Olonia hochae Constant, 2018

Constant, Jérôme, 2024, Revision of the Eurybrachidae XVIII. The Australian genus Olonia Stål, 1862: Four new species, new records and biological data (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha), European Journal of Taxonomy 941 (1), pp. 1-51 : 23-26

Olonia hochae Constant, 2018

Figs 12–13

Olonia hochae Constant, 2018: 11 (listed), 12 (keyed), 25 (description), figs 3 (distribution map), 12–14 (male, female, male terminalia).

Diagnosis

The species can be recognized by the following combination of characters:

(1) hind wings without orange marking ( Constant 2018: figs 12e, 14e);

(2) pro- and mesofemora and tibiae largely black-brown ( Constant 2018: figs 12a–d, 14a–d);

(3) anal tube of male oblong with posterior margin narrowly rounded ( Constant 2018: fig. 13b);

(4) centroventral part of gonostyli with long laminate process concave on ventral margin ( Constant 2018: fig. 13a, c);

(5) laterodorsal part of gonostyli with spinose process curved ventrally ( Constant 2018: fig. 13a, c–d);

(6) rather large size: 9–10 mm.

Material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 nymph; Undara Volcanic National Park ; 18°12′14″ S, 144°34′20″ E; 30 Apr.–4 May 2022; elev. 750–800 m; J. Constant and L. Semeraro leg.; on Persoonia falcata ( Proteaceae ); Leopold III Funds exped.; QM • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; RBINS • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Undara Volcanic National Park, Undara Lava Lodge ; 18°12′03.6″ S, 144°34′22.1″ E; 22 Mar. 1997; M. Asche and H. Hoch leg.; Au97-70; MFNB • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Undara Volcanic National Park, near Bayliss Cave; 11 Jan. 1989; F.D. Stone leg.; MFNB .

Distribution and biology

The species was known from a series of ten specimens collected at Undara Volcanic National Park in North Queensland ( Constant 2018: fig. 3), in the Einasleigh Upland Savanna bioregion. The additional material originates from the same locality and the adult and nymph specimens collected in May 2022 ( Figs 12C–E, G–H , 13A–F ) were all found on a single host tree species, Persoonia falcata R.Br. ( Proteaceae ) in a rocky zone around Rosella Lookout ( Fig. 12A–B ). Egg clutches were also found on the leaves of this plant ( Fig. 12F ). When disturbed, the very cryptic nymphs were waving their paired caudal waxy appendages, up and down ( Fig. 12G–H ).

Furthermore, trophobiosis between a female of O. hochae and several ants ( Fig. 13A–F ) belonging to an unidentified species of the genus Camponotus Mayr, 1861 ( Hymenoptera : Formicidae ) was observed ( Fig. 13G–H ); the behaviour of the ants included antennal, palps and prolegs contact/palpation ( Fig. 13C–

F), which are regarded as a way to stimulate honeydew production by the planthopper ( Bourgoin et al. 2023).

The specimens of this species were collected in January, March and May; as all stages, including the eggs, were observed in May, it is possible that adult specimens of the species are present all year long.

Figures

Fig. 12. Olonia hochae Constant, 2018, live specimens, habitat, host plant and development, Undara National Park, 2 May 2022. A. General view of habitat. B. Host plant, Persoonia falcata R.Br. (Proteaceae). C. Male, dorsal view. D. Female, laterodorsal view. E. Nymph, laterodorsal view. F. Egg clutch on leaf of host plant. G–H. Nymph moving its caudal waxy appendages up and down.

Fig. 13.Trophobiosisbetween femaleofOlonia hochae Constant, 2018 andCamponotus sp. (Formicidae), Undara National Park, 2 May 2022. A. General view of the specimen on its host plant, Persoonia falcata R.Br. (Proteaceae). B. Close-up. C–F. Details of the contact interactions including palpation with the legs and antennae. G–H. Camponotus sp. G. Habitus, lateral view. H. Head, frontal view.