Bifidostylus kalgoorlie, 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 : 53-55

Bifidostylus kalgoorlie , new species

Figure 14, map 5, table 1, plates 4, 5

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the relatively large size, greatly elongate, parallel-sided body form, dark, dirty yellow-orange coloration (in available preserved specimens), and heavily fumose membrane (pl. 4); endosoma sigmoid and twisted, with large, subapical secondary gonopore, shorter strap reaching to about midpoint of gonopore, longer strap exceeding gonopore and with a fingerlike apex (fig. 14, pl. 5); left paramere with sinuous dorsal margin of posterior process; right paramere with conspicuously bifid apex (fig. 14). Sigmoid and twisted endosoma in conjunction with structure of apical spines distinctive among Bifidostylus spp., but structure of parameres and endosoma concordant. Female broadly ovoid, not nearly as elongate as male. Most similar in size and body shape to B. occidentalis , but general coloration paler in that species, including only weakly fumose membrane; endosoma twisted and sigmoid in both species, but apical endosomal spines also distinct, B. occidentalis with three slender spines, whereas B. kalgoorlie with one.

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Greatly elongate, parallel sided, mean total length 3.79, mean pronotum width 0.94. COLORATION (pl. 4): Dark, dirty yellow-orange; membrane heavily fumose. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 4): Dorsum smooth, weakly polished and shining; dorsum clothed with reclining, pale, simple setae. STRUCTURE: Head (pl. 4): Eyes not noticeably large, vertex relatively broad; frons weakly swollen, rounded, and slightly exceeding anterior margin of eye; eye occupying two-thirds height of head; antenna inserted just above ventral margin of eye, eye weakly emarginate above antennal insertion; antennal segment 2 long (1.19), 1.7 times width of head; labium reaching almost to apex of metacoxa. Thorax (pl. 4): Pronotum with calli faintly visible, posterior lobe short, weakly elevated, lateral margin straight, posterior margin weakly excavate; mesoscutum moderately exposed. Hemelytron: Corium greatly elongate, lateral margin nearly straight; cuneus strongly elongate triangular. GENITALIA (fig. 14, pl. 5): Pygophore: Broadly conical with two narrow tubercles present midway between paramere insertions and anterior margin of pygophore, tubercle on left side larger than that on right. Endosoma: Sigmoid, distal one-half bent to left; dorsal and ventral straps entire, contiguous to level of secondary gonopore, somewhat twisted and broadened medially, ventral strap terminating in wide sclerite, equal to middle of secondary gonopore; dorsal strap narrowed to form bent apical spine, extending beyond gonopore; secondary gonopore well sclerotized moderately large, situated within interstrap membrane. Phallotheca: Apical portion elongate conical, somewhat broadened subapically, compresses or flattened in dorsal view, aperture elongate trianglular; basal portion reaching to middle of ventral surface of pygophore in situ. Parameres: Left paramere relatively large with undulating dorsoposterior margin prominently elevated above anterior and posterior processes; posterior process long, undulating in lateral view and sinuous in dorsal view; anterior process mi ‐ nute, barely produced beyond surface of paramere, long seta present mediad of anterior process. Right paramere somewhat swollen with well-defined bifid apex.

FEMALE (pl. 4): Broadly ovoid, mean total length 2.99, mean pronotum width 0.98. Coloration and vestiture as in male. Eyes of similar size to male, but vertex appearing somewhat wider.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the Western Australian town of Kalgoorlie , near which specimens were collected; a noun in apposition.

HOST: Labeled as occurring on Melaleuca sheathiana (Myrtaceae) (pl. 34E). We posit that available specimens are mislabeled and should be labeled as occurring on Eremophila parvifolia (Scrophulariaceae) , which our field data indicate was documented as a host at the same site as M. sheathiana .

DISTRIBUTION (map 5): Known only from the type locality near Kalgoorlie in the Gold Fields region of Western Australia.

DISCUSSION: Although labels suggest this taxon was collected on Melaleuca , we assert that mislabeling is involved. This taxon and B. occidentalis are both very similar in external appearance to Myrtophylus species, especially the elongate body form of the males, but the structure of the endosoma and other aspects of the male genitalia we place in that Myrtaceae-feeding group are unlike the structure seen in B. kalgoorlie and B. occidentalis .

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 21 km E of Kalgoorlie near transcon. railroad, 30.87541°S 121.69346°E, 500 m, 23 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Melaleuca sheathiana W. Fitzg. (Myrtaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5054583, 1♂ (AMNH_PBI 00389218) (WAMP).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 21 km E of Kalgoorlie near transcon. railroad, 30.87541°S 121.69346°E, 500 m, 23 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Melaleuca sheathiana W.

Fitzg. ( Myrtaceae ), det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5054583, 4♂ (00389215, 0 0 389219–00389221) (AM), 2♂ (00389216, 00389217), 2♀ (00389224, 00389225) (WAMP).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 21 km E of Kalgoorlie near transcon. railroad, 30.87541°S 121.69346°E, 500 m, 23 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Melaleuca sheathiana W. Fitzg. (Myrtaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5054583, 2 nymphs (00389222, 00389223) (AM).