Pruneocoris, SCHUH & SCHWARTZ, 2004

SCHUH, RANDALL T. & SCHWARTZ, MICHAEL D., 2004, New Genera, New Species, New Synonyms, and New Combinations in North America and Caribbean Phylinae (Heteroptera: Miridae), American Museum Novitates 3436, pp. 1-36 : 29-31

Pruneocoris , new genus

Figures 2 , 4 , 12

TYPE SPECIES: Pruneocoris stonedahli , new species.

DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the small size, broad, flattened body (fig. 2), dense covering of lepidote setae (figs. 2, 12B, E, F), the lack of a row of spinules on the distal portion of the dorsal surface of the hind femur (fig. 12G), and the form of the male genitalia, especially the vesica being formed of a single strap, attenuated into a spine apically, and with the secondary gonopore located on the dorsal surface (fig. 4). Similar in coloration, lepidote vestiture, and overall appearance to some species of Atractotomus Fieber , Phoenicocoris Reuter , and Pinomiris Stonedahl and Schwartz. Differing from all of those genera by the lack of spinules dorsodistally on the hind femur and by the lack of spines on the gonopore sclerite. Lepidote setae broad and of what Stonedahl (1990) referred to as type 2, the vestiture therefore having an appearance more similar to many Atractotomus spp. than to most species of Phoenicocoris and Pinomiris . Also, short broad head more similar to that of Atractotomus than those of Phoenicocoris and Pinomiris , with the latter two having the frons and clypeus more strongly projecting anteriorly when viewed from above.

DESCRIPTION: Male: Small, broad­bodied, somewhat flattened; total length 2.39–2.84, length apex clypeus–cuneal fracture 1.62– 1.86, width across pronotum 0.86–1.01. COLORATION (fig. 2): Largely reddish brown to castaneous. SURFACE AND VES­ TITURE (figs. 2, 12B, E, F): Dorsum smooth, dull; entire body densely covered with lepidote setae intermixed with simple setae (figs. 12B, E, F); distal portion of dorsal surface of hind femur lacking row of spinules as found in Atractotomus (fig. 12G). STRUCTURE: Head transverse, conforming to anterior margin of pronotum (figs. 2, 12B); posterior margin of vertex forming a weak carina (fig. 12B); antenna inserted on ventral margin of eye (fig. 12C); head projecting below eyes by about half the height of an eye (figs. 12A, C); labium reaching to hind trochanters. Antennal segment 2 of diameter nearly equal to that of segment 1, tapering slightly toward base. Claws nearly straight, bent near apex, pulvilli large and adnate to nearly entire ventral surface of claw, parempodia relatively short and stout (fig. 12D). Mesothoracic spiracle and metathoracic scent­gland evaporatory area as in figure 12E. Abdomen broad, tapering toward relatively small genital capsule, the latter occupying about one­third of length of abdomen. MALE GENITALIA: Vesica slender, delicate, formed of a singe sinuously curving strap with an apical spine, gonopore well sclerotized, situated near apex on dorsal surface, and gonopore sclerite lacking (fig. 4); phallotheca (figs. 4, 12H); left paramere (fig. 4); right paramere (fig. 4).

Female: Small, flattened, elongate ovoid; total length 2.30–2.42, length apex clypeus– cuneal fracture 1.65–1.75, with across pronotum 0.85–0.93. COLORATION (fig. 2): As in male. SURFACE AND VESTITURE (fig. 2): As in male. STRUCTURE: Body form more strongly ovoid than in male; eyes smaller, frons more strongly bulging in dorsal view, head not appearing so strongly transverse (fig. 2).

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the seemingly invariant occurrence of the only known species on Prunus spp. (Rosaceae) .

HOSTS: Prunus spp. (Rosaceae) .

DISTRIBUTION: Utah and Nevada south to the state of Durango on the Central Mexican Plataeau .

DISCUSSION: These small bugs have the general appearance of some species of Atractotomus Fieber and Phoenicocoris Reuter. They do not fit the diagnosis of either genus well, however, and we have therefore chosen to place them in a new genus. Nonetheless, on the basis of male genitalic structure and type of vestiture, their affinities would appear to be with the group of genera including Atractotomus and Phoenicocoris , and possibly also Megalopsallus Knight ,

Pruneocoris stonedahli , new species

Figures 2 , 4 , 12

HOLOTYPE: Male: ‘‘ USA: UTAH: Washington Co.: Snow Canyon State Park, T41S R16W (campground), 4000 ft., May 22, 1981, MD Schwartz; Prunus fasciculata (Torr.) A. Gray (Rosaceae) ’’. Deposited in the American Museum of Natural History.

DIAGNOSIS: See generic diagnosis.

DESCRIPTION: Male: As in generic description, except as follows: COLORATION (fig. 2): Antennal segment 1 usually faded reddish, segment 2 pale, segments 3 and 4 heavily infuscate; hemelytra narrowly pale at cuneal fracture; membrane cells with veins pale along posterior margin; coxae and femora reddish or reddish brown; tibiae pale, tibial spines with dark bases.

Female: As in male.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for Gary M. Stonedahl, friend and colleague, in recognition of his many contributions to taxonomy of the Miridae , particularly from the western Unit­ ed States.

HOSTS: Prunus andersonii A. Gray , Prunus fasciculata A. Gray (Rosaceae) .

DISTRIBUTION: Utah and Nevada south to the state of Durango on the Central Mexican Plataeau .

PARATYPES: MEXICO: Baja California Norte: NE of Vallecitos, Sierra San Pedro Martir, July 14, 1980, Brown and Faulkner, 23, 3♀ (SDNH). Durango: 5 mi W of Durango, June 11, 1964, H. F. Howden, 1♀ (CNC). USA: Arizona: Mohave Co.: Hualapi Mts., SE of Kingman, T20N R15W, 4000–6400 ft, June 9, 1983, R. T. Schuh, M. D. Schwartz, and G. M. Stonedahl, Prunus andersonii (Rosaceae) , 13, 6♀ (AMNH). Purgatory Canyon, Virgin River Canyon, 0.35 mi SW mp 24 on Hwy 15, 2600 ft, May 24, 1981, M. D. Schwartz, Eriogonum fasciculatum (Polygonaceae) , 13, 1♀ (AMNH). California: Inyo Co. : Big Pine, June 17, 1929, R. L. Usinger, 13, 2♀ (CAS). Mono Lake, Tioga Lodge, June 22, 1929, R. L. Usinger, 1♀ (CAS). Mono Co.: Coleville, at night, 5200 ft, June 10, 1966, W. Gagne, 103, 5♀ (UCB). Mono Craters at Rt 395, 2188 m, July 3, 1980, R. T. Schuh, Prunus andersonii (Rosaceae) , 173, 25♀ (AMNH), holotype male (AMNH). San Bernardino Co.: 17.6 mi S of Barstow on Rt 247, 1060 m, May 2, 1985, R. T. Schuh and B. M. Massie, Prunus fasciculata (Rosaceae) , 103, 14♀ (AMNH). Nevada: Carson City Co.: Carson City, June 26, 1929, E. P. Van Duzee, 13, 2♀ (CAS). Lander Co.: Kingston Creek Canyon, Toiyabe Mts., T16N R43E Sec 27 & 35, 6500– 7500 ft, June 28, 1983, R. T. Schuh and M. D. Schwartz, Prunus andersonii (Rosaceae) , 283, 12♀ (AMNH). Lyon Co.: 5.2 mi S of Sweetwater Summit on Rt 22, Toiyabe Natl. Forest, 2015 m, July 11, 1980, R. T. Schuh and G. M. Stonedahl, Prunus andersonii (Rosaceae) , 33, 25♀ (AMNH, OSU). Utah: Washington Co.: Snow Canyon State Park, T41S R16W, 4000 ft, May 22, 1981, M. D. Schwartz, Prunus fasciculata (Rosaceae) , 183, 25♀ (AMNH).

Figures

Fig. 2. Habitus figures of male and female specimens, Gonoporomiris through Vanduzeephylus.

Fig. 4. Male genitalia, Megalopsallus through Vanduzeephylus.

Fig. 12. Scanning electron micrographs of Pruneocoris stonedahli from Snow Canyon State Park, Utah. A. Head, lateral view. B. Head, dorsal view. C. Head, anterior view. D. Pretarsus, frontal view. E. Mesothoracic spiracle and metaepisternal scent efferent system, lateral view. F. Setae on hemelytra. G. Hind femora, distal end, dorsal view. H. Genital segment, posterior view of left paramere, phallotheca, and right paramere. Scales as indicated.