Eurycipitia distanti Reuter 1905: 4
Caulotops rufoscutellatus Carvalho 1948: 530
Carvalho and Froeschner 1987: 148
Carvalho 1954: 424
Caulotops rufoscutellatus major Carvalho 1948: 532
Carvalho and Froeschner 1987: 48
Henry 1985: 321
Caulotops distanti Carvalho 1957: 94
Henry 1985: 321
Henry and Wheeler 1988: 265
Schuh 1995: 540
Wheeler 2001: 152
Figueroa-Castro et al. 2019: 642
Caulotops distanti major : Carvalho 1957: 94
Revision and Phylogeny of the Eccritotarsine Plant Bug Genus Caulotops Bergroth, with Descriptions of Four New Genera and 14 New Species (Hemiptera Heteroptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae) Associated with Agave (Agavoideae Asparagaceae) and Related Plant Genera
Henry, Thomas J.
Menard, Katrina L.
Zootaxa
2020
2020-05-08
4772
2
201
252
(Reuter)
Henry & Menard
2020
Reuter
[151,511,153,180]
Insecta
Miridae
Agaveocoris
Animalia
Hemiptera
18
219
Arthropoda
species
distanti
comb. nov.
( Figs. 24–28, 83–85, 124)
Eurycipitia distanti Reuter 1905: 4(original description), 1908: 155 (note); Carvalho 1952(as typeof genus in error). Caulotops rufoscutellatus Carvalho 1948: 530(original description); Carvalho and Froeschner 1987: 148( typelist). Synonymized by Carvalho 1954: 424. Caulotops rufoscutellatus major Carvalho 1948: 532(original description, n. ssp.); Carvalho and Froeschner 1987: 48( typelist). Synonymized by Henry 1985: 321. Caulotops distanti Carvalho 1957: 94(catalog), 1985: 496 (description, synonymy); Henry 1985: 321(key, note, host); Henry and Wheeler 1988: 265(catalog); Schuh 1995: 540(catalog); Wheeler 2001: 152(habits, injury); Schuh 2002–2013 (online catalog); Figueroa-Castro et al. 2019: 642(host, distribution). Caulotops distanti major: Carvalho 1957: 94(catalog).
DIAGNOSIS. Agaveocoris distanti( Figs. 24–28), as we define it, is the most variable species of the genus. It is distinguished by the head, pronotum, and legs ranging from pale yellowish brown to red or reddish orange and the hemelytra from dull brown to dark brown tinged with red and usually with a crescent-shaped red to reddish-orange mark on each corium. It can be separated from all other species by its relatively small size, the length of the second antennal segment subequal to the interocular width, the pale yellow to reddish-orange femora lacking or having only a few tiny indistinct spots, and the shape of the right paramere. This species keys to couplet 9 with A. roseus, n. sp.based on the small size, the dark hemelytra often tinged or marked with red or reddish orange, and the femora lacking distinct spots. It differs from A. roseusin lacking or having only indistinct marking on the frons and calli, and the corium usually with a distinct red or reddish-orange wedge-shaped mark and hemelytra with a bluish sheen, whereas A. roseushas the hemelytra more uniformly dark rosy red and the apex of the right paramere is more strongly turned upward.
REDESCRIPTION. Male(brown color form, figs. 24, 25): (n = 5): Length from apex of head to cuneal fracture 2.30–2.62 mm; length from apex of head to apex of membrane 3.33–3.65 mm; widest point across hemelytra 1.38– 1.62 mm. Head: Width across eyes 0.93–1.04 mm; interocular width 0.56–0.62 mm. Labium: Length 1.31–1.52 mm, extending well past hind coxae to abdominal segment III or beyond. Antenna: Segment I length 0.39–0.45 mm; II, 0.54–0.66 mm; III, 0.50–0.51 mm; IV, 0.45–0.48 mm. Pronotum: Median length 0.54–0.64 mm; posterior width 1.12–1.28 mm. Male(reddish-orange color form, fig. 27) (n = 5): Length from apex of head to cuneal fracture 2.53–2.75 mm; length from apex of head to apex of membrane 3.04–3.68 mm; widest point across hemelytra 1.50–1.60 mm. Head: Width across eyes 0.96–1.01 mm; interocular width 0.58–0.62 mm. Labium: Length 1.38–1.54 mm. Antenna: Segment I length 0.40–0.48 mm; II, 0.58–0.66 mm; III, 0.48–0.56 mm; IV, 0.35–0.48 mm. Pronotum: Median length 0.61–0.67 mm; posterior width 1.18–1.34 mm. General coloration pale grayish yellow to red or reddish orange. COLORATION. Head:yellowish to red, frons and vertex usually with only indistinct brown transverse stripes, more distinct on some specimens; clypeus and labrum dark brown. Labium: Pale yellowish brown, segment III and IV darker brown. Antenna: Segment I pale yellowish brown, with a distinct fuscous sub-basal ring; remaining segments pale brown to dark brown. Pronotum: Pale yellowish brown tinged with orange in pale forms to red or reddish orange in darker forms; calli concolorous with remainder of pronotum in pale forms to heavily infuscated in darker forms. Mesoscutumand s cutellum: Bright yellow or yellowish orange in pale forms to red in dark forms; lateral sclerites of thorax same coloration as posterior pronotum in both forms. Hemelytron: Yellowish blue-gray in pale forms to dark purple in dark forms, often with a weak bluish sheen, corium usually with a crescent-shaped red or reddish-orange mark to more broadly tinged with reddish orange to rosy red of corium; membrane clear to translucent smoky brown, veins dark brown. Ventral surface: Thorax yellowish brown to dark reddish brown, mesosternum shiny brown to dark brown; abdomen pale yellowish brown in pale forms to dark brownish or reddish orange in dark forms, margins of segments often darker brown in both color forms, apex of genital tubercle pale yellow with apex dark to uniformly dark. Legs: Coxae pale yellow to reddish orange; femora pale yellow to reddish orange, without or with only a few indistinct spots; tibiae pale yellowish brown or reddish orange; tarsomeres pale brown; claws darker brown. SURFACE AND VESTITURE. Hemelytron has weak bluish sheen; rest of surface and vestiture characters as in generic description. STRUCTURE. Interocular width greater than twice width of one eye, first antennal segment length shorter than interocular distance; length of antennal segment I approximately three fourths the length of segment II, segment II narrower than I, length of segment II less than or equal width interocular distance, antennal segments III and IV half width of segment I, individually subequal in length to segment I, apex of labium extending past meta-coxae; posterior margin weakly concave; remaining characters as in generic description. Male genitalia: Endosoma ( Fig. 83) as in generic description. Left paramere ( Fig. 84) small and C-shaped. Right paramere ( Fig. 85) elongate, shallowly L-shaped, with a short upturned apex. Female(brown color form, fig. 26) (n = 5): Length from apex of head to cuneal fracture 2.37–2.85 mm; length from apex of head to apex of membrane 3.42–3.92 mm; widest point across hemelytra 1.49–1.73 mm. Head: Width across eyes 0.99–1.10 mm; interocular width 0.59–0.66 mm. Labium: Length 1.26–1.57 mm. Antenna: Segment I length 0.42–0.45 mm; II, 0.51–0.67 mm; III, 0.48–0.54 mm; IV, 0.45–0.53 mm. Pronotum: Median length 0.54– 0.67 mm; posterior width 1.17–1.31 mm. Female (reddish-orange color form, fig. 28). (n = 5): Length from apex of head to cuneal fracture 2.64–2.76 mm; length from apex of head to apex of membrane 3.84–4.00 mm; widest point across hemelytra 1.60–1.76 mm. Head: Width across eyes 0.99–1.02 mm; interocular width 0.61–0.64 mm. Labium: Length 1.46–1.57 mm. Antenna: Segment I length 0.45–0.48 mm; II, 0.59–0.64 mm; III, 0.45–0.51 mm; IV, 0.37–0.38 mm. Pronotum: Median length 0.64–0.74 mm; posterior width 1.26–1.42 mm. Similar to male in size, shape and coloration. Genitalia as in generic description.
HOSTS.This species has been recorded from Yuccasp., Yucca giganteaLem.[as jr. synonym Yucca elephantipesRegel ex Trel] [ Agavoideae: Asparagaceae] ( Henry 1985) and Agave cupreataTrel. & Berger[ Asparagaceae] and A. viviparaL. ( Figueroa-Castro et al. 2019). From specimen data, this species has been taken on A. fourcroydesLem., A. cerulataTrel.[unknown subspp. subcerulata], A. murpheyiGibson, and A. viviparaL. [as jr. synonym Agave angustifoliaHaw.]. A long series from Colombiawas collected on Furcraeasp. [ Asparagaceae]. One specimen, taken on Opuntiasp. [ Cactaceae], clearly is an incidental record.
DISTRIBUTION.Described from Venezuelaas Eccritotarsus distanti( Reuter 1905)and as Caulotops rufoscutellatus( Carvalho 1948)and later reported from Costa Rica, Mexicoas C. rufoscutellatus major( Carvalho 1948)and Florida in the United States( Henry 1985, Henry and Wheeler 1988). New country records are Colombia, and El Salvador. New state records for Mexicoare Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, and Yucatan. New U. S.state records are Arizonaand Texas.
TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED. Holotype ♂( Caulotops rufoscutellatusCarvalho): Label 1, “Los Teques, Venez 3- 14-38, C. H. Ballou, No. 21”; 2, “on Fourcroya humboltiana”; 3, “ ♂“; 4 (red), “Typus”; 5 (red), “Type No. 59185 USNM”; 6, (handwritten), “ Caulotops rufoscutellatus n. sp., JCMCarvalho, 1948” ( USNM). Holotype ♂( Caulotops rufoscutellatus majorCarvalho): Label1, “On Agave, Merida, Yucatan, EJHambleton, 9-13-46-16924”; 2, “ ♂”; 3 (red label), “Typus”; 4 (red label), “Type No. 59186 USNM”; 5 (handwritten), “Caulo- tops rufoscutellatus major n. sp., JCMCarvalho 1948” ( USNM). OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED. COLOMBIA: Boyacá: 5♂♂, 28♀♀(3 nymphs), Tinjacá, hotel Ráquira Silvestre, ~ 4.7 kmSW de Tinjacá, 05.5485°N, 73.6772°W, 2300 m, 25–26 Oct. 2017, D. Forrero, ex Furcraeasp. ( Asparagaceae) ( PUJB). COSTA RICA: San Jose: 1 ♀, San Ignacio de Acosta, 7 June 1988, C. RodriquesG. ( USNM). EL SAL- VADOR: 16♂♂, 8♀♀, B. S. Crandall, ’48, ex henequen [ Agave fourcroya] leaf ( USNM). MEXICO: Chiapas: 8♂♂ 19♀♀, 3 mi.S La Trinitaria, 20 July 1973, Mastro& Schaffner( TAMU 691-717; 726-729). Guerrero: 48♂♂, 15♀♀, LaMinilla, Queztalpa, 14 April 2015, P. Figueroa Castro, ex Agave angustifolia( USNM). Oaxaca: 42♂♂ 51♀♀, 11.3 mi.SE Totolapan. 21 July 1974, Clark, Murray, Ashe, Schaffner( TAMU 537-579; 609-660; 718-721); 1♂♂, 2.7 mi.NW El Cameron, 21-22 July 1974, Clark, Murray, Ashe, Schaffner( TAMU 580); 27♂♂ 26♀♀, 2♂♂+ ♀in copula, 14 mi.N Miahuatlan, 16 July 1974, Clark, Murray, Ashe, Schaffner( TAMU 581-608; 661-687; 689-690; 722-25); 1♀, Mortega, El Cameron, 22 July 1976, Opuntiasp.( TAMU 688). San Luis Potosi: 1♂, Valles, 18 Jan. 1909, brush land ( TAMU 004). Puebla: 14♂♂ 18♀♀, 10.5 miE Azumbilla, 15 Apr. 1979, T. P. Friedlander& J. C. Schaffner( TAMU 422-453). Tamaulipas: 1♀, 7 milesS of Antiguo Morelos, 18 Mar. 1975, Clark& Schaffner( TAMU 023). Yucatan: 1♀, Merida, Yucatan, E. J. Hambleton 13 Aug. 1946, on Agave( USNM); 6♂♂ 11♀, 1♂♂+ ♀in copula, 19.5 miN Uxmal, 1 Aug. 1980 Schaffner, Weaver, Friedlander, ( TAMU 005-022). UNITED STATES: Arizona: Pima Co.: 3 ♂♂, 33♀♀, Sonora Desert Museum, 16 May 1990, W. A. Jones, ex Agave cerulata subcerulataand Agave murpheyi USNM); 8♂♂, 12♀♀, Pima Co., Sonora Desert Museum, 4 Oct. 1990, W. A. Jones, breeding on Agave murpheyiGibson( USNM). Florida: 5♂♂, 10♀♀, Orange Co., Apopka, 9 Aug.1984, P. G. Gibson, ex Yucca elephantipes[a jr. synonym of Y. giganteaLem.]( USNM). Texas: 4♂♂, 5♀♀, Cameron Co., Brownsville, 19 Oct. 1944, ex Yuccasp. ( USNM). VENEZUELA: Aragua: 1 ♀, ElLimon, 450 m, 24 May 1982, on Agavaceae( USNM).
DISCUSSION. Agaveocoris distantiis the most widespread and variable of all the species in the genus. It has multiple color forms across the Neotropics and into the southern United Statesthat share similar body sizes and structures and indistinguishable genitalia, particularly the shape of the right paramere, but are highly variable in color. While most species of the genus seem to be restricted to one or two host species, A. distantifeeds on many different species, including two species of Yucca. The original description of A. distanti( Reuter 1905)described this species as being primarily pale, but we have found populations that contain both pale specimens and darker specimens with the head and pronotum red and reddish orange, and hemelytra often with bluish sheen. The junior synonym C. rufoscutellatus majorconforms to the paler color forms and C. rufoscutellatusrepresents the distinctive red to reddish-orange color form. This species would benefit from a molecular DNA analysis to verify species limits in light of the many color variations we now consider belonging to one species.
2611439359
USNM
C. H. Ballou
19
220
2
2
holotype
2611439431
USNM
Label
Merida, Yucatan
19
220
2
2
Merida, Yucatan
holotype
2611439337
2017-10-25
2017-10-26
2017-10-25
PUJB
D. Forrero
Colombia
2300
5.5485
Raquira Silvestre
7
-73.6772
Tinjaca
19
220
33
28
5
Boyaca
2611439450
[286,1322,1376,1403]
1988-06-07
USNM
C. Rodriques
Costa Rica
San Ignacio de Acosta
19
220
1
1
San Jose
2611439312
[264,1128,1412,1439]
USNM
Crandall
Costa Rica
19
220
24
8
16
San Jose
2611439325
1973-07-20
TAMU
Mastro & Schaffner
Mexico
3 mi. S La Trinitaria
19
220
TAMU 691-717
27
19
8
Chiapas
2611439424
2015-04-14
USNM
P. Figueroa Castro
Mexico
Queztalpa
La
19
220
63
15
48
Guerrero
2611439439
1974-07-21
TAMU
Clark & Murray & Ashe & Schaffner
Mexico
11.3 mi. SE Totolapan.
19
220
TAMU 537-579
93
51
42
Oaxaca
2611439405
1974-07-21
1974-07-22
1974-07-21
TAMU
Clark & Murray & Ashe & Schaffner
Mexico
2.7 mi. NW El Cameron
19
220
TAMU 580
1
1
Oaxaca
2611439430
1974-07-16
TAMU
Clark & Murray & Ashe & Schaffner
Mexico
14 mi. N Miahuatlan
19
220
TAMU 581-608
1
1
Oaxaca
2611439408
1976-07-22
TAMU
Mexico
El Cameron
Mortega
19
220
TAMU 688
1
1
Oaxaca
2611439413
1909-01-18
TAMU
Mexico
Valles
19
220
TAMU 004
1
1
San Luis Potosi
2611439386
1979-04-15
TAMU
T. P. Friedlander & J. C. Schaffner
Mexico
10.5 mi E Azumbilla
19
220
TAMU 422-453
32
18
14
Puebla
2611439361
[265,1320,1700,1728]
1975-03-18
TAMU
Clark & Schaffner
Mexico
7 miles S of Antiguo
19
220
TAMU 023
1
1
Tamaulipas
2611439314
1946-08-13
USNM
E. J. Hambleton
Mexico
Merida
19
220
1
1
Yucatan
2611439392
1980-08-01
TAMU
Schaffner & Weaver & Friedlander
Mexico
19.5 mi N Uxmal
19
220
TAMU 005-022
1
1
Yucatan
2611439396
[957,1406,1772,1799]
Pima Co
United States of America
Arizona
19
220
1
Arizona
2611439317
1990-05-16
USNM
W. A. Jones
United States of America
Sonora Desert Museum
19
220
36
33
3
Arizona
2611439345
1990-10-04
USNM
W. A. Jones
United States of America
Pima Co.
Sonora Desert Museum
19
220
20
12
8
Arizona
2611439401
1984-08-09
USNM
P. G. Gibson
United States of America
Orange Co.
Apopka
19
220
15
10
5
Florida
2611439351
1944-10-19
USNM
United States of America
Cameron Co.
Brownsville
19
220
9
5
4
Texas
2611439372
[263,1229,1952,1979]
1982-05-24
USNM
Venezuela
450
El
19
220
1
1
Aragua