Megalopsallus schwartzi, SCHUH, 2000

SCHUH, RANDALL T., 2000, Revision of the North American Plant Bug Genus Megalopsallus Knight, with the Description of Eight New Species from the West (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae), American Museum Novitates 3305, pp. 1-70 : 5-11

sarcobati Knight, 1969 (Europiella) schwartzi , new species

sparsus Van Duzee, 1918 (Europiella)

stitti Knight, 1968 (Europiella)

suaedae Knight, 1925 (Psallus)

teretis , new species

viridiventris Knight, 1968 (Europiella)

KEY TO MALES OF MEGALOPSALLUS KNIGHT

1. Dorsum, including head, nearly unicolorous pale, usually greenish, sometimes almost white or yellowish or pinkish; dorsum sometimes with small reddish spots or oth­ er markings on head, pronotum, and scutellum, or light brown spots at bases of setae............................. 2

– At least head, and often much of dorsum, darkened, ranging from pale reddish to nearly black..................... 15

2. Membrane marmorate; entire dorsum, venter, and appendages pale green (fig. 7); legs with some small brown spots; male genitalia as in figure 13 (San Joaquin Valley, California; host unknown).. californicus

– Membrane not marmorate; coloration of dorsum pale, sometimes greenish or pinkish ................................ 3

3. Antennal segment 1 almost entirely dark; dorsum pale green (see fig. 7, brendae )... 4

– Antennal segment 1 entirely pale; dorsum greenish or otherwise pale, although sometimes with reddish or brownish on pronotum and scutellum (see fig. 10, pallidus ) ................................ 5

4. Femora pale green with some distinct black spots (fig. 7); vertex and calli sometimes weakly infuscate; frons often with a dark transverse line at level of base of clypeus; genitalia as in figure 13 (Mojave Desert; ex Lycium , Chenopodiaceae sp.).. brendae

– Femora castaneous, usually appearing somewhat mottled (fig. 11); head and pronotum with some small red spots; genitalia as in figure 16 (Mojave Desert and south; ex Allenrolfea , Salsola , Suaeda )..... pictipes

5. Body and appendages entirely pale (see fig. 10, pallidus )...................... 6

– At least some areas not pale, e.g., medial areas of pronotum and scutellum, thoracic sternum, spots on femora, and dark bases of tibial spines (see fig. 12, sparsus ).. 7

6. Eyes white (fig. 10); larger species, total length 4.01–4.35, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.61–2.83, width across pronotum 1.09–1.19; genitalia as in figure 15 (Nevada; ex Atriplex , Grayia )................................... pallidus

– Eyes red (fig. 12); smaller species, total length 3.46–3.70, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.26–2.37, width across pronotum 0.96–1.03; genitalia as in figure 16 (Great Basin; ex Sarcobatus ) schwartzi

7. Eyes red or reddish, distinctly protuberant, especially in males (fig. 12, rubropictipes ); femora often with some reddish spots or markings........................ 8

– Eyes pale (fig. 12, sarcobati ), grayish, or blackish (fig. 12, sparsus ), never bright red or strongly protruding; femora spotted, but never with red................... 11

8. Dorsum largely pale, cream colored, pronotum (except humeral angles) and scutellum contrastingly reddish or brownish (fig. 10); genitalia as in figure 15 (southern Nevada and Utah; ex Ephedra )........ pallipes

– Dorsum unicolorous or nearly so, at most with some small red spots on head and pronotum........................ 9

9. Relatively small, slender species (fig. 7), total length 3.25–3.77, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.20–2.48, head relatively narrow, width across eyes 0.77–0.84; genitalia as in figure 13 (Interior western North America, western Great Plains south to southern Texas; ex Atriplex , Sarcobatus ).......................... atriplicis

– Larger, more robust species, total length at least 3.10, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture at least 2.27, width across eyes 0.85– 0.94........................... 10

10. Femora usually distinctly reddish, in contrast to greenish coloration of dorsum (fig. 12); males elongate, females sometimes weakly to strongly brachypterous; genitalia as in figure 16 (Saskatchewan south to New Mexico and west to Oregon; ex Atriplex , Salicornia , Suaeda )...... rubropictipes

– Femora, if reddish, usually not noticeably contrasting with remaining coloration (fig. 10); sexual dimorphism weak to nearly absent (fig. 10); genitalia as in figure 15 (Texas Gulf coast north to Colorado and Utah, coastal Sinaloa, Mexico, Dominican Republic; ex Atriplex , Batis , Salicornia , Suaeda )........................ nuperus

11. Eyes black or blackish (fig. 12); thoracic pleuron and venter and abdominal venter obviously infuscate; at least head often with dark markings, sometimes also anterior pronotal lobe and scutellum (fig. 12); genitalia as in figure 16 (Saskatchewan south to Texas and west to southern California; ex Atriplex )........... sparsus

– Eyes pale, usually white or pale gray (fig. 12, sarcobati ); head never with dark markings; at most thoracic sternum darkened, thoracic pleuron and abdomen pale; setae on dorsum sometimes with brown bases.... 12

12. Dorsum pale, nearly white, more or less uniformly covered with tiny brown spots at bases of setae on a lighter background (fig. 11); large broad­bodied, total length 3.78– 4.15, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.47–2.70, width across pronotum 1.16– 1.27; genitalia as in figure 16 (extreme western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Nevada; ex Atriplex )........ punctatus

– Dorsum, although uniformly pale, never with brown spots at bases of setae; size variable............................... 13

13. Elongate slender species, total length 3.28– 4.12, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 1.93–3.16, width of head 0.65–0.74, width across pronotum 0.91–1.00; coloration pale; ex Atriplex ................. 14

– Shorter, more robust species, total length 3.04–3.26, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.05–2.22, width of head 0.84– 0.87, width across pronotum 1.01–1.08; coloration always at least weakly greenish (fig. 12); genitalia as in figure 16 (Great Basin; ex Sarcobatus )....... sarcobati

14. Thoracic sternum infuscate; genitalia as in figure 15; total length 3.28–3.72, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.12–2.42, width of head 0.65–0.73, width across pronotum 0.91–1.00 (fig. 10) (SW Great Basin; ex Atriplex confertifolia )........................... parapunctipes

– Thoracic sternum never dark; genitalia as in figure 16; total length 2.91–4.12, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 1.93–3.16, width of head 0.73–0.74, width across pronotum 0.92–0.99 (fig. 11) (Great Basin and southern Rocky Mountains; ex Atripex)......................... punctipes

15. Membrane marmorate; dorsum usually tan with a greater or lesser amount of reddish to brown spotting; all femora strongly reddish brown (fig. 9); genitalia as in figure 15 (Arizona and adjacent areas; ex Allenrolfea , Salicornia ).......... marmoratus

– Membrane not marmorate; dorsum sometimes variably reddish brown with brown spots at bases of setae on lighter background and femora reddish (fig. 7, brittoni , femoralis )....................... 16

16. General coloration, including legs and veins of membrane, intensely and completely red or reddish (fig. 7, 8).............. 17

– General coloration variable, but never completely reddish................... 18

17. Pronotum and scutellum sometimes darker than remainder of dorsum (fig. 7); genitalia as in figure 14 (central Nevada; ex Sarcobatus baileyi )............... flammeus

– Pronotum and scutellum of same shade as remainder of dorsum (fig. 8); genitalia as in figure 14 (southern Utah to northern Baja California; ex Ephedra )....... ephedrae

18. Coloration of dorsum entirely dark, ranging from brown to black (figs. 9, 10, 12, 21, 23)............................ 19

– Coloration of dorsum never completely dark, ranging from completely pale to partly dark ............................... 22

19. Relatively large species, total length 4.51– 5.20, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.79–3.31, width across pronotum 1.15– 1.32; antennal segment 2 slender, of uniform diameter, never spindle­shaped (fig. 9); genitalia as in figure 14 (northern Great Basin; ex Sarcobatus vermiculatus ).............................. knowltoni

– Smaller species, total length in males 2.57– 3.88, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 1.74–2.46, width across pronotum 0.94– 1.16; shape of antennal segment 2 straight or spindle­shaped................. 20

20. Antennal segment 2 in males enlarged, cylindrical, but diameter at most slightly greater than diameter of segment 1 (figs. 12, 22); antennal segment 2 in females moderately to strongly spindle­shaped (figs. 12, 23); antennae and legs conspicuously reddish in most specimens; genitalia as in figure 16 (southern Nevada to Zacatecas, Mexico; ex Lycium )..................... teretis

– Antennal segment 2 cylindrical in both sexes, never spindle­shaped, diameter slightly less than that of segment 1; vesica not as in figure 16; coloration of legs and antennae sometimes reddish................ 21

21. Genitalia as in figure 15; antennal segments 1 and 2 varying from pale to reddish (fig. 10) ( Canada to central Mexico; ex Atriplex , Grayia ,)............. nigrofemoratus

– Genitalia as in figure 14; antennal segments 1 and 2 varying from pale to dark (fig. 9) (southern Nevada and California, Arizona, Baja California; ex Lycium ).. humeralis

22. Head and eyes castaneous, strongly contrasting with pale green to nearly white remain­ der of dorsum (figs. 6, 9); antennal segment 1, thoracic venter (including coxae), and much of femora also castaneous; genitalia as in figure 15 (Arizona, Mojave Desert; ex Lycium ).................. nigricaput

– If head and eyes castaneous, then remainder of dorsum never entirely pale....... 23

23. Head, pronotum, mesoscutum, sometimes part or all of scutellum, and extreme base of hemelyta ranging from pale red to castaneous, in contrast to white or pale green remainder of dorsum.............. 24

– Coloration variable, but never exactly as above, and if hemelytra mostly pale then abdomen mostly dark, or at most partially pale with at least some reddish or infuscate areas........................... 25

24. Coloration as in figure 11; abdomen pale green, strongly contrasting with castaneous thoracic pleuron and venter; genitalia as in figure 16 (Great Basin; ex Sarcobatus )........................ rubricornis

– Coloration as in figure 8; abdomen pale green, thoracic pleuron and venter pale orange; genitalia as in figure 13 (west Texas; ex Ephedra ).............. ephedrellus

25. Head, pronotum, and usually scutellum entirely castaneous to nearly black, or if not entirely so, then only posterior humeral angles of pronotum and sometimes apex of scutellum pale................... 26

– Head, pronotum, and scutellum not entirely castaneous, often largely pale....... 30

26. Dark coloration of pronotum contrasting with that of hemelytra, the latter ranging from largely pale to distinctly orange or reddish ............................... 27

– Dark coloration of pronotum usually not strongly contrasting with coloration of hemelytra; if hemelytra pale, then cuneus never reddish.................... 29

27. Head, pronotum, entire venter, and all femora deep reddish to castaneous, contrasting with pale (but not white) coloration of hemelytra (figs. 5, 9); cuneus always weakly reddish; genitalia as in figure 15 (southern Arizona, Mexico; ex Lycium )................................. nicholi

– Head, pronotum, and scutellum nearly black; hemelytra, including cuneus, deep orange to red orange.................... 28

28. Head, pronotum, and scutellum dull; femora unicolorous dark (fig. 8); tibiae infuscate; genitalia as in figure 14 (southern Nevada and Utah south to central Baja California; ex Ephedra )................ ephedrae

– Head, pronotum, and scutellum polished and moderately to strongly shining (fig. 8); femora pale at least on distal one­half; tibiae pale (southern Nevada, Utah, and California; ex Ephedra )....... froeschneri

29. Genitalia as in figure 15; antennal segments 1 and 2 usually pale, although sometimes reddish (fig. 10) ( Canada to central Mexico; ex Atriplex , Grayia , and Sarcobatus )..................... nigrofemoratus – Genitalia as in figure 14; antennal segments 1 and 2 usually dark, less commonly reddish or pale (fig. 9) (southern Nevada and California, Arizona, Baja California; ex Lycium ).................... humeralis

30. Hemelytra most frequently entirely pale, usually weakly greenish or grayish; head, anterior lobe of pronotum, mesoscutum, and more rarely hemelytra broadly dark (fig. 12); genitalia as in figure 16 (Texas to southern California; ex Atriplex )................................ sparsus

– Coloration of dorsum reddish, often spotted or mottled, never greenish or grayish 31

31. Larger species, total length 3.57–3.82, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.58–2.71, width across pronotum 1.18–1.29 (fig. 7); antennal segment 2 relatively long, length 1.04–1.16; genitalia as in figure 13 (coastal Connecticut south to Florida and east to Texas); host unknown......... brittoni

– Smaller species, total length 3.09–3.24, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.16– 2.29, width across pronotum 0.99–1.07 (fig. 7); antennal segment 2 relatively short, length 0.83–0.92; genitalia as in figure 13 (northern Rockies; ex Salicornia )............................. femoralis

Megalopsallus atriplicis Knight

Figures 7 , 13

Megalopsallus atriplicis Knight, 1927: 224 (n. sp.).

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by relatively small size, protuberant red eyes, and distinctly red spots on the head, pronotum, and femora (fig. 7). Possibly most easily confused with schwartzi and nuperus . Former species also occurring on Sarcobatus at same localities, but lacking red spots and protuberant eyes; latter species more robust, without red spots and distinctive sexual dimorphism of atriplicis . Megalopsallus femoralis , marmoratus , and pictipes frequently with red spots, but without distinctly red eyes and strong sexual dimorphism.

DESCRIPTION: Male: Small, elongate, total length 3.25–3.77, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.20–2.48, width across pronotum 0.95–1.04. COLORATION: General coloration cream to faded orange; vertex, anterior margin of pronotum, and all femora with some reddish spots (fig. 7); eyes red; thoracic pleuron and venter, all coxae, and much of abdomen in females heavily infus­ cate; tibiae pale with dark spots at bases of pale spines. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum smooth, weakly shining, clothed with recumbent, pale, simple setae intermixed with silvery, weakly flattened setae. STRUCTURE: Hemelytra moderately elongate, nearly parallel sided; eyes in males large, protuberant (fig. 7); labium reaching posterior margin of middle trochanters; claws relatively long and slender, smoothly curving; pulvilli minute. MALE GENITALIA: Vesica weakly sigmoid, slender (fig. 13), attenuated apically; gonopore small, subapical, not subtended by a gonopore sclerite (fig. 13).

Female: Total length 2.97–3.19, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.14 –2.33, width across pronotum 0.99–1.08; relatively stout, ovoid (fig. 7).

HOSTS: Atriplex matamorensis , Atriplex texana , Atriplex sp. , Sarcobatus vermiculatus , S. baileyi (Chenopodiaceae) .

DISTRIBUTION: Interior of western North America east to the western plains south to southern Texas .

DISCUSSION: In the present paper atriplicis is conceived as widespread and not strongly host specific. This approach might be revised under more critical analysis. My treatment is influenced by the fact that genitalia cannot be used to readily recognize this species, or to distinguish it from nuperus and rubropictipes , in particular. Also, nearly all material from the eastern part of the range, including the type locality, was from older collections, which made comparisons of coloration difficult. Finally, a vast section of the western plains and Rocky Mountains was virtually unrepresented in the available sample of material.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: USA. — Arizona: Coconino Co.: 1 mi E of Tuba City on Rt. 163, 5000 ft, June 16, 1983, R. T. Schuh and M. D. Schwartz, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 43, 3♀ (AMNH). California: Inyo Co. : 2 mi E of Big Pine, June 10, 1976 – June 22, 1978, J. D. Pinto, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 23, 5♀ (UCR). Mono Co.: 8 mi W of Nevada state line on Rt. 359, 6700 ft, July 2, 1983, R. T. Schuh and M. D. Schwartz, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 63, 12♀ (AMNH). Colorado: Mineral Co.: Creede, June 21, 1990, J. T. and D. A. Polhemus, 13, 2♀ (JTP). Moffat Co.: Gates of Lodore, June 28, 1979, D. A. Polhemus, 13, 1♀ (JTP). Rio Blanco Co. : W Evacuation Creek, 4 mi SE of state line on Rt. 45, 6400 ft, July 9, 1981, M. D. Schwartz, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 1♀ (AMNH). Montana: Carbon Co.: Bear Creek between Red Lodge and Belfry, 5000 ft, August 12, 1986, Schwartz and Stonedahl, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 23, 13♀ (AMNH). Nevada: Elko Co.: Elko, July 12, 1965, H. H. Knight, 23, 17♀ (USNM). Utah state line on Utah Rt. 30, 4760 ft, June 25, 1983, Schuh and Schwartz, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 43, 27♀ (AMNH). Esmeralda Co. : 13 mi W of Lida on Rt. 3, 1938 m, July 13, 1980, R. T. Schuh and G. M. Stonedahl, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 13, 1♀ (AMNH). Lander Co.: 11 mi S of Rt. 50 on Rt. 376, T17N R44E, 5800 ft, June 28, 1983, Schuh and Schwartz, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 13, 14♀ (AMNH). 7.5 mi S of Rt 50 on Rt 376, T17N R44E, 5900 ft, June 28, 1983, R. T. Schuh and M. D. Schwartz, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 1♀ (AMNH). Lincoln Co.: Cathedral Gorge State Park, June 17, 1986, J. B. Knight and K. R. Helms, 83, 1♀ (AMNH). Nye Co.: 2.5 mi NE of Gabbs off Rt. 844, 4800 ft, July 2, 1983, R. T. Schuh and M. D. Schwartz, 83 (AMNH). 30 mi S of Rt. 50 on Rt 376, T13N R14E, 6000 ft, June 30, 1983, R. T. Schuh and M. D. Schwartz, Sarcobatus vermiculatus var. baileyi (Chenopodiaceae) , 13 (AMNH). 35 mi N of Tonapah, Coyote Hole Spring/Sevier Reservoir, T8 R42E S11 & 23, 6000 ft, June 29, 1983, R. T. Schuh and M. D. Schwartz, 833 (AMNH). 35 mi N of Tonapah, Coyote Hole Spring/Sevier Reservoir, T8 R42E S11 & 23, 6000 ft, June 30, 1983, Schuh, Schwartz, Sarcobatus vermiculatus var. baileyi (Chenopodiaceae) , 13, 10♀ (AMNH). Washoe Co.: 2 mi E of Vya on Rt. 8A, 1750 m, July 2, 1979, R. T. Schuh and B. M. Massie, 23, 26♀ (AMNH). New Mexico: Eddy Co.: April 24, 1979, Burke, Dolorme, Schaffner, 53 (TAMU). Taos Co.: Ojo Caliente, June 6, 1982, D. A. and J. T. Polhemus, Atriplex sp. (Chenopodiaceae) , 23 (JTP). Oregon: Harney Co.: T41S R36E S8, July 16, 1979, M. J. Smith, N. Cobb, 1♀ (OSU). T41S R35E S5, July 6, 1979, M. J. Smith, N. Cobb, 13 (OSU). T36S R35E S8, June 26, 1979 – September 4, 1979, M. J. Smith and N. Cobb, 53, 1♀ (OSU). T34S R35E S10 NE, July 12, 1979, Neil Cobb, 1♀ (OSU). Texas: Calhoun Co.: Port Lavaca, August 19, 1925 – September 10, 1925, 73, 4♀ (USNM). Cameron Co.: Brownsville, April 17, 1925, Div. Cotton Insects, Atriplex texana (Chenopodiaceae) , 23 (USNM). Brownsville, April 25, 1926, T. C. Barber, Atriplex matamorensis (Chenopodiaceae) , Paratypes: 73, 14♀ (CNC, USNM); holotype: male (USNM). Brownsville, February 1, 1926, T. C. Barber, Atriplex matamorensis (Chenopodiaceae) , Paratypes: 73, 10♀ (USNM). Brownsville, February 15, 1925, T. C. Barber, Atriplex matamorensis (Chenopodiaceae) , Paratypes: 13 (USNM). Brownsville, June 23, 1908, 13, 3♀ (USNM); Paratypes: 63, (USNM). Brownsville, May 1, 1925, Div. Cotton Insect, Atriplex matamorensis (Chenopodiaceae) , 153, 15♀ (USNM). Utah: Box Elder Co. : S. Valed Site, August 24, 1972, W. J. Hanson, 13 (USU). Cache Co.: Logan, July 22, 1938, G. F. Knowlton, D. E. Hardy, 1♀ (USU). Emery Co.: Green River, May 21, 1963, G. F. Knowlton, 13 (USU). Garfield Co.: 14.3 S of Rt. 95 on Rt. 276 (3.4 mi N of Starr Spring turnoff), 5000 ft, June 19, 1983, Schuh and Schwartz, 103, 15♀ (AMNH). Grand Co.: E of Moab, Colorado River bridge, May 26, 1979, J. T. and D. A. Polhemus, 53, 7♀ (JTP). San Juan Co.: 25 mi N of Monticello on Rt. 191, 5700 ft, July 18, 1986, R. T. Schuh, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 2♀ (AMNH). Sevier Co.: Richfield, July 15, 1929, E. W. Davis, 73, 3♀ (USNM). Salina, July 2, 1943, G. F. Knowlton, 23 (KU). Uintah Co.: 5–10 mi SE of Bonanza, 5000–5600 ft, May 14, 1982 – September 6, 1982, M. D. Schwartz, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 113, 16♀ (AMNH). Bonanza,at White River Shale Project Trailers, T9S R24E Sec 23, 5800 ft, May 6, 1982 – July 7, 1981, M. D. Schwartz, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 73, 64♀ (AMNH). Weber Co.: Slaterville, July 12, 1967, G. F. Knowlton and L. E. Frank, 13 (OSU). Washington: Yakima Co.: Yakima, August 15, 1931, A. R. Rolfs, 113, 10♀ (USNM). Yakima, June 30, 1932, A. R. Rolfs, 103, 8♀ (USNM). Wyoming: Sheridan Co.: Arvada, July 31, 1927, H. H. Knight, Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Chenopodiaceae) , 13, 2♀ (USNM).

Megalopsallus brendae , new species

Figures 1 , 7 , 13

HOLOTYPE: Male, California: San Bernardino Co.: 1.3 mi. S of Goffs, 845 meters, May 16, 1978, R. T. Schuh, ex? Chenopodium sp. (Chenopodiaceae) . Deposited in the American Museum of Natural History.

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by generally pale greenish coloration of dorsum contrasting with dark antennal segment 1; possibly most easily confused with sarcobati on basis of pale green coloration; differing from that species in having antennal segment 1 dark and venter darkened in males. Vesica in male somewhat heavier and more nearly forming a coil than in most other Megalopsallus species (fig. 13).

DESCRIPTION: Male: Relatively small, total length 2.74–3.16, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.74–3.16, width across pronotum 0.90–1.01. COLORATION: Generally pale with a greenish tinge (fig. 7); eyes, transverse line on frons at level of base of clypeus, maxillary plate, antennal segment 1 (except base and apex), thoracic pleuron and venter, and abdomen including genital capsule brownish black; femora with dark spots, tibial spines black with dark bases. SUR­ FACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum weakly polished and moderately shining, covered with dark, recumbent, simple setae intermixed with silvery, weakly flattened setae (fig. 1C); tibial spines black with black bases. STRUCTURE: Moderately elongate and par­ allel­sided; head strongly declivent (fig. 1A); labium relatively short, reaching about midway between fore and middle trochanters; claws broad basally, curving near apex, pulvilli small (fig. 1D). MALE GENITALIA: Vesica rather strongly coiled and stout (fig. 13), not attenuated apically; gonopore well developed, weakly subapical; gonopore sclerite long, distinctly sclerotized (fig. 13).

Female: Total length 2.53–2.90, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2/53–2.90, width across pronotum 0.91–1.03; more strongly ovoid than male (fig. 7).

ETYMOLOGY: Named for my wife Brenda Massie, who accompanied me in the field while collecting specimens of this and many other species of Megalopsallus .

HOSTS: Chenopodium (?) sp. ( Chenopodiaceae ); Lycium cooperi (Solanaceae) .

DISTRIBUTION: Mojave Desert of Arizona, southern California, and southern Nevada.

DISCUSSION: Of the species I am placing in Megalopsallus , brendae probably fits most uncomfortably. The facies are not what might be called typical and neither are the genitalia. Nonetheless, the general structure and host preferences agree more closely with other Megalopsallus species than they do with species in any group of North American Phylini .

PARATYPES: USA. — Arizona: Maricopa Co. : Phoenix, Arizona Canal at McDowell Rd, April 19, 1982, D. A. and J. T. Polhemus, 43, 8♀ (JTP). California: Riverside Co.: Thousand Palms, November 24, 1955, W. R. Richards, 13, (CNC). San Bernardino Co.: 1.3 mi S of Goffs, 845 m, May 16, 1978, R. T. Schuh, Chenopodium sp. (Chenopodiaceae) , 653, 49♀ (AMNH, USNM). 26.7 mi S of Barstow, St. Rt. 247, 1000 m, May 2, 1985, R. T. Schuh and B. M. Massie, Lycium cooperi (Solanaceae) , 103, 1♀ (AMNH). Nevada: Clark Co.: Valley of Fire State Park, west entrance, 845 m, May 17, 1978, R. T. Schuh, 93, 21♀ (AMNH).

Megalopsallus brittoni Knight

Figures 7 , 13

Figures

Fig. 7. Habitus photographs of Megalopsallus spp. Note that locality data in this and subsequent figures are associated with specimens by moving from left to right, beginning in row 1 and working down the page. M. atriplicis (3: Nevada, Nye Co., 2.5 mi NE of Gabbs, Rifle Range. ♀: Texas, Cameron Co, Brownsville). M. brendae (3: California, San Bernardino Co., 1.3 mi S of Goffs. ♀: Nevada, Clark Co., west entrance to Valley of Fire State Park). M. brittoni (3 and ♀: Texas, Nueces Co, Corpus Christi). M. californicus (3 and ♀: California, Kern Co., Schafter). M. femoralis (3 and ♀: Canada, Saskatchewan, Elstow). M. flammeus (3 and ♀: Nevada, Nye Co., 35 mi N of Tonapah, Coyote Hole Spring/Sevier Reservoir).

Fig. 13. Male genitalic structures, vesicae of Megalopsallus spp. gs = gonopore sclerite.

Fig. 1. Megalopsallus brendae, male, scanning micrographs. A. Lateral view of head and thorax. B. Mesothoracic spiracle and metathoracic scent gland evaporatory area. C. Detail of setae comprising dorsal vestiture. D. Lateral view of pretarsus.