Plagiognathus phaceliae, SCHUH, 2001

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 : 192

Plagiognathus phaceliae , new species Figures 11 , 18 , 30

HOLOTYPE: Male : ‘‘[ USA] CAL[ifornia]. Riverside Co., Deep Canyon Res. Ctr., 3.2 mi. W. Palm Desert, 17 March 1979, G. C. Eickwort, Phacelia distans ’’. Deposited in the Cornell University Insect Collection, Ithaca, New York.

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the large size, pale grayish­green coloration (fig. 11), the largely pale antennal segment 1 and dark antennal segment 2 (fig. 18), the vesica with relatively short apical spines and no flange (fig. 30), and the preference for Phacelia as the host. Similar in size and coloration of the dorsum to monardellae (fig. 10), but that species with all antennal segments entirely black.

DESCRIPTION: Male: Large, elongate, rela­ tively slender; total length 4.75–5.05, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 3.19 –3.46, width across pronotum 1.03–1.40. COLOR­ ATION (fig. 11): General coloration, including most of venter and appendages, pale gray­green; membrane at most very weakly fumose, veins pale; antennal segment 1 always dark on tapered basal portion, remain­ der of segment lighter in color and with a pale apical annulus, segments 2, 3, and 4 castaneous (fig. 18); labium weakly infuscate; thoracic sternum dark; thoracic pleuron and abdominal venter variably infuscate; femora with some dark spots; dorsal tibial spines with tiny dark spots at bases; tibiae dark at femoral articulation. SURFACE AND VES­ TITURE: Dorsum weakly granular, smooth, weakly shining. Vestiture of dorsum composed of recumbent, pale, simple setae with darker suberect setae on pronotum and anterolaterally on hemelytra. STRUCTURE: Body elongate, nearly parallel­sided; frons moderately tumid as viewed from above, clypeus visible; anteocular distance 1.3 times diameter of antennal segment 1; head projecting below eye by diameter of antennal segment 1; labium long, reaching beyond hind coxae onto abdomen. GENITALIA (fig. 30): Vesica sigmoid, body relatively heavy, base falling somewhat below base of secondary gonopore; posterior apical spine short, erect, extending only moderate distance past secondary gonopore, anterior spine much longer, slender, and angled just before midpoint; no flange.

Female: Shorter and more strongly ovoid than male; coloration similar to male. Total length 4.17–4.23, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 2.92–3.01, width across pronotum 1.31–1.36.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for its occurrence on Phacelia spp.

HOST: Phacelia distans (Hydrophyllaceae) .

DISTRIBUTION: Interior deserts of southern California.

PARATYPES: USA.— California: Riverside Co. : 3.2 mi W of Palm Desert, Deep Canyon Research Center, March 17, 1979, G. C. Eickwort, Phacelia distans (Hydrophyllaceae) , 43 (AMNH, CU). 4 mi S of Palm Desert, Boyd Desert Research Center, April 7, 1963, G. Tamski, 23, 1♀ (UCR). San Di­ ego Co.: Anza­Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, April 1, 1978, D. Faulkner, 13, 1♀ (SDNH).

Figures

Fig. 11. Habitus figures of Nearctic Plagiognathus spp. (see p. 263 for localities).

Fig. 18. Antennal segments 1 and 2 of Nearctic Plagiognathus spp.

Fig. 30. Male genitalia of Nearctic Plagiognathus spp. ser = serrate.