Parthenicus weemsi Henry

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 : 23-24

Parthenicus weemsi Henry figures 36–39

Parthenicus weemsi Henry, 1982: 364 (n.sp.); Henry and Wheeler, 1988: 442 (cat.); Schuh, 1995: 181 (cat.).

DIAGNOSIS: This species, known only from macropterous individuals, is distinguished from other species by the usually testaceous to golden-yellow color ( fig. 36, 37 ), with brown and/or red spots on the pronotum and the base and apex of the corium, and the numerous red spots on the legs. Darker specimens sometimes also are present with the corium and cuneus becoming much darker red to reddish brown. These might be confused with P. rufus , but the pronotum and clavus remain pale, with only a few red spots, and they are densely covered in white, scalelike setae.

HOST: Sand heath, Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) .

DISTRIBUTION: Previously known only from Highlands and Putnam counties, Florida ( Henry, 1982). New Florida county records are Alachua, Lake , Levy, Walton, and Saint Lucie counties .

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED: HOLOTYPE 3: USA: Florida: Highlands Co., Rt 70, 2 mi W of Rt 27, near Archbold Biological Station, 27.2 ° N 81.37 ° W, 20 Apr 1982, T.J. Henry and A.G. Wheeler, Jr, Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) , (AMNH_PBI 00070997). PA- RATYPES: USA: Florida: Highlands Co., Rt 70, 2 mi W of Rt 27, near Archbold Biological Station, 27.2 ° N 81.37 ° W, 20 Apr 1982, T.J. Henry and A.G. Wheeler, Jr., Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) , 63 (AMNH_ PBI 00070998–00071003), 20♀ (AMNH_ PBI 00071004–00071023) (USNM). Putnam Co.: unknown locality, 29.62 ° N 81.73 ° W, 6 Jul 1956, H.V. Weems, Jr., Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) , 53 (AMNH_ PBI 00071024–00071028), 3♀ (AMNH_PBI 00071029–00071031) (USNM).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: USA: Florida: Alachua Co.: Archer, 29.52997 ° N 82.519 ° W, 28 m, 3 May 1961, L.A. Kelton, rosemary, 113, 15♀ (CNC). Rt. 24, 2 mi. W of Archer, 29.50866 ° N 82.552 ° W, 15 Apr 2001, T.J. Henry and A.G. Wheeler, Jr., Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) , 33(AMNH_PBI 00071032– 00071034), 6♀ (AMNH_PBI 00071035–00071040) (USNM). Highlands Co.: 12 mi S of Lake Placid, 27.118 ° N 81.363 ° W, 23Apr1982,T.J.HenryandA.G. Wheeler,Jr, Ceratiolaericoides Michx.( Empetraceae ), 13 (AMNH_PBI 00071048), 4♀ (AMNH_PBI 00071044–00071047) (USNM). 9.5 km NNW of Lake Placid on Rt 27, 27.48 ° N 81.48 ° W, 6 Feb 2000, A.G. Wheeler, Jr., Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) , 8♀ (AMNH_PBI 00071049–00071 056)(USNM).Rt 70, S of Lake Placid, near Archbold Biological Station, 27.2 ° N 81.31 ° W, 25 Apr 1984, T.J. Henry and A.G. Wheeler, Jr., Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) , 3♀ (AMNH_PBI 00071041– 00071043) (USNM). Near Polk County line, ca. 6.5 km NW of Avon Park, 27.645 ° N 81.529 ° W, 25 Feb 2002, A.G. Wheeler, Jr., Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) , 13 (AMNH_PBI 00071068) (USNM).Levy Co.: 3 mi E of Archer, Rt. 17, 23 Apr 1984, T.J. Henry and A.G. Wheeler, Jr, Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) , 2♀ (AMNH_PBI 00071058–00071059) (USNM). Polk Co.: 5.2 km S of Frostproof, Rt. 17, 27.698 ° N 81.53 ° W, 5 Feb 2003, A.G. Wheeler, Jr., Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) , 13 (AMNH_PBI 00071069), 2♀ (AMNH_PBI 00071070–00071071) (USNM). St. Lucie Co.: Port Saint Lucie, 27.293 ° N 80.35 ° W, 6 Feb 1989, K.L. Hibbard, Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) , 33 (AMNH_PBI 00071060– 00071062), 1♀ (AMNH_PBI 00071063) (USNM). Volusia Co.: Rt 19, 7 mi S from jct of Rt 40, 7 mi N of Altoona, 29.065 ° N 81.634 ° W, 24 Apr 1984, T.J. Henry and A.G. Wheeler, Jr, Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) , 1♀ (AMNH_PBI 00071057) (USNM). Walton Co.: S Sandestine Blvd, 10 mi E of Destin, 30.37 ° N 86.33 ° W, 3 m, 1 Mar 1999 – 2 Mar 1999, A.G. Wheeler, Jr., Ceratiola ericoides Michx. (Empetraceae) , 23 (AMNH_PBI 00071064–00071065), 2♀ (AMNH_ PBI 00071066–00071067) (USNM).

Figures

Figs. 32–41. Habitus figures of Parthenicus spp. 32, P. taxodii, male (Kentucky, Fayette Co., Lexington, University of Kentucky, 17 June year). 33, P. taxodii, female (same data as for male). 34, P. vaccini, male