Parthenicus sedumicola, HENRY, 2007

HENRY, THOMAS J., 2007, Synopsis of the Eastern North American Species of the Plant Bug Genus Parthenicus, with Descriptions of Three New Species and a Revised Key (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae), American Museum Novitates 3593, pp. 1-32 : 16-19

Parthenicus sedumicola , new species figures 11, 12 , 31 , 42–59

HOLOTYPE: USA: Arkansas: Stone Co.: Rt. 5 at Sylamore Creek Access, near jct. 9 & 14, 35.94216 ° N 92.114 ° W, 13 Jun 2004, T.J. Henry and A.G. Wheeler, Jr., Sedum sp. L. ( Crassulaceae ), m (AMNH_PBI 00070656) (USNM).

DIAGNOSIS: This species, known from macropterous males ( figs. 11 , 31 ) and brachypterous females ( fig. 12 ), is distinguished from other species by the overall pale dorsum with relatively large, sparsely scattered, brown to reddish- or orange-brown spots on the hemelytra; lack of spots at the bases of the tibial spines; the long, erect, simple setae on the dorsum, intermixed with black scalelike setae on the scutellum, clavus, cuneus, and especially on the apical area of the corium; and the unique male parameres ( figs. 56, 57 ), vesica ( fig. 58 ), and phallotheca ( fig. 59 ).

DESCRIPTION: Macropterous male (N 5 10; holotype in parentheses): Length 3.05–3.35 mm (3.25 mm), width 1.15–1.20 mm (1.15 mm). Head: Width 0.56–0.59 mm (0.59 mm), vertex 0.27–0.29 mm (0.29 mm). Labium: Length 1.46–1.47 mm (1.46 mm), extending to base of genital capsule. Antenna: Segment I, length 0.30–0.32 mm (0.32 mm); II, 1.28– 1.31 mm (1.23 mm); III, 0.85–0.91 mm (0.75 mm); IV, 0.43–0.45 mm (ca 0.45 mm, curled). Pronotum: Length 0.43–0.45 mm (0.43 mm), basal width 0.43–0.45 mm (0.43 mm).

Brachypterous female (N 5 10): Length to apex of abdomen 2.15–2.30 mm, length to apex of hemelytra 2.05–2.15 mm, width 1.25– 1.35 mm. Head: Width 0.58–0.59 mm, vertex 0.34–0.35 mm. Labium: Length 1.44–1.49 mm, extending to base of ovipositor. Antenna: Segment I, length 0.29–0.34 mm; II, 1.23– 1.25 mm; III, 0.80–0.83 mm; IV, 0.32–0.40 mm. Pronotum: Length 0.32–0.35 mm, basal width 0.72–0.77 mm. COLORATION: General coloration pale yellowish brown, with scattered orange to reddish-brown spots. Head: Yellowish brown with a yellowish-orange tinge; frons often with three or four transverse red lines. Pronotum: Pale yellowish brown on anterior half; paler whitish or ivory on posterior half, posterior area sometimes with scattered small red or orange spots; more uniformly yellowish brown in females; scutellum yellowish brown to almost green, darker yellowish brown to dusky basally. Hemelytron: Pale yellowish brown to almost dull ivory, with sparsely scattered, relatively large orange, red, or reddish-brown spots; membrane dusky brown, veins pale yellow. Ventral surface: Yellowish brown, strongly tinged with darker brown to greenish brown. Legs: Hind femora dark reddish brown, paler yellowish brown on basal third and narrowly at apex, with a few tiny black spots on distal third; middle and front femora yellowish brown, tinged with brown or reddish brown on apical third, often with a few tiny distal spots; tibiae uniformly yellowish, pale spines lacking dark spots at bases; tarsi pale yellow. TEXTURE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum impunctate, weakly shining. Head, pronotum, and hemelytra densely clothed with short, silvery, scalelike setae (most dense on head and pronotum) and black, scalelike setae on scutellum, clavus, corium, and cuneus (most dense on scutellum and inner angles of corium in males and across apical area of corium in females); intermixed with scattered long, erect, simple, pale setae on head, pronotum, and hemelytra. STRUCTURE: Males always fully macropterous ( figs. 11 , 31 , 42 ). Females brachypterous, always strongly coleopteriform ( figs. 12 , 50, 51 ), with claval suture absent; membrane entirely absent or sometimes with only a narrow trace of membrane along posterior edge of corium and cuneus.

Male genitalia: Left paramere ( fig. 56 ) slender and roughly C-shaped, narrowly tapering distally with a quadrate, marginally serrate process before slender apex; right paramere ( fig. 57a, b ) straight, stout, tapering on distal one-third, with a short, incurving, hooked process laterally; vesica ( fig. 58 ) with two spiculi, one long, thick, subequal in diameter to secondary gonoporal process, and one short and slender; phallotheca ( fig. 59 ) elongate, broader at base, with a lateral fingerlike process.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet ‘‘ sedumicola ’’ is taken from the generic name of the host.

HOSTS: Stonecrop, Sedum sp. (Crassulaceae) . This species was found in abundance on its host growing on steep, dry, limestone cliffs along Rt. 5 across from Sylamore Creek Recreation Access area.

DISTRIBUTION: Arkansas.

PARATYPES: USA: Arkansas: Stone Co.: Rt. 5 at Sylamore Creek Access, near jct. 9 & 14, 35.94216 ° N 92.114 ° W, 13 Jun 2004, T.J. Henry and A.G. Wheeler, Jr., Sedum sp. L. ( Crassulaceae ), 323 (AMNH_PBI 00070708– 00070739), 51♀ (AMNH_PBI 00070657– 00070707) (AMNH, CNC, USNM). Rt. 5, near Jct. 9 & 14, near Allison, 35.93 ° N 92.11 ° W, 17 Jun 1987, T.J. Henry and A.G. Wheeler, Jr., Sedum sp. L. ( Crassulaceae ), 163 (AMNH_PBI 00070740–00070755), 1♀ (AMNH_PBI 00070756), 70♀ (AMNH_PBI 00070757–00070826) (AMNH, CNC, USNM).

Figures

Figs. 1–12. Habitus figures of Parthenicus spp. 1, P. cruentus, male (Nebraska, Johnson Co., nr. Vesta,

Fig. 31. Adult male of Parthenicus sedumicola, dorsal habitus.

Figs. 42–49. Scanning electron photomicrographs of adult male Parthenicus sedumicola. 42, Lateral aspect (28.4X). 43, Head and pronotum, dorsal aspect (79.0X). 44, Head and pronotum, lateral aspect (97.5X). 45, Head, frontal aspect (102X). 46, Scalelike setae on head (660X). 47, Ostiolar evaporative auricle (258X). 48, Genital capsule, caudal aspect (92.5X). 49, Claw (1150X).

Figs. 50–55. Scanning electron photomicrographs of adult female Parthenicus sedumicola. 50, Dorsal aspect (41.2X). 51, Lateral aspect (41.1X). 52, Head and pronotum, dorsal aspect (79.5X). 53, Head and pronotum, lateral aspect (106X). 54, Head, frontal aspect (97.0X). 55, Scalelike setae on head (825X).

Figs. 56–59. Male genitalia of Parthenicus sedumicola. 56, Left paramere (a, dorsal aspect; b, caudal aspect). 57, Right paramere (a, caudal aspect; b, anterior aspect). 58, Vesica. 59, Phallotheca.