Scolopsomorpha africana Melichar, 1912

Constant, Jerome, 2009, Revision of the Afrotropical genus Scolopsomorpha Melichar (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Tropiduchidae), Zootaxa 2219, pp. 38-48 : 41-43

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.190028
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6212912
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C6F818-D454-CD77-E5F2-F9C5FE5FAB80
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Scolopsomorpha africana Melichar, 1912
status

Treatment

Scolopsomorpha africana Melichar, 1912 View in CoL

Figs. 1 D–E View FIGURE 1 A – F. A , 5 View FIGURE 5 , 6 A–D View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D .

Scolopsomorpha africana Melichar, 1912: 171 View in CoL .

Etymology. africana (adj., Latin): the name is assumed to refer to the origin of the specimens examined by Melichar. It is possible that the name was chosen in opposition to the North American origin of the genus Scolops Schaum, 1850 .

Types examined. Lectotype Ƥ of Scolopsomorpha africana Melichar, 1912 , present designation: [non Scolops Schaum (Am. Sept.) – rest of the label illegible] [ Scolopsomorpha n g. africana n sp.] [Zool. Mus. Greifswald, II 27357] left hind wing mounted, abdomen in gelatine capsule (ZIMG).

Paralectotype Ƥ of Scolopsomorpha africana Melichar, 1912 : [Nguëlo, Afrika] head and prothorax missing (ZIMG).

Coordinates of Nguëlo (presently Ngwelo), Tanzania: 4°36'S 38°23’E.

Note: a lectotype is designated following the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, in order to improve nomenclatural stability in the group.

Diagnosis. The species is easily recognized by the clypeus and disc of frons dark brown ( Fig. 6 C View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ), the cephalic process slightly curved dorsad ( Fig. 6 B View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ), the lack of dark markings on the sides of the head ( Fig. 6 B View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ), the anterior and median coxae black ( Fig. 6 C View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ) and the elongate tegmina (LTg/BTg = 3.8) ( Fig. 6 A View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ).

Description. LT: Ƥ (n = 1): 13.6 mm. L [anterior margin of eye – apex of tegmina]: 9.7 mm.

Head: yellow-brown; brown-black line on each side of median carina of vertex ( Fig. 6 A View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ); carinae, except median on vertex, and small patch under eye brown; disc of frons and postclypeus dark brown ( Fig. 6 C View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ); median carina on vertex not extending on process ( Fig. 6 A View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ); posterior side black; antennae brown; process projecting antero-dorsad ( Fig. 6 B View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ); lateral carinae of process not fused with lateral carina of frons; ratio BV/ LV = 0.15; BF/LF = 0.27.

Thorax: pro-, mesonotum and tegulae yellow-brown with carinae slightly darker; black-brown lines between carinae ( Fig. 6 A View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ); sides of prothorax with black patch antero-dorsally behind eye ( Fig. 6 B View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ), and brown postero-ventrally ( Fig. 6 C View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ); ratio LP+LM/BT = 1; LM/LP = 1.23.

Tegmina: yellow-brown with small apical black-brown spot; black brown patch basally between Sc+R vein and costal margin; claval joint and veins slightly suffused with red ( Figs. 6 A–B View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ); ratio LTg/BTg = 3.85.

Hind wings: brown with veins and margins suffused with red ( Fig. 6 D View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ).

Legs: yellow-brown with base of tibiae red; coxae I and II black ( Fig. 6 C View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ); coxae III brown; tibiae and femora I and II ventrally with lines of black-brown elongate markings; femora I and II with ante-apical blackbrown marking on posterior side; femur III with ante-apical black brown marking visible dorsally and extending ventrally to half of femur length; apices of spines black ( Fig. 6 A View FIGURE 6 A – L. A – D ).

Abdomen: brown suffused with red.

Genitalia 3: unknown.

Biology. Nothing is known about the biology of the species which has only been collected in the Usambara Mountains ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ).

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Class	Insecta
Order	Hemiptera
Family	Tropiduchidae
Genus	Scolopsomorpha