Lycorma meliae, Lin & Liao & Shiao & Ko, 2023

Lin, You-Sheng, Liao, Jhih-Rong, Shiao, Shiuh-Feng & Ko, Chiun-Cheng, 2023, Lanternflies (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) of Taiwan., Zoological Studies (Zool. Stud.) 62 (7), pp. 1-37 : 13-18

Lycorma meliae Kato, 1929 ( Figs. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 )

Lycorma meliae Kato, 1929: 550 ; Kato, 1933: pl. 3, fig. 5; Metcalf, 1947: 166; Lallemand, 1963: 47; Nagai and Porion, 1996: 21.

Lycorma olivacea Kato, 1929: 550 ; Kato, 1933: pl. 4, fig. 5; Metcalf, 1947: 166; Lallemand, 1963: 46; Nagai and Porion, 1996: 21. syn. nov.

Type locality: Taihoku, Formosa [= Northern Taiwan].

Description: Measurements: body length, male (n = 20) 25.7 mm (22.2–28.5 mm), female (n = 23) 28.9 mm (26.5–32.2 mm); tegmen length, male (n = 20) 22.3 mm (18.9–25 mm), female (n = 23) 25.3 mm (23.2–27.8 mm).

Head: general color brown to black ( Fig. 9A, B, C, D ); cephalic process short, protruding upward and backward ( Fig. 9A, C, D ); vertex broader than long, with 1 pair of dark brown spot on disc and 1 bigger dark brown spot on each latero-posterior angle, lateral margins medially carinate ( Fig. 9A, C ); frons longer than broad, with 2 longitudinal carinae extending from ventral side of cephalic process ( Fig. 9B ); antennae marigold yellow ( Fig. 9B, C ); clypeus longer than frons ( Fig. 9B ); labium elongate, not reaching apex of abdomen ( Fig. 9B ).

Thorax: ( Fig. 9A, C, D ) pronotum brown to black, with 1 pair of dark brown spot on disc and several smaller dark brown spots near each lateral margin; propleuron and prosternum black; mesonotum black.

Tegmina: ( Fig. 9A, D ) basal 3/5 scarlet red to cerulean blue, with several brown to black spots varying in size, sometimes covered with white powder; apical 2/5 brown to black, with veins colored as basal 3/5 of tegmen.

Hindwings: ( Fig. 9A, D ) basal 2/3 pink to light blue, with 2–3 brown spots on CuP vein, 3–5 brown spots on A1 vein, and 1 long patch on disc of hindwing, extending to apical brown area, posterior margin pale brown; apical 1/3 brown.

Legs: ( Fig. 9A, B, C, D ) general color dark brown to black.

Abdomen: ( Fig. 9A, B, D ) general color black; laterosternites and posterior margin of tergites sometimes marigold yellow.

Male genitalia: 9th abdominal segment, in lateral view, with anterior margin strongly concave, dorso-anterior margin acute, dorso-posterior margin angulate, ventro-posterior margin with a small acute projection ( Figs. 10A , 11A ); 10th abdominal segment with ventral margin moderately convex at 1/5 from apex in lateral view ( Figs. 10A , 11A ), apical margin about 1.5 times broader than basal margin, medially concave as “V” shape dorsally but slightly concave as “U” shape ventrally in dorsal view ( Figs. 10B , 11B ); 11th abdominal sternite about 2 times longer than 11th abdominal tergite ( Figs. 10B , 11B ); genital styles longer than 10th abdominal segment in lateral view ( Figs. 10A , 11A ), suboval with a hook on each lateral margin at 1/2 from base in ventral view ( Figs. 10C , 11C ); lateral phallobasal lobes membranous ( Figs. 10D, E , 11D, E ); phallobasal conjunctival processes exposed, straight and sclerotized, about 5 times longer than sheath, apexes inflated, folding backward and downward in ventral view ( Figs. 10D, E , 11D, E ).

Materials examined: Holotype: female of Lycorma meliae Kato, 1929 (examined from photographs, Fig. 12A, B ) [Taihoku, Formosa (July 1924) Col. M. Kato] [ Lycorma meliae n. sp. det. M. Kato] [Type No. 169, M. Kato coll.] ( UMUT); female of Lycorma olivacea Kato, 1929 (examined from photographs, Fig. 12C, D ) [Tattaka, Formosa (X. 1926) Col. S. Issiki] [ Lycorma olivacea n. sp. det. M. Kato] [Type No. 170, M. Kato coll.] ( UMUT).

Other materials: 2 females, Shinten [= Xindian, New Taipei City], IV-08-1932, leg. M. Chujo ( NCHU); 1 female, Kukuan, Taichung, VI-08-1987, leg. W. H. Chen ( NCHU); 2 females, Lishan, Taichung, XI-28-1959, collector unknown ( NCHU); 1 female, Anmashan, Taichung, VII-03-1972, leg. F. C. Lu ( NCHU); 1 female, Xiaowulai, Taoyuan, XI-13- 1987, leg. S. C. Tsaur ( NCHU); 1 female, Huisun Experimental Forest Station, Nantou, XI-1989, leg. J. T. Yang ( NCHU); 1 female, Tianwei, Changhua, II-02- 1987, leg. S. R. Yang ( NCHU); 1 female, Zhongxing New Village, Nantou, VII-12-1975, leg. C. K. Chang ( NCHU); 2 females, Xiaowulai, Taoyuan, VI-20-2002, leg. S. P. Wu ( NMNS); 1 female, Baling, Taoyuan, VII-12-1969, leg. B. S. Chang ( NMNS); 1 female, Yuanyanghu, Chienshih, Hsinchu, X-22-2004, leg. W. T. Yang ( NMNS); 1 female, Piluchi, Jenai, Nantou, XII-04-1991, leg. Y. C. Shiau ( NMNS); 1 female, Puli, Nantou, I-16-2010, leg. T. C. Cheng ( NMNS); 1 male, Jiujiufeng, Nantou, X-20-1985, leg. C. S. Lin ( NMNS); 2 males, Shuangshikou, New Taipei City, VII-07-1982, leg. T. C. Hsu ( NTU); 1 male, Xianjiyan, Taipei, VII-06-1986, leg. T. C. Hsu ( NTU); 1 female, same locality, V-25-1995, leg. Y. W. Lee ( NTU); 1 male, Wulai, New Taipei City, VI-26-1991, leg. H. Yang ( NTU); 1 female, same locality, VII-26-1991, leg. Y. T. Chen ( NTU); 1 male, 2 females, Taiheizan, Formosa [= Taipingshan, Ilan], VII-09-1933, leg. M. Chujo ( NTU); 1 male, 5 females, Shinchiku, Formosa [= Hsinchu], VII-1918, leg. J. Sonan & K. Miyake ( NTU); 2 males, 1 female, Yeboshi, Rato-Gun [= Chihtuan, Ilan], VII-07-1933, leg. T. Shiraki ( NTU); 4 females, Urai (Taihoku) [= Wulai, New Taipei City], VI-24-1933, leg. K. Kobayashi ( NTU); 2 females, Taito [= Taitung], VI-07-1914, leg. I. Nitobe ( NTU); 1 female, Shikikun, Formosa [= Skikun, Ilan], VII-11-1933, leg. M. Chujo ( NTU); 1 female, Experimental Farm An Kang, College of Bioresources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Xindian, New Taipei City, X-19-2009, leg. W. J. Wu ( NTU); 1 female, Sanxia, New Taipei City, IV-27-1987, leg. S. J. Peng ( NTU); 6 males, 6 females, Shinten [= Xindian, New Taipei City], VI-20-1920, leg. J. Sonan ( NTU); 1 female, same locality, VI-20-1920, leg. J. Sonan ( NTU); 3 females, same locality, XII-10-1933, leg. S. Sakamoto ( NTU); 1 male, Suanlianpi, Ilan, XI-11-1984, leg. C. C. Chiang ( NTU); 1 female, Lishan, Taichung, VII-18- 1980, leg. T. C. Hsu ( NTU); 1 male, Neihu, Taipei, IV-20-1978, leg. S. C. Tsaur ( NTU); 1 female, Nanshan, Ilan, VI-24-1988, leg. Y. H. Hsu ( NTU); 1 male, Taroko, Hualien, V-24-1993, leg. C. L. Li ( NTU); 3 males, 28 females, Paiyang falls, Hualien, XI-18-1989, leg. S. C. Tsaur ( NTU); 2 males, 12 females, same locality, XI-18- 1989, leg. C. T. Ting ( NTU); 5 males, 9 females, same locality, XI-18-1989, leg. S. Fang ( NTU); 2 males, 1 female, same locality, XI-21-1989, leg. C. F. Lee ( NTU); 1 male, Wulai, New Taipei City, IX-27-1988, leg. C. H. Tzeng ( NTU); 1 female, Fuhsing, Taoyuan, VII-(10-11)- 1986, leg. K. C. Chou & C. H. Yang ( TARI); 1 female, Litungshan, Hsinchu, X-15-1995, leg. W. I. Chou ( TARI); 1 female, Cien, Hualien, VIII-18-1993, leg. W. I. Chou ( TARI); 1 male, Xindian, New Taipei City, VII-14-2016, leg. W. C. Yeh ( TFRI); 1 male, Taipei Botanic Garden, Taipei, VII-15-1995, leg. J. J. Hsiao ( TFRI); 1 female, Daxi, Taoyuan, VI-20-2014, leg. S. S. Lu ( TFRI); 1 female, Fusan Botanical Garden, Ilan, VI-18-1992, leg. Y. B. Fan ( TFRI); 1 male, Sikanshui, Xindian, New Taipei City, XII-19-2006, leg. C. C. Lee ( TFRI); 1 female, Wuling, Taichung, IX-26-1994, leg. Z. K. Wang ( TFRI); 1 female, Jialuohu, Datong, Ilan, VII-20-2000, leg. W. C. Yeh ( TFRI).

Host plant: Melia azedarach L. ( Meliaceae ) ( Kato 1929).

Distribution: Taiwan.

Remarks: The specimens with transitional coloration sometimes look similar to Lycorma delicatula but can be distinguished by the following characters: (1) L. meliae has a long patch extending to apical brown area on disc of hindwings ( Fig. 13A ), while L. delicatula does not ( Fig. 13B ); (2) L. meliae has apexes of phallobasal conjunctival processes slightly inflated ( Fig. 13C ), while L. delicatula has apexes of phallobasal conjunctival processes strongly inflated and enlarged ( Fig. 13D ). This species performs a series of body coloration transformation during the process of maturation, from scarlet red, pale reddish brown, brown, olivaceous green to cerulean blue. The blue individuals, which were originally named as Lycorma olivacea Kato, 1929 , may be actually the mature stage of the species (J. M. Dow, personal communication, February 13, 2020). The morphology of male genitalia supports the view that L. meliae and L. olivacea are the same species ( Figs. 10 , 11 ).

Figures

Fig. 9. Lycorma meliae Kato, 1929, adult. A–C, Blue female. A, Habitus, dorsal view. B, Habitus, ventral view. C, Habitus, left lateral view (not to scale). D, Red female.

Fig. 10. Lycorma meliae Kato, 1929, male genitalia. A, Male genitalia, left lateral view. B, 10th–11th abdominal segments, dorsal view. C, Genital styles, ventral view. D, Phallic complex, ventral view. E, Phallic complex, dorsal view.

Fig. 11. Lycorma olivacea Kato, 1929 [new junior synonym of Lycorma meliae Kato, 1929], male genitalia. A, Male genitalia, left lateral view. B, 10th–11th abdominal segments, dorsal view. C, Genital styles, ventral view. D, Phallic complex, ventral view. E, Phallic complex, dorsal view.

Fig. 12. Lycorma meliae Kato, 1929, type specimens of the synonymized taxa. A–B, Holotype of Lycorma meliae Kato, 1929. A, Holotype. B, Labels. C–D, Holotype of Lycorma olivacea Kato, 1929. C, Holotype. D, Labels. (UMUT, photographs by M. Yago).

Fig. 13. Diagnostic characters for Lycorma meliae and L. delicatula. A–B, Hindwings in dorsal view. A, L. meliae. B, L. delicatula. C–D, Apexes of phallobasal conjunctival processes in dorsal view. C, L. meliae. D, L. delicatula.