Gergithus, Stal, 1870

Meng, Rui, Webb, Michael Donald & Wang, Ying-Lun, 2017, Nomenclatural changes in the planthopper tribe Hemisphaeriini (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae), with the description of a new genus and a new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 298, pp. 1-25 : 10

Gergithus sp.

Fig. 5 A–C

G. signatifrons Melichar, 1906 sensu Baker 1927: 403 .

A specimen previously identified as G. signatifrons by Baker (1927) from Siberut Island was examined (BMNH). It differs from the type specimen of G. signatifrons by 1) frons with wide blood-red longitudinal fascia medially and green fasciae laterally from upper margin to the line of antennae, lateral green fasciae curved inwards and connected by yellow transverse band, between it and clypeus also blood-red (the latter frons with red longitudinal fascia reaching metopoclypeal suture), lateral area pale yellowish, with black fascia near lateral margin below antennae; 2) clypeus blood-red medially, yellow laterally near metopoclypeal suture, and black-and-red below (the latter clypeus yellow medially and black laterally); 3) tegmen fulvous with straw yellow veins (the latter tegmen straw yellow).

All of the above characteristics show Baker’s identified specimen to be distinct from G. signatifrons and probably a new species. As the specimen is a female we prefer to wait for males to become available in order to formally describe the species.

Material examined

INDONESIA: ♂, Meita wei , Siberut Island , 2 Oct. 1924, H.H. Karny ( BMNH).

Figures

Fig. 5. Gergithus spp. A–C. Gergithus sp. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, frontal view. C. Habitus, lateral view. — D–F. Gergithus cribratus Melichar, 1906. D. Habitus, dorsal view. E. Habitus, lateral view. F. Frons and clypeus, facial view. Scale bars = 1 mm.