Wallabicoris helichrysi, Schuh & P. Pedraza, 2010

Schuh, R. T. & P. Pedraza, 2010, Wallabicoris, New Genus (Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Phylini) From Australia, With The Description Of 37 New Species And An Analysis Of Host Associations, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2010 (338), pp. 1-118 : 38-39

Wallabicoris helichrysi , new species Figure 13; map 3; plate 2

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the chalkwhite coloration of the body and appendages (pl. 2), the moderately large size, with a mean total length of 5.23, and the structure of the

(AMNH_PBI 00089255).

male genitalia, the secondary strap of the endosoma complete and with a broad submedial undulation and the left paramere relatively short, without an elevated shoulder on the posterior process, closed over most of the dorsal surface (fig. 13), and only weakly exceeding the margin of the pygophore in repose; phallotheca not heavily sclerotized and nearly black as in W. schwartzi . Breeds on Helichrysum sp. Smaller than the similarly colored Asteraceae-feeding W. baldersoni , W. olearii , and W. schwartzi ; similar in size to the Asteraceae-feeding W. ozothamni and the Lamiaceae-feeding W. dicrastyli ; somewhat larger than the Thymelaeaceae-feeding W. pinocchii and the Lamiaceae-feeding W. cassisi , W. lachnostachy os, W. newcastelii , W. paradicrastyli , and W. prostantheri . Potentially confused with W. rutidosi , but that species smaller, mean total length 4.87, and with a broken secondary endosomal strap.

DESCRIPTION: Male: Body moderately elongate, parallel sided, total length 5.06– 5.33, ratio l/w 5 3.27. COLORATION (pl. 2): Pronotum unicolorous pale; hemelytron mostly pale endocorium posteriorly and clavus with dirty areas; markings on cuneus absent; membrane pale basally, strongly fumose along posterior margin, veins white, extreme base pale; venter light green; antennal segment 1 unicolorous pale, with one or two black medial setae; antennal segment 2 unicolorous pale to weakly infuscate; labium pale with segment 4 heavily infuscate; hind femora with many brown or black spots; hind tibial spines dark without dark spots at bases. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: Dorsum with reclining simple setae matching background coloration, and with some sericeous or woolly setae. STRUCTURE: Head: Barely projecting, ratio wh/lh 5 4.88; antennal fossa with ventral margin 2 diameters above ventral margin of eye; interocular space moderately large, ratio iod/wh 5 0.40; eyes leaving gena broadly exposed in lateral view (hg5–14/he20); labium just reaching onto abdomen. GENITALIA (fig. 13): Endosoma: Base moderately long, with a tight U-shaped bend; distal half of shaft smoothly curving; primary endosomal strap weakly elongate apically, ratio lae/lsg 2.00; apex of primary endosomal strap weakly arcuate; secondary endosomal strap very slender, of uniform width from endosomal bend to gonopore, reaching to level of secondary gonopore, with a broad submedial undulation; secondary gonopore seen laterally in lateral view of endosoma. Phallotheca: Smoothly curving on dorsal margin; dorsal surface without a conspicuous keel. Left Paramere: Body elongate, somewhat exceeding pygophore margin; in dorsal perspective closed over about three-fourths length; body not distinctly tapering toward apex; anterior process arising slightly forward of posterior margin of shaft; anterior process directed posteriorly; posterior process appearing tubular, fingerlike; posterior process with strongly projecting shoulder at base; base of posterior process at about level of paramere body or very weakly elevated. Right Paramere: Body elongate and slender, ratio lrp/ wrp 4.19; body more or less parallel sided; posterior margin with a distinct protuberance subapically; body elevated at juncture with base; apex with a weakly elongate fingerlike process.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the host genus, Helichrysum Miller (Asteraceae) .

HOSTS: Recorded from Helichrysum sp. ( Asteraceae : Gnaphalieae ).

DISTRIBUTION (map 3): Known from a single collecting event in the Great Dividing Range in southern New South Wales.

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Mount Keira, 34.24 ° S 150.51 ° E, 15 Dec 1989, G. Cassis, Helichrysum sp. (Asteraceae) , 13 (AMNH_PBI 00089236) ( AM).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Mount Keira, 34.24 ° S 150.51 ° E, 15 Dec 1989, G. Cassis, Helichrysum sp. (Asteraceae) , 183 (00089218–00089226, 00089228– 00089230, 00089232–00089235, 00089251, 000- 89256), 3♀ (00089261, 00089263–00089264) ( AM), 163 (00089227, 00089231, 00089242– 00089250, 00089252–00089255, 00089257), 3♀ (00089262, 00089265–00089266) ( AMNH), 53 (00089237–00089241) ( UNSW).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRA- LIA: New South Wales: Mount Keira, 34.24 ° S 150.51 ° E, 15 Dec 1989, G. Cassis, Helichrysum sp. (Asteraceae) , 3 nymphs (00089258–00089260) (AM).