Agaveocoris marginalis Henry and Menard, 2020

Henry, Thomas J. & Menard, Katrina L., 2020, Revision and Phylogeny of the Eccritotarsine Plant Bug Genus Caulotops Bergroth, with Descriptions of Four New Genera and 14 New Species (Hemiptera Heteroptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae) Associated with Agave (Agavoideae Asparagaceae) and Related Plant Genera, Zootaxa 4772 (2), pp. 201-252 : 221-222

Agaveocoris marginalis Henry and Menard , new species

( Figs. 29–31 , 86–88 ).

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DE88D481-B69C-4A00-A786-4CB212251925

DIAGNOSIS. This species ( Fig. 29–31 ) is recognized by the relatively large size, yellowish- to reddish-orange head; the frons with a broad black mark on either side of median line; the black antennae; the mostly fuscous to black pronotum, with only the area between calli, a depressed spot behind each callus, and the posterior margin narrowly pale, and the straight lateral margins; the bright reddish-orange scutellum; and the dark hemelytra with a distinct bluish tinge.

It is most similar to A. barrerai in general appearance and male genitalia, but A. barrerai differs in having a more yellowish head that is only occasionally tinged with pale orange; the frons has only indistinct transverse brown markings on either side of the median line; the pronotum is paler yellowish brown, has distinct fine black spots on the calli, and lacks the distinct narrowly pale posterior margin; the lateral margins of the pronotum are flared posteriorly; and the scutellum is predominantly yellow or pale yellowish orange.

DESCRIPTION. Male (n = 5; holotype measurements in parentheses): Length from apex of head to cuneal fracture 3.70–3.95 mm (3.90 mm); length from apex of head to apex of membrane 5.00– 5.30 mm (5.15 mm); widest point across hemelytra 2.20–2.25 mm (2.20 mm). Head: Width across eyes 1.30–1.31 mm (1.28 mm); interocular width 0.75–0.77 mm (0.75 mm). Labium: Length 1.78–1.85 mm (1.88 mm), extending well past hind coxae to abdominal segment III or beyond. Antenna: Segment I length 0.58–0.62 mm (0.59 mm); II, 1.07–1.09 mm (1.07 mm); III, 0.75–0.78 mm (0.78 mm); IV, 0.64–0.66 mm (0.66 mm). Pronotum: Median length 0.83–0.86 mm (0.86 mm); posterior width 1.60–1.63 mm (1.60 mm).

Macropterous, large sized, elongate oval. COLORATION. Head: Yellowish with a reddish-orange tinge to strongly reddish orange; frons with a broad black band on either side of median line, transverse black lines on vertex nearly coalescing with marks on frons; clypeus uniformly black; labrum black on basal half, white distally; eyes dark brown. Labium: Segment I pale yellowish brown, II-IV darker brown. Antenna: Uniformly black. Pronotum: Brown to dark brown, with triangular between calli, a depressed spotted behind each callus, and narrow posterior margin pale or whitish; calli darker, almost black. Mesoscutum: Reddish orange, lateral angles black. Scutellum: Uniformly reddish orange. Hemelytron: Fuscous to black, with a strong bluish sheen; membrane translucent dark smoky brown, veins dark brown to black. Ventral surface: Thorax and abdomen dark brown to black. Legs: Coxa whitish to pale yellowish brown, fuscous at bases; femora whitish to pale yellowish brown, with a few scattered, small, black spots on anterior and posterior surfaces; front and middle tibiae pale yellowish brown, hind tibia yellowish brown, sometimes become dark brown to fuscous on proximal two thirds; claws and tarsi brown. SURFACE and VESTITURE. Head, pronotum, and hemelytra shiny; head and hemelytra impunctate, pronotum finely punctate on disc. STRUCTURE. As in generic description.

Male genitalia: Endosoma ( Fig. 86 ). Left paramere ( Fig. 87 ), small, C-shaped. Right paramere ( Fig. 88 ) elongate, shallowly C-shaped, with an upturned pointed apex.

Female (n = 5): Length from apex of head to cuneal fracture 3.70–4.30 mm; length from apex of head to apex of membrane 4.85–5.40 mm; widest point across hemelytra 2.10–2.23 mm. Head: Width across eyes 1.34–1.38 mm; interocular width 0.77–0.80 mm. Labium: Length 1.85–1.90 mm, extending well past hind coxae to abdominal segment III or beyond. Antenna: Segment I length 0.59–0.66 mm; II, 1.04–1.10 mm; III, 0.70–0.83 mm; IV, 0.62–0.69 mm. Pronotum: Median length 0.85–0.91 mm; posterior width 1.66–1.79 mm.

Similar to male in size, shape, and coloration.

ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet “marginalis is given to denote the narrowly pale posterior margin of the largely fuscous or black pronotum. HOST. Agave sp. [ Agavoideae : Asparagaceae ]. DISTRIBUTION. Known only from Puebla and San Luis Potosi, Mexico. TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype ♂, MEXICO: San Luis Potosi: Estacion Micro-ondes de Caballo, elev. 2250 m, 22°04’07.8”N, 100°38’30.0”W, 26 Apr. 2019, T. J. Henry, P. M. Dellapé, H. Brailovsky, & E. Barrera, ex broad-leaved Agave sp. (USNM). Paratypes: Puebla: 1♂, 6.3 mi. N Tehuacan, elev 5900 ft., 22 July 1987, Kovarik & Schaffner (TAM). San Luis Potosi: 23♂♂, 24 ♀♀, same data as for holotype (3♂♂, 3♀♀ UNAM; 20♂♂, 21♀♀ USNM).

Figures

FIGURES 21–31. Agaveocoris spp. 21, A. dimidiatus, n. sp., male (dorsal aspect). 22, A. dimidiatus, n. sp., male (lateral aspect). 23, A. dimidiatus, n. sp., female (dorsal aspect). 24, A. distanti (Reuter), male (brown color form, dorsal aspect). 25, A. distanti (Reuter), male (brown color form, lateral aspect). 26, A. distanti, female (brown color form, dorsal aspect). 27, A. distanti, male (reddish-orange color form, dorsal aspect). 28, A. distanti, female (reddish-orange color form, dorsal aspect). 29, A. marginalis, n. sp., male (dorsal aspect). 30, A. marginalis, n. sp., male (lateral aspect). 31, A. roseus, n. sp., female (dorsal aspect).

FIGURES 80–93. Male genitalia of Agaveocoris spp. A. dimidiata, n. sp.: 80, endosoma. 81, left paramere. 82, right paramere. A. distanti, n. sp.: 83, endosoma. 84, left paramere. 85, right paramere. A. marginalis, n. sp.: 86, endosoma. 87, left paramere. 88, right paramere. A. roseus, n. sp.: 89, right paramere. 90, left paramere. A. rostratus, n. sp.: 91, endosoma. 92, left paramere. 93, right paramere.