Bifidostylus gilesi, 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 : 51-53

Bifidostylus gilesi , new species

Figure 13, map 4, table 1, plates 4, 5

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the modest size, elongate, parallel-sided body form, bulging eyes, greenish coloration, and black vestiture on dorsum (pl. 4); long endosoma sigmoid with portion of one strap broad and terminating well before small secondary gonopore, the other portion apically elongate, slender, well surpassing gonopore; left paramere with sinuous dorsal margin of posterior process; right paramere with conspicuously bifid apex (fig. 13, pl. 5). Female with smaller eyes and broader vertex than male (pl. 4). Apical endosomal spines distinctive among species we place in Bifidostylus , but structure of parameres and other aspects of endosoma concordant; uniform green coloration as in many Bifidostylus species. Similar to B. omnivorus and B. silveirae in size, shape, and the possession of large eyes, but separated from those species by the form of its slender, apical endosomal spine and its more conspicuous black vestiture.

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Relatively small, parallel sided, mean total length 3.06, mean pronotum width 0.85. COLORATION (pl. 4): Pale green; membrane fumose. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 4): Dorsum smooth, weakly polished and shining; dorsal vestiture of reclining, black, simple setae. STRUC- TURE: Head (pl. 4): Eyes large, protuberant; vertex broad; frons weakly swollen and slightly projecting beyond anterior margin of eye; eye occupying four-fifths height of head; antenna inserted just below midpoint of eye, eye weakly emarginate; antennal segment 2 long (0.98), 1.42 times width of head; labium not quite reaching posterior margin of meso ‐ sternum. Thorax (pl. 4): Pronotum with poste ‐ rior lobe weakly elevated, lateral and posterior margins straight; calli weakly elevated, demarcated along posterior margin; mesoscutum moderately exposed. Hemelytron: Corial margin straight; cuneus short, broadly triangular. GENITALIA (fig. 13, pl. 5): Pygophore: Broadly conical. Endosoma: Large, sigmoid, distal one-half curved to left, dorsal and ventral straps contiguous and parallel up to level of secondary gonopore; ventral strap entire, terminating at secondary gonopore; dorsal strap strongly bifid just distad of middle of endosoma, forming subequal length spines; shorter spine broad and angled laterad to body of endosoma, not reaching level of secondary gonopore, longer spine, narrow needlelike, extending beyond gonopore; secondary gonopore small, well sclerotized, situated within fold at apex of dorsal strap. Phallotheca: Apical region elongate, somewhat broadened, narrowed apically, aperture elongate-triangular with strongly sclerotized margins, basal portion long, reaching anterior margin of pygophore. Parameres: Left paramere with dorsoposterior margin prominently elevated above anterior and posterior processes; posterior process long, undulating in lateral view and sinuous in dorsal view; anterior process short, produced, long seta present ventrad of lobe. Right paramere somewhat fusiform with well-defined bifid apex.

FEMALE (pl. 4): Elongate ovoid, mean total length 3.03, mean pronotum width 0.89. Coloration and vestiture as in male. Eyes smaller and vertex somewhat wider than in male.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for Ernest Giles, central Australian pioneer, and the places named after him.

HOST: Recorded only from Eremophila sturtii (pl. 39C–E) ( Scrophulariaceae ).

DISTRIBUTION (map 4): Known from the Alice Springs region of Central Australia.

DISCUSSION: The bifurcate distal portion of the dorsal endosomal strap is documented by us as a diverging lateral spine (pl. 5) or it adheres to the other distal spines (fig. 13), perhaps indicating that this sclerite expands during copulation.

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: ~44 km W of Stuart Hiway on Ernest Giles Rd, 24.56668°S 132.6815°E, 494 m, 30 Oct 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Wall, Eremophila sturtii R. Br. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW666246, 1♂ (AMNH_PBI 00098439) (MNT).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: 3.6 km NW of Henbury Homestead, 1.5 km W from Stuart highway towards 3 Mile Creek, 24.52583°S 133.23306°E, 431 m, 16 May 2013, M. Cheng, C. Bayer & M. Colquhoun, Eremophila sturtii R. Br. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. NT Herbarium Staff – Alice Springs, 4♂ (00414054, 0 0 414055, 0 0 414057, 00414060), 2♀ (00414072, 00414079) (AMNH), 4♀ (00414076–0 0 414078, 00414080) (MNT), 14♀ (00387435, 0 0 387439, 0 0 414063–0 0 414071, 0 0 414073–00414075), 11♂ (00387436, 0 0 387437, 0 0 414050–0 0 414053, 0 0 414056, 0 0 414058, 0 0 414059, 0 0 414061, 00414062) (UNSW). 11.5 km NE of Henbury Homestead, 24.46528°S 133.31694°E, 441 m, 16 May 2013, M. Cheng, C. Bayer & M. Colquhoun, Eremophila sturtii R. Br. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. NT Herbarium Staff – Alice Springs, 1♀ (00387433) (AMNH), 3♂ (00387431, 0 0 387432, 00414089), 3♀ (00387438, 0 0 414090, 00414091) (UNSW). 22 mi S of Alice Springs, 24.3°S 134.6°E, 15 Feb 1966, J.A. Grant, 1♂ (00174098) (BMNH). 51.6 km W of Stuart Hiway on Mount Denison–Coniston Rd, 22.30001°S 132.8951°E, 722 m, 24 Oct 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Wall, Eremophila sturtii R. Br. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW658334, 2♂ (00097463, 00097464), 2♀ (00097465, 00097466) (AMNH). Coniston, 18 Feb 1966, J.A. Grant, 6♂ (00174090–00174095), 2♀ (00174096, 00174097) (BMNH). Henbury Station, 14 km NE from Henbury Homestead, North of Chandler Range approx 2.3 km from Stuart Highway, 24.46556°S 133.35194°E, 549 m, 17 May 2013, M. Cheng & C. Duykers, Eremophila sturtii R. Br. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. NT Herbarium Staff – Alice Springs, 1♀ (00387440) (AMNH), 3♂ (00414083–00414085), 3♀ (00414086–00414088) (UNSW). ~44 km W of Stuart Hiway on Ernest Giles Rd, 24.56668°S 132.6815°E, 494 m, 30 Oct 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Wall, Eremophila sturtii R. Br. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW666246, 9♀ (00098440–0 0 0 98447, 00097160), 2♂ (00097159, 00391054) (AMNH).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: 3.6 km NW of Henbury Homestead, 1.5 km W from Stuart highway towards 3 Mile Creek, 24.52583°S 133.23306°E, 431 m, 16 May 2013, M. Cheng, C. Bayer & M. Colquhoun, Eremophila sturtii R. Br. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. NT Herbarium Staff – Alice Springs, 2 nymphs (00414081, 00414082) (UNSW). 11.5 km NE of Henbury Homestead, 24.46528°S 133.31694°E, 441 m, 16 May 2013, M. Cheng, C. Bayer & M. Colquhoun, Eremophila sturtii R. Br. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. NT Herbarium Staff – Alice Springs, 2 nymphs (00414092, 00414093) (UNSW).