Parthenicus psalliodes Reuter

HENRY, THOMAS J., 2007, Synopsis of the Eastern North American Species of the Plant Bug Genus Parthenicus, with Descriptions of Three New Species and a Revised Key (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae), American Museum Novitates 3593, pp. 1-32 : 13-14

Parthenicus psalliodes Reuter figures 7, 8 , 28–30

Parthenicus psalliodes Reuter, 1876: 85 (n.sp.); Uhler, 1886: 20 (list); Atkinson, 1890: 135 (cat.); Van Duzee, 1916: 45 (list), 1917: 401 (cat.), 1918: 302 (key); Blatchley, 1926: 805 (descrip., note, key); Carvalho, 1952: 74 (as type), 1958: 123 (cat.); Henry, 1982: 361 (descrip., distr., hosts, key, figs.); Henry and Wheeler, 1988: 440 (cat.); Schuh, 1995: 180 (cat.).

DIAGNOSIS: This species, known only from macropters, is very similar to P. cruentus in the overall pale background color, interspersed with numerous small red spots. It is distinguished by the generally larger size, uniformly dark or fumate hemelytral membrane, and male genitalia (figs. 28–30). The left paramere (fig. 28) also is similar to that of P. cruentus , but it is more evenly rounded on the arching C; the right paramere (fig. 29) is straighter, more stout, and has a slender apical process and lateral comb; and the vesica (fig. 30) possesses one slender and one broad, apically bifurcate spiculum.

HOSTS: Woody goldenrod, Chrysoma pauciflosculosa (Michx.) Greene (Asteraceae) ; yankeeweed, Eupatorium compositifolium Walt (Asteraceae) ; Eupatorium X pinnatifidum Ell. (capillifolium X perfoliatum); and Texas snakeweed, Gutierrezia texana (DC.) Torreya and Gray (Asteraceae) ( Henry, 1982). One specimen examined is labeled as feeding on foliage of desertbroom, Baccharis sarothroides Gray (Asteraceae) .

DISTRIBUTION: This species was described from Texas ( Reuter, 1876) and later recorded from Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina ( Henry, 1982). A California record given by Blatchley (1926: 805), considered doubtful by Henry (1982), and two Mexican records (San Lorenzo Island and Mejia Island) reported by Van Duzee (1923: 156) are here considered misidentifications. New state records are Louisiana and South Carolina.

DISCUSSION: Henry (1982) illustrated the left and right paramere of P. psalliodes . In conjunction with the establishment of the lectotype, I redraw the parameres and illustrate for the first time the vesica and phallotheca (fig. 30) to help ensure the identity of this species, the type species of the genus. Specimens identified as P. psalliodes occurring very far west of College Station, Texas, require confirmation based on male genitalia.

LECTOTYPE DESIGNATION: Reuter (1876) described P. psalliodes from Belfrage specimens taken in ‘‘Texas’’, but he did not indicate how many specimens he had before him. I have found seven specimens in three museums (23, 3♀ NHRS; 1♀ USNM; and 1♀ MZH)

that clearly are part of the Reuter’s original type series. These specimens agree with all material I have determined as P. psalliodes from College Station, Texas, and eastward in the United States. As a consequence, to ensure nomenclatural stability, I am designating one of two males in the NHRS as the lectotype to represent P. psalliodes Reuter. The remaining specimens are labeled as paralectotypes.

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED: LECTOTYPE 3 (here designated): USA: Texas: Unknown Co.: collector unknown, [Belfrage Collection] (AMNH_PBI 00193960) (NHRS). PARALEC- TOTYPES: Same data as for lectotype, 1♀ (AMNH_PBI 00099814) (MZH); 13 (AMNH_ PBI 00193959) (NHRS); 2♀ (AMNH_PBI 00193957–00193958) (NHRS); 1♀ (AMNH_ PBI 00070934) (USNM).

OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: USA: Florida: Alachua Co.: Gainesville, 29.65139 ° N 82.325 ° W, 28 Apr 1981 – 29 Apr 1981, T.J. Henry, 33 (AMNH_PBI 00070500–00070502), 1♀ (AMNH_ PBI 00070499) (USNM). Gainesville , city of, 29.65139 ° N 82.325 ° W, 22 Apr 1952, J.R. Vockeroth, 13 (CNC). Bay Co. : 6 mi W of Bay County line, 3 mi W of jct 231 on Rt 20, 30.437 ° N 85.478 ° W, 9 May 1981, T.J. Henry, Chrysoma pauciflosculosa Greene (Asteraceae) , 13(AMNH_ PBI 00070503) (USNM). Duval Co. : Jacksonville , 30.33194 ° N 81.65583 ° W, 23 Jul 1926, E.D. Ball, 1♀ (AMNH_PBI 00070504) (USNM). Highlands Co. : Archbold Biological Station , 27.18833 ° N 81.33778 ° W, 20 Apr 1981 – 27 Apr 1981, T.J. Henry, 5♀ (AMNH_PBI 00070505–00070509) (USNM). Marion Co. : Dunnellon , 29.04914 ° N 82.46093 ° W, 7 Oct 1938, P. Oman, 13 (AMNH_PBI 00070510) (USNM). Okaloosa Co. : N of Niceville , Rt. 285, 30.527 ° N 86.468 ° W, 20 Feb 2003, A.G. Wheeler, Jr., woody goldenrod, 13 (AMNH_PBI 00070511), 2♀ (AMNH_PBI 00070512–00070513) (USNM). Seminole Co. : Sanford , 28.80055 ° N 81.27312 ° W, 1 Mar 1926 – 5 May 1927, E.D. Ball, 2♀ (AMNH_PBI 00070514– 00070515) (USNM). Washington Co. : Rt. 77, 1.7 mi. S of Greenhead, 29.85283 ° N 85.33616 ° W, 18 Apr 2001, T.J. Henry and A.G. Wheeler, Jr., Chrysoma pauciflosculosa Greene (Asteraceae) , 11♀ (AMNH_PBI 00070516–00070526) (USNM). Louisiana: BeauregardCo.: DeRidder , 30.84631 ° N 93.28905 ° W, 5 Nov 1942, W. Buren, 43 (AMNH_PBI 00070535–00070538) (USNM); 11 Jul 1942 – 5 Nov 1942, W. Buren, 7♀ (AMNH_PBI 00070527–00070533) (USNM). North Carolina: Cumberland Co. : Fort Bragg , 15 Oct 1968, D.B. Palmer, 13 (AMNH_PBI 00070534) (USNM). South Carolina: Aiken Co. : Aiken , 33.5669 ° N 81.7035 ° W, 152 m, 24 Aug 1957, W.R. Richards, 13, 1♀ (CNC). Lexington Co. : Peach Tree Heritage Preserve , SE of Edmond, 28 Apr 2001, A.G. Wheeler, Jr., Chrysoma pauciflosculosa Greene (Asteraceae) , 33 (AMNH_PBI 00070539–00070541) (USNM). Texas: Bell Co. : Temple , USDA, ARS, Research Laboratory, 31.09 ° N 97.34 ° W, 15 May 1987, P.E. Boldt, Baccharis sarothroides Gray (Asteraceae) , 13 (AMNH_PBI 00070542) (USNM). Brazos Co. : College Station , 30.62778 ° N 96.33417 ° W, 24 Apr 1930, H.G. Johnston, 1♀ (AMNH_PBI 00070572) (USNM); 13 Oct 1927, H.G. Johnston, 13 (AMNH_PBI 00070574) (USNM); 2 Apr 1929 – 16 May 1929, H.G. Johnston, 33 (AMNH_PBI 00070578–00070580), 3♀ (AMNH_ PBI 00070575–00070577) (USNM); 20 Oct 1928, S.E. Jones, Light Trap, 23 (AMNH_PBI 00070581–00070582) (USNM); 15 May 1928 – 10 Sep 1928, H.G. Johnston, 13 (AMNH_PBI 00070583), 3♀ (AMNH_PBI 00070584–00070586) (USNM). College Station , 30.62778 ° N 96.33417 ° W, 03 Oct 1928 – 20 Oct 1928, S.E. Jones, Gutierrezia texana Torr. & Gray (Asteraceae) , 143 (AMNH_ PBI 00070543–00070556), 15♀ (AMNH_PBI 00070557–00070571) (USNM); 29 Apr 1930, H.G. Johnston, 13(AMNH_PBI 00070573) (USNM) .

Figures

Figs. 1–12. Habitus figures of Parthenicus spp. 1, P. cruentus, male (Nebraska, Johnson Co., nr. Vesta,