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Title: A new species of Pycnoderiella (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) from the West Indies

Author
item Henry, Thomas

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/2009
Publication Date: 8/15/2009
Citation: Henry, T.J. 2009. A new species of Pycnoderiella (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) from the West Indies. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 111:(3)603-608.

Interpretive Summary: Plant bugs, such as lygus bugs and the cotton fleahopper, are important pests causing millions of dollars in losses annually to agricultural crops. This paper provides information on a new plant bug from Cuba and Jamaica that is closely related to a species that occurs at one locality in the eastern United States. Although the host plant of this new plant bug is unknown, all members of this group with known hosts cause severe foliar discoloration and spotting. This paper presents a description and illustrations of the adult male and female, distribution, and an identification key to facilitate recognition. This information will be valuable to agricultural researchers, extension specialists, and quarantine officers at US ports-of-entry needing identification of potential crop pests.

Technical Abstract: The new eccritotarsine plant bug Pycnoderiella insularis, n. sp. is described from Cuba and Jamaica and compared with the type species of Pycnoderiella Henry, P. virginiana Henry, known from only a restricted coastal area of Virginia, in the eastern United States. Color dorsal and lateral adult images, illustrations of male genitalia, and a key are provided to facilitate recognition. The relationship of Pycnoderiella with other New World eccritotarsine Bryocorinae is discussed.