Plagiognathus cornicola Knight, 1923: 450

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 : 64-65

Plagiognathus cornicola Knight, 1923: 450 (n.

sp.).

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the relatively small size, the coloration of dorsum ranging from orange to nearly black, calli darkened in lighter colored specimens (fig. 7), antennal segment 1 almost totally black, antennal segment 2 black at base and remainder of segment frequently infuscate (fig. 16), the relatively large black spots at the bases of the tibial spines, and the relatively long, slender vesica without a flange (fig. 22). Distinguished from delicatus and viticola by tibial spines having moderately large black spots at bases and tibiae being black at articulation with femur, whereas tibiae pale at articulation with femur in those species and tibial spines with small black spots at bases in delicatus and pale bases in viticola . Also vesica relatively slender and elongate with base falling well below level of gonopore in cornicola (fig. 22), whereas body of vesica much short­ er, stouter, and apical spines longer in delicatus (fig. 22) and viticola (fig. 33). Coloration often totally dark in cornicola , whereas in delicatus coloration of dorsum usually dominated by orange (fig. 7).

REDESCRIPTION: Male: Relatively small, stout­bodied; total length 2.95–3.27, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.02–2.13, width across pronotum 0.97–1.12. COLOR­ ATION (fig. 7): Dorsum varying from somewhat mottled orange­brown (fig. 7: cornicola male) to uniformly castaneous (fig. 7: cornicola female); calli darker than remainder of pronotum in lighter colored specimens; membrane fumose, veins pale; clypeus dark­ er than surrounding areas of face; antennal segment 1 castaneous except for pale apical annulus, segment 2 greatly variable, sometimes dark at extreme base with remainder pale, or with a pale mesial band, or completely dark, the last case most common in completely castaneous specimens, segments 3 and 4 weakly infuscate; labium varying from mostly pale to entirely castaneous; venter of variable coloration, ranging from mottled orange to almost entirely dark, metathoracic scent­gland evaporatory area apparently always pale; legs varying from entirely pale, including coxae, to having dark coxae, trochanters, and femora; tibiae always with pale background coloration and relatively heavy dark spots at the bases of the tibial spines. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum weakly granular, smooth, weakly shining. Vestiture of dorsum composed of reclining, pale, golden, shining, simple setae; clypeus more highly polished than remainder of face. STRUCTURE: Body elongate, hemelytra nearly parallel­sided; frons weakly convex, slightly projecting beyond anterior margin of eyes, clypeus barely visible from above; anteocular distance 0.5 times diameter of antennal segment 1; head projecting below eye by distance equal to diameter of antennal segment 1; labium reaching to about apex of middle coxae or slightly beyond. GENITA­ LIA (fig. 22): Body of vesica relatively long, slender, forming a very broad J, base of vesica falling well below level of secondary gonopore, posterior apical spine long, nearly straight and erect relative to body of vesica, anterior spine only slightly longer than posterior, nearly straight, and only weakly angled relative to body of vesica; no vesical flange.

Female: Very similar to male in coloration, but body more strongly ovoid in outline (fig. 7). Total length 2.95–3.15, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.05–2.21, width across pronotum 0.95–1.16.

HOST: Cornus spp. (Cornaceae) . Records from other plant groups do not appear to represent breeding hosts.

DISTRIBUTION: Ontario and New York in the north, west to Indiana, and south to Texas and Florida.

DISCUSSION: Knight (1923) described this species from specimens taken in Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. He did not, at that time or later (Knight, 1941), indicate ex­ cept in his key how cornicola could be distinguished from delicatus , which is very similar in appearance to lighter colored, usually northern, populations of cornicola . The most reliable external distinguishing character seems to be the much larger and more conspicuous dark spots at bases of the tibial spines in cornicola , with these being obsolete in delicatus . The genitalia are distinctive, the vesica in cornicola being much longer and more slender than that of delicatus and with shorter apical spines (fig. 22).

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: CANADA.— Ontario: Aylmer, July 3, 1962, H. Blanchard, Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 23, 7♀ (CNC). Aylmer, July 3, 1962, H. Blanchard, Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 33 (CNC). Belleville, July 10, 1967, C. C. Loan, Cornus racemosa (Cornaceae) , 53, 17♀ (CNC). Burtch, July 11, 1961, L. A. Kelton, Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 113, 5♀ (CNC). Copenhagen, July 3, 1962, G. Thorpe, Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 43, 3♀ (CNC). Dunnville, July 9, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 13 (CNC). Dunnville, July 9, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 53, 15♀ (CNC). Dunnville, July 9, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Salix sp. (Salicaceae) , 13 (CNC). Exeter, July 12, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, 13 (CNC). Exeter, July 12, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 23, 6♀ (CNC). Frankford, July 26, 1962, L. A. Kelton, Lonicera sp. (Caprifoliaceae) , 13, 2♀ (CNC). Haggersville, July 9, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Crataegus sp. (Rosaceae) , 23, 6♀ (CNC). Hepworth, June 30, 1962, G. Thorpe, Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 93, 12♀ (CNC). Ipperwash, July 11, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Salix sp. (Salicaceae) , 1♀ (CNC). Kemble, July 1, 1962, H. Blanchard, 13 (CNC). Kingsville, June 18, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 13, 9♀ (CNC). Kingsville, June 18, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Crataegus sp. (Rosaceae) , 13, 2♀ (CNC). Kingsville, June 19, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 13, 1♀ (CNC). Lambeth, June 29, 1961, Kelton and Brumpton, 13 (CNC). Mt. Vernon, July 10, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, 13 (CNC). Norfolk, June 26, 1934, J. A. Hall, 13 (CNC). Norwich, July 19, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, 1♀ (CNC). Parkhead, June 30, 1962, G. Thorpe, Thuja occidentalis (Cupressaceae) , 1♀ (CNC). Port Burwell, July 3, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, 13 (CNC). Selkirk, July 9, 1962, Kelton and Brumpton, 13, 6♀ (CNC). St. Lawrence Is. Natl. Park, Grenadier Is. Center, July 9, 1975, E. Wilson, Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 43 (CNC). Vienna, July 18, 1962, Kelton and Thorpe, Salix sp. (Salicaceae) , 13 (CNC). USA.— Arkansas: Independence Co.: 15 mi W of Batesville, May 30, 1970, V. V. Board, 33, 1♀ (TAMU). Florida: Jackson Co.: Ft. Caverns St. Pk., May 19, 1985, E. G. Riley and D. A. Rider, 23, 4♀ (DAR). Indiana: Howard Co.: NW Howard County, June 23, 1986, D. A. Rider, 13 (DAR). Kosciusko Co.: 1 mi E of Wawasee, July 12, 1964, L. and C. O’Brien, 1♀ (UCB). Lagrange Co.: Dallas Lake, July 1, 1984, D. A. Rider, 1♀ (DAR). Louisiana: Baton Rouge Co.: LSU Campus, May 5, 1985 – May 31, 1985, D. A. Rider, 33, 8♀ (DAR). East Baton Rouge Co.: LSU Campus, May 5, 1985, D. A. Rider, 133, 11♀ (LSU). Feliciana Co. : Tunica Hills W of Weyanoke, May 18, 1985, C. B. Barr, 13, 2♀ (LSU). St. Landry Co.: 1 mi N of Port Barre on Hwy 103, April 27, 1986, E. G. Riley and D. A. Rider, 13, 1♀ (DAR). Thistlewaite WMA, April 27, 1986, E. G. Riley and D. A. Rider, 13 (DAR). Thistlewaite WMA, April 27, 1986, E. G. Riley and D. A. Rider, 13 (LSU). Massachusetts: Franklin Co.: Greenfield along Green River, July 23, 1992, R. W. Jones, 1♀ (TAMU). Suffolk Co.: Boston, Arnold Arboretum, July 13, 1921, H. Morrison, paratype: 13 (USNM). Mississippi: Pontotoc Co.: Pontotoc, May 27, 1931, H. G. Johnston, 93, 10♀ (TAMU). Tupelo Co. : Tupelo , May 26, 1931, H. G. Johnston, 43, 2♀ (TAMU). Missouri: Holt Co.: Big Lake St. Pk., April 17, 1983, R. L. Blinn, 13, 1♀ (DAR). New York: Albany Co.: Rensselaerville, Huyck Preserve, June 29, 1977, R. T. Schuh, 263, 33♀ (AMNH). Cayuga Co. : Rt 38 S of Locke, July 11, 1981, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., 1♀ (PDA). Genesee Co.: Batavia, July 4, 1914, H. H. Knight, paratypes: 33, 1♀ (CAS, USNM). Greenbrier Co.: Rt 92 at Alvon, June 25, 1978, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Cornus amomum (Cornaceae) , 23 (PDA). Tompkins Co.: 8.5 mi NW of Ithaca, July 30, 1978, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 13, 3♀ (PDA). Ithaca, Cornell University, July 11, 1978, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 13 (PDA). Pennsylvania: Blair Co.: Altoona, Rt 764, June 17, 1974, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 23, 1♀ (PDA). Dauphin Co.: 7 mi N of Harrisburg, June 21, 1974, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Kalmia latifolia (Ericaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Harrisburg, Wildwood Park, July 7, 1900, W. Reinich, 13 (PDA). Middle Paxton Township, Rt 443, Fishing Creek Valley School, July 5, 1979, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Cornus stolonifera (Cornaceae) , 43, 3♀ (PDA). Erie Co.: Fairview, Fairview High School, July 7, 1976, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Rt 97 N of Waterford, July 20, 1988, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 23, 1♀ (PDA). Luzerne Co.: Rice Township, Andy Pond, July 14, 1979, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Cornus stolonifera (Cornaceae) , 13 (PDA). Montgomery Co.: Harleysville, County Line Nursery, May 14, 1974, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Viburnum setigerum (Caprifoliaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Northumberland Co.: near Milton, J & J Nursery, June 24, 1981, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Cornus rugosa (Cornaceae) , 13, 2♀ (PDA). Tennessee: Knox Co.: Knoxville, University of Tennessee campus, May 27, 1985, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 13, 2♀ (PDA). Texas: Bastrop Co.: Bastrop State Park, May 8, 1966, J. C. Schaffner, 13, 1♀ (TAMU). Bosque Co.: 3 mi W of Laguna Park, April 21, 1972, J. C. Schaffner, 63, 9♀ (TAMU). Brazos Co.: 12 mi S of College Station, May 15, 1970, V. V. Board, 13, 1♀ (TAMU). College Station, April 16, 1933, H. G. Johnston, 13 (TAMU). Erath Co.: Stephenville, April 21, 1972, J. C. Schaffner, 1♀ (TAMU). Gonzales Co.: Palmetto State Park, April 22, 1970 – May 4, 1970, V. V. Board, 163, 16♀ (TAMU). Palmetto State Park, May 4, 1970, Board, Schaffner, 113, 18♀ (TAMU). Kerr Co.: 10 mi SW of Kerrville, May 8, 1983, W. F. Chamberlain, 13 (TAMU). Victoria Co. : Victoria , April 24, 1983, T. J. Henry and A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Cornus sp. (Cornaceae) , 23, 1♀ (PDA). Williamson Co.: Taylor, April 27, 1968, J. E. Hafernik, 13 (TAMU). West Virginia: Nicholas Co.: Rt 39, 10 mi N of county line, June 24, 1978, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Cornus florida (Cornaceae) , 23, 3♀ (PDA).