Slaterocoris argenteoides, Schwartz, 2011

Schwartz, Michael D., 2011, Revision And Phylogenetic Analysis Of The North American Genus Slaterocoris Wagner With New Synonymy, The Description Of Five New Species And A New Genus From Mexico, And A Review Of The Genus Scalponotatus Kelton (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2011 (354), pp. 1-290 : 123-125

Slaterocoris argenteoides , new species

Figures 12 , 27 , 28A–H , 29A–D ; plates 1 , 4C; map 5

HOLOTYPE: MALE: ‘‘ MEXICO: Puebla 2.1 mi. s. Coxcatlan [18.236136 N 97.156 W], July 10, 1981, Bogar, Schaffner and Friedlander’’ ( AMNH _ PBI 00118799 ). Holotype Slaterocoris argenteoides n. sp. det. M.D. Schwartz, 2010 [red label]. Deposited in the collection of the Instituto de Biologia , Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, D.F.

DIAGNOSIS: Slaterocoris argenteoides is distinguished from the other two species in the argenteus group by the more dorsoventrally flattened habitus, slightly more elongate costal margin of the female (pl. 1), the usually longer antennal segment II of the male (1.32, 1.21–1.43 in S. argenteoides ; 1.20, 1.13–1.40 in S. argenteus ; 1.06, 1.00– 1.10 in S. digitatus ), the occasionally infuscate trochanter, and the male genitalia. The right paramere is longer from the medial process to the apex and the apical spines are slightly twisted on the long axis of the paramere (cf. figs. 28A–H, I–L, S. argenteus , and 29K, S. digitatus ). The dorsal lobe of the endosomal spicule is longer basally and the recurved portion of the ventral lobe is longer (cf. figs. 29A–E, S. argenteus , and H, S. digitatus ). The left paramere has a more stout subdistal portion (cf. 29C–G, S. argenteus , and J, S. digitatus ). The fine, matted setae will further distinguish S. argenteoides from S. simplex and S. subalbicans , both of which share the black leg coloration and silvery white setae of the three argenteus -group species but have coarser and suberect setae. The hemelytron of S. argenteoides is also more strongly sexually dimorphic than in S. simplex (pl. 3).

DESCRIPTION: Male: Body moderately large, elongate, length 4.40–4.90, width 1.40–1.68 (pl. 1); costal margin parallel. COLORATION: Shining black, except for variable infuscate portion of coxa apically, trochanter, and femur apically. VESTITURE: Densely distributed, moderately long, adpressed or matted, apically recurved, silvery white setae (pl. 4C, fig. 27A, B). DORSAL SCULPTURATION: Frons striate, vertex, calli, and pronotal disc slightly rugose. STRUCTURE: Labium reaching middle of forecoxa; pretarsus as in figure 27C. GENITALIA: Pygophore: Short, basally broad, apically pointed, triangular tergal process, reaching middle of proctiger; process situated right of midline of genital aperture (fig. 29D). Phallotheca: Right ventral surface broadly protuberant; left Ushaped dorsal notch small (fig. 29B). Endosomal spicule: Dorsal lobe entire, marginally serrate on distal one third, distal half wider than base; ventral lobe entire, recurved distal portion about as long as basal portion; distal half expanded, marginally serrate, pointed (fig. 29A). Right paramere: Moderately elongate; arrangement of spines variable; medial spine sometimes serrate apically; with four or five short apical parallel spines bent dorsally and somewhat twisted in relation to body of paramere (fig. 28A–H). Left paramere: Shaft moderately long, in apical view, approximately of equal length to paramere body in lateral view (fig. 29C).

Female: Moderately large, ovate; length 3.70–4.30, width 1.63–1.90 (pl. 1); STRUCTURE: Costal margin moderately long, arcuate. GENITALIA: As in species group, except: Right first gonapophysis: Lateral surface small. Second gonapophyses: Anterior medial surface strongly convex. Interramal sclerite: Dorsomedial region asymmetrical, left side produced. Interramal lobe: Dorsomedial margin linear, not produced; ventral margin truncate with short projection and concave anterior surface.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for its similarity to the overall habitus of S. argenteus . From the Latin suffix, -oides, ‘‘having the form of.’’

HOSTS: The only documented host is Viguiera dentata (Asteraceae) . Otherwise the host information is restricted to Asteraceae , ‘‘ sunflower,’’ and ‘‘large yellow composite.’’

DISTRIBUTION: 344 specimens are known from 12 localities in the Sierra Madre del Sur of central Oaxaca and southern Puebla, Mexico, with collection events spanning the period from early July to early November (map 5).

DISCUSSION: Specimens retained in the CNC from Guelatao, Oaxaca, were originally identified as S. argenteus with others collected by Leonard Kelton in 1969. The more southern distribution of these specimens prompted testing to determine if they represented a range extension, as was noted for S. punctatus , another species previously known only from Durango state. Upon close examination, the Oaxaca specimens were found to belong to this new southern Mexican species.

Variation was noted in the number and size of the short, parallel apical spines and the intensity of apical serration in the medial process of the right paramere from six specimens across Oaxaca and Puebla (fig. 28A–H). Little variation was noted in the endosomal spicule and left paramere, all having the form shown in figure 29A, C.

PARATYPES: MEXICO: Oaxaca: 3.1 mi NW of Jct. 190/135, 17.352036 N 96.948416 W, 1783 m, 20 Jul 1987, R. Anderson, 18 (00118993), 1♀ (00118994) (TAMU). 4.2 mi N of Tonaltepec, 17.127746 N 96.616666 W, 21 Jul 1987, Kovarik and Schaffner, 28 (00118996–00118997), 1♀ (00118998) (TAMU). 10 mi E of Totolapan, 16.666616 N 96.14826 W, 1219 m, 20 Jul 1987, Kovarik and Schaffner, 128 (00118999–00119010), 11♀ (00118432, 00119011–00119020) (TAMU). 10 mi SE of Totolapan, 16.617746 N 96.053666 W, 2438 m, 20 Jul 1987, Kovarik and Schaffner, 28 (00118919, 00118928), 2♀ (00118934, 00118967) (AMNH), 278 (00118399, 00118903–00118918, 00118920– 00118927, 00118929–00118930), 47♀ (00118931– 00118933, 00118935–00118966, 00118968– 00118979) (TAMU). 10.7 mi NE of El Punto, 17.325266 N 96.465936 W, 19 Jul 1981, Bogar, Schaffner and Friedlander, 108 (00118431, 00118980–00118988), 4♀ (00118989– 00118992), 7♀ (00093410–00093414, 00184833– 00184834) (TAMU). Guelatao, 17.30006 N 96.483336 W, 18 Aug 1969, L.A. Kelton, Asteraceae , 68 (00111388, 00111728–00111732), 18♀ (00111389, 00111733–00111749) (CNC). Rt 175, near Guelatao, 17.317546 N 96.489976 W, 2064 m, 20 Sep 1989, E. Barrera, T.J. Henry, I.M. Kerzhner, Asteraceae , 108 (00122305, 00133801–00133809), 14♀ (00070073, 00122306, 00133834–00133845) (USNM). Puebla: 2.1 mi S of Coxcatlan, 18.236136 N 97.156 W, 10 Jul 1981, Bogar, Schaffner and Friedlander, 1♀ (00093714) (CNC), 558 (00118397, 00118775– 00118798, 00118800–00118827, 00184624– 00184625), 77♀ (00118828–00118902, 00184626– 00184627) (TAMU). 5 km NE of Zinacantepec, 18.376 N 97.216 W, 1290 m, 01 Aug 1995, T.J. Henry and E. Barrera, 2♀ (00122202– 00122203) (CNC), 118 (00122186–00122196), 5♀ (00122197–00122201) (USNM). 6 mi SW of Tehuacan, 18.38836 N 97.448366 W, 08 Jul 1981, Bogar, Schaffner and Friedlander, 18 (00118995) (TAMU). 8 km NE of Zinacantepec, 18.388336 N 97.216 W, 1440 m, 01 Aug 1995, T.J. Henry and E. Barrera, 18 (00122180) (CNC), 38 (00122183–00122185), 3♀ (00122302–00122304) (USNM). 15 km N of Tehuacan, 18.598336 N 97.4756 W, 1955 m, 16 Nov 2003, T.J. Henry and E. Barrera, Viguiera dentata , 58 (00070064–00070068), 4♀ (00070069–00070072) (USNM).

Figures

Plate 1. Dorsal habitus photographs of Josephinus species and Slaterocoris alpinus—S. croceipes (see appendix 1 for USI codes and localities).

Fig. 12. Hind leg coloration for Slaterocoris species.

Fig. 27. Slaterocoris argenteoides, scanning electron micrographs. A. Head, anterior view. B. Hemelytron, setae, dorsal view. C. Pretarsus, lateral view.

Fig. 28. Slaterocoris species, right paramere. A–H. S. argenteoides. A, B. 3.1 mi NW of Jct. 190/135, OA. C, D. 2.1 mi S of Coxcatlan, PU. E, F. 10 mi SE of Totolapan, OA. G, H. Guelatao, OA. I–L. S. argenteus. I. Encinillas, ME. J. Jilotepec, ME. K. 40 mi S of Durango, DG. L. 6 mi E of Durango, DG.

Fig. 29. Slaterocoris species, male genitalia. A–D. S. argenteoides. A–C. 3.1 mi NW of Jct. 190/135, OA. D. Guelatao, OA. E–G. S. argenteus. E, F. 40 mi S of Durango, DG. G. 6 mi E of Durango, DG. H– K. S. digtatus, Big Bend National Park, TX.