Burckhardtiana, Queiroz, 2025

Queiroz, Dalva L., 2025, Burckhardtiana gen. nov., the first Neotropical member of the Euphyllurinae (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Liviidae), Zootaxa 5727 (1), pp. 58-69 : 59-60

Burckhardtiana gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:

Type species: Burckhardtiana zeus sp. nov., by present designation; gender feminine.

Description. Adult. Small- to medium-sized psyllids, body (including wings) 1.9–3.4 mm long. Head as wide as or slightly wider than thorax, moderately to strongly inclined from longitudinal body axis at 45–90°. Vertex subrectangular or subtrapezoidal, 0.3–0.5 times as long along mid-line as wide between lateral ocelli; hind margin, in dorsal view, weakly concave; covered with transversely imbricate microsculpture and very short setae; coronal suture fully developed. Genae separated from vertex by transverse, sometimes indistinct groove; anteriorly produced into short, apically blunt or truncate transverse processes with two very long and several short setae. Eyes subglobular or transversely oval, slightly narrowed at base giving a stalked look. Preocular sclerite developed as narrow ribbon. Lateral ocelli situated at outer posterior angles of vertex, small; median ocellus visible from above, at the dorsal margin of frons which is developed as small, slightly oval sclerite. Antenna 10-segmented, 1.0–1.2 times as long as head width; with a single subapical rhinarium on each of segments 4, 6, 8 and 9; segment 3 longest segment; proximal terminal seta longer than segment 10. Clypeus broadly pear-shaped; in lateral view, concealed by genae; bearing a pair of long setae. Rostrum 0.3–0.5 times as long as head width. Thorax moderately arched dorsally; covered with microsculpture and short setae. Pronotum transversely ribbon-shaped, with two sublateral impressions on either side. Propleurites partly hidden by eyes, narrow; suture with two dorsal branches; epimeron larger than episternum. Mesopraescutum transversely lenticular; mesoscutum moderately large, weakly arched on either side; mesoscutellum subrectangular with anterior corners ending in a spike, slightly inclined from longitudinal body axis. Mesepimeron flattened or slightly produced, lacking longitudinal edge in the middle. Mesosternum short, weakly concave anteriorly; sternocoxal suture weak; angle between arms of precoxale obtuse. Metapostnotum short and broad, sometimes with blunt or pointed median tubercle. Metacoxa large, bearing moderately large, somewhat knob-shaped meracanthus, without lateral tubercle or swelling above meracanthus; coxal cavity with very small membranous tubercle. Metafemur thickened, much shorter than metatibia; the three ventral sense organs are situated near the base; with a group of thick bristles on outer face distally. Metatibia 0.7–0.8 times as long as head with, lacking basal spine, hardly widening to apex, bearing a posteriorly open crown of 8–10 strongly sclerotised black apical spurs. Metabasitarsus with two black lateral spurs. Forewing irregularly oboval, 1.6–2.1 times as long as wide, 2.1–2.6 times as long as head width, broadly, irregularly rounded apically; membrane semitransparent with light to dark brown pattern consisting of dots and patches; costal break developed; anal break close to apex of vein Cu 1b; veins clothed in sparse short setae about as long as diameter of veins; vein C+Sc slightly widened, weakly evenly curved; pterostigma relatively short and broad, subcoriaceous; veins R and M+Cu of subequal length; vein Rs weakly sinuous; cell cu 1 relatively high and short; surface spinules present in all cells but leaving spinule-free stripes along the veins, much denser in apical third than basally. Hindwing almost as long as forewing; costal setae ungrouped; vein M+Cu developed. Male proctiger one or two-segmented, 0.4 times as long as head width, covered in long setae, strongly produced posteriorly. Male subgenital plate elongate, covered in moderately long to long setae. Paramere, in lateral view, digitiform; inner face densely beset with thick bristles. Aedeagus long and slender; proximal segment strongly curved basally; distal segment long and slender with small apical dilation; sclerotised end tube of ductus ejaculatorius short, weakly sinuate. Female terminalia long; proctiger 1.0 times as long as head width; proctiger and subgenital plate with each a spiniform, serrate apical process ( Fig. 4D, F ); circumanal ring oval, consisting of two unequal rows of pores; dorsal valvula long and slender; ventral valvula broad, with a single large subapical tooth ventrally, obliquely truncate apically; lateral valvula narrow, straight, narrowly rounded apically.

Fifth instar immature. Free living. Body ( Fig. 5A, B ) subcircular, 0.9–1.0 times as long as wide, flattened, moderately sclerotised. Head with moderately sized eyes bearing several ocular setae. Cephalothoracic sclerite large. Antenna 9-segmented, 0.8 times as long as forewing pad, with each a subapical rhinarium on segments 3, 5, 6 and 7; with two sectasetae on segment 3 and each one on segments 5 and 7. Thoracic tergites small ( Fig. 5D, E ). Legs moderately long. Both claws fully developed; tarsal arolium fan-shaped, with petiole longer than claws and unguitractor ( Fig. 5C ). Wing pads large; forewing pad with humeral lobe. Caudal plate large, irregularly rounded or angular posteriorly. Anus in ventral position; circumanal rings vaguely V-shaped, each consisting of a single row of pores; additional pore fields lacking. Body, wing pads and caudal plate bearing narrow, pointed or blunt sectasetae, clavate and lanceolate setae ( Fig. 5D, E ).

Etymology. The new genus is dedicated to Daniel Burckhardt, the leading psyllid taxonomist, on the occasion of his 70 th birthday.

Distribution. Brazil.

Host plant. Roupala montana Aubl. ( Proteaceae ).

Comments. In addition to the three Brazilian Burckhardtiana species described here, there are three undescribed species each from Brazil (unpublished NHMB data) and from Costa Rica (unpublished NHMUK data), respectively, in the material at hand. The species are, as far as known, also associated with Roupala montana .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Terminalia of Burckhardtiana spp., A–C, B. zeus sp. nov.; D, E, B. apollo sp. nov.; F, G, B. athena sp. nov.; A, male terminalia in lateral view; B, paramere in lateral view; C, distal segment of terminalia in lateral view; D, F, female terminalia in lateral view; E, G, valvulae and apex of proctiger.—Scale bars: A = 0.2 mm; B, C = 0.1 mm; D, F = 0.2 mm; E, G, 0.05 mm.

FIGURE 5. Fifth instar immatures of Burckhardtiana spp., A, C, D, B. apollo sp. nov.; B, E, B. athena sp. nov.; A, B, habitus (right side) in dorsal view; C, Tarsal arolium and claws; D, E, thorax (medial area) in dorsal view.—Scale bars: A, B = 0.2 mm; C = 0.02 mm; D, E = 0.1 mm.