Slaterocoris atritibialis

Slaterocoris atritibialis (Knight) Figures 13, 30; plate 1; map 6 Strongylocoris stygicus: Van Duzee: 1921: 135 (disc., in part). Strongylocoris atratus: Van Duzee: 1921: 135 (disc., in part). Strongylocoris atritibialis Knight, 1938: 2, fig. 6 (orig. desc.). Slaterocoris atritibialis: Kelton, 1968: 1122 fig. 3 (disc.); Knight, 1970: 244, fig. 12, (disc.); Reid, 1974: 239 (parasit.); Reid et al., 1976: 561 (biol.); Messina, 1978: 139 (biol.); Henry and Smith, 1979: 215 (list); Wheeler et al., 1983: 142 (list); Henry and Wheeler, 1988: 448 (catalog); Schuh, 1995: 197 (catalog); Cappuccino 1987: 1646 (biol.); Wheeler 2001: 153, 284 (biol.); Henry et al., 2005: 62 (list); Forero, 2008: 152, 155–156 (disc.). DIAGNOSIS: Recognized among breviatus group species by the arcuate costal margin of both sexes (pl. 1), the black antennal segments, hind tibia, and tarsomeres, the female usually having the fore- and middle tibiae dusky yellowish brown, the male genitalia with the tergal process truncate with two lateral points (fig. 30J), apical spines of the right paramere tightly grouped, moderately long with basalmost apical spine stouter than in others (fig. 30C–G), dorsal lobe of endosomal spicule bifurcate, larger (lateral) ramus flattened and marginally serrate, smaller (medial) ramus usually one-fourth length of lateral ramus (fig. 30A), sometimes much smaller (fig. 30B); ventral lobe of endosomal spicule evenly curved at recurved middle region, apex reaching to base of dorsal lobe. Female with the head and vertex wider and tarsomeres usually darker than in the female of S. stygicus and S. breviatus. REDESCRIPTION: Male: Large, ovate, length 4.00–4.88, width 1.85–2.38 (pl. 1). COLORATION: Shining black, including antenna and legs, except diffusely pale on apices of femora (fig. 13); in female fore- and middle tibiae often yellowish brown to reddish black and antennal segment II pale medially. VESTITURE: Subglabrous, sparsely distributed, short, suberect, brown simple setae. STRUCTURE: Frons striate; labium reaching base of middle coxa; costal margin arcuate. GENITALIA: Tergal process: Apical points conspicuous (fig. 30J). Endosomal spicule: Ventral lobe long, marginal serration strong; dorsal lobe with lateral ramus long, flat, relatively wide, apex truncate, lateral margin strongly serrate, medial ramus short, with variable length (fig. 30A), sometimes present as large spine (fig. 30B). Right paramere: Apical spines tightly grouped, moderately long, discrete, splayed, with basalmost spine stouter than and slightly removed from others (fig. 30C–G); basal lobe with serrate region produced, somewhat constricted, strongly serrate on posterior surface (fig. 30C–G). Left paramere: Long; apex somewhat spatulate (fig. 30H, I). Female: Large, ovate; length 4.00–4.95, width 2.03–2.63 (pl. 1). COLORATION: Antennal segment II, fore- and middle tibiae often paler than in male. STRUCTURE: Costal margin strongly arcuate than male, base of embolium wide. GENITALIA: As in species group except: First gonapophyses: Right greater than left at overlap. Second gonapophyses: Anterior medial surface strongly convex. Interramal sclerite: Posteromedial portion with tumid process abutting ovipositor bulb. HOSTS: The predominance of records indicate that Solidago species (predominantly S. altissima and S. canadensis) are breeding hosts. Five other genera of Asteraceae are also noted from far fewer localities: Ambrosia sp., Artemisia (sp. and A. cana), Aster sp., Eurybia macrophylla, and Leucanthemum vulgare. The Artemisia records are from five localities in Colorado, Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Only the collection event at American Falls, Idaho (00113953) was from a series of specimens (an additional 78, 6♀) and may indicate that in the arid western states this unidentified species of Artemisia is also a breeding host or at least is a significant feeding host. Wheeler (2001) reported personal observations of foliar chlorosis on Artemisia vulgaris as a result of feeding by S. atritibialis. The scattered sampling of nonasteraceous plant occurrences are all considered to be sitting records. DISTRIBUTION: From westcentral British Columbia spanning east across the Prairie Provinces (as far north as 56.86 N in Alberta) to the Great Lakes region, southern Quebec, and Maine. Widely distributed across the eastern and central U.S. as far south as northern Georgia and Alabama, then west to Oklahoma and in the upper Great Plains as far south as Nebraska. Widely distributed in the Rocky Mountain cordillera from Cloudcroft, New Mexico, in the south, north through Colorado to Montana, then west across the Snake River plain to eastern Oregon (map 6). COLLECTION SUMMARY: 1760 specimens (54 % with USI numbers) from 767 collection events. Phenologically suitable collection times occur in April and May for southern localities, June to August for the majority of localities, with the latest collection events in September from northern localities. DISCUSSION: In western females, the body width is not as great and the curvature of the costal margin is not as arcuate as in eastern females of S. atritibialis. Such specimens can be confused with female S. stygicus, but ultimately distinguished by the mostly dark fore- and middle tibiae and dark antennal segment II. These appendages are usually pale in the latter species. When antennal segment II in the female of these species is partially pale, then the pale region is somewhat more diffuse in S. atritibialis and more starkly contrasting in S. stygicus. The length of segment II in the female tends to be shorter on average in S. atritibialis (1.09, 0.93–1.25) than in S. stygicus (1.16, 1.05– 1.28) and the vertex of the female is wider in S. atritibialis (0.72, 0.62–0.78) than in S. stygicus (0.63, 0.58–0.66). Western specimens, especially those from Wyoming, tend to have somewhat longer, more densely distributed dorsal vestiture than eastern specimens. Some males from Alberta and British Columbia have tibial coloration more typical of S. stygicus with fore- and middle tibiae pale and hind tibia black; however, the male genitalia, particularly the endosomal spicule, is identical to male S. atritibialis with all black tibiae. Slaterocoris atritibialis was listed as a facultative predator of Uroleucon caligatum (Richards) and U. nigrotuberculatum (Olive) (Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) colonies feeding on Solidago canadensis var. (as S. altissima) in central New York (Cappuccino, 1987). It was the only predaceous plant bug species in Solidago arthropod community studies. In laboratory colonies, originating from goldenrod, S. atritibialis was also observed to feed on the eggs of Ophraella sexvittata (Leconte) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) (Messina, 1978). The phenology of S. atritibialis in several Solidago studies (Reid, 1974; Reid et al., 1976; Messina, 1978) was earlier than for the sympatric S. breviatus and S. stygicus. HOLOTYPE: USA: New York: Tompkins Co.: Ithaca [42.440566 N 76.496946 W], 23 Jun 1920, H.H. Knight, 18 (AMNH _ PBI 00134026) (USNM). OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED: CANADA: Alberta: Armena, 53.12296 N 112.951986 W, 750 m, 17 Aug 1920, C.E. Hendrickson, 1♀ (00134315) (USNM). Banff, 51.166666 N 115.566666 W, 1615 m, 28 Sep 1925, O. Bryant, 1♀ (00134592) (USNM). Barrhead, 54.117166 N 114.381816 W, 640 m, 11 Jul 1938, R.W. Salt, Trifolium sp. (Fabaceae), 1♀ (00113862) (CNC). Brooks, 50.566666 N 111.90006 W, 13 Jun 1957, Brooks and McNay, 18 (00113851) (CNC). Conrad, 49.526 N 111.976 W, 21 Jun 1951, L.A. Konotopetz, 18 (00113847) (CNC). Coutts, 49.00456 N 111.964056 W, 1073 m, 15 Jun 1952, A.R. Brooks, 28 (00113846, 00115511), 2♀ (00113863, 00317195) (CNC). Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Elkwater Park Campground at Horse[shoe] Canyon trailhead, 49.659896 N 110.317946 W, 1282 m, 03 Sep 1993, M.D. Schwartz, Solidago spp., 1♀ (00113869) (CNC). Drumheller, 51.466666 N 112.70006 W, 18 Jun 1957, Brooks and McNay, 18 (00242558) (CAS), 18 (00113853) (CNC). Elkwater Lake, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, 49.662936 N 110.301676 W, 1219 m, 19 Jul 1956, O. Peck, 1♀ (00113858) (CNC); 20 Jul 1956, O. Peck, 1♀ (00113857) (CNC). Elkwater Park, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, 49.636 N 110.20006 W, 1427 m, 07 Jul 1952, L.A. Konotopetz, Solidago sp., 28 (00113849, 00317194), 1♀ (00317197) (CNC); 14 Jul 1952, L.A. Konotopetz, 1♀ (00113865) (CNC); 29 Jul 1952, L.A. Konotopetz, 18 (00113845) (CNC). Grande Prairie, 55.166666 N 118.80006 W, 26 Jul 1961, A.R. Brooks, 1♀ (00113859) (CNC). Hines Creek, 56.233336 N 118.60006 W, 16 Jun 1961, A.R. Brooks, 18 (00113855) (CNC). Hobbema, 52.832746 N 113.429726 W, 794 m, 11 Jul 1939, R.W. Salt, Trifolium sp. (Fabaceae), 1♀ (00113861) (CNC). Kananaskis Hwy, 50.915556 N 115.141666 W, 25 Jul 1973, L.A. Kelton, 18 (00113318) (CNC). Lethbridge, 49.70006 N 112.833336 W, 28 Jul 1928, G.F. Mason, 1♀ (00113864) (CNC); 07 Jul 1956, O. Peck, 1♀ (00113868) (CNC). Medicine Hat, 50.033336 N 110.683336 W, 14 Jun 1930, J.H. Pepper, 1♀ (00113866) (CNC); 23 Jul 1930, J.H. Pepper, 1♀ (00113860) (CNC). Milk River, 49.133336 N 112.083336 W, 18 Jul 1929, J.H. Pepper, 1♀ (00113867) (CNC). Nevis, 52.330936 N 113.03696 W, 798 m, 27 Jul 1973, L.A. Kelton, 18 (00318771) (CNC). Nordegg, 52.466666 N 116.083336 W, 29 Jul 1921, J. McDunnough, paratype, 1♀ (00113856) (CNC); 31 Jul 1921, J. McDunnough, paratype, 18 (00113842) (CNC); 06 Aug 1923, J. McDunnough, paratype, 18 (00113843) (CNC). North Star, 56.854116 N 117.630846 W, 487 m, 17 Jul 1940, C.L. Neilson, 18 (00113854) (CNC). Onefour, 49.066666 N 110.456 W, 14 Jun 1952, L.A. Konotopetz, Aster sp., 18 (00113848), 1♀ (00317198) (CNC). Red Deer, 52.270246 N 113.804696 W, 856 m, 25 Jun 1957, Brooks and McNay, 18 (00113850) (CNC). Stettler, 52.333336 N 112.683336 W, 03 Aug 1957, A. and J. Brooks, 18 (00113852) (CNC). Waterton Lakes National Park, Belly River Campground, 49.02496 N 113.686736 W, 1383 m, 07 Jul 2005, D. Lang

Fetched live from OpenAlex and de-inverted. Abstracts are not stored in this database: the inverted indexes are 8.6 GB of the frame’s 9.3 GB of text, and the host has 13 GB free.