Bifidostylus cassisi, Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016

Randall T. Schuh & Michael D. Schwartz, 2016, Nineteen new genera and 82 new species of Cremnorrhinina from Australia, including analyses of host relationships and distributions (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylininae: Cremnorrhinini), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 401, pp. 1-279 : 47-49

Bifidostylus cassisi , new species

Figure 10, map 4, table 1, plates 4, 5

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the elongate, parallel-sided body form, black antennal segment 1 and proximal portion of segment 2, calli demarcated by darkening of the pronotum, weakly infuscate membrane (pl. 4), and the slender, and strongly curving endosoma with subapical gonopore and apical spines about the length of gonopore (fig. 10, pl. 5). Most similar to B. agnew in the elongate body form and the dark antennal segment 1, but with a distinctly reddish cuneus and endosoma with subapical secondary gonopore and shorter apical spines; in B. agnew cuneus pale, secondary gonopore near midpoint of endosoma, and apical spine very long (fig. 9).

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Elongate, parallel sided, mean total length 3.55, mean pronotum width 0.87. COLORATION (pl. 4): Background coloration pale; posterior lobe of pronotum reddish with pale longitudinal midline; calli black; mesoscutum red, scutellum reddish laterally with pale midline; hemelytron with longitudinal dirty red markings on endocorium and clavus, cuneus more obviously red except for pale base; femora strongly dirty red; antennal segment 1 black except for white apical ring, segment 2 black proximally and dirty reddish over remainder of length, segments 3 and 4 infuscate; membrane moderately infuscate. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 4): Dull to very weakly shining, appearing weakly granular; dorsum with reclining, short, dark, simple setae. STRUCTURE: Head (pl. 4): Eyes globular, vertex somewhat broad; vertex bulging and somewhat projecting anterior to eye; eye occupying two-thirds of height of head; antenna inserted just above ventral margin of eye, eye very weakly emarginate; antennal segment 2 long (1.07), 1.57 times width of head; labium reaching apex of mesocoxa. Thorax (pl. 4): Anterior margin of pronotum sinuous, lateral margin weakly concave, posterior margin nearly straight, posterior lobe nearly flat; calli distinct, although not conspicuously elevated; mesoscutum partially exposed; scutellum nearly flat. Hemelytron: Corial margin nearly straight; cuneus elongate triangular. GENITALIA (fig. 10, pl. 5): Pygophore: Broadly conical; minute medial tubercle anteriad of aperture. Endosoma: Jshaped, slender, recurved to right side in dorsal view; dorsal and ventral straps practically contiguous over entire length of endosoma, ventral strap entire distally and slightly longer than dorsal strap; secondary gonopore moderately long, narrow, subapical; endosoma distad of secondary gonopore approximately equal to length of gonopore. Phallotheca: Apical portion narrowly conical, aperture elongate ovoid, situated on dorsal surface; basal portion long, reaching beyond anterior margin of pygophore in situ. Parameres: Left paramere with dorsoposterior margin elevated above anterior and posterior processes; posterior process moderately long, slightly undulating, base slightly expanded; anterior process short, long seta situated ventrad of process. Right paramere elongate, apex with two coplanar points, posterior point longer than anterior point.

FEMALE (pl. 4): Elongate elliptical, costal margin of hemelytron weakly convex; mean total length, 3.31, mean pronotum width 0.92. Coloration, surface, and vestiture as in male. Frons strongly inflated and projecting well beyond anterior margin of eye.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for Gerasimos Cassis, in recognition of his contributions to our knowledge of the Australian Cremnorrhinina.

HOSTS: Recorded from Eremophila free ‐ lingii (pl. 37H, I), E. gilesi , and E. glabra (Scrophulariaceae) .

DISTRIBUTION (map 4): Known from southwestern Queensland, Central Australia, and the Norseman region of Western Australia.

DISCUSSION: See discussion under B. agnew .

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Queensland: 14.2 km E of Charleville , 26.42171°S 146.3756°E, 375 m, 31 Oct 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, Eremophila freelingii F. Muell. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. Royal Bot Gard. NSW NSW427507, 1♂ (AMNH_PBI 00130527) (QM).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: 71.6 km NE of Kings Canyon Resort, 23.80002°S 131.6635°E, 743 m, 0 3 Nov 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Wall, Eremophila gilesii F. Muell. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW666317, 1♀ (00389904) (AM). 184 km W of Stuart Hiway on Lasseter Hiway, 25.24417°S 131.57028°E, 510 m, 31 Oct 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Wall, Eremophila gilesii F. Muell. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. NSW staff NSW666275, 1♂ (00413019) (AM), 5♀ (00097969–0 0 0 97972, 00097146), 2♂ (00097145, 00413026) (AMNH). Queensland: 10.8 km NW of Charleville , 26.44062°S 146.1584°E, 360 m, 0 1 Nov 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, Eremophila glabra (R. Br.) Ostenf. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. Royal Bot Gard. NSW NSW427509, 2♂ (00388664, 00388665), 3♀ (00388667–00388669) (AM). 14.2 km E of Charleville , 26.42171°S 146.3756°E, 375 m, 31 Oct 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, host unknown, 5♂ (00389573, 0 0 389911– 00389914), 5♀ (00389574, 0 0 389915–00389918) Eremophila freelingii F. Muell. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. Royal Bot Gard. NSW NSW427507, 28♀ (00087269, 0 0 389693–0 0 389718, 00389720), 26♂ (00087270, 0 0 389664–0 0 389669, 0 0 389671–0 0 389673, 0 0 389675–0 0 389686, 0 0 389688–0 0 389690, 00389692) (AM), 39 ♂ (00087490, 0 0 0 87569, 0 0 130275– 0 0 130292, 0 0 130521–0 0 130526, 0 0 130528– 0 0 130537, 0 0 131421, 0 0 131422, 00413016), 38♀ (00130301–0 0 130308, 0 0 130364–0 0 130371, 0 0 130540, 0 0 130541, 0 0 130544, 0 0 130547, 0 0 130548, 0 0 130550, 0 0 130551, 0 0 131423–0 0 131426, 0 0 413017, 0 0 413018, 00130373) (AMNH), 2♂ (00130293, 00130294), 2♀ (00130372, 00130373) (ANIC), 2♂ (00130299, 00130300), 2♀ (00389721, 00389722) (CNC), 5♀ (00130542, 0 0 130543, 0 0 130545, 0 0 130546, 00130549), 4♂ (00389670, 0 0 389674, 0 0 389687, 00389691) (QM), 2♂ (00130295, 00130296), 2♀ (00130374, 00130375) (USNM), 2♂ (00130297, 00130298), 1♀ (00389719) (ZISP). 16 km W of Adavale, 25.9545°S 144.7206°E, 380 m, 0 1 Nov 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, 3♂ (00389905– 00389907), 4♀ (00389908–0 0 389910, 00389903) (AM). Western Australia: 81 km E of Norseman, 32.07347°S 122.6166°E, 600 m, 23 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, 1♂ (00414411) (AMNH).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: Queensland: 10.8 km NW of Charleville , 26.440626S 146.15846E, 360 m, 0 1 Nov 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, Eremophila glabra (R. Br.) Ostenf. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. Royal Bot Gard. NSW NSW427509, 1 nymph (00388666) (AM). 14.2 km E of Charleville , 26.42171°S 146.3756°E, 375 m, 31 Oct 1998, Schuh, Cassis, Silveira, Eremophila freelingii F. Muell. (Scrophulariaceae) , det. Royal Bot Gard. NSW NSW427507, 3 nymphs (00412259, 0 0 130538, 00130539) (AMNH).