Asterophylus rutidosis, 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 : 37-38

Asterophylus rutidosis , new species

Figure 5, map 2, table 1, plates 2, 41A, C–F

DIAGNOSIS: Among Asterophylus species recognized by apparent absence of secondary gonopore (fig. 4, pl. 2) and absence of serration on membranal surface of endosomal straps distad of gonopore; membrane of hemelytron broadly infuscate in contrast to A. chrysocephali (pl. 2).

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Total length 2.50–3.82, pronotum width 0.76–0.90. COLORATION (pl. 2): Pale, nearly white, except for small brownish spots; membrane broadly infuscate. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (pl. 2) Body surface smooth, dull. STRUCTURE: Head (pl. 2): Frons very weakly swollen and only slightly projecting anterior to eyes in dorsal view; eyes occupying just under two-thirds height of head; antennal segment 2 moderately long (0.92), 1.4 times width of head; labium reaching to apex of mesocoxa. Thorax: As in generic description. Hemelytron: As in generic description. GENITALIA (fig. 4, pl. 2): Pygophore: With a few pale bristles left and right of aperture. Endosoma: Sigmoid, distal one-half moderately bent to left; secondary gonopore apparently absent; dorsal and ventral straps of equal length, merging terminally at pointed apex. Phallotheca: As in generic description. Parameres: As in generic description.

FEMALE (pl. 2): Elongate to broadly ovoid when submacropterous, sometimes strongly brachypterous and lacking membrane, leaving apex of abdomen exposed; total length 2.22–3.19, pronotum width 0.76–0.91. Coloration as in male. Eyes smaller than in male, frons weakly to moderately swollen, weakly to distinctly projecting anterior to eyes. GENITALIA as in plate 41A, C–F.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the asteraceous genus Rutidosis , one of the known hosts.

HOSTS: Recorded from Chrysocephalum puteale (pl. 31B), Ixiolaena leptolepis , and Rutidosis helichrysoides (pl. 31D) ( Asteraceae ).

DISTRIBUTION (map 2): Known from the Alice Springs area of central Australia, South Australia, and the Gold Fields region of West ‐ ern Australia.

DISCUSSION: Although this taxon shows substantial variation in size and degree of alary sexual dimorphism, the consistent structure of the male genitalia suggests that a single taxon is involved.

HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: ~44 km W of Stuart Hiway on Ernest Giles Rd, 24.56668°S 132.6815°E, 494 m, 30 Oct 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Wall, Rutidosis helichrysoides DC. ( Asteraceae ), det. NSW staff NSW666245, 1♂ (AMNH_PBI 00098376) (MNT).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: 21 km W of Stuart Hiway on Ernest Giles Rd, 24.56668°S 132.8539°E, 471 m, 29 Oct 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Wall, Rutidosis helichrysoides DC. ( Asteraceae ), det. NSW staff NSW658415, 1♂ (00098300), 4♀ (00098301–00098304) (AMNH). ~44 km W of Stuart Hiway on Ernest Giles Rd, 24.56668°S 132.6815°E, 494 m, 30 Oct 2001, Cassis, Schuh, Schwartz, Silveira, Wall, Rutidosis helichrysoides DC. ( Asteraceae ), det. NSW staff NSW666245, 19♂ (00098369–0 0 0 98375, 0 0 0 98377–0 0 0 98386, 0 0 0 97157, 00391085), 34♀ (00098391–0 0 0 98397, 0 0 0 98404–0 0 0 98429, 00097158) (AM), 3♀ (00098403, 0 0 0 98400, 00098401), 2♂ (00098389, 00098390) (AMNH), 2♂ (00098387, 00098388), 2♀ (00098398, 00098399) (MNT). South Australia: Maralinga Village, 30.158°S 131.579°E, Aug 1956 – Oct 1956, F.L. Hill, 2♂ (00173977, 00173978) (BMNH). Witchelina Nature Reserve, ap. 40 km NW of Lyndhurst, 30.01028°S 137.77611°E, 209 m, 13 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, host undetermined, Cassis Lab, UNSW – Bush Blitz, 1♂ (00414497) (UNSW). Witchelina Nature Reserve, ap. 40 km NW of Lyndhurst, 29.9768°S 138.08716°E, 149 m, 11 Oct 2010, A. Namyatova, 1♂ (00414496), host undetermined, Cassis Lab, UNSW – Bush Blitz, 1♀ (00414498) (UNSW). Western Australia: 49.1 km N of Norseman, 30.32116°S 121.2851°E, 600 m, 24 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Chrysocephalum puteale (S.Moore) Paul G. Wilson (Asteraceae) , det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5056500, 3♂ (00388763– 00388765), 14♀ (00388766–00388779) (WAMP). 53.9 km N of Kalgoorlie , 30.28882°S 121.2558°E, 600 m, 24 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Ixiolaena leptolepis (DC.) Benth. ( Asteraceae ), det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5099927, 13♂ (00389339– 0 0 389349, 0 0 0 87204, 00087464), 21♀ (00389351– 0 0 389370, 00087205) (AM), 4♂ (00135656– 0 0 135658, 00135655), 15♀ (00135661–00135675). Host unknown, 2♀ (00412910, 00412911) (AMNH).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 53.9 km N of Kalgoorlie , 30.28882°S 121.2558°E, 600 m, 24 Oct 1996, Schuh and Cassis, Ixiolaena leptolepis (DC.) Benth. ( Asteraceae ), det. PERTH staff PERTH 0 5099927, 1 nymph (00389350) (AM), 2 nymphs (00135659, 00135660) (AMNH).