Desudaboides melindae, 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 : 43-45

Desudaboides melindae n. sp.

Figs. 1C–D , 3 , 6 .

Etymology. melindae : dedicated to Dr Melinda L. Moir who collected four of the six specimens of the type series.

Material examined. Holotype 3: [N.S.W.: Rummery Park Campsite, Nightcap NP; 28.59912°S 153.37755°E, 16 Dec 2008, MV light; 363m; M.L. Moir & K.E.C. Brennan] ( ASCU); 2 paratypes 3: [dry rainforest, N.S.W., Broken Head Nat. Res., 28°42’32”S 153°36’52”E, 70m, 15.xii.2008. mv light, M.L.Moir & K. Brennan] ( RBINS); paratype 3: [ NSW, Big Rocky Dam, Nightcap Nat. Pk., 216m, 28°38’15”S 153°20’47”E, 18.xii.2008, mv light, M. Moir & K. Brennan] ( ASCU); paratype 3: [Maroochydore, Qld, 11 Dec. 1984, G. Theischinger] [MJF collection, MJF003027] ( ASCU) coordinates of Maroochydore: 26°39’S 153°06’E; paratype Ƥ: [Bluewater Range, 25.ii.1989, L. Ring] [MJF collection, MJF0003191] ( ASCU) coordinates of Bluewater Range: 18°54’S 145°57’E.

Diagnosis. The species is immediately recognized by the following combination of characters: (1) disc of frons without black spots, small spots only on fronto-clypeal joint, (2) hind wings without red or orange, (3) abdominal tergites black, (4) size more than 25 mm.

Description. LT: 3 (n = 5): 27.1 mm (26.6–28.1); Ƥ (n = 1): 32.2 mm.

Head: pale yellow-olivaceous with minute red spots; black: middle of hind margin of vertex, transverse spot on each side of disc of vertex, frons-vertex joint, small median and small oblique lateral lines along dorsal margin of frons, 4 small spots along fronto-clypeal joint, often 2 small longitudinal stripes on postclypeus ( Figs 1 C–D ); frons marked with olivaceous before antennae ( Fig. 1 D ); labium brown, surpassing hind coxae; median carina of frons obsolete; pedicel large, reniform, green-brown ( Fig. 1 D ); ratio BV/LV = 5.8; BF/LF = 1.3.

Thorax: yellow-olivaceous with minute red spots; 2 small red spots on anterior half of pronotum, posterior half infuscate; mesonotum with row of 5 black spots along margin of pronotum, row of 4 black spots on disc, lateral ones sometimes confluent with spots of anterior row; 2 small black spots near hind margin and large black spot at base of scutellum, latter joining median anterior black spot by black line on median carina ( Fig. 1 C ); small black marks on lateral thoracic pleura; ratio LP+LM/BT = 1.0; LM/LP = 2.4.

Tegmina: slightly more than basal half and costal cell pale yellow-brown, apex hyaline; all covered with large, irregular, brown to black markings; hyaline large patch along sutural margin after clavus ( Fig. 1 C ); ratio LTg/BTg = 3.2.

Hind wings: black with apical 2/5 hyaline, often infuscate in males; elongate pale blue-white markings near base, turquoise in females, between veins A1 and A2, between veins M and SCu and along vein Sc; veins black-brown ( Fig. 1 C ).

Legs: pale yellow-olivaceous with irregular black longitudinal markings; I and II with tibiae black apically and obsolete black ring at middle, and tarsi black; hind tibiae with 6-7 lateral and 7 apical spines black apically; apex of 3rd hind tarsomere black ( Fig. 1 C ).

Abdomen: tergites black with margin finely bordered with pale yellow (3) ( Fig. 1 C ) or pale turquoise (Ƥ); sternites pale yellow-green to pale yellow-brown, with broad basal transverse black marking.

Genitalia 3: see Figs. 3 A–C .

Biology. Four out of the six specimens have been caught at light trap. Two specimens have been captured in a dry rainforest.

Distribution ( Fig. 6 ). Eastern Queensland and NE New South Wales, not far away from the coast.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Distribution map of Desudaboides melindae and D. nigrifrons 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.

FIGURES 3 A – C. Desudaboides melindae, genitalia 3. A, pygofer, anal tube and gonostyle, lateral view. B, anal tube, dorsal view. C, pygofer and gonostyli, postero-ventral view. An: anal tube; G: gonostyli; Py: pygofer. Scale 1 mm.