Laterospinocoris mexicanus Henry and Menard 2020, new species
Creators: name: Henry, Thomas J.
name: Menard, Katrina L.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Miridae
Laterospinocoris
Laterospinocoris mexicanus

description: Laterospinocoris mexicanus Henry and Menard, new species
(Figs. 46–48, 102, 103, 130)
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3A79BD67-B92D-4BD7-8743-01C9FA797652
DIAGNOSIS. This species (Figs. 46–48) is recognized by the mostly red head with brown to brownish-yellow patches on the frons and vertex, the pale brown to dark brown anterior third of the pronotum with the calli sometimes darker, the narrowly pale or white costal margins of the hemelytra, and the pale yellowish-brown femora and tibiae.
Laterospinocoris cyaneipennis differs from L. mexicanus in having a uniformly red head and pronotum, uniformly dark brown to black hemelytra with a distinct bluish sheen, and black legs.
DESCRIPTION. Male: (n = 5; holotype measurements in parentheses): Length from apex of head to cuneal fracture 3.95–4.35 mm (4.35 mm); length from apex of head to apex of membrane 5.05–5.50 mm (5.45 mm); widest point across hemelytra 1.92–2.21 mm (1.98 mm). Head: Width across eyes 1.58–1.65 mm (1.57 mm); interocular width 0.90–0.94 mm (0.94 mm). Labium: Length 1.98–2.08 mm (2.02 mm). Antenna: Segment I length 0.66–0.74 mm (0.64 mm); II, 1.36–1.39 mm (1.34 mm); III, 0.78–0.82 mm (0.77 mm); IV, 0.80–0.82 mm (0.83 mm). Pronotum: Median length 0.91–1.02 mm (0.98 mm); posterior width 1.55–1.68 mm (1.62 mm).
Macropterous, elongate oval. COLORATION. Head: Bright red, frons often yellow to brown, area above antennal bases sometimes more yellow, apex of clypeus and labrum dark brown to fuscous; eyes purplish brown to reddish brown. Labium: Segment I pale whitish yellow to orange yellow; segments II to IV dark brown to reddish brown. Antenna: All antennal segments dark brown to black. Pronotum: Anterior half yellowish gray to dark brown; calli on paler specimens often darker brown; posterior half red. Mesoscutum: Fuscous to black, tinged with red. Scutellum: Fuscous to black, pale or tinged with red apically. Hemelytron: Dark brown to black with a bluish sheen on clavus, corium, and cuneus; corial margins white; membrane translucent pale brown, with the veins dark brown. Ventral surface: Thorax red or with yellow patches on episternal plates and propleura; abdomen dark red, apex of genital tubercle bright red. Legs: Coxae pale yellow; femora and tibiae yellow; basal two tarsomeres yellow, distal tarsomere and claws brown. SURFACE, VESTITURE AND STRUCTURE. As in generic description.
Male genitalia: Endosoma and phallotheca as in generic description. Left paramere (Figs. 102) C-shaped, apex somewhat broadened. Right paramere (Figs. 103) elongate, weakly curved, narrowing from base to rounded apex.
Female: (n = 5): Length from apex of head to cuneal fracture 4.00– 4.15 mm; length from apex of head to apex of membrane 5.15–5.60 mm; widest point across hemelytra 1.98–2.24mm. Head: Width across eyes 1.62–1.68 mm; interocular width 0.93–0.99 mm. Labium: Length 2.08–2.14 mm. Antenna: Segment I length 0.67–0.72 mm; II, 1.33–1.36 mm; III, 0.80–0.82 mm; IV, 0.80–0.88 mm. Pronotum: Median length 0.93–1.02 mm; posterior width 1.54–1.65 mm.
Similar to male in size and shape; differing mainly in the dark brown to fuscous abdomen (versus largely red in the male). Genitalia as in generic description.
ETYMOLOGY. This species is named after the country in which it was collected.
HOST. Agave sp. (Agavoideae: Asparagaceae).
DISTRIBUTION. Known from Chiapas and Veracruz, Mexico.
TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype ♂, MEXICO: Chiapas: 15 mi. W San Cristobal, 10 July 1971, Hart, Murray & Schaffner (TAMU). Paratypes: MEXICO: Chiapas: 8♂♂, 12♀♀, 10 mi. W. Sn. Cristobal, 19 July 1969, L. A. Kelton (CNC-PBI00125026-030, 00125037-41; 1♂, 1♀ CNC [USNM]-00420153, 00124914); 4♂♂, 2♀♀, Chiapas, La Trinitaria, 13 Aug. 1969, L. A. Kelton (CNC-PBI00125019-21; 1♂ CNC [USNM] 00420153); 3♂♂, 7♀♀, Chiapas, Teopisca, 14 Aug 1969, L. A. Kelton (CNC-PBI 00125010-16; 1♂ CNC [USNM] 00420155); 5♂♂, 9♀♀, Chiapas, Teopsica, 23-29 June 1981, W. R. Dolling, B. M. 1981–411, Agave sp. (BMNH); 11♂♂ 39♀♀, same data as for holotype (TAMU [461-470; 498-536]; 3♂♂, 5♀♀ USNM [506, 511, 514 515, 517, 524, 531, 535]); 11♂ 13♀, Chiapas, 3.7 mi. N Ocozocoautla, 8 July 1971, Clark, Murray, Hart, Schaffner [TAMU 471-481; 483-471, 472- 491,494-497; 1♂, 1♀, UNAM 472, 492; 2♂♂, 2♀♀ USNM 478, 479, 493]; 3♂♂, Chiapas, 3 mi. SE La Trinitaria, 18 June 1965, H. R. Burke, J. R. Mayer, J. C. Schaffner, on Agave sp. (TAMU 482-484). Veracruz: 1♀, El Naranjo, 11 Aug. 1969, L. A. Kelton (1♀ CNC-PBI 00420156).
DISCUSSION. This species, like L. cyaneipennis, possesses a long L-shaped right paramere that often is visible, along with the lateral tubercle, in dorsal view.
description: Published as part of 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, pp. 201-252 in Zootaxa 4772 (2) on page 231, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4772.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3816462