identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
03C74D05FF88E35687E6FA1FFE5DFE72.text	03C74D05FF88E35687E6FA1FFE5DFE72.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Nicomia Stal 1858	<div><p>Results</p><p>We found nymphs and females of Nicomia pulchella Albertson, 2005 inside ant-built structures on the main stems of two Inga sp. ( Fabaceae) individuals, near the base of the trunk close to the ground (Fig. 2). The structures extended over 1.5 meters above the ground towards the apex of the plant, each forming a relatively continuous tunnellike structure through which the ants moved inside. The ants aggressively defended both the membracids and the structures, with many ants rapidly running towards the hand or branch used to uncover the shelters and attacking by biting when disturbed.Along the length of the structures, nymphs of different instars were present (Fig. 2b–c), while adults were typically found towards the upper parts of the constructions (Fig. 2d). Individuals were not found in large aggregations but rather dispersed, either singly or in small groups of up to three along the structures. However, along these structures we found more than 40 individuals in total, most of them nymphs. All adults identified or collected in the field were females. No maternal care behaviors were observed.</p><p>The mutualistic ants were identified as belonging to the genus Pheidole, specifically within the biconstricta complex sensu Wilson (2003). Ants from this complex have been described as highly aggressive, forming large colonies, with populations reaching thousands, nesting in rotting logs and stumps on the forest floor (Wilson 2003). In the studied forest in Leticia, these ants can be considered dominant arboreal ants, exhibiting high recruitment rates, colonies with numerous satellite nests, and the exclusion of other ant species (Flórez-V et al., in prep.). Their territories can cover extensive areas of the forest, potentially spanning hundreds of square meters (Dejean et al. 2007). In the study site, other membracids were found on other plants near the host plants of Nicomia, including several species of Amastris ( Smiliinae), Tropidaspis ( Aetalionidae), and a new species of Stictodepsa (Endoiastinae) . In the latter two cases, the membracids were also found inside Pheidole -built shelters.</p><p>Vibrational signals</p><p>In Colombia, signals of N. pulchella were recorded in the field from an aggregation of nymphs and females, with the sensor positioned 20 cm away from both nymphs and adults, while attempting to prevent ants from passing over the piezo. Two types of signals were recorded, including individual clicks and a series of pulse trains that may be an advertisement signal. Most of the signal energy was between 500 and 3000 Hz (Fig. 3, supplementary material). In the field, only females were identified along the structures, but the presence of males inside the shelters, undetected during sampling, cannot be ruled out.</p><p>In Ecuador, one recording of N. cf. jucunda was made from two adults collected from the field and maintained in the laboratory on a cut stem. Two types of signals were recorded, including clicks produced singly or in a series, and series of pulse trains. The clicks were primarily produced while the individuals were moving. Most of the signal energy was between 500 and 4000 Hz (Fig. 3).</p><p>Description of late-instar nymph (Fig. 4): Overall body shape: Body dorso-ventrally flattened; in anterior view arched, excavated ventrally. Surface: Tegument covered with short chalazae, sparsely covered by debris from plant and ant-shelter material. Head: Head with subtriangular frontal processes, lateral lobes extended in front eyes and surpassing them in dorsal view, with large chalazae on anterior margin (Fig. 4c–e); vertex with ventral margin carinate in anterior view (Fig. 4a), most of the vertex dorsally oriented, in ventral view, this makes the supra-antennal ledges appear undeveloped, leaving the antennal insertion completely visible; frontoclypeus ovoid, anteclypeus oval; beak reaching abdominal sternite III (Fig. 4e). Thorax: Thoracic nota lacking scoli; pronotal lateral lobes ventro-laterally extended with emarginate edge that receives mesothoracic leg in repose (Fig. 4b); ventral margin of mesothorax forewing pad emarginate anteriorly receiving metathoracic leg in repose (Fig. 4b) and ventrolaterally extended and straight posteriorly. Pro- and mesotibiae flattened, subfoliaceous, with marginal chalazae, longer at anterior margin (Fig. 4b). Abdomen: Abdominal terga IV–VII with lateral lamellae (Fig. 4c–e) directed posterolaterally, smallest on tergum IV and increasing in size posteriorly, with chalazae with needle-like setae and tuberculate base on margins (Fig. 4c–e); terga III–VIII each with 1 pair of enlarged chalazae near mid line; tergum IX triangular in dorsal view, equilateral, length smaller than combined lengths of segments VI–VIII (Fig. 4c–e).</p><p>Notes on Nicomia pulchella morphology: Female (Fig. 5). Abdomen: Terga with conspicuous pits (Fig. 5e–f). Genitalia. First valvulae (Fig. 5h) with dorsal and ventral margins parallel up to the apical fourth, where they gradually taper into an acute apex; dorsal sculptured area with a linear striated texture diagonal to the ramus, occupying the dorsal half from the apical fourth; pores denser in the basal area and extending over the ramus up to the apex; ventral sculptured area restricted to the apical third; ramus along the midline of the valvula, with the ventral coupling structure extending up to the apical third. Second valvulae (Fig. 5i) with the dorsal margin more or less evenly arcuate throughout, with small teeth along the dorsal margin (after the separation of the valvulae); ramus positioned below the midline and directed toward the middle at the apex; pores forming a band over the ramus, with ducts extending dorsally from nearly the apical half, and ducts also directed apically and ventrally in the apical fourth.</p><p>Examined material: Nicomia pulchella — “ COLOMBIA. Amazonas, Leticia, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-69.89558&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-4.00286" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -69.89558/lat -4.00286)">Antigua Estación Biológica El Zafire</a>, 4.00286ºS, 69.89558ºW, 109 msnm, manual, IA161,Asociado al Formicidae CBUCES-F 16555, Jul. 25/2022, leg. M. Arcángel, C. Flórez-V, M. Idárraga, S. Quintero-M, CBUCES-F 18578 ”. Photographs of the holotypes of Nicomia pulchella and N. jucunda taken by Jérémie Lapèze from MNHN (Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France) were revised .</p><p>Pheidole — Mutualistic ants: “ COLOMBIA. Amazonas, Leticia, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-69.89558&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-4.00286" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -69.89558/lat -4.00286)">Antigua Estación Biológica El Zafire</a>, 4.00286ºS, 69.89558ºW, 109 msnm, manual, Jul. 25/2022, leg. M. Arcángel, C. Flórez-V, M. Idárraga, S. QuinteroM, CBUCES-F 16555 ” .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C74D05FF88E35687E6FA1FFE5DFE72	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Flórez-V, Camilo;Quintero-M, Santiago;Urban, Julie M.;Cocroft, Reginald B.	Flórez-V, Camilo, Quintero-M, Santiago, Urban, Julie M., Cocroft, Reginald B. (2025): First description of ant-mutualism, nymphal morphology and vibrational signals in the genus Nicomia Stål (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Nicomiinae). Zootaxa 5723 (4): 565-576, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5723.4.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5723.4.6
