PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10024 Number 3522, 54 pp., 13 figures, 2 tables July 31, 2006 New Genera and Species of Oak-Associated Phylini (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae) from Western North America CHRISTIANE WEIRAUCH1 ABSTRACT Six new genera comprising ten new species and one new combination of Phylini are described from the western United States. The species are characterized by their orange and whitish coloration, and the host records that are available for all but one species show that they feed primarily on various species of oak (Quercus). Crassomiris, new genus, comprises two species from California and Oregon. The monotypic genera Phallospinophylus, new genus and Quercophylus, new genus, are described from California. The monotypic genus Pygovepres, new genus, is created for Psallus vaccinicola Knight, widespread from British Columbia throughout the western United States, south to California and Arizona. Rubellomiris, new genus, with three species, is so far restricted to California, and Rubeospineus, new genus, is composed of three species from California. INTRODUCTION vary considerably in coloration—ranging from pale red to orange, sometimes contrasted Knight (1930) described a phyline taken on with white—and in size across the distribu- Vaccinium sp. from the western United States tional range. Besides species of Vaccinum, and assigned it to Psallus Fieber, 1858. a variety of other plants serve as hosts, among Examination of the male genitalia of this them several species of oak (Quercus). The species, P. vaccinicola Knight, established that new genus Pygovepres is here created to it should not be included in Psallus, nor do the accommodate this species. Together with genitalia show a distinct resemblance to those Pygovepres vaccinicola, ten so far undescribed of other described genera of Phylini in North species with more restricted distributions in America. Specimens of this widespread species the western United States, mainly from 1 Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History ([email protected]). Copyright E American Museum of Natural History 2006 ISSN 0003-0082 2 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 3522 California, are considered here. The eleven printed versions of this atlas (Little, 1971, species are easily confused, since they share 1976) are listed in the References. Considering a very similar habitus, including moderate the numerous taxonomic changes in the genus size, elongate or elongate-ovoid body form, Quercus during the past century (Nixon, 2002) simple vestiture, limited sexual dimorphism, and since the Atlas of United States Trees was and red, orange, or orange and whitish printed, these maps (and identifications prior coloration, with the anterior margin of the to 1985 on host labels) must be interpreted cuneus having a distinct crescent-shaped within their historic context. Authors of host whitish or hyaline area. Due to this similarity, plant names in the Specimens Examined the generic and specific diagnoses and keys section are provided only when they were presented in this paper rely heavily on features present as label information. of the male genitalia. The distribution maps for Phylinae shown The genera assembled in this paper are most here are drawn in a Mercator projection. likely not closely related. However, their Authors provided in the host plant sections external similarity together with their similar adhere to current oak taxonomy. A ‘‘collect- host ranges made the treatment of these taxa ing event’’ refers not only to a specific locality, in one comprehensive paper appear reason- but also to a given locality on a specific date. able. Most of the phylines described here More than 5100 specimens were examined exhibit a host preference for species of the during this project. During this process, all genus Quercus. They are especially found in specimens were equipped with bar-code labels, large numbers when the oaks are in flower. In which uniquely identify each specimen, and the western United States, a relatively large are thus called unique specimen identifiers number of Miridae have so far been associated (USIs). The USI numbers (e.g., AMNH_PBI with oaks, among them species of Atracto- 00094810), which comprise an institution and tomus (Stonedahl, 1990) and Phytocoris project code (AMNH_PBI) and a unique (Stonedahl, 1988), but also of Occidentodema number (00094810), are provided in this paper (Henry, 1999), Pilophorus (Schuh & Schwartz, only for the holotype and paratypes. Please 1988), Tuxedo (Schuh, 2004), and Phyma- refer to the Planetary Biodiversity Project topsallus and allied genera (Schuh, in. prep.). website on Plant Bugs [http://research.amnh. The genus Quercus is relatively diverse in org/pbi/index.html] for USI information on California, with about 20 species recognized at additional specimens examined and for addi- present, a diversity that is, however, greatly tional specimen information for all taxa (e.g., outnumbered by the about 140 species re- collecting method, specimen dissections, corded from Mexico (Nixon, 2002). More photographs, etc.). oak-inhabiting species of the currently mono- Habitus photographs (taken on a Microptics- typic genera described in this paper could USA photographic system equipped with an therefore be expected from Mexico. Infinity Photo-Optical K-2 lens system) and The host identifications given here are illustrations of male genitalia are provided derived from the host plant labels of speci- for all taxa. Drawings of head and female mens examined during the study. K. Nixon (L. genitalia, including a dorsal view of the bursa H. Bailey Hortorium, Ithaca) identified oak copulatrix and associated structures (refer to species for the collecting trip of R. T. Schuh fig. 11F for terminology), as well as a frontal and B. Massie in 1985, as well as the collecting view of the vestibulum, are provided for one trip during the Planetary Biodiversity representative of each genus. Scanning elec- Inventory project in 2004. The distribution tron micrographs (SEMs) are given for one maps of host plants that serve as base for the representative of each genus, documenting distribution maps of Phylinae discussed in this vestiture, pretarsi, and the evaporatory areas paper are derived from the USGS’s ‘‘Digital associated with the metathoracic scent gland. Representations of Tree Species Range Maps Additional SEMs for selected representatives from Atlas of United States Trees by Elbert L. show fine structures of the male genitalia, Little, Jr. (and other publications)’’. [http:// including pygophore, paramere, and vesica. climchange.cr.usgs.gov/data/atlas/little/]. The USIs of specimens, for which habitus photo- 2006 WEIRAUCH: OAK-ASSOCIATED PHYLINI 3 graphs, measurements, and illustrations of ium whitish with peritreme orange; genitalia are provided, are listed in the pygophore with dark spot laterally on appendix 1. left; vesica S-shaped, slender, with two Unless otherwise stated, the right paramere long apical blades (fig. 4); phallotheca is drawn in dorsolateral view, the left para- with dorsal ridge (fig. 4)....................... mere in anterolateral view, the lateral right .............................Quercophylus, n.gen. side of the phallotheca is shown, and the — Scutellum with base orange, distal portions vesica in lateral view is seen from the left side. whitish (fig. 1 [Crassomiris], fig. 2 [Rubeo- Black and white arrows in the figures refer spineus]); evaporatorium pale orange or to diagnostic characters on the generic level brownish; pygophore without dark spot and species level, respectively. laterally on left; vesica J- or C-shaped and Unless otherwise stated, measurements are stout, with either only one apical blade or in millimeters; see table 1 for measurements of an additional small blade (fig. 5 all species. [Rubeospineus spp.]), phallotheca without dorsal ridge (figs. 9I, 5 [Rubeospineus bi- SYSTEMATICS corniger])................................................ 5 5. Phallotheca rather slender distally (fig. 5 KEY TO GENERA of WESTERN NORTH [Rubeospineus bicorniger]); vesica J- or AMERICAN ORANGE OAK BUGS slightly S-shaped, moderately stout with field of small spicules dorsally on left side 1. Thorax and abdomen rather uniformly of vesical body (figs. 5, 10 [Rubeospineus orange, with only margin of procoxal spp.])......................... Rubeospineus,n.gen. cavity and dorsal margin of pro- — Phallotheca rather stout distally (fig. 3 pleuron whitish (fig. 2); vesica S-shaped [Crassomiris fatisco]); vesica J- to C- with long apical blade relatively broad shaped, very stout, without spicules on and flat (fig. 5)....... Rubellomiris, n.gen. vesical body .............. Crassomiris, n.gen. — Coloration of thorax and abdomen vari- able, usually orange, brownish, or pale with more extensive whitish areas Crassomiris, new genus (figs. 1, 2); vesica either J- or C-shaped, Figures 1, 3, 6–11, 12 when S-shaped (figs. 3–5) then with two slender and tubular apical blades ....... 2 TYPE SPECIES: Crassomiris fatisco, new 2. Pygophore anterior to genital opening with species. ornamentation dorsally on left side, con- DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the small to sisting of either a group of stout, erect moderate size (male total length: 2.73–3.21), setae, or a protuberance with processes the orange or orange and whitish coloration (figs. 9C, D, F–H); vestibulum of female with anterior portion of the cuneus trans- genitalia large (figs. 11B, C) .................. 3