Slaterocoris pilosus Kelton, 1127

Schwartz, Michael D., 2011, Revision And Phylogenetic Analysis Of The North American Genus Slaterocoris Wagner With New Synonymy, The Description Of Five New Species And A New Genus From Mexico, And A Review Of The Genus Scalponotatus Kelton (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2011 (354), pp. 1-290 : 113-115

Slaterocoris pilosus Kelton

Figures 12 , 20B, 20D , 25 ; plates 2 , 4K; map 4

Slaterocoris pilosus, Kelton, 1968: 1127 , fig. 12 (orig. desc.); Knight, 1970: 252, fig. 15, (disc.); Henry and Wheeler, 1988: 450 (catalog); Schuh, 1995: 198 (catalog).

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the small size, the pale yellow coloration on antennal segment I, base of segment II, apices of femora, tibiae, and tarsomere III; the dense, suberect, moderately long silvery vestiture (pl. 4K, fig. 20D); the smooth frons (fig. 20B); and male genitalia with the right paramere and endosomal spicule relatively smaller than in other apache -group species. Specifically the right paramere usually has the basalmost of three apical spines small (fig. 25K–N, arrow) and the ventral lobe of the endosomal spicule is somewhat expanded, twisted, and serrate apically (fig. 25A–G). In addition to the previous attributes, the female of S. pilosus is distinguished from S. flavipes , by the discretely black apex of antennal segment II, the clearly pale tarsomeres I and II, and the moderately dense fine vestiture, in the latter the apical portion of segment II is infuscate, the tarsomeres are somewhat infuscate, and the vestiture is more dense and coarse.

REDESCRIPTION: Male: Body small, subparallel; length 3.35–3.65, width 1.50–1.65 (pl. 2); costal margin sublinear. COLORATION: Shining black, except for pale yellow on antennal segment I, sometimes only on dorsal surface, segment II usually on basal half, apex of femur, tibia, and tarsomeres I and II (fig. 12). VESTITURE: Densely distributed, long, suberect, silvery white setae (pl. 4K). DORSAL SCULPTURATION: Frons smooth, calli produced, finely punctate, pronotal disc rugulopunctate. STRUCTURE: Short; costal margin gently curved; frons smooth; length of antennal segment II shorter than head width and foretibia; labium reaching base of middle coxa. GENITALIA: Tergal process: Short point directed from right side toward midline. Phallotheca: Open distally and on right side; somewhat convoluted distally; left lateral surface slightly compressed (fig. 25H). Endosomal spicule: Ventral lobe with apical portion abruptly expanded and twisted to long axis of spicule (cf. fig. 25B–C, D–E, F–G) strongly serrate marginally; dorsal lobe narrow or pointed distally, usually with weak marginal serration. Right paramere: Distalmost apical spine larger than more basal spines; basal lobe entire (fig. 25M, N, arrow) or bifurcate (fig. 25K, L, arrow); sometimes with additional lateral spine (fig. 25N, arrow). Left paramere: Distal portion shorter than basal portion; ventral margin of distal portion somewhat scalloped (fig. 25I, J).

Female: Small obovate; length 3.30–3.70, width 1.60–1.75 (pl. 2). COLORATION: As in male except antennal segment I usually dark at base, segment II usually infuscate at base and distally, middle portion sometimes dusky. STRUCTURE: Costal margin only slightly more arcuate than in male. GENITALIA: As in species group except: Ventral labiate plate: Strongly produced, base moderately wide, triangular. Interramal lobe: Dorsomedial margin not produced as lobe.

HOSTS: All plant records are from Asteraceae , with Artemisia frigida , A. tridentata , and Ericameria nauseosa the predominant breeding hosts. Also taken on unspecified species of Chrysothamnus ; however, because several species of Chrysothamnus are now placed in Ericameria , it is not possible to know if these records refer to E. nauseosa , Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus , or another common dryland component within the range of S. pilosus .

COLLECTION SUMMARY: 116 specimens from 11 collection events predominantly taken in June, with late May and early September outliers.

DISTRIBUTION: From the Okanagan Valley of southern British Columbia , the northern foothills of the Columbia Basin of Washington, and in eastern Oregon from scattered populations in the Strawberry Mountains, Baker County and the northern Great Basin ranges of Lake and Harney Counties ( map 4 ).

DISCUSSION: Kelton (1968) included as paratypes of S. pilosus five specimens from Blaine County, Idaho. The specific locality, provenance, and identity of these specimens is problematic. The original description reported the locality of the specimens as ‘‘[Little Wood Riv.] 6 mi NW. Carey [VI–30– 66],’’ but only one female retained in the CNC has these label data ; four others, found with it, are from ‘‘ Big Wood Riv. Shoshone 20 mi N, VII–1–66.’’ All were collected by W. Gagne and J. Haddock and none had paratype labels attached. It is my conclusion that all were intended as paratypes of S. pilosus , but four were listed under the wrong locality. I have labeled as a paratype the one specimen correctly reported by Kelton (1968). In the PBI database the institutional depository of all these specimens is recorded as UCB. Close examination reveals that all five specimens actually belong to S. flavipes based on the features in the diagnosis above .

HOLOTYPE: CANADA: British Columbia: Oliver , 49.183336 N 119.556 W, 29 Jun 1959, L.A. Kelton, Artemisia frigida , 18 ( AMNH _ PBI 00111940) ( CNC).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: CANADA: British Columbia: Oliver , 49.183336 N 119.556 W, 26 Jun 1959, R. Madge, Artemisia frigida , paratypes, 28 (00242634– 00242635), 2♀ (00242636–00242637) ( CAS), 18 (00112003), 1♀ (00112004), paratypes, 428 (00111918–00111919, 00111950–00111988, 00115513), 13♀ (00111989–00112000, 00112005) ( CNC), paratype, 18 (00119024), 1♀ (00119025) ( TAMU); 29 Jun 1959, L.A. Kelton, Artemisia frigida , paratype, 18 (00242632), 1♀ (00242633) ( CAS), paratypes, 38 (00111942– 00111943, 00111949), 7♀ (00111941, 00111944– 00111948, 00112006) ( CNC). Oliver, Sawmill Lake, 49.198126 N 119.60006 W, 650 m, 30 Jun 1959, L.A. Kelton, paratype, 1♀ (00112002) ( CNC). Osoyoos Lake Indian Reserve, south end, 49.000126N 119.433316 W, 30 Jun 1996, G.G.E. Scudder, Ericameria nauseosa , 48 (00111421, 00111922–00111924), 16♀ (00111422, 00111925–00111939) ( UBC). Richter Pass, Osoyoos, 49.066666 N 119.583336 W, 28 Jun 1959, L.A. Kelton, paratype, 18 (00112001) ( CNC). USA: Oregon: Baker Co.: 2 mi NE of Rt 26 on Rt 245, Unity Lake State Park, 44.486966 N 118.191736 W, 27 Jun 1988, G.M. Stonedahl, Artemisia tridentata , 38 (00107915, 00108347– 00108348) ( AMNH). Harney Co.: Lawen, 43.442936 N 118.801046 W, 1252 m, 11 Jun 1992, W.F. Chamberlain, 28 (00119037– 00119038) ( TAMU). Lake Co.: Hart Mountain, 42.399446 N 119.779446 W, 1905 m, 02 Sep 1977, J. Schuh, Chrysothamnus sp. , 18 (00108328) ( AMNH). Washington: Benton Co.: Hanford Site ALE, sand dunes W of Columbia River , 46.520166 N 119.347666 W, 29 Jun 1995, R.S. Zack, Chrysothamnus sp. , 18 (00121917), 5♀ (00121918–00121922) ( WSU). Okanogan Co.: 0.5 mi S of Malott, 48.275556 N 119.705566 W, 06 Jul 1966, W. Gagne and J. Haddock, Artemisia sp. , paratypes, 38 (00119412, 00119419–00119420), 1♀ (00119418) ( UCB). Yakima Co.: Toppenish, 46.37756 N 120.30756 W, 15 May 1926, E.W. Davis, 28 (00164868–00164869) ( USNM).

Figures

Plate 2. Dorsal habitus photographs of Slaterocoris elongatus—S. pilosus (see appendix 1 for USI codes and localities).

Map 4. Localities for Slaterocoris atratus, S. fuscomarginalis, S. pilosus, S. rubrofemoratus, and S. tibialis.

Fig. 12. Hind leg coloration for Slaterocoris species.

Fig. 20. Slaterocoris species, scanning electron micrographs. A–C. Head, anterior view. A. S. croceipes. B. S. pilosus. C. S. rubrofemoratus. D. S. pilosus, pronotum, scutellum, and hemelytra. E. S. croceipes, mesothoracic spiracle and metathoracic scent-efferent system, lateral view. F. S. fuscomarginalis, pretarsus, apical view.

Fig. 25. Slaterocoris pilosus, male genitalia. A, N. Unity Lake State Park, OR. B–E, I–L. Oliver, BC. F–H. Hanford Site ALE, WA. M. Osoyoos Lake. Indian Reservation, BC.