Desudaboides fletcheri, Constant, Jerome, 2010

Constant, Jerome, 2010, Review of the Australian genus Desudaboides Musgrave with descriptions of four new species (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoridae), Zootaxa 2351, pp. 39-48 : 43

Desudaboides fletcheri n. sp.

Figs. 1A–B , 5 .

Etymology. fletcheri : dedicated to my friend, Dr Murray J. Fletcher who sent the only known specimen for study and always kindly supported the work of the author.

Material examined. Holotype Ƥ: [East Ballina, N.S.W, 10 March 1964, I. Bathgate, at light] [MJF collection, MJF003192] ( ASCU) coordinates of East Ballina: 28°52'S 153°35'E.

Diagnosis. The species is immediately recognized by the following combination of characters: (1) frons pale yellow-brown with 2 small black spots at base of disc ( Fig. 1 B ), (2) hind wings without red or orange ( Fig. 1 A ), (3) abdominal tergites 5 to 8 red ( Fig. 1 A ), (4) size less than 24 mm.

Description. LT (extrapolated): Ƥ (n = 1): 21 mm.

Head: pale yellow-brown, with 2 baso-lateral points on disc of frons and frons-vertex joint black ( Figs. 1 A–B ); median and lateral oblique carinae on disc of frons well marked ( Fig. 1 B ); pedicel large, inflated and reniform ( Fig. 1 B ); labium reaching median trochanters; ratio BV/LV = 4.9; BF/LF = 1.5.

Thorax: pale yellow-brown, including tegulae; row of 4 black dots on pronotum, behind head; mesonotum with black dots: row of 7 along posterior margin of pronotum, row of 4 on disc and one on scutellum; 2 small black spots on lateral thoracic pleura; mesonotum black ( Fig. 1 A ); ratio LP+LM/BT = 0.9; LM/LP = 2.2.

Tegmina: apical half hyaline with veins pale yellow-green; basal half pale yellow-green with veins brown; costal cell pale orange-brown; all densely covered with rounded, black spots, often confluent, larger ones with central pale spot covered with white waxy secretion (fig. 1 A); ratio LTg/BTg = 3.25.

Hind wings: apical half hyaline; basal half black with large, ante-basal, milky white patch; white patch marked with black between veins R and M and along claval joint; veins black, vein Sc white basally ( Fig. 1 A ).

Legs: all legs pale yellow-brown with apex of tarsi and of spines of hind legs black; hind tibiae with 4 lateral and 7 apical spines ( Fig. 1 A ).

Abdomen: dorsally, black with sides of tergite 4 and tergites 5 to 8 red ( Fig. 1 A ); pale yellow-brown ventrally.

Biology. The only known specimen has been caught at light trap.

Distribution ( Fig. 5 ). NE New South Wales.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Distribution map of Desudaboides fuscomaculata, D. fletcheri and D. rentzi in Australia.

FIGURES 1 A – J. Desudaboides: habitus in dorsal view and frons in normal view. A – B, D. fletcheri. C – D, D. melindae. E – F, D. nigrifrons. G – H, D. rentzi. I – J, D. fuscomaculata.