Solenoxyphus Reuter, 1875

Konstantinov, Fedor V., 2008, Review of Solenoxyphus Reuter, 1875 (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae), American Museum Novitates 3607 (1), pp. 1-44 : 3-4

Solenoxyphus Reuter, 1875

Solenoxyphus Reuter, 1875: 93 . Type species by monotypy: Macrocoleus lepidus Puton, 1874 .

Malthacosoma Reuter, 1879: 253–254 (syn. by Carapezza, 1997: 166). Type species by monotypy: Malthacosoma punctipenne Reuter, 1879 .

Leucopterum Reuter, 1879: 259 , n. syn. Type species by subsequent designation ( Kirkaldy, 1906: 126): Leucopterum fasciatum Reuter, 1879 (5 Leucopterum candidatum Reuter, 1879 ).

DIAGNOSIS: Distinguished by the shape of the vesica with apex abruptly narrowed just beyond secondary gonopore, forming weakly sclerotized step-shaped projection; apical process thin and more or less straight, with slightly curved apex; area adjacent to secondary gonopore remarkably dentate. Tarsal apices and claws darkened.

Solenoxyphus spp. are most similar in color pattern, measurements, and vestiture to Compsidolon Reuter, 1899 , Compsonannus Reuter, 1902 , Taeniophorus Linnavuori, 1952 , Camptotylidea Wagner, 1957 , and Psallopsis Reuter, 1901 . Representatives of the last genus differ from Solenoxyphus in the maculate pattern of the membrane, small pulvilli, and structure of the vesica. Compsonannus differs from Solenoxyphus in the maculate second antennal segment, structure of the vesica, and characteristic mottling on the membrane, similar to that of Psallopsis . In contrast to Solenoxyphus , the dorsal surface in Compsidolon is covered with spots in addition to dots, and the secondary gonopore is located far from the apex of vesica. The dotting of the dorsal surface in Solenoxyphus somewhat resembles that of the monotypic genus Taeniophorus and some species of Camptotylidea , e.g., C. alba ( Reuter, 1879) and C. albovittata (Reuter, 1903) . However, these taxa differ from Solenoxyphus in the remarkably long pulvilli, extending almost to the apex of the claw, the structure of the vesica, and association with various Fabaceae host plants.

DESCRIPTION: VESTITURE: Body with simple silver setae (fig. 52), dorsal surface in some species partly covered with pale brown setae. Setae straight or somewhat curved, usually adpressed but sometimes semierect. Genae under eyes and coxae laterally with contrastingly long and erect silver setae.

STRUCTURE: Elongate or elongate-oval, small bugs (1.7–5.0 mm). Males more or less parallel-sided, females smaller and more stumpy. Head (fig. 51) wider than high, declivent, weakly projecting beyond eyes. Clypeus prominent, but usually not visible in dorsal view. Antennae thin; length of second segment usually subequal to width of pronotum in males and subequal to width of head in females, sometimes segment much shorter. Labium of variable length, reaching from middle coxae to seventh abdominal segment, apically darkened. Pronotum transverse, usually 2.0–2.3 X as wide as long, with indistinct calli. Metathoracic scent-gland evaporatory area as in figs. 53, 54. Forewings usually well developed, only females of S. anabasius and S. nanophyti with shortened forewings.

MALE GENITALIA: Genital segment and parameres of typical structure. Right paramere (figs. 24, 35, 42) small, spoon-shaped, strongly flattened, with indistinct apical process. Left paramere (figs. 25, 36, 43) strongly excavated, with well-developed apical process and sensory lobe. Vesica S-shaped, with abrupt steplike narrowing at apex. Secondary gonopore with well-developed sculpture, remarkable series of teeth laterally in all species, except S. anabasius (figs. 40, 41), and dentate area proximally; number of denticles varying within a species. Apical process of vesica thin and pointed, rarely blunt and covered with minute spinules. Vesica usually with more or less developed longitudinal flange (figs. 22, 23) running from base toward secondary gonopore. Tarsi thin, second and third tarsal segments subequal in length (figs. 45–50). Claws slender, weakly curving apically (figs. 26–29). Pulvillus relatively small, reaching half the length of claw.

COLORATION: Background body color naturally greenish; yellowish, greenish or whitish, rarely ( S. asanovae ) in part embrowned in dry specimens. Head and antennae entirely pale, only in S. asanovae first antennal segment and ventral side of head darkened. Pronotum and scutellum uniformly pale, rarely covered with brown to pale brown dotting. Thorax pale, rarely partly embrowned, brown in the darkest specimens of S. asanovae . Color pattern of forewings usually composed of more or less regular pale brown to brown dotting. In S. candidatus , this dotting absent, forewings with transverse pale brown band at apex of corium. Membrane rarely whitish, milky hyaline, usually more or less embrowned, often with pale brown wedge-shaped lateral spot behind apex of cuneus. Femora usually pale, rarely partly embrowned, often covered with dots. Tibiae pale, with minute dark dots at bases of spines. Tibial spines pale or slightly embrowned.

HOST PLANTS: Species of the genus inhabit deserts and semideserts. Nearly all representatives are specialized feeders of Chenopodiaceae . Only S. alkani was collected from Cousinia sp. (Asteraceae) . Artemisia sp. (Asteraceae) was reported as host plant for S. artemisiae , S. candidates , and S. lepidus , although plants of the family Chenopodiaceae are known as hosts for all three species. It seems likely, therefore, that specimens found on Artemisia were accidentally collected.