Knightopsallus, Schuh, 2006

Schuh, Randall T., 2006, Revision, Phylogenetic, Biogeographic, And Host Analyses Of The Endemic Western North American Phymatopsallus Group, With The Description Of 9 New Genera And 15 New Species (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2006 (301), pp. 1-115 : 68-71

Knightopsallus , new genus

Type species: Knightopsallus portalensis , new species.

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the small to moderate size among Phymatopsallus -group taxa (fig. 3), average total length 2.49, uniformly greenish coloration (often faded in preserved specimens) (fig. 3), the cylindrical antennal segment 2 (figs. 3, 27D) and the large eyes in the males (fig. 3), the absence of a seta-covered tubercle on the left side of the pygophore (fig. 27E), the pointed process on the anterior surface of the phallotheca (fig. 28), and the slender vesica lacking spines or other ornamentation on the shaft (fig. 28). Most readily confused with Phymatopsallus species because of the nearly identical coloration, size, and conformation of the head and body (fig. 3); males readily distinguished by the absence of the tubercle on the left side of the pygophore in Knightopsallus . Also similar in size, coloration, and general appearance to Angelopsallus gregalis , but distinguished by the small eyes in the males and slightly tapered antennal segment 2 in that species, in addition to the details of male genitalic structure, A. gregalis with a single ventral spine on the phallotheca and a very long, flattened, parallel-sided right paramere, in contrast to the anterior phallothecal ‘‘spine’’ and less elongate, less strongly parallel-sided right paramere in Knightopsallus .

DESCRIPTION: Male: Size small to moderate among Phymatopsallus -group taxa, moderately elongate, nearly parallel-sided, total length 2.17–2.70, length apex clypeus– cuneal fracture 1.49–1.78, width pronotum 0.82–0.87. COLORATION (fig. 3): Body and forewings light green to lime green, often faded and yellowish in preserved specimens; eyes often carmine, sometimes silvery or pale; appendages pale, weakly yellowish to greenish; femora with scattered weak brown spots; tibial spines pale, with small weakly brown spots at bases; membrane marmorate, veins tinged with green. SURFACE AND VESTI- TURE (fig. 3): Dorsal body surface smooth, impunctate, weakly shining. Dorsal vestiture of reclining, silvery, sericeous setae. STRUC- TURE: Head: Short, transverse, closely conforming to anterior margin of pronotum; frons weakly protruding beyond anterior margin of eyes; posterior margin of vertex rounded; eyes large in dorsal and lateral views, occupying most of height of head; antennae inserted just above ventral margin of eyes, eyes very weakly emarginate at antennal insertion; antennal segment 2 cylindrical, not tapered, about the same diameter as antennal segment 1 (fig. 27D); labium reaching to apex of hind coxae. Thorax: Mesothoracic spiracle and metathoracic scent-efferent system as in figure 27B. Legs: Claws moderately elongate, smoothly curving, pulvilli small, flaplike, reaching middle of claw, parempodia setiform (fig. 27C). Abdomen: Broad. GENITALIA (figs. 27E, F, 28): Pygophore: Conical, lacking tubercle and associated setae on left side (figs. 27E). Vesica: Formed of a single relatively slender strap, J-shaped, with one-half twist before apex, apically attenuated, extending beyond secondary gonopore by less than length of gonopore; secondary gonopore small, ovoid, without distinct gonopore sclerite. Phallotheca: With apical portion tapered, relatively short, with a tapered process on posterior margin. Parameres: Left paramere of form found in many Phylini , with truncate posterior process; right paramere only slightly enlarged and elongate, weakly tapered on apical one-third, truncate apically, lying over phallotheca and left paramere in repose.

Female: Not positively associated with males.

ETYMOLOGY: Named in honor of Harry H. Knight in recognition of his pioneering work on the Phymatopsallus group, in combination with the generic name Psallus . Gender masculine.

HOST: Acacia sp. (Fabaceae) .

DISCUSSION: This currently monotypic taxon is remarkably similar in appearance to Phymatopsallus spp. The absence of a tubercle on the left side of the pygophore will distinguish Knightopsallus from Phymatopsallus , as will the structure of the frequently extruded vesica.

Because I have not been able to positively associate female specimens of Knightopsallus , no measurements or genitalic illustrations are provided for the females.

Knightopsallus portalensis , new species figures 3, 27, 28; map 5

DIAGNOSIS: See generic diagnosis.

DESCRIPTION: See generic description.

HOSTS: Recorded from Acacia sp. (Fabaceae) . The long series of specimens from Portal, Arizona, was collected at light in association with Phymatopsallus rinconae Knight. The environment where these collections were made was a Prosopis / Acacia / Larrea scrub habitat, the type of situation where colleagues, I, and others have collected intensively on a broad cross section of potential hosts. Nonetheless, very few verified host records are available for K. portalensis .

ETYMOLOGY: Named for its occurrence near Portal, Arizona, the area where most known specimens have been collected.

DISTRIBUTION (map 5): Known from Cochise and Maricopa Counties in southern Arizona.

DISCUSSION: Knight (1964) labeled an undissected male specimen (AMNH_PBI 00069797) as the holotype of Phymatopsallus chiricahuae Knight , even though this specimen lacked the diagnostic characteristics of his new species. This specimen is here treated as a paratype of Knightopsallus portalensis , new species, and it bears and additional label to that effect. Two other conspecific male specimens with the same locality data were labeled by Knight as ‘‘autotypes’’ of Phymatopsallus chiricahuae ; they have the vesica extruded and readily visible, lack a tubercle on the left side of the pygophore, do not have the thumblike process on the dorsal margin of the left paramere, and do not have a medial vesical spine. All of these attributes make it clear that these specimens do not represent a Phymatopsallus sp. Rather, they are conspecific with the specimen discussed above, which bears Knight’s holotype label, and are also treated as paratypes of Knightopsallus portalensis . (See also discussion under Phymatopsallus rinconae Knight. )

HOLOTYPE: USA: Arizona: Cochise Co. : Portal [31.91361 ° N 109.14083 ° W], 1500 m, 15 Jun 1980, R.T. Schuh and K. Schmidt, 1 Oi ( AMNH _ PBI 00063145 ) ( AMNH).

PARATYPES: USA: Arizona: Cochise Co. : Chiricahua Mountains, 31.59222 ° N 109.24 ° W,

1885 m, 20 Jun 1928, A. A. Nichol, 3Oi ( AMNH _PBI 00068592, AMNH _PBI 00068608, AMNH _PBI 00069797) ( USNM). Portal, 31.91361 ° N 109.14083 ° W, 1500 m, 15 Jun 1980, R.T. Schuh and K. Schmidt, 3Oi ( AMNH _PBI 00063142– AMNH _PBI 00063144) ( AMNH); 15 Jun 1980, R.T. Schuh, K. and R. Schmidt, 36Oi ( AMNH _PBI 00062673– AMNH _PBI 00062695, AMNH _PBI 00062697– AMNH _PBI 00062709) ( AMNH). Maricopa Co. : 5 mi S of Freeman SE of Gila Bend , 32.77354 ° N 112.29583 ° W, 625 m, 08 May 1978, R.T. Schuh and A.F. Guenther, Acacia sp. (Fabaceae) , 1Oi ( AMNH _PBI 00062696) ( AMNH).