Solenoxyphus kerzhneri, Konstantinov, 2008

Konstantinov, Fedor V., 2008, Review of Solenoxyphus Reuter, 1875 (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae), American Museum Novitates 3607 (1), pp. 1-44 : 26

Solenoxyphus kerzhneri , n. sp.

Figures 19–21, 24, 25, 26, 30 , 46, 74

DIAGNOSIS: Close to S. major and S. pallens . It is difficult to distinguish from S. major by external characters, but differs in the vesica structure, namely the strongly reduced longitudinal flange and extension of a series of teeth proximal to secondary gonopore. Differs from S. pallens in the presence of pale brown dots at the bases of tibial spines. In addition, dotting on forewings in S. kerzhneri is usually irregular, darker, and denser than in S. pallens . Forewings are covered only with light silver setae in the former species and with pale brown setae in the latter. Solenoxyphus kerzhneri differs from S. loginovae in dotting pattern of forewings.

DESCRIPTION: VESTITURE: Entire body surface covered with silver, straight or curved setae only.

COLORATION: Head pale yellow or greenish, eyes black to pale brown. Antennae uniformly whitish yellow, without any markings. Pronotum and scutellum pale yellow and usually in part greenish, devoid of any dark markings and spots. Clavus, corium, and cuneus uniformly pale yellow, with rather dense and irregular pale brown dotting, almost obsolete at extreme base of wing. Dots on apices of clavus and corium usually more dense and at times confluent. Dots on cuneus smaller than those on clavus and corium and more regularly distributed. Membrane smoky hyaline or very slightly and uniformly embrowned. Ventral surface pale. Legs pale yellow; all femora apically with distinct sparse, pale brown dots. Hind femora comparatively thin in males, somewhat swollen in females. Dotting on dorsal surface of hind femora usually running from apex to hind margin. Tibia with distinct pale brown dots at bases of tibial spines. Tibial spines pale. Apical part of third tarsal segment and claws darkened.

MALE GENITALIA: Theca and parameres as in figs. 19, 24, 25. Apical process of vesica (figs. 20–21, 30) long, thin, and acute, with somewhat curved apex, distinctly longer thanwidth of vesica proximal to secondary gonopore. Longitudinal flange remarkably narrow and weakly sclerotized. Series of teeth not extending distal to secondary gonopore, prolonged into long series of denticles proximally.

STRUCTURE AND MEASUREMENTS: Body almost parallel-sided in males (fig. 74), elongate-oval in females. Head wider than high, declivent, weakly projecting beyond eyes. Labium always extending beyond hind coxae, almost reaching seventh abdominal segment in some females. Tarsi thin (fig. 46), claw as in fig. 26.

In males, body 3.5–3.7 X as long as width of pronotum. Pronotum 2.0–2.1 X as wide as long, 1.3–1.5 X as wide as head. Vertex 1.2– 1.3 X as wide as eye. Second antennal segment 0.9–1.0 X as long as basal width of pronotum, 1.2–1.3 X as long as width of head. Body length: 3.8–5.0 mm.

In females, body 2.7–3.0 X as long as width of pronotum. Pronotum 2.0–2.2 X as wide as long, 1.3 X as wide as head. Vertex 1.3–1.4 X as wide as eye. Second antennal segment 0.7– 0.8 X as long as basal width of pronotum, 0.9– 1.0 X as long as width of head. Body length: 3.3–3.9 mm.

DISTRIBUTION: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan.

HOST PLANT: Salsola gemmascens (Chenopodiaceae) .

ETYMOLOGY: The new species is dedicated to the distinguished heteropterist Prof. I. M. Kerzhner.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: Holotype: KYRGYZ- STAN: 80 km W Naryn, Central Tian Shan , 11 Jul 1966, I. M. Kerzhner, Salsola gemmascens , 3 ( AMNH _ PBI 00140651 ).

Paratypes: KYRGYZSTAN: same label as holotype, 43 ( AMNH _ PBI 00140653 – AMNH _ PBI 00140655 ), 2♀ ( AMNH _ PBI 00140656 , AMNH _ PBI 00140655 ) . Aktala mouth 80 km Naryn, 10 Jul 1966, Emeljanov , 43 ( AMNH _ PBI 00140657 , AMNH _ PBI 00140658 ), 2♀ ( AMNH _ PBI 00140650 ) . KAZAKHSTAN: Mangistau Prov. : S Usturt, chink Burchliburun, 04 Aug 1987, Mitrashina, Salsola gemmascens , 13 ( AMNH _ PBI 00140659 ) . S Usturt, chink Burchliburun, 04 Aug 1987, Mitroshina , Salsola gemmascens , 5♀ ( AMNH _ PBI 00140660 ) .

Figures

Figs. 19–31. 19–21, 24–25, 30, Solenoxyphus kerzhneri, Kyrgyzstan, paratype: 19, apex of theca; 20–21, vesica in ventral view; 24, right paramere; 25, left paramere; 30, vesica in side view. 22, 23, 31: S. major, vesica: 22, 31, Spain, Bujalaroz, collected from Suaeda sp.: 22, in ventral view; 31, in side view; 23, Spain: Alfés, in ventral view. 26–29, claws: 26, S. kerzhneri; 27, S. adspersus; 28, S. salsolae; 29, S. anabasius.