Plagiognathus vitellinus (Scholtz)

SCHUH, RANDALL T., 2001, Revision Of New World Plagiognathus Fieber, With Comments On The Palearctic Fauna And The Description Of A New Genus (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2001 (266), pp. 1-267 : 243

Plagiognathus vitellinus (Scholtz) ,

revised combination Figures 14 , 19 , 33

Capsus vitellinus Scholtz, 1847: 130 (n. sp.).

Psallus vitellinus: Fieber, 1861: 307 (n. comb.).

Plagiognathus Parapsallus vitellinus: Wagner, 1952: 187 (n. comb.).

Parapsallus vitellinus: Kerzhner and Josifov, 1999: 385 (cat.).

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by relatively small size with average total length 3.26, uniform orange coloration (fig. 14) of dorsum, pale coloration of antennal segment 1, narrow dark band at base of antennal segment 2 with remainder of segment pale (fig. 19), and generally pale coloration of legs, the femora with some weak dark blotches and tibial spines with distinct, although not particularly large, dark spots at bases. Distinguished from delicatus (fig. 7) and lighter colored cornicola (fig. 7) specimens by pale coloration of antennal segment 1. Distinguished from viticola (fig. 14) by uniformly orange coloration of dorsum and black spots at bases of tibial spines.

Male: Total length 2.86–3.50, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.03–2.34, width across pronotum 0.92–1.15. GENITALIA (fig. 33): Body of vesica relatively broad on basal one­half, more slender distally; poste­ rior apical spine much longer than anterior, strongly bent subapically, spines more or less parallel just distad of secondary gonopore and at more or less right angles to body of vesica; flange apparently not developed.

Female: Total length 3.04–3.30, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.16–2.27, width across pronotum 1.02–1.14.

HOSTS: Many records from Picea spp. (Pinaceae) in North America indicate that this is the preferred breeding host. Also recorded from other pinaceous genera, but possibly not breeding there. Nonpinaceous occurrences certainly do not represent breeding records.

DISTRIBUTION: Widely distributed in the Palearctic. Introduced into northeastern North America, where it is known from Maine west to Iowa and south to Virginia and Maryland.

DISCUSSION: This taxon was first recorded from North America by Henry and Wheeler (1973), who documented its widespread occurrence in Pennsylvania, with Picea spp. most frequently serving as the host. Wheeler and Henry (1992) confirmed a wider distribution for the taxon extending its range from Maine to Virginia. Henry and Wheeler (1973) noted that vitellinus was probably introduced on nursery stock. The earliest known collection in North America, based on specimens I have examined, is 1972.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: USA.— Delaware: Kent Co.: Dover, May 28, 1984, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 23, 3♀ (PDA). Iowa: Linn Co.: Cedar Rapids, May 31, 1994, J. C. Schaffner, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 123, 12♀ (TAMU). Warren Co.: 3 mi NE of Hartford, June 3, 1994, J. C. Schaffner, Gleditsia triacanthos (Fabaceae) , 63, 3♀ (TAMU). Maryland: Washington Co.: Hagerstown, May 23, 1986, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 33 (PDA). New Jersey: Cumberland Co.: Vineland, May 29, 1979, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 23, 5♀ (PDA). Ocean Co.: Lakehurst, June 15, 1980, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). New York: Nassau Co.: East Meadow near Rt 25 on Bluebird Drive, May 28, 1986, M. D. Schwartz, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 33, 6♀ (AMNH). Roslyn, Fine Arts Museum and Gardens on Rt 25A, June 13, 1986, M. D. Schwartz, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 33, 4♀ (AMNH). Rockland Co.: Nyack, Memorial Park, June 12, 1988, M. D. Schwartz, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 123, 10♀ (AMNH). South Nyack, Ross Avenue, June 18, 1988, M. D. Schwartz, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 43, 8♀ (AMNH). Suffolk Co.: East Quogue, Quogue Wildlife Refuge, July 19, 1988, M. D. Schwartz, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 2♀ (AMNH). Pennsylvania: Blair Co.: Altoona, Fanella’s Nursery, July 17, 1973, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Pseudotsuga sp. (Pinaceae) , 2♀ (PDA). Newry, June 5, 1978, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Bucks Co.: Jamison, 5 Spruce Farm, June 7, 1973, J. F. Stimmel, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 2♀ (PDA). Cambria Co. : Ebensburg, May 12, 1976, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea pungens (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Centre Co.: State College, June 10, 1973, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea rubens (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Chester Co.: Unionville, July 1, 1987, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 13 (PDA). Unionville, June 1, 1987, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea pungens (Pinaceae) , 3♀ (PDA). Crawford Co.: Blooming Valley, Blooming Valley Nursery, July 12, 1972, F. Negley, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 13, 1♀ (PDA). Cumberland Co.: Camp Hill, West Shore C.C., May 8, 1974, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., 2♀ (PDA). Camp Hill, West Shore C.C., May 8, 1974, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Pseudotsuga sp. (Pinaceae) , 23 (PDA). Conifer Hills, June 21, 1973, B. Stinner, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Dauphin Co.: Harrisburg, East Harrisburg Cemetery, June 4, 1973, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 33, 5♀ (PDA). Harrisburg, East Harrisburg Cemetery, May 22, 1977, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Larix decidua (Pinaceae) , 23 (PDA). Harrisburg, May 30, 1973, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Pseudotsuga taxifolia (Pinaceae) , 4♀ (PDA). Hershey, June 8, 1975, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Pseudostuga menziesii (Pinaceae) , 33, 3♀ (PDA). Erie Co.: Erie, Johnston’s Nursery, July 25, 1978, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). Fairview, Black Hills, July 11, 1972, F. Negley, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 13 (PDA). Indiana Co.: Indiana, Oakland Cemetery, June 15, 1973, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 23, 3♀ (PDA). Strongstown, Carino’s Nursery, July 7, 1972, Picea sp. (Pinaceae) , 3♀ (PDA). Lancaster Co.: Lancaster, Huber’s Nursery, June 13, 1973, W. Blosser, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 13, 1♀ (PDA). Lebanon Co.: Rt 22 at I­81 exit (Rt 934), June 24, 1974, T. J. Henry, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 13 (PDA). Montgomery Co.: Merion Station, Barnes Arboretum, June 2, 1982, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 63, 2♀ (PDA). Near Dresher, Mfg. Golf Club, May 24, 1973, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Larix decidua (Pinaceae) , 13, 1♀ (PDA). Philadelphia, Forest Hills Cemetery, June 7, 1973, J. F. Stimmel, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 13, 2♀ (PDA). Washington Co.: Burgettstown, Iannetti’s Nursery, June 5, 1973, D. Trelka, Picea pungens (Pinaceae) , 23, 11♀ (PDA). McMurray, June 9, 1973, D. Trelka, Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). N of Washington, Eberley’s Nursery, June 6, 1973, D. Trelka, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 13, 6♀ (PDA). S of West Finley, June 11, 1973, D. Trelka, Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 13 (PDA). Virginia: Montgomery Co.: Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Inst., June 3, 1989, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea glauca (Pinaceae) , 33, 8♀ (USNM). Roanoke Co.: Hollins, Hollins College, May 5, 1985, A. G. Wheeler, Jr., Picea abies (Pinaceae) , 1♀ (PDA). West Virginia: Berkeley Co.: No specific locality, May 27, 1981, T. L. Mason, 23, 1♀ (PDA).

Figures

Fig. 14. Habitus figures of Nearctic Plagiognathus spp. (see p. 264 for localities).

Fig. 19. Antennal segments 1 and 2 of Nearctic Plagiognathus spp.

Fig. 33. Male genitalia of Nearctic Plagiognathus spp.