Phytocoris schmitzi, Menard & Schwartz, 2023

Menard, Katrina L. & Schwartz, Michael D., 2023, Four new species of Phytocoris Fallen (Hemiptera, Miridae) from the Davis Mountains in Texas and further documentation of known species of Jeff Davis County, ZooKeys 1174, pp. 97-139 : 97

Phytocoris schmitzi sp. nov.

Fig. 4

Type material.

Holotype male, pinned. Original label: "United States: Texas: Jeff Davis Co., Davis Mts Preserve, Madera Canyon Overlook Trail, 30.6961 -104.1234, 5937 ft, 30.viii.2022 K. Menard, found on Quercus gravesii ( Fagaceae )" (TAMU). Paratypes: United States: Texas: Jeff Davis Co., Davis Mts. Resort, 5,800 ft (Marqua residence), UV, 30.62842°N, 104.08360°W, 4-5.vii. 2009, E & ML Riley, TAMU-ENTO X0615593 (UCONN) 1♂; same collecting event as holotype (USNM) 1♂, 1♀.

Diagnosis.

This species is diagnostic for the rostratus group based on the dark brown coloration, the subquadrate head with a broad vertex, a dorsum with narrow, dark, scalelike setae mixed with other types of vestiture, and male genitalia with greatly reduced primary membranous sac of endosoma with two sclerotized processes. It is unique, however, in the Z-like shape and spinose apex of the left endosomal sclerite in combination with the hook-like right endosomal sclerite.

Description. Male (n = 2): Macropterous, medium-sized, lateral margins relatively straight. Total length clypeus to apex membrane from 4.5 mm, widest point across hemelytra 1.25 mm; general coloration dark brown and grey (Fig. 4A ).

Coloration. Head: predominantly pale brown in dorsal view, vertex with two small pale colored spots adjacent to eye margin and slightly darker horizontal line medially, frons with paler brown colored patterning associated with cyberium muscle attachment sites, clypeus dorsally pale with burgundy V-shaped pattern medially and parallel with antennal fossae and ventrally burgundy with two lateral white spots at apex, jugum white with dark burgundy horizontal band ventrad to antennal fossa in frontal view, maxillary plate and buccula burgundy-brown dorsally and ventrally white forming stripes that extend posteriorly, giving appearance of two horizontal dark stripes along head and continuing posteriorly behind eyes in lateral view, labrum pale white; labium basally pale white with first segment possessing short horizontal burgundy stripe that darkens distally to dark brown apex; antennal segment I dark burgundy-brown with pale maculae along dorsal surface, segment II pale brown with relatively narrow white band basally and slight darkening to darker brown on distal 1/3, segment III with narrow pale band basally and remainder color dark brown, segment IV completely dark brown; eyes brownish burgundy with some paler areas roughly corresponding to lateral stripe patterning on head. Thorax: propleura dark brown with white on ventral margin with procoxa, mesopleura dark brown excluding white margins along mesocoxa, metapleura dark brown with ostiolar peritreme and metathoracic spiracle whitish yellow, pronotal collar dark brown with narrow vertical white stripe medially and two laterally posterior to eyes (Fig. 4B ), anterior of pronotum pale brown with slightly darker brown calli and lateral margins, posterior pronotum primarily pale grey with irregular horizontal dark brown line parallel to white posterior margin, dark brown line on posterior margin possessing six slightly raised tumid points visible in lateral view, mesoscutum dark brown with spots of slightly paler coloration on lateral margins, scutellum primarily dark brown with slightly paler brown on posterior lateral margins and with white apex extending medially as white stripe to approximate median; pro and mesocoxa white with basal burgundy-brown spot, metacoxa white with basal 1/3 burgundy-brown and with short basal-posterior burgundy-stripe distally, pro and mesofemora pale whitish yellow basally with increasing coverage of burgundy-brown maculae distally that sometimes form vertical bands, metafemora with very dense burgundy-brown maculae with some white areas on ventral surface basally, protibiae dark brown with white maculae on basal 0/3 and one white stripe medially and second at ~ 1/4 length distally, mesotibia with similar patterning to protibiae but with less defined margins of white stripes, metatibiae primarily pale brown with dark brown maculae basally becoming more diffuse distally, all tarsal segments dark brown. Hemelytra: predominantly pale grey with darker blackish brown diffuse areas, clavus darker brown with sporadic dark brown maculae for majority of anterior surface and transitioning to pale grey along claval margin and claval suture, corium pale brownish grey darkening to dark brown to form lines along costal vein, costal margins and lateral margins adjacent to cuneal fracture as well as whitish patches adjacent to anterior margin of cuneus extending anteriorly approximately equidistant to length of cuneus, corium also with black spot corresponding with dark setae on distal margin with cuneus, cuneus primarily pale brown with thin white margin along cuneal fracture and dark brown to black patches at apex and median margin with membrane corresponding to patches of black setae, membrane primarily comprised of brown maculae excluding two white patches along lateral margins adjacent cuneus apex, veins brown to dark brown. Abdomen: burgundy-brown coloration dorsally and distally with whiteish pale on ventral surface of anterior 1/2, apex of lateral tubercle and distal margins of genital segment transitioning to greyish white coloration.

Surface and vestiture. Dorsal surface of head, pronotum, mesoscutum, scutellum, and hemelytra with long black erect setae evenly distributed and mixed with silvery-sericeous setae as well as in defined patches such as the apex of the clavus, distal apex of the corial margin, and two patches adjacent margin of corium and cuneus with the wing membrane, hemelytral surface texture otherwise matte. Structure: Head: clypeus visible in dorsal view, vertex rounded and slightly declining posteriorly, dorsal surface of eyes not surpassing vertex in lateral view, eye height ~ 1/2 of total height of head in lateral view, interocular distance slightly <1/2 total width head, antennal segment I relatively long with length nearly twice width head, apex of labium extending past hind coxae. Thorax: collar well-developed, pronotum trapezoidal in shape with faintly developed calli, posterior of pronotum with six weakly protruding tumid points adjacent posterior margin, posterior margin weakly concave in dorsal view, mesoscutum and scutellum relatively flat with declining margins towards clavus, legs relatively narrow with hind legs elongate, pretarsi with convergent parempodia and developed pulvillus. Hemelytra: lateral margins nearly parallel-sided, cuneus with weak declivity. Abdomen: less than ½ of total body length, apex not reaching apex of wing membrane, genital capsule relatively large, nearly 1/2 total length of abdomen. Genitalia: Genital capsule with relatively small but well-developed tubercle on left margin, pointed at apex (Fig. 4C ). Endosoma with broad membranous lobes covered with minute spines and spiculi, and three medially located well-developed sclerites; right sclerite basally rounded, distally narrowed with hook-like apex, medial narrow and elongate as well as sclerite weakly sclerotized, and left sclerite elongate apically covered with spines and forming sinuate Z-shape (Fig. 4D ). Left paramere L-shaped with relatively broad dorsal margin medially marked with dorsal notch and pointed apex along with pointed sensory lobe (Fig. 4E, F ). Right paramere elongate and narrow, with slight preapical widening before tapering into a hook-like apex (Fig. 4G ).

Female. Similar to male in coloration and structure, but slightly larger in size.

Measurements. Table 1 .

Hosts.

Quercus gravesii Sudworth (Fagacaeae). One additional male was collected at lights.

Distribution.

Davis Mountains, Jeff Davis County, Texas.

Etymology.

Named for coleopterist Ashley Schmitz whose invitation to assist in the biodiversity survey of the Nature Conservancy property led to the discovery of this new species. Noun in apposition.

Remarks.

Two males and one female specimen was available for dissection and documentation of this new species; both males were dissected to confirm their species identity. One additional male was collected with this series but was teneral and therefore not measured or dissected. Phytocoris schmitzi also fits into the rostratus group of Stonedahl (1988) based on the same characters that place P. marqua in the category, particularly the characteristics of the two sclerotized processes of the male genitalia. P. schmitzi is most superficially similar to Phytocoris cienega from Presidio, Texas in the coloration patterning and possession of 4-6 weakly elevated points on the posterior margin of the pronotum. However, the first antennal segment in P. schmitzi is wider than the width of the head unlike narrower in P. cienega . Also, there were significant differences in the male genitalia including the relatively wide and developed tubercle on the lateral margin of the genital capsule and the sinuate Z-like shape of the left sclerotized process (Fig. 4D ).

Known species of Phytocoris Fallén recorded from Jeff Davis County, Texas

Literature references: 1. Stonedahl (1988).

Figures

Figure 4. Phytocoris schmitzi sp. nov. A male dorsal habitus B male lateral view C male genital capsule in lateral view D endosoma E lateral view of left paramere F dorsal view of left paramere G lateral view of right paramere.