.: Englewood, Black Hills, August 5, 1972, L. A. Kelton, 33 (CNC). Utah: Duchesne Co.: Uinta Mountains, Ashley National Forest, Hades Campground, 7400 ft, August 17, 1986, Schwartz and Stonedahl, Potentilla sp. (Rosaceae) , 53, 9♀ (AMNH).