Ceratopsallus, Schuh, Randall T., 2006

Schuh, Randall T., 2006, Revision, Phylogenetic, Biogeographic, And Host Analyses Of The Endemic Western North American Phymatopsallus Group, With The Description Of 9 New Genera And 15 New Species (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2006 (301), pp. 1-115 : 37-41

Ceratopsallus , new genus

Type species: Ceratopsallus pintoi , new species.

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the anterior process of the left paramere developed in the shape of cattle horns (figs. 14–23), in combination with the pale coloration, spotted dorsum in most specimens of most species (figs. 1, 2), the presence of one (or sometimes two) elongate spines arising from the ventral surface of the phallotheca, and the pygophore in male always very large, with a tubercle on the left side. Moderately small to large within the Phymatopsallus group, total length 2.39– 3.70. Among other members of the Phymatopsallus group of genera with a spotted dorsum and pygophore with a tubercle on the left side, most easily confused with Bisulcopsallus , but readily distinguished by the apically bifurcate anterior process of the left paramere and the much longer, and always ‘‘filamentous’’, vesica in all species of that group. In addition to the above-mentioned characters, the elaborately developed vestibulum and the weak sexual dimorphism in the antennae and the eyes of most species allows for separation of Angelopsallus , Bisulcopsallus , and Ceratopsallus from other members of the Phymatopsallus group.

DESCRIPTION: Male: Size moderately small to large among Phymatopsallus -group taxa, elongate ovoid to nearly parallel-sided, total length 2.39–3.70, length apex clypeus– cuneal fracture 1.67–2.48, width pronotum 0.65–1.19. COLORATION (fig. 1): Body and forewings pale or faded green, sometimes weakly orange; membrane marmorate, usually with some conspicuous large dark areas, especially posterior to the cuneus; veins of membrane pale; corium, clavus, cuneus, and sometimes head, pronotum, and scutellum with heavy spotting of green, orange, or brown; eyes ranging from silvery or pale to nearly black; coloration of appendages pale, greenish, or weakly orange, femora with scattered, weak, brown spots; tibial spines dark with dark bases. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (figs. 1, 2, 13C): Dorsal body surface smooth, impunctate, weakly shining. Dorsal vestiture of recumbent, silvery setae. STRUCTURE: Head: Weakly transverse, posterior margin of eyes contiguous with anterior margin of pronotum; posterior margin of vertex indistinct; frons weakly protruding beyond anterior margin of eyes; eyes in most species appearing as in female (fig. 2, e.g., C. pintoi ), sometimes large in dorsal and lateral views (fig 2, e.g., C. croceus ); antennae inserted above ventral margin of eye by roughly diameter of segment 1, insertion contiguous with eye (fig. 13A); antennal segment 2 usually weakly tapered and similar to female (fig. 2, C. pintoi ), occasionally somewhat enlarged and cylindrical (fig. 2, C. vauqueliniae ); labium reaching to hind trochanters or slightly beyond. Thorax: Mesothoracic spiracle and metathoracic scent-efferent system as in figure 13B. Legs: Claws strongly bent preapically, pulvilli flaplike, parempodia setiform (fig. 13D). Abdomen: Broad. GENI- TALIA (figs. 14–23): Pygophore: Very large, almost quadrangular, occupying at least half the length of abdomen, on left side with a distinct tubercle beset with numerous setae (fig. 13E, F). Vesica: Formed of a single strap, length varying from relatively short, moderately broad, and J-shaped to long, slender, and forming one complete loop, attenuated apically and extending beyond secondary gonopore by about 2 times length of gonopore; secondary gonopore relatively small, well sclerotized, ovoid, without gonopore sclerite. Phallotheca: Apical portion elongate, relatively slender, tapered, dorsal margin near apex sometimes with a triangular fold or keel, ventral margin always with an elongate, usually slender (sometimes flattened) spinelike process, anterodorsal or anteroventral surface sometimes with a second broader, elongate process, also arising at about midpoint of phallotheca. Parameres: Left paramere with anterior process uniquely developed in the shape of cattle horns, here referred to as left- and right-hand prongs as seen in figures 14–23, posterior process varying from relatively short, flattened, and straight to more elongate, slender, and decurved, always with a knoblike ornamentation apically; right paramere relatively large, elongate, nearly parallel-sided, apex with a distinct process on either side, sometimes asymmetrically developed, the left process being longer and fingerlike.

Female: Elongate ovoid; total length 2.39– 3.18, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 1.68–2.32, width pronotum 0.71–1.09. COL- ORATION (fig. 1): As in male. SURFACE AND VESTITURE: As in male. STRUC- TURE: Hemelytra extending just beyond apex of abdomen; eyes usually similar in size to those of male, more rarely eyes sexually dimorphic, those of males larger than those of females (fig. 2); antennal segment 2 tapered toward base. GENITALIA (figs. 15, 17, 18): Sclerotized rings more or less ovoid; vestibulum large, asymmetrical, lying on right side of body, entrance and exit closely apposed at base of ovipositor valves, medial portion of vestibulum forming a large ‘‘chamber’’ of nautiloid shape, at which point vestibulum doubles back on itself; posterior wall simple, without ornamentation (fig. 18).

ETYMOLOGY: From the Greek keras, horn, in reference to the cow horn-like formation of the anterior process of the left paramere, in combination with the generic name Psallus . Gender masculine.

HOSTS: Several species known exclusively from Arctostaphylos spp. (Ericaceae) or Quercus spp. (Fagaceae) . Also known from Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae) and a variety of other hosts, but with a lesser number of records.

DISCUSSION: Although the concepts for most of the species of Ceratopsallus recognized in the present paper appear to be relatively stable, it is clear that more species remain to be discovered in nature. Additional collecting, particularly in California, will undoubtedly reveal additional taxa and add to our knowledge of areas of endemism within the state.