Arytinnis gomerae, 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 : 429-430

Arytinnis gomerae sp. n.

(figures 11, 19A)

Adult

Colour. Bright green to mid-green; forewing clear, veins uniform light brown. Structure. Surface forewing spinules present in all cells, but reduced in one or more cells, sparse: less than 40 per 0.1 mm 2; apical spines in wing cells cu, m 1 1 and m, but absent, or occasionally few present in cell r. Antennae short; genal 2 2

cones short. Distal proboscis segment short. Male genitalia as in figure 11F–I; paramere apex in dorsal view contiguous anteriorly with inner margin concave. Female genitalia as in figure 11E.

Adult measurements and ratios. (4 W, 4 X) total length: W 2.32 –2.76, X 2.64–2.92; WL: W 1.91 –2.03, X 2.18–2.29; HW: W 0.69 –0.73, X 0.72–0.75; AL: 1.38–1.5; GC: 0.09–0.12; PB: 0.13–0.14. WLPT: 2.82–3.25; GCVL: 0.43–0.57; VLW: 0.43–0.51; WLW: 2.25–2.45; CUR: 1.58–1.77; MR: 0.43–0.52; TLFL: 1.13–1.22. Adult genitalia W: MP: 0.25–0.28; PL: 0.3; AEL: 0.26–.27; MSLH: 1.17–1.3; AHS: 0.28–0.29; PLSH: 1–1.11. X: FP: 0.62–0.67; FSP: 0.4–0.44; RL: 0.18–0.22; OV: 0.14–0.15; EL: 0.23–0.27.

Nymph

Colour. First to second instars cream with red abdomens.

Fifth instar structure. Antennal segments eight.

Fifth instar measurements. (Specimens 4) BL: 1.4–1.75; BW: 0.88–1.03; WL: 0.48–0.51; CPL: 0.4–0.43; CPW: 0.6–0.64; RW: 0.17–0.19; HW: 0.59–0.64; AL: 0.82–0.88.

Fifth instar chaetotaxy. Head setae simple and occasionally narrowly capitate; ocular seta simple, dark, conspicuous; primary and secondary post-ocular setae distinctly capitate. Dorsal thoracic setae short simple and long capitate. Forewing pad macrosetae two to six, distinctly capitate, marginal (one apical, one proximal, zero to four smaller marginal); hindwing pad macrosetae two, distinctly capitate, marginal (one apical, one proximal), apical seta paired with small simple seta; proximal setae distinctly capitate; simple microsetae scattered on the wing pad surfaces. Dorsal abdominal pre-caudal macrosetae present on anterior tergites, long simple and capitate, caudal plate macrosetae usually absent or one to four distinctly capitate; sectasetae three or four pairs (first may be reduced or simple); marginal abdominal setae (other than sectasetae) three pairs, distinctly capitate; pleurite setae paired capitate and simple. Legs with simple setae only, small rod seta sometimes present proximally on hind tibia.

Host plant. Teline stenopetala ssp. microphylla and ssp. pauciovulata .

Distribution. Canary Islands: La Gomera.

Notes. Occurs sympatrically with A. hupalupa sp. n. However, it is rare in collections made at higher altitudes in the laurisilva forest where A. hupalupa is abundant, and it is the only species found on the host in lower altitude habitats of dry sabinar or juniper scrub.

Biology. Eggs were found scattered on the surfaces of fruit and occasionally on leaf buds. First to second instar nymphs were found on fruit and 2nd–5th instars on leaf buds. Many nymphs were found on vegetative plants where they were attended by ants which were observed removing the excreted frass from the nymphs’ abdomens.

Etymology. Named for the endemic status of this species on the island of La Gomera.

Comment. A. gomerae and A. occidentalis may represent an example of ‘horizontal’ allopatric speciation as they occur on the same host plant and same habitat niche, but on different islands. Adult morphology and the unique feature of eight antennal segments in the 5th instar nymph supports a close relationship between these taxa.

Type material. Holotype W (slide mounted), Canary Islands, La Gomera: below Roque Cano, 28°11∞N, 17°15∞30◊W, 300–400 m, 26 May 1998 ( BMNH) . Paratypes