Agaveocoris dimidiatus Henry and Menard, 2020

Henry, Thomas J. & Menard, Katrina L., 2020, Revision and Phylogeny of the Eccritotarsine Plant Bug Genus Caulotops Bergroth, with Descriptions of Four New Genera and 14 New Species (Hemiptera Heteroptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae) Associated with Agave (Agavoideae Asparagaceae) and Related Plant Genera, Zootaxa 4772 (2), pp. 201-252 : 217

Agaveocoris dimidiatus Henry and Menard , new species

( Figs. 21–23 , 80–82 , 123 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DA8565D2-ED0B-4576-8E07-1F600230F440

DIAGNOSIS. This species ( Figs. 21–23 ) is recognized by the small body size, the relatively long labium, the length of the second antennal segment less than the interocular width, the yellow scutellum, the dull grayish-brown hemelytra, and the shape of the right paramere ( Fig. 82 ).

It runs to couplet 8 with A. rostratus , n. sp. based on the small size, uniformly dull grayish-brown hemelytra, and the pale legs with distinct spots on the femora. It is distinguished from A. rostratus by the shorter labium that does not extend beyond the base of the ovipositor or onto the male genital capsule, and by the shorter length of antennal segment II that is less than the interocular width.

DESCRIPTION. Male: (n = 5; measurement of holotype in parentheses): Length from apex of head to cuneal fracture 2.14–2.30 mm (2.30 mm); length from apex of head to apex of membrane 3.14–3.36 mm (3.20 mm); widest point across hemelytra 1.28–1.42 mm (1.42 mm). Head: Width across eyes 0.86–0.91 mm (0.94 mm); interocular width 0.53–0.56 mm (0.56 mm). Labium: Length 1.28–1.44 mm (1.36 mm), extending to abdominal segment IV or V, nearly to genital capsule. Antenna: Segment I length 0.32–0.35 mm (0.35 mm); II, 0.51–0.56 mm (0.51 mm); III, 0.38–0.48 mm (0.43 mm); IV, 0.38–0.43 mm (0.40 mm). Pronotum: Median length 0.48–0.51 mm (0.52 mm); posterior width 1.06–1.17 mm (1.17 mm).

Macropterous, relatively small, elongate oval. General coloration yellowish gray. COLORATION. Head: Pale yellowish, vertex with two dark brown transverse stripes; frons with a narrow row of transverse dark brown marks on either side of median line; gular area dark shiny brown. Labium: Segment I pale yellowish brown, segment II darker brown ventrally; segments III and IV brown. Antenna: Segment I brown to nearly black, paler specimens with a distinct, black, sub-basal ring; segments II-IV brown to dark brown. Pronotum: Pale yellowish brown, discal area slightly darker brown; calli dark brown. Mesoscutum and scutellum: Pale yellow. Hemelytron: Yellowish blue gray to mauve, membrane pale brown to brown, veins brown to dark brown. Ventral surface: Thorax yellowish brown, mesosternum dark shiny brown; abdomen pale brown to brown, tubercle on genital capsule yellow, darker brown apically. Legs: Coxae pale yellow; femora pale yellow with anterior and posterior brown spots; tibiae yellowish brown, with a narrow brown stripe at base (knee); tarsomeres pale brown; claws dark brown. SURFACE AND VESTITURE. Hemelytra dull matte; rest of characters as in generic description. STRUCTURE. Antennal segment I length greater than half the length of segment II, segment I shorter than interocular distance; posterior margin of pronotum strongly convex; apex labium extends past metacoxae. Other structures as in the generic description.

Male genitalia: Endosoma ( Fig. 80 ) as in generic description. Left paramere ( Fig. 81 ) small, C-shaped. Right paramere ( Fig. 82 ) elongate, slender, shallowly L-shaped, with an upturned apex.

Female: (n = 5): Length from apex of head to cuneal fracture 2.18–2.37 mm; length from apex of head to apex of membrane 3.26–3.55 mm; widest point across hemelytra 1.46–1.49 mm. Head: Width across eyes 0.90–0.94 mm; interocular width 0.54–0.56 mm. Labium: Length 1.41–1.49 mm. Antenna: Segment I length 0.34–0.35 mm; II, 0.50–0.51 mm; III, 0.40–0.46 mm; IV, 0.38–0.46 mm. Pronotum: Median length 0.50–0.53 mm; posterior width 1.12–1.18 mm.

Similar to male in size, shape, and coloration. Genitalia as in generic description.

HOST. Agave schottii Engelm. ( Agavoideae : Asparagaceae ).

DISTRIBUTION. Arizona (Pima and Yuma counties), USA. Because the host of this new species is known from southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northern Mexico ( USDA, NRCS 2019 ), its distribution can be expected to be considerably greater than Pima Co. and Yuma counties in southcentral Arizona .

TYPE MATERIAL. HOLOTYPE ♂, UNITED STATES: Arizona: Pima Co.: Santa Catalina Mountains, Catalina Highway , water seep, above saguaros, 9 Apr. 1989, T. J. Henry & A. G. Wheeler, Jr., taken on Agave schottii Engelm. ( USNM) . PARATYPES: UNITED STATES: Arizona: 9 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, same data as for holotype ( USNM) ; 8 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀, Pima Co., Santa Catalina Mts., Catalina Hwy. , at saguaro forest, 9 Apr. 1989, T. J. Henry & A. G. Wheeler, ex Agave schottii (1♂, 1♀, UNAM; 7♂♂, 15♀♀, USNM) ; 1♂, 1♀, Santa Catalina Mountains, Molino Ba- sin Camp Grounds , 8 Apr. 1989, T. J. Henry & A. G. Wheeler, taken on Agave schottii ( USNM) ; 1 ♂, 21 ♀♀, Santa Catalina Mountains, Molino Basin Camp Grounds, N of Tucson , Catalina Hwy. , 32°19.610’N, 110°42.034’W, 4 May 2016, T. J. Henry & A. G. Wheeler, ex Agave schottii . ( USNM) . Yuma Co .: 1♂, 35 mi. N Yuma , 2 Apr. 1967, D. M. Wood ( CNC-PBI 00418826 ) .

Figures

FIGURES 21–31. Agaveocoris spp. 21, A. dimidiatus, n. sp., male (dorsal aspect). 22, A. dimidiatus, n. sp., male (lateral aspect). 23, A. dimidiatus, n. sp., female (dorsal aspect). 24, A. distanti (Reuter), male (brown color form, dorsal aspect). 25, A. distanti (Reuter), male (brown color form, lateral aspect). 26, A. distanti, female (brown color form, dorsal aspect). 27, A. distanti, male (reddish-orange color form, dorsal aspect). 28, A. distanti, female (reddish-orange color form, dorsal aspect). 29, A. marginalis, n. sp., male (dorsal aspect). 30, A. marginalis, n. sp., male (lateral aspect). 31, A. roseus, n. sp., female (dorsal aspect).

FIGURES 80–93. Male genitalia of Agaveocoris spp. A. dimidiata, n. sp.: 80, endosoma. 81, left paramere. 82, right paramere. A. distanti, n. sp.: 83, endosoma. 84, left paramere. 85, right paramere. A. marginalis, n. sp.: 86, endosoma. 87, left paramere. 88, right paramere. A. roseus, n. sp.: 89, right paramere. 90, left paramere. A. rostratus, n. sp.: 91, endosoma. 92, left paramere. 93, right paramere.

FIGURES 119–128. Male genital tubercles of Agaveocoris spp. 119, A. agavis. 120, A. barberi. 121, A. barrerai, n. sp. 122, A. bimaculatus, n. sp. 123, A. dimidiatus, n. sp. 124, A. distanti. 125, A. roseus, n. sp. 126, A. rostratus, n. sp. 127, A. schaffneri, n. sp. 128, A. scutellatus, n. sp.