Hishimonus phycitis (Distant)

Dai, Wu, Fletcher, Murray J. & Zhang, Yalin, 2013, First records of the genus Hishimonus Ishihara from Thailand (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Opsiini) including description of three new species, Zootaxa 3670 (3), pp. 301-316 : 308-311

Hishimonus phycitis (Distant)

( Figs. 2 A, 2D, 6A–F)

Eutettix phycitis Distant 1908: 363 . Lectotype female, designated by Knight 1970a: 129, Calcutta, India, 19.viii.1907, Distant Coll. 1911–383 (BMNH).

Eutettix lugubris Distant 1918: 60 . Holotype female, Kokaikanal, South India, T.V. Campbell (BMNH). Synonymised by Knight 1970a: 128.

Hishimonus orientalis Emeljanov 1969: 1102 . Holotype, male, India, New Delhi, 4.vii.– 5.viii.1958, Alexandrov. Synonymised by Knight 1970a: 128.

Hishimonus phycitis (Distant) , Knight 1970a: 128

Material examined: THAILAND: 3 males, 3 females, Phetchabun Khao Kho NP, mix deciduous, 16o39.58’N 101o8.134’E, 220m, malaise trap 19–26.ii.2007, Somchai Chachumnan & Saink Sington, T1608; 1 male, 2 females, same data as previous but 5–12.ii.2007, T1602; 1 male, 3 females, same data as previous but 16o39.589’N 101o8.185’E 168m, 12–19.i.2007, T1395; 2 females, same data as previous but 19–25.i.2007, T1398; 1 female, same data as previous but 16o39.572’N 101o8.194’S, 171m, 5–12.i.2007, T1391; 1 female, same data as previous but 16o39.479’N 101o8.105’E, 260m, 26.ii–5.iii.2007, T1609; 1 male, Ubon Ratchathani Pha Taem NP Phu Krajeaw foothill, 15o39.989’N 105o30.468’E, 238m, malaise trap 2–9.vi.2007, Tongcam & Bartu, T2206; 1 male, Sakon Nakhon Pha Taem NP, dry evergreen, 16o48.628’N 103o53.591’E, 522m, malaise trap 10–16.vi.2007, Winton Kongnara, T2496; 1 male, Chaiyaphum Pa Hin Ngam NP, Dry dipterocarp, 15o38.099’N 101o23.921’E, 698m, malaise trap 5–11.viii.2006, K. Sa-nog & B. Adnafai, T442; 1 female, Loei Phu Ruea NP office, 17o28.826’N 101o21.33’E, 860m, malaise trap 26.vii–2.viii.2006, Nukoonchai Jaroenchai, T320 ( QSBG).

Description. Head and thorax pale greenish yellow, usually unmarked. Abdomen evenly pale ventrally or dark with pale mottling. Tegmen brownish with darker mottling denser apically and with series of dark spots inside costal margin. Dorsal brown patch of more even texture than rest of tegmen, often with median patch pale to form donut-shaped dorsal marking when tegmina folded.

Male genitalia. Subgenital plates broadly rounded at base, evenly rounded to base of posterior fingerlike lobes. Parameres with apical lobe elongate, curved slightly posteriorly to be almost parallel with opposing paramere lobe. Connective with arms about as long as stem. Aedeagus with shafts widely divergent, broad throughout, apically obliquely truncate with apical enlarged posteromedial lobe.

Comments. This species is reasonably distinctive in the Thai fauna in having broad aedeagal shafts without obvious processes. The pale greenish yellow head and thorax contrasts with the brown coloured tegmina in most specimens, some having less brown on the tegmina. The species was recorded from China (Fuzhou, Macao, Taiwan, Hong Kong), Malaysia, India and Sri Lanka by Knight (1970a) and it is not surprising that the species also occurs in Thailand. The economic importance of this species as a vector of little leaf phytoplasma of Brinjal (eggplant) may have implications for Thailand.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Species of Thailand Hishimonus. A, D, H. phycitis; B, E, H. pallidus sp. nov.; C, F, H. diffractus sp. nov.. [A – C. Habitus, dorsal view; D – F. Habitus, latero-dorsal view].