Agaveocoris barrerai 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
Agaveocoris
Agaveocoris barrerai

description: Agaveocoris barrerai Henry and Menard, new species
(Figs. 16, 17, 75, 76, 121)
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 5A49EEEA-00B1-4065-9295-F60CFDD77CDE
DIAGNOSIS. This species (Figs. 16, 17) is recognized by the large size; the pale yellowish-brown head with a fuscous to black clypeus, the narrow indistinct lines on the frons on either side of median line; the yellowish-brown to dark brown pronotum with posteriorly flared lateral margins and numerous small fuscous spots on the calli; the pale yellow scutellum; and the shiny, almost black, hemelytron with a distinct bluish sheen.
It runs to couplet 4 with A. marginalis, based on the large size, the long antennal segment II that is longer than or subequal to the interocular width and the dorsal width of an eye. It differs from A. marginalis in having a paler yellowish brown head with mostly indistinct markings on the frons, a yellowish-brown pronotum lacking a narrowly pale posterior margin, and having small, fuscous to black spots on the calli, weakly posteriorly flared lateral margins, and a pale yellow rather than bright orange scutellum.
DESCRIPTION. Male: (n = 5; holotype measurements in parentheses): Length from apex of head to cuneal fracture 3.40–3.75 mm (3.90 mm); length from apex of head to apex of membrane 4.65–4.95 mm (5.10 mm); widest point across hemelytra 1.93–2.15 mm (2.13 mm). Head: Width across eyes 1.25–1.31 mm (1.31 mm); interocular width 0.69–0.75 mm (0.72 mm). Labium: Length 1.78–1.82 mm (1.80 mm), extending beyond hind coxae to abdominal segment II. Antenna: Segment I length 0.61–0.67 mm (0.67 mm); II, 1.06–1.12 mm (1.17 mm); III, 0.70–0.88 mm (0.66 mm); IV, 0.46–0.56 mm (0.56 mm). Pronotum: Median length 0.72–0.80 mm (0.77 mm); posterior width 1.44–1.55 mm (1.57 mm).
Macropterous, medium-sized, elongate oval. COLORATION. Head: Yellowish brown, frons and vertex with indistinct transverse brown dorsal lines on either side of middle; clypeus dark brown to black; labrum brown darker at base; eyes dark brown. Labium: Yellowish brown, segment IV darker brown. Antenna: Uniformly black. Pronotum: Yellowish brown to darker brown, calli with numerous small dark brown spots. Mesoscutum and scutellum: Yellow, sometimes with a pale yellowish-orange tinge. Hemelytron: Fuscous to black, with a strong bluish sheen; membrane translucent to smoky brown, veins dark brown. Ventral surface: Thorax and abdomen dark brown to black. Legs: Coxae pale yellowish brown, dark brown basally; femora yellowish brown with rows of brown spots anteriorly and posteriorly, spots on hind femur often coalescing to form dark patches on apical third; tibiae pale brown, hind tibia sometimes dark brown to black on basal two thirds; tarsomeres brown; claws dark brown. SURFACE AND VESTI- TURE. Head, pronotum, and hemelytron: Shiny, impunctate. STRUCTURE. As in generic description.
Male genitalia: Endosoma and phallotheca as in generic description. Left paramere (Fig. 75) small and Cshaped. Right paramere (Fig. 76) elongate, shallowly C-shaped, with an upturned pointed apex.
Female: (n = 5): Length from apex of head to cuneal fracture 3.70–4.00 mm; length from apex of head to apex of membrane 5.05–5.40 mm; widest point across hemelytra 2.08–2.15 mm. Head: Width across eyes 1.28–1.34 mm; interocular width 0.74–0.77 mm. Labium: Length 1.82–1.93 mm. Antenna: Segment I length 0.61–0.64 mm; II, 1.06–1.09 mm; III, 0.64–0.74 mm; IV, 0.54–0.58 mm. Pronotum: Median length 0.78–0.80 mm; posterior width 1.55–1.63 mm.
Similar to male in size, shape, and coloration. Genitalia as in generic description.
ETYMOLOGY. This new species is dedicated to our good friend, colleague, and one of the collectors of this new species, Ernesto Barrera (UNAM). Ernesto’s expert field experience and guidance to the many, often isolated, habitats have allowed the first author (TJH) to collect many new and interesting species of Heteroptera in Mexico over the years.
HOSTS. Broad-leaved Agave sp. (Agavoideae: Asparagaceae).
DISTRIBUTION. Puebla and Zacatecas, Mexico.
TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype ♂: MEXICO: Puebla: 5 km N Cacalopan, el 1928 m, Rt. 150; 30 Jul. 1995, 18°36.0’N, 97°35.8’W, T. J. Henry & E. Barrera, taken on broad-leaved Agave sp. (USNM). Paratypes: MEXICO: Puebla: 12 ♂♂, 13♀♀, same data as for holotype (4 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; UNAM, 8♂♂, 9♀♀ USNM). Zacatecas: 7 ♀♀, km 40 carr San Luis Zacatecas, 21-IC-84, M. Garcia & A. Ibarra (5♀♀ UNAM; 2♀♀ USNM).
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 215, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4772.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3816462