Pseudophacopteron verrucifrons Burckhardt & Harten, 2006

Malenovský, Igor & Burckhardt, Daniel, 2014, Jumping plant-lice of Socotra Island (Hemiptera: Psylloidea), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54, pp. 23-61 : 45-48

Pseudophacopteron verrucifrons Burckhardt & Harten, 2006

( Figs 63–69 )

Pseudophacopteron sp. : BURCKHARDT & MIFSUD (1998): 10.

Pseudophacopteron verrucifrons Burckhardt & Harten, 2006: 191 ; MALENOVSKÝ & BURCKHARDT (2009): 30 .

Material examined. Numerous ♂♂ ♀♀, 4 fifth and 1 fourth instar immatures, central Socotra, Hagher mountains, Tudhen, 12°32′42″N 53°59′54″E, 1135 m, 18. and 22.vi.2012, on Commiphora planifrons, I. Malenovský & P. Kment leg.; 2 fourth and 1 third instar immatures, central Socotra, Dixam plateau, wadi Dirhor near Firmihin protected area, 12°28′00″N 54°00′30″E, 340 m, 15.vi.2012, open dry woodland with Boswellia ameero trees, on Commiphora parvifolia, I. Malenovský leg.; 2 ♂♂ 8 ♀♀, north-eastern Socotra, Homhil protected area, 12°34′30″N 54°18′30″E, 435 m, 10.–11.vi.2012, open dry woodland with Boswellia elongata and Dracaena cinnabari trees, on Commiphora parvifolia, I. Malenovský leg.; 1 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, north-eastern Socotra, Kazazhan area, 12°33′48″N 54°19′48″E, 540 m, 10.vi.2012, open dry woodland, on Commiphora parvifolia, I. Malenovský leg. ( MMBC, NMPC; dry- and slide- -mounted and preserved in alcohol).

Description. Adult male and female described and figured by BURCKHARDT & HARTEN (2006) and MALENOVSKÝ & BURCKHARDT (2009).

Fifth instar immature ( Figs 63 , 69 ). Pale yellow with numerous small dark brown markings on body dorsum. Body robust, oval. Body margin and dorsum with large truncate lanceolate setae in following numbers: margin (one side only, except abdomen): head 5–8, prothorax 5–7, forewing pad 12–16, hindwing pad 3–5, abdomen (both sides) 30–32; dorsum (one side only): cephaloprothorax 8–10, mesothorax including forewing pads 8–16, metathorax including hindwing pads 6–8, abdomen 18–22. Eye with 1 truncate lanceolate seta. Antenna straight, directed obliquely forwards, short, 2-segmented, basal segment with one and flagellum with five incomplete subdivisions, flagellum with two rhinaria ( Fig. 64 ). Tarsal arolium membranous, fan-shaped, as large as claws ( Fig. 65 ). Abdomen dorsally with four free sclerites and incompletely fused caudal plate; caudal plate margin broadly rounded. Anus in ventral position. Circumanal ring moderately large, with fore and hind margin close together; outer ring composed of a single row of pores, not sinuate ( Fig. 66 ).

Measurements (n = 4; in mm). BL 0.72–0.90, BW 0.53–0.59, AL 0.15–0.19, FL 0.28–0.31, TL 0.22–0.25, CPL 0.31–0.41, CPW 0.34–0.45, CRW 0.10–0.11. Ratios: BL/BW 1.31–1.53, AL/FL 0.50–0.61, CL/CW 0.86–0.91, CRW/CPW 0.22–0.29.

Differential diagnosis. The fifth instar immature of P. verrucifrons resembles immatures of P. marmoratum Malenovský & Burckhardt, 2009 (sympatric with P. verrucifrons on Commiphora africana in Kenya) and P. stigmatum Malenovský & Burckhardt, 2009 (associated with Aucoumea klaineana in tropical West Africa and South Africa) in the relatively robust body (ratio BL/BW ≤ 1.50), ventral anus, and short, obliquely forwards directed antenna. Lanceolate setae in both these similar species are, however, confined only to the body margin (in P. marmoratum only to the apex of the caudal plate) and are completely missing on the body dorsum, in contrast to P. verrucifrons . The fifth instar immature of P. marmoratum is also larger than P. verrucifrons (BL> 1.0) ( MALENOVSKÝ & BURCKHARDT 2009).

Host plants. Found on Commiphora africana (A.Rich.) Endl. in Kenya ( BURCKHARDT & HARTEN 2006, MALENOVSKÝ & BURCKHARDT 2009); in Socotra associated with Commiphora parvifolia (Balf.f.) Engl. and C. planifrons (Balf.f.) Engl. ( Burseraceae ) ( Fig. 70 ).

Biology. Immatures were found free-living on lower surface of leaves of Commiphora parvifolia and C. planifrons which are quite small in size (only one immature individual of P. verrucifrons per leaf was observed each time). No deformations were observed on the hosts which could be associated with the development or feeding activity of P. verrucifrons .

Occurrence in Socotra. Probably widespread, although quite local on Commiphora parvifolia in open dry woodland on limestone plateaus in central and eastern Socotra and on C. planifrons in montane shrubland on southern slopes of the Hagher Mts. ( Fig. 70 ).

Distribution. Kenya, mainland Yemen ( BURCKHARDT & HARTEN 2006, MALENOVSKÝ & BURCKHARDT 2009); Oman (unpublished record; A. Al-Wahaibi, pers. comm.), Socotra (new record). One of the known host plants, Commiphora africana , is widely distributed in the Afrotropical Region and the Arabian Peninsula ( HASSLER 2014) while C. parvifolia and C. planifrons are endemics of Socotra ( MILLER & MORRIS 2004, BROWN & MIES 2012).

Figures

Figs 63–66. Pseudophacopteron verrucifrons Burckhardt & Harten, 2006, fifth instar immature. 63 – body, left dorsal view with details of lanceolate setae on cephaloprothorax, forewing pad and abdomen, right ventral view; 64 – antenna; 65 – detail of tibiotarsus apex; 66 – detail of circumanal pore ring (right side only).

Figs 67–73. 67–70 – Pseudophacopteron verrucifrons Burckhardt & Harten, 2006, habitus and habitat. 67 – adult, habitus, lateral view; 68 – adult, head, oblique frontal view; 69 – fifth instar immature, dorsal view (alcohol-preserved specimen); 70 – montane shrubland with Commiphora planifrons in Tudhen, Hagher Mts.: habitat and host plant of P. verrucifrons (photograph by P. Kment). 71–73 – Cacopsylla sp., adult. 71 – habitus, lateral view; 72 – habitus, dorsal view; 73 – head, frontal view.