Bifidostylus agnew, 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 : 45-47

Bifidostylus agnew , new species

Figure 9, 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, infuscate membrane (pl. 4), and the slender, strongly curving endosoma with an almost medially placed gonopore and a single, very long, slender, apical spine (fig. 9, pl. 5). Most similar to B. cassisi on the basis of the elongate body form and dark antennal segment 1, but that species with a distinctly reddish cuneus and endosoma with secondary gonopore placed much nearer to apex and (therefore) with much shorter apical spines.

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Elongate, parallel sided, mean total length 4.34, mean pronotum width 1.03. COLORATION (pl. 4): General coloration dirty yellow (in preserved specimens), legs with strong reddish tinge; 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. Calli demarcated with black along posterior margin. Hemelytron with longitudinal infuscation along claval suture and most of clavus; membrane strongly 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 relatively narrow, bulging and weakly projecting anterior to eye; eye occupying twothirds height of head; antenna inserted somewhat above ventral margin of eye, eye not emarginate; antennal segment 2 long (1.14), 1.6 times width of head; labium reaching posterior margin of mesosternum. Thorax (pl. 4): Anterior margin of pronotum sinuous, lateral margin weakly concave, posterior margin nearly straight, posterior lobe only weakly elevated; calli distinct, although not conspicuously elevated; mesoscutum partially exposed; scutellum nearly flat. Hemelytron (pl. 4): Costal margin nearly straight; cuneus elongate triangular. GENITALIA (fig. 9, pl. 5): Pygophore: Broadly conical.

Endosoma: J-shaped, slender, recurved to right side in dorsal view; dorsal and ventral straps contiguous for entire length of endosoma, ventral strap minutely bifid subapically and with length subequal to ventral strap; secondary gonopore long, narrow, medially situated; length of endosoma distad of secondary gonopore approximately 3× length of gonopore. Phallotheca: Apical portion narrowly conical, aperture elongate ovoid, situated on dorsal surface; basal portion long, reaching 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, slightly projecting, long seta situated ventrad of anterior process. Right paramere elongate, slightly curved anteriorly, apex with two coplanar points, posterior point longer than anterior point.

FEMALE (pl. 4): Very elongate elliptical, costal margin of hemelytron weakly convex; total length, pronotum width. Coloration, surface, and vestiture as in male. Frons inflated and distinctly projecting anterior to eye.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the Western Australian town of Agnew , which is near the type locality; a noun in apposition.

HOST: Recorded from Eremophila spuria (pl. 39B).

DISTRIBUTION (map 4): Known only from the type locality in the Goldfields region of West ‐ ern Australia.

DISCUSSION: As is also the case in Bifidostylus cassisi , this species stands out among the majority of Australian cremnorrhinines for the nearly black antennal segment 1, a feature occurring elsewhere only some species of Dicyphylus and Proteophylus , and the reddish coloration of parts of the dorsum.

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 80.2 km W of Agnew toward Sandstone, 28.00117°S 119.9593°E, 650 m, 26 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Eremophila spuria Chinnock (Scrophulariaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5056160, 1♂ (AMNH_PBI 0 0 13 4829) (WAMP).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 80.2 km W of Agnew toward Sandstone, 28.00117°S 119.9593°E, 650 m, 26 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Eremophila spuria Chinnock (Scrophulariaceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5056160, 1♂ (00389123), 7♀ (00389125–0 0 3 89130, 00087208) (AM), 5♂ (00134832, 0 0 0 9 9383, 0 0 391052, 0 0 128499, 00134831), 13♀ (00134833–0 0 134843, 0 0 134847, 00134848) (AMNH), 2♂ (00134828, 00134830), 3♀ (00134844– 00134846) (WAMP).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 80.2 km W of Agnew toward Sandstone, 28.00117°S 119.9593°E, 650 m, 26 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Eremophila spuria Chinnock (Scrophulariaceae) , det. PERTH staff

PERTH 0 5056160,

(00389124) (AM).

1

adult

sex

unknown