Pilophoropsis nicholi (Knight)

Henry, Thomas J., 2015, Revision of the Ceratocapsine Renodaeus group: Marinonicoris, Pilophoropsis, Renodaeus, and Zanchisme, with descriptions of four new genera (Heteroptera, Miridae, Orthotylinae), ZooKeys 490, pp. 1-156 : 76-77

Taxon classification Animalia Hemiptera Miridae

Pilophoropsis nicholi (Knight) Figs 79-81, 269-271

Renodaella nicholi Knight, 1927: 307 (orig. descrip.); Carvalho 1952: 83 (as type).

Pilophoropsis nicholi : Carvalho, 1958: 142 (cat., new comb.); Knight 1968: 159 (descrip., key); Henry and Wheeler 1988: 399 (cat.); Schuh 1995: 182 (cat.).

Diagnosis.

This species (Figs 79-81) is recognized by a narrow band of silvery scale-like setae across the base of the clavus, the more irregular, scattered patches on the apical half of the clavus, and another broken, transverse band on the basal half of the corium about level with the apex of the scutellum; and the male genitalia, particularly the stout basal processes of the left paramere with an adjacent slender spine (Fig. 269), the three lateral arms of the right paramere (Fig. 271), and the long, recurved, somewhat flattened, apical process of the phallotheca (Fig. 270).

Description.

Male (n = 2; holotype in parentheses): Length 3.20-3.32 mm (3.20 mm), width 1.01-1.04 mm (1.06 mm). Head: Width 0.68-0.78 mm (0.72 mm), interocular width 0.28-0.35 mm (0.32 mm). Labium: Length 1.08-1.20 mm (1.20 mm). Antenna: Segment I, length 0.20-0.23 mm (0.22 mm); II, 0.56-0.61 mm (0.62 mm); III, 0.36-0.38 mm (0.35 mm); IV, 0.36 mm (0.38 mm). Pronotum: Length 0.68-0.73 mm (0.72 mm), basal width 0.92-1.00 mm (0.96 mm).

Coloration: Head: Shiny dark brown to reddish brown. Antenna: Segment I pale brown, with a red U-shaped mark at base; segments II–IVdark brown. Pronotum: Shiny dark brown to reddish brown. Hemelytron: Corium dull yellowish brown, darker on distal half; clavus dark yellowish brown, paler along scutellar margin; cuneus and apex of embolium shiny reddish brown Ventral surface: Shiny reddish brown; glaucous abdominal stridulatory patch paler; nearly glabrous. Ostiolar evaporative area: Pale or white. Legs: Coxae whitish, fore coxae red apically, hind coxae brown at base; femora brown to reddish brown, middle and hind femora pale on basal halves; tibiae brown, fore and midddle tibiae pale on apical thirds; tarsi and claws pale brown.

Structure, texture, and vestiture: Head: Shiny, weakly rugose on frons. Labium: Extending to hind coxae. Antenna: Segment II slender, gradually thickening to apex, weakly pubescent on basal half, more thickly set with recumbent pale setae on apical half. Pronotum: Shiny, disc impunctate, calli weakly granulate and weakly depressed between, narrow anterior collar-like area weakly transversely striate; sparsely set with widely separated, recumbent, pale setae. Scutellum: Dark brown, with a narrow band of silvery scale-like setae through middle. Hemelytron: Clothed with bands and patches of silvery scale-like setae, including a band across base of clavus (and continuous onto scutellum), four short bands on apical half of clavus, three short patches on basal third of corium adjacent to embolium, and a large patch across apical third of corium ending before claval suture; intermixed on corium and clavus with widely set, stout, erect, black, bristle-like setae; membrane smoky brown, shiny along base (and beneath rubbed pubescent areas). Ventral surface: Thorax glabrous; abdomen with a few erect and semierect setae.

Male genitalia: Aperture large, without spines or processes. Left paramere (Fig. 269) with a triangular beak-like apical process and two basal processes, one stout and recurved (with a short basal spine) and the other long, slender, and needle-like. Right paramere (Fig. 271) with stout C-shaped trunk and three lateral arms, two relatively short, distally acute, and one larger, recurving behind main trunk. Phallotheca (Fig. 270) slender, ending in a long, slender, somewhat flattened, recurving spine.

Brachypterous female (n = 2): Length to apex of abdomen 2.96-3.12 mm, length to base of cuneus 2.08-2.11 mm, width 1.02-1.16 mm. Head: Width 0.80-0.82 mm, interocular width 0.40-0.42 mm. Labium: Length 1.10 mm (1 specimen obscured in glue). Antenna: Segment I, length 0.20-0.22 mm; II 0.62-0.66 mm; III, 0.38 mm (missing on 1 specimen); IV, 0.38 mm (missing on 1 specimen). Pronotum: Length 0.62-0.66 mm, basal width 0.66-0.70 mm.

Coloration: Similar to male.

Structure, texture, and vestiture: Labium: Extending to bases of middle coxae. Pronotum: Quadrate, disc smooth, shiny, transversely rugose along decurved posterior edge, calli shiny, cleft between, flattened, anterior, collar-like area transversely striate. Scutellum: Transversely rugose, with a band of silvery scale-like setae across base. Hemelytron: Narrowed basally, widening toward truncate apex; claval suture absent, fusing clavus and corium; cuneus abbreviated on apical third, membrane reduced to level of cuneus, truncate apex shallowly emarginate, cuneus, membrane, and embolium polished; lateral margins and apical three segments of abdomen exposed beyond hemelytron; silvery scale-like bands and patches much as in male, including three distinct patches on basal third of corium along embolium.

Distribution.

Described and previously known only from Arizona. Mexico (Jalisco) is a new country record.

Host.

One specimen taken on desert willow, Chilopsis linearis (Cav.) Sweet. [ Bignoniaceae ].

Discussion.

The genitalia illustrated for Pilophoropsis nicholi are based on a male from Jalisco, Mexico. Although these Figures are very similar to Knight’s (1968) illustrations, they differ slightly because of the angle they were drawn. The left paramere in Knight’s (1968) drawing shows the needle-like basal process appearing to originate from the main trunk, but it actually arises from the base of the stouter process, as in my illustration. Also, the right paramere in Knight’s (1968) illustration shows only two lateral arms or spines. If the right paramere is turned up slightly and counter clockwise, three processes can be seen; the lowermost arm curls back behind the main trunk when viewed caudally, making it difficult to see. The apex of the phallotheca, as illustrated by Knight (1968), and my illustration are similar, though the recurved apex in the holotype appears even more flattened than shown in Knight’s (1968) or my illustration. At this time, I consider all of this material conspecific.

Type material.

Holotype ♂: USA:Arizona: Santa Rita Mtns., alt.4500 ft., Sept. 9, 1925, A. A. Nichol (00285699) (USNM).

Other specimens examined.

MEXICO:Jalisco: Puerto Vallarta, 8 Dec. 1984, G. E. Bohart, 1♂ (USNM). USA:Arizona: Santa Rita Mts., 16 May 1928, A. A. Nichol, 1♀ (USNM). Santa Rita Mts., 9 May 1929, E. D. Ball, 1♀(00285702) (USNM). Pena Blanca [Santa Cruz Co.], 2 July 1949, L. A. Lindsay on desert willow, 1♂ (00285701) (USNM).