Slaterocoris alpinus Kelton
Creators: name: Schwartz, Michael D.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2011
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Miridae
Slaterocoris
Slaterocoris alpinus

description: <i>Slaterocoris alpinus</i> Kelton Figures 1, 12, 49; plates 1, 4A; map 11 <i>Slaterocoris alpinus</i> Kelton, 1968: 1128, fig. 14 (orig. desc.); Knight, 1970: 239, fig. 41 (disc.); Henry and Wheeler, 1988: 448 (catalog); Schuh, 1995: 196 (catalog). <i>Slaterocoris schaffneri</i> Knight, 1970: 240, fig. 37 (orig. desc.); Henry and Wheeler, 1988: 451 (catalog); Schuh, 1995: 199 (catalog). NEW SYNONYMY. DIAGNOSIS: External characters will distinguish <i>S. alpinus</i> from other completely black species. The striate frons and dense, fine, brown vestiture of <i>S. alpinus</i> are distinct from the smooth frons and sparse, bristlelike, black vestiture in <i>S. robustus</i>; its brown dorsal setae differ from the silvery dorsal setae in <i>S. argenteoides</i>, <i>S. argenteus</i>, <i>S. digitatus</i>, and <i>S. simplex</i>. Within the <i>hirtus</i> group, united by the large medial process and long basal region of the right paramere, all the antennal segments of <i>alpinus</i> are shorter than in <i>S. hirtus</i> and <i>S. mohri</i> (e.g., segment II in <i>S. alpinus</i> 0.75–0.908, 0.76–0.85 &amp;female;; in <i>S. hirtus</i> 1.30–1.508, 1.20–1.33 &amp;female;; in <i>mohri</i> 1.09–1.208, 1.03–1.20 &amp;female;). The labium is also shorter in <i>S. alpinus</i> (0.83–0.938, 0.89–1.03 &amp;female;) than in <i>S. hirtus</i> (1.05–1.188, 1.05–1.19 &amp;female;) or <i>S. mohri</i> (1.00–1.138, 1.10–1.20 &amp;female;). All species of the <i>hirtus</i> group have long brown vestiture (cf. pl. 4A, I, J), in <i>S. alpinus</i> the setae are slightly shorter than in the other two species. REDESCRIPTION: <i>Male:</i> Moderately large, subovate; length 3.50–4.10, width 1.65–1.83 (pl. 1). COLORATION: Completely black including all appendages (fig. 12). VESTITURE: With dense, long to moderately long, suberect, fine, brown simple setae (pl. 4A). STRUCTURE: Body conformation in both sexes similar, costal margin slightly curved. GENITALIA: As in species group, but modified as follows. <b>Endosomal spicule</b>: Distal portion of ventral lobe moderately long and moderately serrate marginally; dorsal lobe with base entire and small marginal serration (fig. 49A–C, arrow). <b>Right paramere</b>: Medial process situated near parallel apical spines, bent distally, truncate with strong apical serration; tubercle basal to parallel spines, barely separated from parallel spines (fig. 49M, arrow), small with broad base and serrations (fig. 49I–O, arrow). <i>Female:</i> Moderately small, obovate; length 3.90–4.30, width 1.84–2.05 (pl. 1). STRUCTURE: Costal margin curved. GENITALIA: As in species group except: <b>Second gonapophyses</b>: With anterior medial surface moderately slightly convex. HOSTS: Unknown. The only plant record is from one specimen on mountain mahogany, <i>Cercocarpus montanus</i> Raf. (Rosaceae); this is considered a sitting record. The presumed host of <i>S. alpinus</i> would certainly be asteraceous as known for all <i>Slaterocoris</i> species. Focused collecting will be required to determine whether the host(s) is (are) species of <i>Silphium</i> or <i>Helianthus</i> as is known for the two most closely related species, <i>S. hirtus</i> and <i>S. mohri</i>. The known range of <i>S. alpinus</i> is predominantly in drier habitats, so presumably the eventual breeding host would be a plant adapted for arid conditions. DISTRIBUTION: Western Great Plains from southern North Dakota south to mid-Texas, easternmost record from eastern Kansas, the westernmost from southcentral Montana (map 11). COLLECTION SUMMARY: 79 specimens from 29 collection events. Earliest date in late April from Texas, latest date in mid-August from South Dakota, main phenology from May to July. DISCUSSION: Kelton (1968) based <i>S. alpinus</i> on three specimens from the same collection event, distinguishing it from congeners by the coloration, vestiture, and male genitalia. Knight (1970) recognized <i>S. schaffneri</i> utilizing the same suite of diagnostic features. In his key to species, Knight (1970) separated these nominal species based on femoral coloration, attributing more pale coloration to <i>S. alpinus</i> than in those specimens examined by Kelton (1968). The femora are completely black in the holotypes of <i>S. alpinus</i> and <i>S. schaffneri</i> and all other specimens examined. Based on identical coloration, vestiture, and male genitalia, noting a negligible amount of variation in the endosomal spicule and right paramere, I treat <i>S. schaffneri</i> as a junior synonym of <i>S. alpinus</i>. In the endosomal spicule the distal region of the ventral lobe is variable in the size and density of the marginal serration but the base of the dorsal lobe is uniformly entire, not showing the variation in structure as noted in <i>S. hirtus</i> (fig. 52A–C). The structure of the right paramere is slightly more variable in the size and number of apical spines, prominence of the nearby tubercle, and number of apical spines on the medial process as documented in specimens from Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and Wyoming (fig. 49I–O). HOLOTYPES: <b> USA: Colorado: <i>Boulder Co.:</i></b> Boulder, Flagstaff Canyon [40.001656 N 105.30746 W, 1768 m], 30 Jun 1961, B.H. Poole, 18 (AMNH_ PBI 00111423) (CNC) (<i>S. alpinus</i>: senior synonym). <b> Texas: <i>Bosque Co.:</i></b> 2 mi W of Iredell [31.9856 N 97.905756 W], 12 May 1971, J.C. Schaffner, 18 (AMNH _ PBI 00134020) (USNM) (<i>S. schaffneri</i>: junior synonym). OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: <b> USA: Colorado: <i>Boulder Co.:</i></b> Boulder, 40.0156 N 105.276 W, 1676 m, 20 Jul 1953, R.R. Dreisbach, 1&amp;female; (00127331) (UMMC). Boulder, Flagstaff Canyon, 40.001656 N 105.30746 W, 1768 m, 30 Jun 1961, B.H. Poole, paratype, 18 (00111426) (CNC). <i>Douglas Co.:</i> Perry Park, 39.256676 N 104.991946 W, 08 Jul 1982, J.T. Polhemus, 1&amp;female; (00116768) (JTP). <i>Elbert Co.:</i> 3 mi E of Kiowa, 39.347226 N 104.40786 W, 1981 m, 16 Jul 1983, R.T. Schuh, D.A. and J.T. Polhemus, <i>Cercocarpus montanus</i>, 18 (00108146) (AMNH). <i>Jefferson Co.:</i> Lookout Mountain, 39.73246 N 105.2386 W, 2134 m, 03 Jul 1922, unknown, 1&amp;female; (00111428) (CNC). Red Rocks Park, 39.669726 N 105.202786 W, 23 Jun 1982, D.A. Polhemus, 2&amp;female; (00116766– 00116767), 18 (00116711) (JTP). <b> Kansas: <i>Linn Co.:</i></b> Linn County, no specific locality, 38.216676 N 94.856 W, 263 m, R.H. Beamer, 18 (00117797) (KU); 01 Jul 1915, R.H. Beamer, 18 (00117813) (KU). <i>Scott Co.:</i> Lake Scott State Park, 38.674616 N 100.915626 W, 26 Jul 1992, E.G. Riley, 1&amp;female; (00118474) (TAMU). <b> Montana: <i>Yellowstone Co.:</i></b> Huntley Experimental Station [Montana State University Southern Agricultural Research Center], 45.924146 N 108.244016 W, 912 m, 18 Jun 1931, unknown, 18 (00070051) (USNM). <b> Nebraska: <i>Cherry Co.:</i></b> [Fort] Niobrara [National Wildlife] Refuge, Valentine, 42.910666 N 100.482726 W, 768 m, 24 Jul 1945, unknown, 18 (00134604) (USNM). <i>Garden Co.:</i> Wood Lake, 41.916646 N 102.35016 W, 27 Jun 1973, L.A. Kelton, 18 (00111427) (CNC). <i>Sioux Co.:</i> Warbonnet [Battlefield Monument], Oglala National Grassland, 42.927436 N 103.728616 W, 1119 m, unknown, 18 (00134413) (USNM). <b> North Dakota: <i>Kidder Co.:</i></b> Kidder County, no specific locality, 46.760326 N 99.505146 W, 577 m, 14 Jul 1920, A.A. Nichol, 18 (00134412) (USNM). <b> South Dakota: <i>Custer Co.:</i></b> Custer, 43.766676 N 103.598336 W, 19 Aug 1927, H.H. Knight, 18 (00134606), paratype of junior synonym, 18 (00134414), 4&amp;female; (00134415–00134418) (USNM). <b> Texas: <i>Anderson Co.:</i></b> Salmon, 31.572786 N 95.498066 W, 27 Apr 1985, P.W. Kovarik, 1&amp;female; (00118473) (TAMU). <i>Bastrop Co.:</i> Pope Bend Road, 1 mi N of Rt 71, 3.7 mi E of Travis Co. line, 30.155276 N 97.450836 W, 168 m, 10 May 2002, T.J. Henry and P.S.F. Ferreira, 18 (00122136) (USNM). <i>Bosque Co.:</i> 2 mi W of Iredell, 31.9856 N 97.905756 W, 29 May 1969, J.C. Schaffner, paratype of junior synonym, 18 (00111424) (CNC), paratypes of junior synonym, 38 (00122261– 00122263) (USNM); 06 May 1970, J.C. Schaffner, paratype of junior synonym, 1&amp;female; (00111425) (CNC), paratypes of junior synonym, 1&amp;female; (00116763) (JTP), 4&amp;female; (00118484– 00118487), paratypes of junior synonym, 78 (00118448, 00118457–00118458, 00118477– 00118480), 4&amp;female; (00118449, 00118481–00118483), paratype of junior synonym, 1&amp;female; (00118459) (TAMU); 09 May 1970, J.C. Schaffner, paratype of junior synonym, 1&amp;female; (00118495) (TAMU); 22 May 1970, J.C. Schaffner, paratype of junior synonym, 18 (00116762) (JTP), paratypes of junior synonym, 48 (00118488–00118491), 3&amp;female; (00118492–00118494) (TAMU); 03 May 1971, J.C. Schaffner, 28 (00118501–00118502), 1&amp;female; (00118503) (TAMU); 12 May 1971, J.C. Schaffner, 18 (00118504) (TAMU); 20 May 1971, J.C. Schaffner, 2&amp;female; (00118506–00118507) (TAMU); 28 May 1971, J.C. Schaffner, 18 (00118505) (TAMU); 21 Apr 1972, J.C. Schaffner, 18 (00116764), 1&amp;female; (00116765) (JTP), 38 (00118496– 00118498), 2&amp;female; (00118499–00118500) (TAMU). <i>Randall Co.:</i> Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 34.950336 N 101.665786 W, 860 m, 19 Jul 1968, J.C. Schaffner, 18 (00134411) (USNM). <i>Unknown co.:</i> ‘‘ Tex’ ’, ‘‘333’’, unknown, 1&amp;female; (00111429) (CNC). <b> Wyoming: <i>Goshen Co.:</i></b> Goshen County, no specific locality, 42.083336 N 104.356 W, 02 Jul 1943, R. Pfadt, 18 (00116598) (ESUW).
description: Published as part of <i>Schwartz, Michael D., 2011, Revision And Phylogenetic Analysis Of The North American Genus Slaterocoris Wagner With New Synonymy, The Description Of Five New Species And A New Genus From Mexico, And A Review Of The Genus Scalponotatus Kelton (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae), pp. 1-290 in Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2011 (354)</i> on pages 235-237, DOI: 10.1206/354.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5407316
description: {"references": ["Kelton, L. A. 1968. Revision of the North American species of Slaterocoris (Heteroptera: Miridae). Canadian Entomologist 100: 1121 - 1137.", "Knight, H. H. 1970. Review of the genus Slaterocoris Wagner, with a key and descriptions of new species (Hemiptera, Miridae). Iowa State Journal of Science 45: 233 - 267.", "Henry, T. J., and A. G. Wheeler, Jr. 1988. Family Miridae Hahn. In T. J. Henry and R. C. Froeschner (editors), Catalog of the Heteroptera, or true bugs of Canada and the continental United States: 251 - 507. Leiden: Brill.", "Schuh, R. T. 1995. Plant bugs of the world (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae): systematic catalog, distributions, host list, and bibliography. New York: New York Entomological Society, i - xii, 1 - 1329."]}