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Proposal Form for new Common Name or Change of ESA-Approved Common Name

Complete this form and send or e-mail to the above address. Submissions will not be considered unless this form is filled out completely.

The proposer is expected to be familiar with the rules, recommendations, and procedures outlined in the “Use and Submission of Common Names” on the ESA website and with the discussion by A.B. Gurney, 1953, Journal of Economic Entomology 46:207-211.

1. Proposed new common name: verde plant bug

2. Previously approved common name (if any): None

3. Scientific name (genus, species, author): signatus Distant

Order:

Family:

Supporting Information

4. Reasons supporting the need for the proposed common name: This has been recognized as a pest of cotton in the southern parts of Texas and in the northern Mexico inland from areas associated with the Gulf Coast cotton growing regions. Extension and refereed publications would benefit from having a common name for lay people to identify with.

The insect was initially, and erroneously, thought to be (Stål) with the common name “green mirid”. The green mirid is the number one plant bug pest of Australian cotton. However, molecular and taxanomic work have recently identified the mirid as a native species C. signatus Distant (Coleman et al 2008). Giving C. signatus a common name would help differentiate it from the Australian plant bug and help reduce any confusion of the two cotton pests.

5. Stage or characteristic to which the proposed common name refers: Adults are a distinctive green or “verde” color for a plant bug. The nymphs are green as well. 6. Distribution (include references): Inland from Gulf Coast Regions of southern Texas and Mexico. Dr. Tom Henry, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, ARS, USDA c/o National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, MRC-0168, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013- 7012 is currently revising the genus in a book and is most familiar with the distribution.

7. Principal hosts (include references): Weedy host species including Chenopodium murale L. and London rocket, Sisymbrium irio L. (Coleman et al. 2008) and cotton, Gosspyium hirsutum L., (Armstrong et al. 2009).

Armstrong, J. S., R. J. Coleman and M. Setamou. 2009. Oviposition patterns of (Hemiptera: Miridae) on okra-leaf and normal-leaf Cotton. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am, 102: 196-200.

Coleman, R. J., J. P. Hereward, P. J. De Barro, D. R. Frolich, J. J. Adamczyk, and J. A. Goolsby. 2008. Molecular comparison of Creontiades plant bugs from south Texas and Australia. Southw. Entomol. 33: 111-117.

8. References containing previous use of the proposed common name: No references have been used do to a lack of a common name.

9. References using common names (give names) other than that proposed: From extension publications, C. signatus has been referred to as “the green mirid” http://www.tpma.org/_newsletters/_coastal_middle/_2008/06052008_6.pdf http://www.tpma.org/_newsletters/_coastal_upper/_2008/06252008_8.pdf

No refereed publications have used a common name.

10. Other or organisms to which the proposed common name might apply: The pale legume bug Lygus elisus would be the closest common name found, but should not be confused with the proposed common name for Creontiades signatus.

11. Steps you have taken to consult with other workers who are familiar with the insect or organism as to suitability of and need for the proposed common name: It is general the consensus of research and extension entomologist that this insect pest be given a common name for the good of public education.

Proposed by: J. Scott Armstrong, Research Entomologist, USDA ARS BIRU Address: 2413 E. Highway 83, Weslaco, TX 78596 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 956-969-4807 Fax: 956-969-4877 Date submitted: [Previously submitted as Gulf Coast bug on] 13 April, 2009. [Resubmitted on Feb. 25, 2011 as verde plant bug]