Phymata borica Evans, 1931
Figs 5A–E, 20C. Map 3.
Phymata borica Evans, 1931
Evans, 1931: p721 (original description); Kormilev, 1962: p416 (revision); Henry and Froeschner, 1988: p602 (catalog); Froeschner and Kormilev, 1989: p46 (catalog)
Diagnosis: Recognized from other species of the Nearctic erosa group by the following combination of characters: (1) a very shallow lateral notch of the pronotum, (2) a posterior pronotal angle that is obtuse and weakly developed, (3) a relatively short and blunt frontal process, and (4) pinkish body color (especially in females).
Redescription: Male: Small to medium, total length ~6.93–7.69 mm, width across lateral angles of pronotum: ~2.56–2.65 mm. STRUCTURE: HEAD (Fig. 5): distiflagellomere of male shorter than pedicel + basiflagellomere. THORAX (Figs 5A,D, 20C): thoracic surface matte; anterior pronotal disk without elongated setaceous granulation; posterior pronotal disk punctate; area between lateral pronotal notch and longitudinal carina of the posterior pronotal either with diffuse granulation or devoid of granulation; longitudinal carina without prominent tubercle; lateral margin of anterior pronotal lobe not keeled and inconspicuous; lateral notch shallow; lateral margin of pronotum from lateral notch to lateral angle smooth or with light crenulation; lateral angle small and obtuse; posterior angle small and obtuse; lateral surface of forefemur smooth or sparsely granulated; lateral surface of thorax smooth or sparsely granulated; forewing membrane brown, cloudy, never hyaline. ABDOMEN (Fig. 5B): posterior corners of connexiva of abdominal segment 2–4 inconspicuous/subtle; lateral margins of connexiva of abdominal segments 4–5 convex; lateral margins of connexiva of abdominal segments 3–6 with or without fine granulation; connexivum of abdominal segment 5 less than twice as wide as connexivum of abdominal segment 4; connexivum of abdominal segment 6 rhomboidal, anterior and posterior margin roughly the same width. COLORATION (Figs 5A,B,D): variable; anterior pronotal lobe usually with dark marking; forefemur sometimes darkened; corium with a conspicuous transverse band; sometimes pinkish or yellowish with brown and/or black markings; live specimens may even appear greenish. Female: Medium, total length: ~8.19–8.62 mm, width across lateral angles of pronotum: ~2.89–3.07 mm. COLORATION (Figs 5A,B,C,E): usually pinkish or pinkish-brown with brown markings.
Biology: P. borica has been collected from Solidago L. (Asteraceae), Mimosa L. (Fabaceae), and Sphaeralcea A. St.-Hil. (Malvaceae). Adults are found primarily from June through September. Specimens have been collected at elevations ranging between 1,219–2,316 m above sea level.
Distribution: This species is native to the Colorado Plateau region of the United States and is found across Arizona, southwestern Colorado, New Mexico, and southern Utah.
Discussion: Phymata borica morphologically resembles two other species that are found elsewhere in the southwestern United States, P. luteomarginata and P. paraborica sp. nov., and is closely related to P. rossi, a species with which it is sympatric (Masonick and Weirauch, 2020).
Identification remarks: When viewed dorsally, the abdominal outline of females may appear relatively round (see Figs 5A,C).In contrast to P. luteomarginata, P. borica either lacks or only has diffuse granulation between the lateral pronotal notch and longitudinal carina of the posterior pronotal lobe and always has brownish forewing membranes. Phymata borica males sometimes have darkened forelegs, a trait that is never exhibited by P. luteomarginata or P. paraborica sp. nov. males.
Type information: Only a paratype of this species from the Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum at the University of Kansas was examined. The holotype is housed in the same collection.
HOLOTYPE: Phymata borica, 1931: Male: USA: Utah: Zion National Park, 13 Jul 1929, R. H. Beamer, (KU).
PARATYPE: USA: Arizona: S. Arizona, 32.74976°N, 111.66501°W, Aug 1902, F. H. Snow, 1♂ (UCR_ENT00070065) (KU).
Additional material examined: See Appendix; 41 specimens, including 18 adult males and 23 adult females.
