Hishimonus phycitis (Distant, 1908)

El-Sonbati, Saad, Wilson, Michael & Dhafer, Hathal Al, 2018, Contribution to the knowledge of selected genera of the tribe Opsiini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 58 (1), pp. 257-266 : 265

Hishimonus phycitis (Distant, 1908)

( Figs 5–6 , 11–12 , 41–50 )

Eutettix phycitis Distant, 1908: 363 ; METCALF (1968: 483).

Hishimonus phycitis : NIELSON (1968: 303); ISHIHARA (1969: 244). Cestius (Hishimonus) phycitis : SINGH (1971: 571); BINDRA (1973: 18). Eutettix phyciitis [sic!]: GHOSH & GHOSH (1994: 30).

Eutettix lugubris Distant, 1918: 60; METCALF (1968: 476). Synonymy

by KNIGHT (1970: 128).

Hishimonus orientalis Emeljanov, 1969: 1102 . Synonymy by KNIGHT

(1970: 128).

Material examined. KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA: ASIR: 1 ♀, Saloos Almanzar W of Baqrah, 4.xi.2013, light trap, 18°47.511′N, 42°01.090′E, 422 m, H. Al Dhafer, H. Fadl, M. Abdel-Dayem & A. El Torky leg. JA- ZAN: 2, Fiyfa, Al Absisa Mountains, 20.iii.2014, suction sampling, 17°15.831′N 43°06.498′E, 1770 m, S. El-Sonbati leg.; 1, same but Al Dayer, 17°20.223′N 43°07.539′E (all KSMA). TABUK: 13 ♀♀ 11, Tabuk City, Maksarin Sahara Hotel grounds, 28°24.566′N 36°35.716′E, 8.iv.2013, ex Dodonaea viscosa, M. R. Wilson leg. ( NMWC).

Diagnosis. Hishimonus phycitis has been adequately redescribed by KNIGHT (1970), DAI et al. (2013) and VIRAKTAMATH & MURTHY (2014). Here we list only the diagnostic characters: Head as wide as pronotum, both greenish yellow, without spots; wings with large brown spot and scattered small patches; subgenital plate gradually tapered at base, with finger-like lobe; stylus with apical lobe straight, preapical lobe not well-differentiated; aedeagus shafts abruptly divergent, with apically enlarged posteromedial lobe.

Economic importance. The genus Hishimonus is known as a vector of Witches’ broom disease of lime (WBDL) considered one of the most lethal plant pathogens and widely distributed in the Arabian Peninsula ( SHABANI et al. 2011, 2013; AL- SALEH & AMER 2014).

Distribution. Iran, United Arab Emirates, Oman, India, Sri Lanka, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia (METCALF 1967, KNIGHT 1970, ZREIK et al. 1995, SALEHI et al. 2007, DAI et al. 2013) and KSA (new records). In KSA, the species has been recorded in low abundance from the southwestern and Tabuk regions and is considered uncommon for Saudi Arabia.

Figures

Figs 1–6. 1–2 – Concavifer marmoratus Dlabola, 1960: 1 – dorsal view of male; 2– dorsal view of female. 3–4 – Phlepsopsius arabicus Dlabola, 1979: 3 – dorsal view; 4 – head and thorax. 5–6 – Hishimonus phycitis (Distant, 1908): 5 – dorsal view; 6 – head and thorax.

Figs 7–12. 7–8 – Concavifer marmoratus Dlabola, 1960: 7 – lateral view; 8 – face. 9–10 – Phlepsopsius arabicus Dlabola, 1979: 9 – lateral view; 10 – face. 11–12 – Hishimonus phycitis (Distant, 1908): 11 – lateral view; 12– face.

Figs 41–50. Hishimonus phycitis (Distant, 1908). 41 – aedeagus, dorsal view; 42 – aedeagus, lateral view; 43 – connective; 44 – style; 45 – subgenital plate; 46 – valve; 47 – pygofer; 48 – female 7th sternite; 49–50 – ovipositor, lateral view.