Halophylus chenopodos, Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016

Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016, Nineteen new genera and 82 new species of Cremnorrhinina from Australia, including analyses of host relationships and distributions (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylininae: Cremnorrhinini), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 401, pp. 1-279 : 119-121

Halophylus chenopodos , new species

Figure 47, map 11, table 1, plates 16, 17, 47D

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the moderately elongate oval body, dorsum (excluding membrane) with numerous distinct light brown spots, spotted tibiae (pl. 16), and apical endosomal spines of distinctly unequal length (fig. 27, pl. 17). Female ovoid. Most easily confused with H. atriplicis based on the pale coloration and spotted dorsum, but in H. atriplicis dorsum with blotches rather than spots, membrane with blotches, and endosomal spines subequal in length (pl. 17).

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Mean total length 3.34, mean pronotum width 1.04. COLORATION (pl. 16): Overall coloration mostly pale with contrasting light brown spots on dorsum, excluding membrane; antennae and legs pale; femora with contrasting dark spots, tibial spines with dark bases. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 16): Dorsum with woolly sericeous setae and some reclining, pale common setae. STRUCTURE (pl. 16): Elongate ovoid. Head: Head short and moderately broad, eyes moderately bulging; eye occupying one-half height of head; antenna inserted just above ventral margin of eye, eye weakly emarginate above insertion; antennal segment 2 elongate, slender (1.06), 1.28 times width of head; labium reaching to about midpoint of abdomen. Thorax: Pronotum with lateral margins weakly convex, calli weakly demarcated along posterior margin, posterior margin of pronotum straight; mesoscutum moderately exposed. Hemelytron: Costal margin weakly convex. GENITALIA (fig. 47, pl. 17): As in generic description but with the following details. Pygophore: Ventral surface with relatively few stout, pale bristles. Endosoma: Dorsal apical spine straight with slightly expanded, broadly rounded, somewhat spatulate apex (in lateral view); subapically ventral apical spine bent laterad, apically parallel to and one-half length of dorsal apical spine; secondary gonopore with a few denticles. Parameres: Left paramere with dorsoposterior surface elevated dorsad of posterior and anterior processes. Right paramere as in figure 47.

Female (pl. 16): Coloration as in male, body form somewhat more robust; mean total length 3.24, mean pronotum width 1.06. GENITALIA: As in plate 47D.

ETYMOLOGY: From the family name Chenopodiaceae , in reference to its exclusive occurrence on this host group.

HOSTS: Recorded from Atriplex sp., Chenopodium curvispicatum , Enchylaena tomentosa , Maireana sp., Rhagodia spinescens , Sclerolaena limbata , and Threlkeldia sp. ( Chenopodiaceae ). A significant number of specimensincluding nymphs—were recorded as having been taken on Olearia axillaris (Asteraceae) . Also recorded from Senna sp. ( Fabaceae ) and Eremophila sturtii (pl. 39C–E) ( Scrophulariaceae ), but these are likely sitting records or the result of commingling specimens in the field.

DISTRIBUTION (map 11): Widely distributed in Australia in areas with saline soils.

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: Cadelga Homestead, 26.08949°S 140.4106°E, 150 m, 0 4 Nov 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, at light, 1d (AMNH_PBI 00136572) (SAMA).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 44.2 km E of Nyngan on Mitchell Hiway, 31.78335°S 147.612°E, 205 m, 11 Nov 2001, Cassis, Schuh, and Schwartz, Chenopodium curvispicatum Paul G. Wilson (Chenopodiaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW666397, 1d (00413077), 2♂ (00413080, 00413081) (AMNH). Northern Territory: 10.4 km N of Ross Hiway on Arltunga Claraville Rd, 23.53334°S 134.509°E, 640 m, 26 Oct 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Wall, Rhagodia spinescens R. Br. (Chenopodiaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW658355, 1♂ (00413078) (AMNH). Queensland: 14.2 km E of Charleville , 26.42171°S 146.3756°E, 375 m, 31 Oct 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, host unknown, 1d (00411926) (AMNH). 73.7 km E of Betoota , 25.60813°S 141.3999°E, 180 m, 0 3 Nov 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, 1d (00414645) (AMNH). South Australia: 12 km E of Copely, Flinders Range, 30.53334°S 138.5312°E, 322 m, 0 7 Nov 2001, Cassis, Schuh, and Schwartz, Maireana sp. ( Chenopodiaceae ), det. NSW staff NSW666352, 1♂ (00413079) (AMNH). 51 km NW of Morgan, 33.58334°S 140°E, 150 m, 0 1 Nov 1995, Schuh, Cassis, and Gross, 6d (00389867–00389872) at light, 9d (00132714–0 0 132721, 00132959), 2♂ (00132722, 00132723) (AM), 1d (00087362), 1♂ (00087363), 3d (00132960,00132961, 00087552), 1♂ (00132962) (AMNH). 72 km N of Yunta, Nillinghoo Creek, 32.00924°S 139.4523°E, 194 m, 0 9 Nov 2001, Cassis, Schuh, and Schwartz, Atriplex sp. ( Chenopodiaceae ), det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5236630, 1d (00414644) (AM).

Cadelga Homestead, 26.08949°S 140.4106°E, 150 m, 0 4 Nov 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, 3d (00389873–00389875), 5♂ (00389876–00389880) (AM), 1d (00087562) at light, 17d (00136559– 0 0 136568, 0 0 136510–0 0 136512, 0 0 130213, 0 0 130214, 0 0 130216, 00087382), 17♂ (00136573– 0 0 1365879, 00136583-00136585, 0 0 136513– 0 0 136516, 0 0 130217, 0 0 130218, 00087383), 3d (00130215, 0 0 136569, 00136603), 2♂ (00130219, 00130220) (AMNH), 2d (00136570, 00136571), 3♂ (00136580–00136582) (SAMA). Gammon Ranges National Park, Arcoona Creek, 2 km NE Owieandana OS, 30.434°S 138.977°E, 0 2 May 1989, J. Forrest & G.F. Gross, host undetermined, det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5095182, 1d (00087313) (AM), Eremophila sturtii R. Br.

(Scrophulariaceae), det. NSW staff NSW666375, 1d (00087526) (AMNH). Maralinga Village, 30.158°S 131.579°E, Aug 1956 – Oct 1956, F.L. Hill, 1d (00174100), 1♂ (00174099) (BMNH). Witchelina Nature Reserve, Bushy Yowie Track, 30.1643°S 137.98397°E, 153 m, 21 Oct 2010, M. Elias, Senna sp. ( Fabaceae ), det. botanist, 1d (00414484), 1♂ (00414493) (UNSW). Witchelina Nature Reserve, ap. 40 km NW of Lyndhurst, 30.02265°S 137.90282°E, 164 m, 13 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, host undetermined, Cassis Lab, UNSW – Bush Blitz, 1d (00414482) (UNSW). Witchelina Nature Reserve, ap. 40 km NW of Lyndhurst, 29.99611°S 138.07694°E, 180 m, 11 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, Sclerolaena limbata (J. Black) Ulbr. (Chenopodiaceae) , det. Peter Lang – Dept. of Env. & Natural Resources, South Australia, 1♂ (00414487) (AMNH), 5♂ (00414486, 0 0 414488–00414491) (UNSW). Witchelina Nature Reserve, ap. 40 km NW of Lyndhurst, 29.9768°S 138.08716°E, 149 m, 11 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, host undetermined, Cassis Lab, UNSW – Bush Blitz, 1d (00414483) (AMNH), host undetermined, Cassis Lab, UNSW – Bush Blitz, 1♂ (00414492) (UNSW). Witchelina Nature Reserve, ap. 40 km NW of Lyndhurst, 30.02083°S 138.04472°E, 212 m, 13 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, 1d (00414480) (AMNH), 3d (00414479, 0 0 414481, 00414485) (UNSW). Western Australia: 2.5 km W of Brand Hiway (off Red Emperor Rd), Flat Rocks Beach (S of Geraldton), 29.02061°S 114.7863°E, 22 Oct 2004, Cassis, Wall, Weirauch, Symonds, Olearia axillaris (DC.) Benth. ( Asteraceae ), det. PERTH staff PERTH6989683, 3d (00414301–00414303), 8♂ (00414304, 0 0 414305, 0 0 414307–00414312) Threlkeldia sp. ( Chenopodiaceae ), det. PERTH staff PERTH6989551, 4d (00414262–00414265), 6♂ (00414266–00414271) (AM), Olearia axillaris (DC.) Benth. ( Asteraceae ), det. PERTH staff PERTH6989683, 3d (00414273, 0 0 414274, 00414300), 3♂ (00414275, 0 0 414276, 00414306) (AMNH). Fowlers Camp (at end of Fowlers Camp Rd), Shark Bay World Heritage Area, 26.10801°S 113.6167°E, 24 Oct 2004, Cassis, Wall, Weirauch, Symonds, Enchylaena tomentosa R. Br. (Chenopodiaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH6988008, 1d (00414352) Enchylaena tomentosa R. Br. (Chenopodiaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH6988008, 2d (00414350, 00414351), 2♂ (00414355, 00414356) (AM).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 2.5 km W of Brand Hiway

(off Red Emperor Rd), Flat Rocks Beach (S of Geraldton), 29.02061°S 114.7863°E, 22 Oct 2004, Cassis, Wall, Weirauch, Symonds, Olearia axillaris (DC.) Benth. ( Asteraceae ), det. PERTH staff PERTH6989683, 5 nymphs (00414313– 00414317) Threlkeldia sp. ( Chenopodiaceae ), det. PERTH staff PERTH6989551, 1 nymph (00414272) (AM). Fowlers Camp (at end of Fowlers Camp Rd), Shark Bay World Heritage Area, 26.10801°S 113.6167°E, 24 Oct 2004, Cassis, Wall, Weirauch, Symonds, Enchylaena tomentosa R. Br. (Chenopodiaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH6988008, 2 nymphs (00414353, 00414354) (AM).