Pseudophacopteron lecaniodisci, Malenovský & Burckhardt & Tamesse, 2007

Malenovský, Igor, Burckhardt, Daniel & Tamesse, Joseph L., 2007, Jumping plant-lice of the family Phacopteronidae (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) from Cameroon, Journal of Natural History 41 (29 - 32), pp. 1875-1927 : 1913-1915

Pseudophacopteron lecaniodisci sp. n.

(Figures 2C, D, 4F, 5I, 6G, 7G, 8G, 9H, 10G, 12D, 13G, 19, 21F, 22C)

Description

Adult. Colour (alcohol-preserved specimens): body ochreous. Head including vertex, genae, frons, and clypeus with hardly any dark markings. Pronotum laterally dark brown, tubercles behind eyes with light ochreous points. Mesopraescutum with two triangular dark brown macules in anterior two-thirds. Mesoscutum often with four dark bands or entirely ochreous. Metapostnotum ochreous. Lateral sclerites of thorax dark brown. Antenna offwhite to ochreous, segment 3 narrowly light brown apically, segments 4–7 narrowly dark brown apically, segment 8 almost entirely pale, segments 9–10 entirely black, terminal setae white. Legs off-white to ochreous, metacoxa with extensive dark brown markings, profemur and metafemur with dark brown streaks near apex and base, metafemur almost entirely dark brown, only lighter apically, metatibia dark brown basally. Fore wing membrane clear, transparent, with dark brown pattern consisting of a band along distal half of posterior margin (from distal half of the cell cu1 to the posterior tip of cell r2, leaving two small transparent crescents at wing margin in m1 and m2), brown patches adjacent to veins R1, basal two-thirds of R, and apical part of Rs, smaller patches along Cu1b, across medial part of M and on the touching point of Rs and M1+2; wing base indistinctly irregularly infuscate ( Figure 6G ). Veins off-white to ochreous, except for C+Sc, basal three-quarters of R, and dark brown spots in the middle of R+M+Cu1, the M+Cu1 fork, M fork, and Cu1 fork, the touching point of Rs and M1+2, and two spots on anal vein. Hind wing clear, transparent, vein C+Sc dark brown. Abdominal tergites light brown, laterally and on tubercles on dorsum darker brown. Sternites dark brown. Male terminalia with subgenital plate and base of proctiger dark brown, apex of proctiger and parameres ochreous. Female terminalia brown, subgenital plate lighter apically.

Morphology: head, in dorsal view, slightly wider than mesonotum, subglobular. Vertex with microsculpture, matt, about twice as wide as long along midline, rounded down in front (Figure 2C). Coronal suture reduced throughout. Median ridge on vertex raised, distinct. Vertex on either side of the median ridge convex, distinctly bulging. Lateral ocelli lying on small tubercles slightly above the plane of vertex. Occiput in dorsal view narrowly triangular. Preoccipital sclerite narrow; eyes not stalked, in frontal view subglobular. Genae slightly swollen (Figure 2D). Tubercle below torulus pointed, forming an acute angle. Frons narrow, parallel-sided. Clypeus broadly pyriform. Antenna long, slender, segments cylindrical, weakly widening to apex ( Figure 4F ); a single subapical rhinarium on each of segments 4–9; rhinaria elliptic with a wreath of cuticular spines; terminal setae markedly differring in length; longer seta more than twice as long as segments 9 and 10 together, shorter seta as long as or shorter than segments 9 and 10 together ( Figure 5I ). Fore wing moderately elongate, almost parallel-sided in apical half, anterior margin in outer half more or less straight, apex truncate. Vein Rs relatively long. Surface spinules present in all cells except for c+sc ( Figure 7G ). Costal break in apical fifth of C+Sc. Hind legs relatively long and robust. Meracanthus short, acute, pointed. Metafemur constricted medially. Metatibia bearing an open crown of 13–14 unsclerotized apical spurs and two rows of five to seven additional similar spurs laterally. Metabasitarsus bearing two black sclerotized spurs. Dorsal margin of abdomen, in profile, serrate; posterior margin of tergites 4 and 5 medially swollen into a tubercular process. Male terminalia as in Figure 8G . Proctiger relatively long, narrow. Subgenital plate, in profile, slightly longer than high, dorsal margin straight. Paramere, in profile, relatively long and narrow, slightly turned backwards in the middle, truncate apically; in posterior view, inner and outer margins parallel-sided; inner surface covered in fine setae and ca three stouter setae subapically, apex forming a small sclerotized tooth situated posteriorly ( Figure 9H ). Basal segment of aedeagus stout; apical segment relatively long, with a slightly hooked head, almost pointed at apex, dorsal margin of aedeagal head convex; sclerotized end tube of ductus ejaculatorius relatively short, sinuate ( Figure 10G ). Female terminalia as in Figure 12D . Proctiger relatively short, dorsal margin sinuate, apical process short; circumanal ring with two rows of pores, pores of outer row contiguous. Subgenital plate, in profile, relatively long, dorsal margin weakly concave, ventral margin more or less straight, apex narrowly triangular, pointed; in ventral view, rectangular with a relatively long subacute apical process ( Figure 13G ). Ventral valvulae with a few indistinct lateral teeth at apex. Measurements and ratios in Tables I–III.

Fifth instar larva ( Figure 19 ). Uniformly pale yellow. Body relatively slender. Body covered with simple setae, which are long especially on abdomen; lanceolate setae lacking. A simple seta present in anterior half of ocular region. Eyes prominent, with ca 10 distinct ommatidia. Antenna slightly bent backwards, relatively short, with seven segments; two rhinaria on segment 7. Tarsal arolium large relative to claws, with a broad pad and indistinct petiole ( Figure 21F ). Abdomen dorsally on each side with five free sclerites and a completely fused caudal plate; apex of caudal plate broadly rounded. Anus in ventral position. Circumanal ring very small, triangular, composed of a single row of pores. Measurements and ratios in Table IV.

Host plant

Lecaniodiscus cupanioides (Sapindaceae) .

Biology

Larvae live on the lower leaf surface and induce nipple galls, similar to the galls of P. fuscivenosum in structure, but smaller in size. Often several dozens of galls are present on a single leaf ( Figure 22C ).

Distribution

Cameroon.

Material examined

Holotype: „, Cameroon: Centre Province, 20 km E Yaounde´, Soa, 3 ° 579N, 11 ° 369E, 725 m, 15 May 2004, secondary forest, Lecaniodiscus cupanioides (J. L. Tamesse) . Drymounted ( NHMB). Paratypes: Cameroon: 18 „, 6♀, 46 larvae, same data as holotype; 1♀,

Soa, 3 ° 599N, 11 ° 359E, 630 m, 14 November 2005, Lecaniodiscus cupanioides (D. Burckhardt) . Dry- and slide-mounted, and preserved in alcohol ( BMNH, LZUY, MHNG, MMB, NHMB, USNM) .

Etymology

Named after its host genus Lecaniodiscus .

Comments

Pseudophacopteron lecaniodisci sp. n. is similar to P. verrucifrons Burckhardt and van Harten, 2006 , from Yemen and Kenya (see also Burckhardt and Mifsud, 1998) in the fore wing colour, the broad and slightly hooked apical dilation of the distal segment of aedeagus, the relatively long female subgenital plate which is, in profile, apically pointed, and the ventral valvulae with a few indistinct lateral teeth at apex. P. lecaniodisci differs from P. verrucifrons in the following characters: the larger body dimensions; the presence of a large patch on the fore wing adjacent to vein R1 and of a small patch across medial part of M, the larger size of patch adjacent to apex of Rs, the absence of a macule on M fork; the absence of anterior tubercles on vertex; the long terminal setae on antenna, which are markedly different in length; the long and narrow paramere with apex slightly turned backwards; the female proctiger relatively shorter; the circumanal ring with two rows of pores; the female subgenital plate, in ventral view, rectangular with long subacute apical process; the host plant association.

P. verrucifrons is characterized as follows: WL50.93–1.09; fore wing membrane at apex of vein R1 and in the middle of M is clear, patch at apex of Rs is small, there is a small patch on M fork; vertex anteriorly bearing two tubercles; terminal setae on antenna subequal and shorter than segments 9 and 10 together; paramere short and stout ( PL50.11 ) with posterior margin more or less straight; female proctiger relatively long; circumanal ring with only one row of pores; female subgenital plate, in ventral view, narrowly triangular, more or less regularly narrowing to a truncate apex; host plant is Commiphora africana (Burseraceae) . Material of P. verrucifrons examined: holotype, „, Yemen, Al Kadan, May 2002, in light trap (A. van Harten and T. Abdul-Haq) ( NHMB, dry-mounted); paratypes: 2 „, 2♀, Al Lahima, 1 January to 9 June 2001, in Malaise trap (A. van Harten); 1 „, 1♀, same data but 9 April to 5 June 2001; 2 „, 1♀, Al Rujum, 9 April to 5 June 2001, in Malaise trap (A. van Harten); 2♀, 12 km NW Mannakhah, 27 March to 5 May 2002, Malaise trap (A. van Harten); 1 „, Taizz, 26–28 May 1998, in light trap (A. van Harten and A. Awad); 1♀, Taizz, 20 October 1991 (A. van Harten). 3 „, 11♀, Kenya: Namanga, S slope of Ol Doinya Orok , 5–6 June 1974, ca 5500 feet, beaten from Commiphora africana (D. Hollis) . Dry- and slide-mounted ( BMNH, MHNG, NHMB) .

Figures

Figure 4. Pseudophacopteron spp. (A) P. cuniculus; (B) P. nothospondiadis; (C) P. fuscivenosum; (D) P. electum; (E) P. morion; (F) P. lecaniodisci; (G) P. pusillum; (H) P. eastopi. (A–H) Antenna. Scale bars: a (A–D, F–H); b (E).

Figure 5. Pseudophacopteron spp. (A) P. cuniculus; (B) P. kala; (C) P. nothospondiadis; (D) P. pusillum; (E) P. eastopi; (F) P. fuscivenosum; (G) P. electum; (H) P. morion; (I) P. lecaniodisci. (A–I) Antennal segments 9 and 10.

Figure 6. Pseudophacopteron spp. (A) P. cuniculus; (B) P. kala; (C) P. nothospondiadis; (D) P. fuscivenosum; (E) P. electum; (F) P. morion; (G) P. lecaniodisci; (H) P. pusillum; (I) P. eastopi. (A–I) Fore wing pattern. Scale bars: 0.4 mm (A, B, E); 0.3 mm (C, D, G, H); 0.2 mm (F, I).

Figure 7. Pseudophacopteron spp. (A) P. cuniculus; (B) P. kala; (C) P. nothospondiadis; (D) P. fuscivenosum; (E) P. electum; (F) P. morion; (G) P. lecaniodisci; (H) P. pusillum; (I) P. eastopi. (A–I) Fore wings, distribution of surface spinules (delimited by dashed lines).

Figure 8. Pseudophacopteron spp. (A) P. cuniculus; (B) P. kala; (C) P. nothospondiadis; (D) P. fuscivenosum; (E) P. electum; (F) P. morion; (G) P. lecaniodisci; (H) P. pusillum; (I) P. eastopi. (A–I) Male terminalia, in profile. Scale bars: a (A); b (B–E, G–I); c (F).

Figure 9. Pseudophacopteron spp. (A, B) P. cuniculus; (C) P. kala; (D) P. nothospondiadis; (E) P. fuscivenosum; (F) P. electum; (G) P. morion; (H) P. lecaniodisci; (I) P. pusillum; (J) P. eastopi. (A) Paramere, in posterior view; (B–J) paramere, in profile, inner surface. Scale bars: a (A, B); b (C–E, H–J); c (F); d (G).

Figure 10. Pseudophacopteron spp. (A) P. cuniculus; (B) P. kala; (C) P. nothospondiadis; (D) P. fuscivenosum; (E) P. electum; (F) P. morion; (G) P. lecaniodisci; (H) P. pusillum; (I) P. eastopi. (A–I) Distal segment of aedeagus, in profile. Scale bars: a (A–E, G–I); b (F).

Figure 12. Pseudophacopteron spp. (A) P. fuscivenosum; (B) P. electum; (C) P. morion; (D) P. lecaniodisci; (E) P. eastopi; (F) P. pusillum. (A–F) Female terminalia, in profile. Scale bars: a (A, B, D–F); b (C).

Figure 13. Pseudophacopteron spp. (A) P. cuniculus; (B) P. kala; (C) P. nothospondiadis; (D) P. fuscivenosum; (E) P. electum; (F) P. morion; (G) P. lecaniodisci; (H) P. pusillum; (I) P. eastopi. (A–I) Female subgenital plate, in ventral view.

Figure 19. Pseudophacopteron lecaniodisci, fifth instar larva: left dorsal and right ventral surfaces.

Figure 21. Pseudophacopteron spp. (A) P. cuniculus; (B) P. nothospondiadis; (C) P. fuscivenosum; (D) P. electum; (E) P. morion; (F) P. lecaniodisci; (G) P. pusillum. (A–G) Fifth instar larva; tibiotarsus apex.

Figure 22. Pseudophacopteron spp. (A) P. fuscivenosum, galls on Deinbollia sp., upper leaf surface; (B) P. fuscivenosum, galls on Deinbollia sp., lower leaf surface; (C) P. lecaniodisci, galls on Lecaniodiscus cupanioides, upper leaf surface; (D, E) P. morion, deformations on Santiria trimera; (F) P. nothospondiadis, deformations on Nothospondias staudtii.