Philaenus signatus Melichar, 1896

Angelova, Radost & Gjonov, Ilia, 2024, Twenty-five-year mapping species of the superfamily Cercopoidea (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha) in Bulgaria, Biodiversity Data Journal 12, pp. e 124720-e 124720 : e124720-

Philaenus signatus Melichar, 1896

Notes

Distribution map (Fig. 11 a ) and habitus (Fig. 11 b ).

Literature data: Sofia Plain ( Bajrjamova 1990); Vitosha Mts. ( Nedjalkov 1908). Both records are uncertain as the recorded locations do not match the ecological requirements of the species.

New data: Mesta River Valley; Southern Black Sea coast. Detailed occurrence data: Angelova and Gjonov (2024).

Phenology: May-August.

Altitudinal distribution: 0-550 m a. s. l.

Host plant: In Greece, adults of the species have been collected on various shrubs and trees, especially those of the genera Arbutus and Quercus ( Drosopoulos and Asche 2000) . As of now, the only recorded plant of the nymph and the freshly emerged adults is Asphodelus microcarpus Parl ( Asphodelaceae ) ( Drosopoulos 2003). In Bulgaria, during the early summer, it was collected on a new host plant of Asphodeline lutea (L.) Rchb. ( Asphodelaceae ). Later in the season, when the plant's ground mass had wilted, it moved as adults on to woody species of the genus Quercus .

Additional notes: In Greece, it usually lives in the same habitat as Philaenus spumarius , more often near the sea, but there are also isolated records from the mountains ( Drosopoulos and Asche 2000). In Bulgaria, it has been collected along the southern Black Sea coast and there are also isolated records in the mountains, near the border with Greece. Colour polymorphism is observed. Rare in Bulgaria.

Figures

Figure 11 a. Distribution map in Bulgaria;

Figure 11 b. Habitus - one of several colour forms (photo: I. Gjonov).