Halophylus salsoli, 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 : 125-126

Halophylus salsoli , new species

Figure 50, map 12, table 1, plates 16, 17

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by almost uniformly pale coloration without spots or blotches on dorsum, tibial spines without dark bases, the sometimes diffuse dark marking at apex of clavus and at apex of membrane cells (pl. 16); structure of endosoma as in figure 50 and plate 17. Body form in female similar to that of male. Endosomal structure and bristles on ventral surface of pygophore most similar to H. tecticornii , but that species mostly dark brown and with bristles on pygophore more numerous and darker than in to H. salsoli (pl. 16).

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Mean total length 3.17, mean pronotum width 0.95. COLORATION (pl. 16): Overall coloration mostly pale, including membrane; antennae and legs pale; femora with contrasting dark spots, tibial spines without dark bases. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 16): Dorsum with woolly sericeous setae and some reclining, pale common setae. STRUCTURE (pl. 16): Body form elongate ovoid. Head: Head short and broad, eyes moderately bulging; eye occupying one-half height of head; antenna inserted at ventral margin of eye, eye very weakly emarginate; antennal segment 2 elongate, slender (1.11), 1.32 times width of head; labium reaching apex of metacoxa. Thorax: Pronotum with convex sides, calli very weakly demarcated along posterior margin, posterior margin weakly concave; mesoscutum moderately exposed. Hemelytron: Costal margin weakly convex. GENITALIA (fig. 50, pl. 17): As in generic description but with the following details. Pygophore: Ventral surface with some prominent stout pale bristles. Endosoma: Dorsal apical spine short, straight and pointed; ventral apical spine subapically gently bent laterad, apically parallel to and twice as long as dorsal apical spine; second ‐ ary gonopore with many strong denticles. Parameres: Left paramere with dorsoposte ‐ rior surface elevated above posterior and anterior processes. Right paramere with short medial spine apically. Right paramere as in figure 50.

Female (pl. 16): Coloration as in male; differing from male as in generic description; mean total length 3.14, mean pronotum width 1.01.

ETYMOLOGY: From the generic name Salsola , in reference to its occurrence on that plant genus.

HOST: Recorded from Salsola kali (pl. 32D) ( Chenopodiaceae ).

DISTRIBUTION (map 12): Known from interior areas of South Australia and New South Wales.

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: 20 km NW of Innamincka, Innamincka Reg. Res., 27.60897°S 140.6333°E, 170 m, 0 5 Nov 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, Salsola kali L. (Chenopodiaceae) , det. Royal Bot Gard. NSW, 1d (AMNH_PBI 00389420) (SAMA).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Narrabri, 30.32466°S 149.78183°E, 215 m, 25 Jan 1960, M.I. Nikitin, 14d (00174030– 00174043), 5♂ (00174044–00174048) (BMNH); 26 Jan 1960, M.I. Nikitin, 22d (00174050–00174071), 9♂ (00174072–00174080) (BMNH). Narrabri, Valley of Namoi River, 30.32466°S 149.94849°E, 215 m, 25 Jan 1960, M.I. Nikitin, 1d (00174049) (BMNH). South Australia: 1 km N of Innamincka, Cooper Creek, 27.73124°S 140.7364°E, 120 m, 0 5 Nov 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, 2d (00389881, 00389882) (AM). 20 km NW of Innamincka, Innamincka Reg. Res., 27.60897°S 140.6333°E, 170 m, 0 5 Nov 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, Salsola kali L. (Chenopodiaceae) , det. Royal Bot Gard. NSW, 20d (00389421–0 0 389432, 0 0 389435–0 0 389437, 0 0 0 87129, 0 0 0 87435, 0 0 389883–00389885), 10♂ (00389439–0 0 389447, 00087130) (AM), 2d (00389433, 00389434), 2♂ (00389448, 00389449) (SAMA). 51 km NW of Morgan, 33.58334°S 140°E, 150 m, 0 1 Nov 1995, Schuh, Cassis, and Gross, 1d (00414402) (AM). Cadelga Homestead, 26.08949°S 140.4106°E, 150 m, 0 4 Nov 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, 15d (00087561, 0 0 130704, 0 0 130705, 0 0 389961–00389972), 6♂ (00389973– 00389978) at light, 1d (00087380), 1♂ (00087381) (AM), 8d (00130702, 0 0 130703, 0 0 130706– 00130711), 7d (00136586–00136592), 6♂ (00136594–00136599) (AMNH), 1d (00136593), 1♂ (00136600) (SAMA). Victoria: Neds Corner, 500 m N from major intersection past homestead – nr Pitfall Traps 11 + 12, 34.13566°S 141.30888°E, 28 Nov 2011, M. Cheng & L. Durber, 2d (UNS- W_ENT 0 0 0 25041, UNSW_ENT 00025042), 2♂ (UNSW_ENT 0 0 0 25044, UNSW_ENT 00025045) (UNSW).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: South Australia: 20 km NW of Innamincka, Innamincka Reg. Res., 27.60897°S 140.6333°E, 170 m, 0 5 Nov 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, Salsola kali L. (Amaranthaceae) , det. Royal Bot Gard. NSW, 1 nymph (00389438) (AM).