Idioderma Van Duzee

McKamey, Stuart H., Wallner, Adam M. & Porter, Mitchell J., 2015, Immatures of the New World treehopper tribe Amastrini (Hemiptera, Membracidae, Smiliinae) with a key to genera, ZooKeys 524, pp. 65-87 : 74-75

Taxon classification Animalia Hemiptera Membracidae

Idioderma Van Duzee Figs 26-27, 54

Diagnosis.

Head and thorax without scoli; terga IV-V with paired enlarged chalazae, terga VI-VIII with short paired scoli increasing in size posteriorly.

Nymphal description.

Overall body. Chalazal setae short; dorsal contour of abdomen in lateral view linear; scoli parallel. Head. Without scoli; chalazal setae simple, needlelike. Prothorax. Pre- and postmetopidium scoli absent; posterior extension of pronotum not surpassing anterior margin of metanotum. Mesothorax. Without dorsal enlarged chalazae or scoli; forewing pad costal margin straight, without costal chalazae; forewing pad chalazae dense, chalazal setae long. Metathorax. Without dorsal enlarged chalazae or scoli. Legs. Chalazae of tibia on lateral margins and many on dorsal surface. Abdomen. Terga III-VIII ventrolateral margins with single enlarged chalaza; terga IV-VIII dorsal structures increasing in size posteriorly, tallest dorsal scoli about as tall as basal width; tergum IV dorsal scoli directed dorsoposteriorly; terga III-VIII lateral rows not manifested; tergum III without dorsal enlarged chalazae or scoli. Segment IX. Dorsal length subequal to combined length of segments IV-VIII; without dorsal enlarged chalazae or scoli at apex; ventral extension subequal to dorsal extension.

Material examined.

Idioderma virescens Van Duzee, 1 adult, 1 nymph. CUBA, Mi. 8407, VIII-3-59-18112, (USNM); 1 nymph, USA, Florida, Indian River Co., Vero Beach, 31 May 1968, J.S. Haeget, Serenoa repens (Bartram) [saw palmetto, Arecaceae ] (USNM).

Distribution.

Bahamas (South Minini Island), Cuba, Jamaica, United States (Florida).

Biology.

Adults and nymphs of Idioderma virescens aggregate, feed, and develop on Seronoa repens (Bartram) Small (i.e. saw palmetto palm) and Phoenix roebelenii O’Brien (i.e. pygmy date palm) ( Kopp and Tsai 1983). This species is often found tended by several species of ants ( Pseudomyrmex brunneus Smith, Componotus floridanus Buckley, and Solenopsis invicta Buren) and may be a vector of lethal yellowing disease of palm. This is a common and widespread species occurring in the Bahamas, West Indies, and the United States ( Metcalf and Brunner 1925, Metcalf 1954, Howard et al. 1981, Deitz and Wallace 2012).