Arytinnis romeria, Percy Csiro, 2003

Percy Csiro, Diana M., 2003, Legume-feeding psyllids (Hemiptera, Psylloidea) of the Canary Islands and Madeira, Journal of Natural History 37, pp. 397-461 : 419-420

Arytinnis romeria sp. n.

(figures 2J, 4, 18B)

Adult

Colour. Yellow-green; forewing clear, veins uniform light brown.

Structure. Surface forewing spinules present in all cells but reduced in cell c+sc, medium density: 40–60 per 0.1 mm 2; apical spines in wing cells cu, m and m, and 1 1 2 absent, or more typically few present in cell r. Antennae short; genal cones very 2

short. Male genitalia as in figure 4F–I; paramere simple, apex in dorsal view contiguous anteriorly and rounded with an acute point. Female genitalia as in figure 4E; proctiger dorsal profile more or less straight or with slight post anal depression.

Adult measurements and ratios. (4 W, 5 X) Total length: W 2.6 –2.8484, X 2.96–3.16; WL: W 2.2 –2.25, X 2.25–2.45; HW: W 0.75 –0.77, X 0.77–0.81; AL: 1.1–1.27; GC: 0.08–0.11; PB: 0.16–0.18. WLPT: 2.84–3.36; GCVL: 0.4–0.58; VLW: 0.39–0.48; WLW: 2.37–2.53; CUR: 1.59–1.84; MR: 0.43–0.53; TLFL: 1.06–1.16. Adult genitalia W: MP: 0.22–0.23; PL: 0.3–0.31; AEL: 0.23–0.24; MSLH: 1.21–1.31; AHS: 0.27–0.28; PLSH: 1.11–1.15. X: FP: 0.67–0.72; FSP: 0.42–0.49; RL: 0.18–0.21; OV: 0.13–0.14; EL: 0.25–0.29.

Nymph

Colour. First to third instars orange-red with black tergites, 4th–5th instars mid-green.

Fifth instar structure. Antennal segments seven.

Fifth instar measurements. (Specimens 4) BL: 1.35–1.63; BW: 0.93–1; WL: 0.52–0.53; CPL: 0.38–0.46; CPW: 0.63–0.67; RW: 0.16–0.19; HW: 0.61–0.64; AL: 0.72–0.78.

Fifth instar chaetotaxy. Head setae simple and narrowly capitate; ocular seta simple, inconspicuous; primary and secondary post-ocular setae distinctly or narrowly capitate. Dorsal thoracic setae short simple. Forewing pad macrosetae seven to ten, distinctly capitate, marginal (four to five larger, three to five smaller), proximal seta short simple or narrowly capitate; hindwing pad with one apical macroseta, distinctly capitate and paired with one small rod seta, proximal seta indistinct from simple microsetae scattered on the wing pad surfaces. Dorsal abdominal pre-caudal macrosetae present on anterior tergites, short simple and capitate, caudal plate macrosetae absent; sectasetae four pairs; marginal abdominal setae (other than sectasetae) three pairs (fourth may be reduced, simple or absent), distinctly capitate; pleurite setae paired capitate and simple. Foreleg without capitate setae; middle and hind legs with capitate setae on tibiae, one (distal).

Host plant. Teline rosmarinifolia ssp. rosmarinifolia .

Distribution. Canary Islands: Gran Canaria.

Notes. The host plant has a southern distribution on Gran Canaria and survives in small, isolated populations but was recently found to be more widespread than previously thought (Marrero et al., 1995). Two subspecies of the host have been recognized but only one was sampled. A. romeria sp. n. was found on one of the two host populations sampled which suggests that size and fragmentation of host populations may effect this species’ distribution.

Biology. Eggs were found scattered on the surface of fruits, at the base of leaflets and on the underside of leaves. Nymphs were observed on the corolla of developing flowers and on developing fruit under the persistent calyx and anther tube.

Etymology. Named both for the harvest festivals (‘romería’) celebrated at the time this species was discovered, and for the likeness of the foliage of the host plant ( Teline rosmarinifolia ) to ‘rosemary’ or ‘romero’ in Spanish.

Type material. Holotype W (slide mounted), Canary Islands, Gran Canaria: base of Risco Blanco , 27°56∞N, 15°33∞30◊W, 1150 m, 18 April 1998 ( BMNH) . Paratypes 14 W, 20 X, 6 nymphs, as for holotype ( BMNH) . 1 W, 1 X, as for holotype ( DZUL) . 2 W, 2 X, as for holotype ( NHMB) .