Pulvillophylus, 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 : 173-175

Pulvillophylus , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Pulvillophylus cuneotinctus , new species.

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by moderately to very strongly projecting face, relatively large size of most known taxa, and frequent occurrence of erect, black, spinelike setae on anterior lobe of pronotum; coloration variable, ranging from almost completely dark to large ‐ ly pale with some red markings (pl. 26); endosoma relatively short and stout, weakly sigmoid to C-shaped, with apical spine originating from ventral strap, either bifid or hooked (pl. 27). Most easily confused with Halophylus , both in similarity of appearance of some species, in structure of endosoma, particularly superficial form of apical spines, and females with medially prominent subgenital plate, but Pulvillophylus with single apical spine derived from ventral strap, secondary gonopore large and dorsally placed, face usually much longer, and rarely with woolly sericeous setae of type seen in Halophylus and Lepidophylus ; Halophylus with two apical endosomal spines (pl. 17), one derived from each endosomal strap. Secondary gonopore of Proteophylus grevilleae similar in placement and size to Pulvillophylus spp., but in P. grevilleae apical rim of secondary gonopore with small extension (fig. 72, pl. 25) and antennal segment 2 terete (pl. 24). Dorsum in Lepidophylus uniformly covered with lepidote setae and small, dark spots.

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Total length 3.29–6.35, pronotum width 0.97–1.67. COLORATION (pl. 26): Overall coloration from mostly pale with reddish markings, including appendages, to mostly brown; coloration of antennae and legs similar to coloration of dorsum. SUR- FACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 26): Body surface with reclining common setae; pronotum frequently with some erect spinelike setae. STRUCTURE (pl. 26): Body form ranging from ovoid to greatly elongate and nearly parallel sided. Head: Head ranging from relatively broad with frons projecting beyond eye about length of eye to greatly elongate, flattened dorsoventrally, and clypeus exceeding eye by at least 2.5 times length of eye; eye sometimes semicircular and situated laterally on head and not overlapping pronotum, or eyes more nearly reniform with posterior margin in broader contact with anterior margin of pronotum. Antenna: Segment 1 weakly to greatly elongate, often exceeding clypeus by half the length of segment, segment 2 long, more or less parallel sided, segments 3 and 4 more slender than preceding two segments. Thorax: Pronotum weakly to distinctly campanulate, posterior lobe nearly flat to weakly elevated, posterior margin straight. Hemelytron: Costal margin sometimes weakly convex and body form elongate ovoid, or costal margin more nearly straight and species more almost parallel sided. GENITALIA (figs. 76–80, pl. 27): Pygophore: Conical; posterior surface somewhat truncate; without surface tubercles or clumps of bristles. Endosoma: Relatively short and stout, sigmoid or C-shaped; ventral strap forming region distad of secondary gonopore, bent to left, of variable length and usually twisted and with one apical spine, usually hooklike or bifid; rarely with subapical field of spicules on ventral surface distad of secondary gonopore; dorsal strap terminating proximad of, and forming notch around, base of secondary gonopore; secondary gonopore occupying dorsal margin, subapical, well sclerotized, relatively large and open. Phallotheca: Apical portion broadly conical with distal one-half variously attenuate or short and relatively stout; dorsal surface without crest, sometimes dorsal edge of aperture raised; aperture situated on anterior or anteroventral surface, margins variable, usually long and narrow, sometimes large, ovoid; basal portion short, reaching equal to anterior margin of pygophore in situ. Parameres: Left paramere typically phyline, posterior margin swollen medially in dorsal and lateral view, length moderate, apically straight or slightly deflected; anterior process short, usually narrowed apically; prominent seta on apex or on apicolateral surface of process. Right paramere of moderate size, broadly fusiform, with small, pointed, medially situated terminal spine.

FEMALE: Where known coloration and structure similar to male; total length 3.74–6.43, pronotum width 1.01–1.31. GENI- TALIA (pl. 53): Subgenital plate of sternite 6: With posteriorly directed medial projection. Vestibular sclerites: Medium size, not attaining anterior edge of dorsal labiate plate. First gonapophyses: Relatively small basal blocks. Ventral labiate plate: Platelike medial anteroventral extension short, tilted to left side, covering anterior surface of basal structures. Dorsal labiate plate: Medium size, short longitudinally. Sclerotized rings: Large, subovoid, relatively flat, very thick walled; dorsal labiate plate ventrad of rings strongly spiculate. Posteromedial region: Surface without conspicuous microstructure. Anterolateral region: Anterior margin extending slightly beyond anterior edge of sclerotized rings. Posterior wall: Intersegmental structure: Narrow, bilobed, tuberclelike, apically pointed; transverse outpocket projecting anteriorly from ventral surface of connecting membrane. Interramal sclerites: Strongly sclerotized, lateral sclerites widest laterad, narrow medially with jagged margins, medial sclerite bell shaped.

ETYMOLOGY: From the Latin pulvillus, “small cushion or pillow,” in reference to the distinctive nature of the pretarsal structures, and the generic name Phylus ; masculine.

DISCUSSION: The C-shaped contour of the endosoma in Pulvillophylus spp. is apparent in lateral view, but in dorsal view the short region distad of the secondary gonopore is clearly bent to the left, revealing the sigmoid conformation of the endosoma in most species we place in this genus.

Although we have no confirmed host associations for any of the species we place in Pulvillophylus , we have examined a single female specimen collected on Calytrix brevifolia (Myrtaceae) (pl. 34C) in the Kalbarri National Park (plate 26; AMNH_PBI 00090783) that shares features of coloration, head shape, and body form reminiscent of P. angustus . Even though the genitalic morphology of the group is most similar to that seen in the halophyte-feeding genus Halophylus , this single female suggests a possible association with the Myrtaceae . The reddish coloration of this species as well as P. cuneotinctus and P. rubritinctus suggest an association with plant taxa with red flowers, whereas the somber coloration of P. croninensis and P. rossi , as also seen in Halophylus tecticornii , suggests a more likely association with chenopods such as Tecticornia . Only through further collecting will the answer to this question become apparent.