Pseudosaldula aurea, Schuh & Polhemus, 2009

Schuh, RT & Polhemus, JT, 2009, Revision And Analysis Of Pseudosaldula Cobben (Insecta: Hemiptera: Saldidae): A Group With A Classic Andean Distribution, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2009 (323), pp. 1-102 : 26-27

Pseudosaldula aurea , new species Plates 1, 8E; figures 1 , 2 ; map 3

DIAGNOSIS: Usually brachypterous; recognized by the vestiture of the dorsum consisting of reclining, simple, golden, shining setae intermixed with relatively long, reclining, black setae giving a shaggy appearance in lateral view, and the dull hemelytra with only the radial vein and a portion of the embolar area polished. Similar to P. perula in type of vestiture on dorsum, but that species lacking polished posterior half radial vein and with setae on dorsum somewhat longer.

DESCRIPTION: Male: Total length 3.37, width pronotum 1.32. COLORATION (pl. 1): Hemelytron ranging from almost entirely dark, with cells of membrane at least partially—and some small areas of corium contrastingly—pale, to hemelytron largely pale with basal two-thirds of clavus and adjacent corium dark; weak pruinose areas evident in darker-colored specimens; antennal segments 1 and 2 pale to weakly darkened, segments 3 and 4 more strongly darkened; legs, including at least apical portion of coxae, largely pale. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 1): Hemelytron, including membrane, dull except radial vein and portions of embolar area polished. Vestiture of the dorsum consisting of reclining, simple, golden, shining setae intermixed with relatively long, reclining, black setae, the latter giving a shaggy appearance in lateral view; membrane veins with only a few short setae. STRUCTURE (pl. 1): Known only from brachypterous forms; body broadly ovoid. Thorax: Pronotum with lateral margins weakly to distinctly convexly rounded. Hemelytra: Membrane of forewing usually with five distinct cells in brachypterous forms. GENITALIA ( figs. 1 , 2 ): Parandria: Inner sclerotized margin smoothly rounded; posterior margin weakly curving. Parameres: Processus sensualis with,20 setae.

Female (pl. 1): Total length 4.22, width pronotum 1.58. COLORATION (pl. 1): As in male; subgenital plate entirely dark. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 1): As in male. STRUCTURE: Abdomen: See generic description. GENITALIA: See generic description.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the golden, shining setae on the dorsum, from the Latin aureus, ‘‘golden’’.

DISTRIBUTION: Tucuman Province, northern Argentina, at locations above the town of Tafi del Valle.

HABITAT DATA AND ALTITUDINAL RANGE: Known to occur at altitudes between 1550– 2015 meters. Available habitat data indicate specimens were collected on a large, permanent, densely vegetated seep and on a muddy area near the road.

DISCUSSION: This species is at present known from only very limited collections.

HOLOTYPE: ARGENTINA: Tucuman: 15 km NW of Tafi del Valle , [26.77 ° S 65.79 ° W], 2800 m, 02 Jan 1982 – 03 Jan 1982, R.T.Schuh and B. Massie, 13 ( AMNH _ ENT 00023290 ) ( AMNH).

PARATYPES: ARGENTINA: Tucuman: 15 km NW of Tafi del Valle, 26.77 ° S 65.79 ° W, 2800 m, 02 Jan 1982 – 03 Jan 1982, R.T.Schuh and B. Massie, 13 ( AMNH _ENT 00023289), 2♀ ( AMNH _ENT 00023291, AMNH _ENT 00023292) ( AMNH). 16 km W of Tafi del Valle on Rt 307, 26.7685 ° S 65.73083 ° W, 2900 m, 21 Feb 1993, R. T. Schuh and J. T. Polhemus, 13 ( AMNH _ENT 00020865), 1♀ ( AMNH _ENT 00020872) ( AMNH). 13 ( AMNH _ENT 00023288) ( IMLA). 8 km W of Tafi del Valle, 26.87 ° S 65.77 ° W, 2500 m, 03 Jan 1982, R. T. Schuh and B. M. Massie, 23 ( AMNH _ENT 00023287, AMNH _ENT 00023944) ( AMNH). 13 ( AMNH _ENT 000- 23832), 1♀ ( AMNH _ENT 00023833) ( JTPC).

Figures

Map 3. Distribution of Pseudosaldula aurea.

Fig. 1. Parandria of 14 Pseudosaldula spp. and two Saldula spp.

Fig. 2. Parameres of Pseudosaldula andensis–penai. Note: The point of insertion of many setae on the paramere cannot be seen because the paramere is heavily sclerotized and nearly opaque. Setae are therefore not drawn to show their exact distribution in many cases, but only to show their lengths and numbers. Nonetheless, the setae of the processes sensualis are drawn so as to accurately portray their number and distribution.