Pilophoropsis brachyptera Poppius

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 : 69-73

Taxon classification Animalia Hemiptera Miridae

Pilophoropsis brachyptera Poppius Figs 74, 75, 120, 121-126, 127-132, 263-265

Pilophoropsis brachypterus Poppius, 1914: 250 (orig. descrip.); 1952: 82 (as type); Carvalho 1955b: 227 (note); Polhemus and Polhemus 1985: 29 (note); Carvalho 1958: 142 (cat.); Schuh 1995: 182 (cat.).

Pilophoropsis balli Knight, 1968: 159 (orig. descrip.). Synonymized by Polhemus and Polhemus 1985: 29.

Pilophoropsis brachyptera : Steyskal 1973: 207 (etymology); Henry and Wheeler 1988: 399 (cat.).

Diagnosis.

This species (Figs 74, 75) is recognized by having the posterior silvery band on the hemelytra level with the apex of the clavus and well separated from the cuneal fracture, a comb-like basal process of the left paramere (Fig. 263), a long, recurving arm on the right paramere (Fig. 265), and a stout, decurved apical hook on the phallotheca (Fig. 264).

Description.

Male (n = 5; holotype measurements of Pilophoropsis balli in parentheses): Length 3.32-3.52 mm (3.46 mm), width 1.08-1.16 mm (1.12 mm). Head: Width 0.76-0.80 mm (0.78 mm), interocular width 0.30-0.32 mm (0.30 mm). Labium: Length 1.04-1.10 mm (1.09 mm). Antenna: Segment I, length 0.22-0.24 mm (0.22 mm); II, 0.58-0.60 mm (0.62 mm); III, 0.36-0.38 mm (0.37 mm); IV, 0.36-0.38 mm (0.35 mm). Pronotum: Length 0.76-0.78 mm (0.80 mm), basal width 1.02-1.06 mm (1.01 mm).

Coloration: Head: Dark shiny brown. Antenna: Segment I yellowish brown, with a red mark running dorsally across basal l/3, then distally along inside before ending subapically; segment II, brown to dark brown; segments III and IV dark brown. Pronotum: Dark brown to fuscous. Scutellum: Dark brown. Hemelytron: Dull, satiny tan to pale brown, outer half of clavus and apical fourth of corium darker dull brown; cuneus, inner margin of corium bordering membrane, and embolium polished, cuneus dark reddish brown; membrane dark brown, with a transparent area bordering cuneus. Ventral surface: Thorax dark brown; abdomen fuscous to nearly black. Ostiolar evaporative area: Pale or white. Legs: Coxae pale or whitish, all bases and apex of procoxae brown to reddish brown; femora brown to reddish brown, with basal l/3 of middle and hind femora pale; tibiae brown to reddish brown, pale on apical l/3 to l/2; tarsi and claws pale brown. Ostiolar evaporative area: Uniformly white.

Structure, texture, and vestiture: Head: Shiny, frons finely, transversely rugose. Labium: Extending to bases of middle coxae. Antenna: Segment I nearly glabrous, with a few long, erect setae; segment II slender basally, gradually enlarging toward apex to thickness equal with segment I, pubescence dense, short, and recumbent. Pronotum: Disc smooth, polished, strongly convex; calli rugose, narrowed anterior part transversely striate; clothed with sparsely set, recumbent, simple setae. Scutellum: Rugose, weakly convex, with a row of silvery scale-like setae across base. Hemelytron: Clothed with three bands of silvery, scale-like setae, a narrow one across base of clavus (and continuous onto scutellum), a short narrow one across apical third of clavus, and a broad one across apical half of corium near apex of clavus, intermixed with several irregular patches of silvery scale-like setae on basal half of corium along embolium and apical half of clavus, intermixed with scattered, stout, erect, black, bristle-like setae on clavus and corium. Ventral surface: Shiny dark brown to fuscous, with a dull, alutaceous patch across middle l/2 of 2nd visible abdominal segment; glabrous except for a few scattered, long, erect, simple setae on abdomen.

Male genitalia: Male aperture large, lacking spines or processes. Left paramere (Fig. 263) with apex twisted, beak-like; basal process three-pronged, comb-like process varying from that Figured to slightly longer and more slender. Right paramere (Fig. 265) with main stem stout, lateral arm long, slender, dorsally directed, apically crenulate, base a short, minor process arising near middle. Phallotheca (Fig. 264) with apex ending in a recurved hook.

Brachypterous female (n = 10; holotype measurements of Pilophoropsis brachyptera in parentheses): Length to apex of abdomen 2.60-3.12 mm (2.75 mm), length to base of cuneus 2.00-2.21 mm (2.00 mm), width 0.92-1.08 mm (1.07 mm). Head: Width 0.76-0.84 mm (0.80 mm), interocular width 0.40-0.44 mm (0.40 mm). Labium: Length 1.02-1.10 mm (1.04 mm). Antenna: Segment I, length 0.20-0.22 mm (missing); II, 0.56-0.60 mm (missing); III, 0.36 mm (missing); IV, 0.36 mm (missing). Pronotum: Length 0.62-0.70 mm (0.64 mm), basal width 0.60-0.66 mm (0.58 mm). Coloration and structure similar to that of male, except as noted below.

Structure, texture, and vestiture: Labium: Extending to bases of hind coxae. Pronotum: Much more quadrate than male, disc strongly convex with a deep cleft through middle; flattened, collar-like, anterior area transversely striate. Hemelytron: Brachypterous, claval suture absent, except apically in some specimens, clavus defined only by darker brown coloration on outer half; cuneus abbreviated on apical third, membrane reduced, not exceeding apex of abbreviated cuneus; cuneus, membrane, and embolium polished; abdomen broadly rounded, with apical four segments exposed beyond hemelytron. Ventral surface and legs: Much as in males.

Distribution.

Described and known only from Arizona.

Hosts.

Polhemus and Polhemus (1985) associated Pilophoropsis brachyptera with the mistletoe Phoradendron californicum Nutt. [ Viscaceae ] growing on Prosopis spp. [ Fabaceae ] in Arizona. A. G. Wheeler and I, however, have collected numerous specimens on mesquite ( Prosopis sp.) lacking mistletoe. Our observations and the numerous other records given below, some with nymphs, indicate that Prosopis spp. are the primary hosts of Pilophoropsis brachyptera , rather than mistletoe. This species also has been taken on Acacia greggii A. Gray ( Fabaceae ), Celtis ehrenbergiana (Klotzsch) Liebm. ( Ulmaceae ), Lycium pallidum Miers ( Solanaceae ), and Phoradendron californicum Nutt. ( Santalaceae ). Pilophoropsis brachyptera is frequently taken on the stouter twigs and branches of its host tree, where it probably preys on various soft-bodied arthropods.

Type specimens examined.

Holotype ( Pilophoropsis brachyptera ): &, "Hot Spr[in]gs, 24-6, Ar., H. S. Barber Collector" (00162227) (USNM). Holotype ( Pilophoropsis balli ): ♂, "Tucson, Ar., 9 –22– 28, E. D. Ball" (00162226) (USNM). Paratype: USA:Arizona:Pima Co.: Rincon Mountains, 32.07611EN, 111.91722EW, 1006 m, 02 Sep 1928, A. A. Nichol (Paratype of Pilophoropsis balli ), 1♂ (00374969) (CNC). Catal[ina] Springs, 15-4, E. A. Schwarz (paratype of Pilophoropsis balli ), 1♂ (00285695) (USNM).

Other specimens examined.

USA:Arizona: Maricopa Co.: Fort McDowell, 33.63667EN, 111.67389EW, 13 Oct 1982, J. T. Polhemus, on mistletoe growing on Prosopis sp., 2♀♀ (00138474, 00138475) (JTP). Verde R. at Hwy. 87, CL1632, vi–2– 81, J. T. Polhemus, taken on mistletoe growing on Prosopis sp., 1♂ (1 nymph) (JTP). Ft. McDowell, VIII–10– 82, J. T. Polhemus, 3♀♀ (JTP). Pima Co.: 4 mi S of Interstate 10, along Rt 82 [sic; Rt 83], 31.95003EN, 110.66844EW, 1143 m, 02 Jun 1997, T. J. Henry and A. G Wheeler, Jr., Prosopis sp. ( Fabaceae ), 1 nymph (00285703), 3♀♀ (00285705-00285707) (USNM). 6 mi SE of Continental, 31.79796EN, 110.89233EW, 1084 m, 03 Jul 1958, W. F. Barr, 1♂ (00374970) (CNC). 14 mi W of Three Points, 32.03542EN, 111.54426EW, 948 m, 15 Aug 1988, W. F. Barr, Celtis ehrenbergiana (Klotzsch) Liebm. ( Ulmaceae ), 1♀ (00374971), 1 nymph (00374972) (CNC). Arivaca Lake, 2.7 mi SE of Arivaca, 31.52551EN, 111.2546EW, 1067 m, 19 Apr 1982, M. D. Schwartz, Prosopis juliflora ( Fabaceae ), 1♀ (00138472) (AMNH). Lower Santa Rita Range, near Sahuarita, 31.79705EN, 110.77413EW, 1463 m, 11 Apr 1989, T. J. Henry and A. G Wheeler, Jr., Prosopis sp. ( Fabaceae ), 1♀ (00285714), 1♂ (00285715) (USNM). NE Tucson, foothills of Sta. Catalina Mts., trail to Lower Sabino Dam East Picnic Area, 32.31408EN, 110.81149EW, 823 m, 27 Sep 1988, M. D. Schwartz, Celtis ehrenbergiana (Klotzsch) Liebm. ( Ulmaceae ), 1♂ (00138452), 3♀♀ (00138453-00138455), 1 nymph (00138456) (AMNH). Sabino Canyon, Tucson, 32.31011EN, 110.82122EW, 832 m, 16 May 1953, A. and H. Dietrich, 1♂ (00286347) (CUIC). Santa Catalina Mountains, Finger Rock Canyon, 32.3419EN, 110.90947EW, 985 m, 07 May 1988, W. A. Jones, Acacia greggii ( Fabaceae ), 2♀♀ (00285712, 00285713) (USNM). Santa Catalina Mountains, Ventana Canyon Trail, 32.33194EN, 110.86388EW, 30 Aug 1998, M. D. Schwartz, Lycium pallidum ( Solanaceae ), 1♂ (00374979), 2♀♀ (00374977, 00374978), 1 nymph (00374976) (CNC). Santa Catalina Mountains on Finger Rock Canyon Trail, T12S R14E, 32.35091EN, 110.9015EW, 1128 m, 05 Apr 1981, M. D. Schwartz, Lycium sp. ( Solanaceae ), 1♂ (00138473) (AMNH). Santa Rita Exp[erimental]. Range, 31.88166EN, 110.86569EW, 985 m, 16 Apr 1990, W. A. Jones, Phoradendron californicum ( Santalaceae ), 1 nymph (00285708), 3♀♀ (00285709-00285711) (USNM). Santa Rita Mountains, Madera Cyn., 31.74251EN, 110.88533EW, 1341 m, 22 Aug 1989, W. A. Jones, 1♂ (00285718) (USNM). Tortolito Mountains, 32.4266EN, 111.08935EW, 762 m, 22 Apr 1982, M. D. Schwartz, Prosopis juliflora ( Fabaceae ), 2♀♀ (00138469, 00138470) (AMNH). Tortolito Mountains, 32.46648EN, 111.06777EW, 914 m, 22 Apr 1982, M. D. Schwartz, Prosopis juliflora ( Fabaceae ), 1♂ (00286348) (CUIC). Tucson, Santa Catalina Mountains, Bear Creek near Saddleback Dr, 32.325EN, 110.79083EW, 26 Feb 1995, M. D. Schwartz, Phoradendron sp. ( Santalaceae ), 1♂ (00374974), 1♀ (00374973), 1 nymph (00374975) (CNC). USDA Lab., Tucson, 32.27611EN, 110.94019EW, 720 m, 08 Apr 1989, T. J. Henry and A. G Wheeler, Jr., Prosopis sp. ( Fabaceae ), 1♀ (00285716), 1♂ (00285717) (USNM).