Jumping plant-lice of Socotra Island (Hemiptera: Psylloidea)
Author
Malenovský, Igor
Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, CZ- 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic & Department of Entomology, Moravian Museum, Hviezdoslavova 29 a, CZ- 627 00 Brno, Czech Republic
malenovsky@sci.muni.cz & imalenovsky@mzm.cz
Author
Burckhardt, Daniel
Naturhistorisches Museum, Augustinergasse 2, CH- 4001 Basel, Switzerland
daniel.burckhardt@bs.ch
text
Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae
2014
2014-12-30
54
23
61
journal article
20299
10.5281/zenodo.5314350
8839e56a-8836-4002-8a03-6fd4ee00cb99
0374-1036
5314350
44343D04-2985-45F4-BA26-4F5C3B481BDAD
Pseudophacopteron verrucifrons
Burckhardt & Harten, 2006
(
Figs 63–69
)
Pseudophacopteron
sp.
:
BURCKHARDT & MIFSUD (1998)
: 10
.
Pseudophacopteron verrucifrons
Burckhardt & Harten, 2006: 191
;
MALENOVSKÝ & BURCKHARDT (2009)
: 30
.
Material examined.
Numerous ♂♂
♀♀
, 4 fifth and 1 fourth instar immatures, central
Socotra
, Hagher mountains, Tudhen, 12°32′42″N 53°59′54″E,
1135 m
,
18. and 22.vi.2012
, on
Commiphora planifrons
, I. Malenovský & P. Kment
leg.;
2 fourth and 1 third instar immatures, central
Socotra
, Dixam plateau, wadi Dirhor near Firmihin protected area, 12°28′00″N 54°00′30″E,
340 m
,
15.vi.2012
, open dry woodland with
Boswellia ameero
trees, on
Commiphora parvifolia
, I. Malenovský
leg.;
2 ♂♂
8 ♀♀
, north-eastern
Socotra
, Homhil protected area, 12°34′30″N 54°18′30″E,
435 m
,
10.–11.vi.2012
, open dry woodland with
Boswellia elongata
and
Dracaena cinnabari
trees, on
Commiphora parvifolia
, I. Malenovský
leg.;
1 ♂♂
3 ♀♀
, north-eastern
Socotra
, Kazazhan area, 12°33′48″N 54°19′48″E,
540 m
,
10.vi.2012
, open dry woodland, on
Commiphora parvifolia
, I. Malenovský
leg. (
MMBC
,
NMPC
; dry- and slide- -mounted and preserved in alcohol).
Description.
Adult
male and female described and figured by
BURCKHARDT & HARTEN (2006)
and
MALENOVSKÝ & BURCKHARDT (2009)
.
Fifth instar immature
(
Figs 63
,
69
). Pale yellow with numerous small dark brown markings on body dorsum. Body robust, oval. Body margin and dorsum with large truncate lanceolate setae in following numbers: margin (one side only, except abdomen): head 5–8, prothorax 5–7, forewing pad 12–16, hindwing pad 3–5, abdomen (both sides) 30–32; dorsum (one side only): cephaloprothorax 8–10, mesothorax including forewing pads 8–16, metathorax including hindwing pads 6–8, abdomen 18–22. Eye with 1 truncate lanceolate seta. Antenna straight, directed obliquely forwards, short, 2-segmented, basal segment with one and flagellum with five incomplete subdivisions, flagellum with two rhinaria (
Fig. 64
). Tarsal arolium membranous, fan-shaped, as large as claws (
Fig. 65
). Abdomen dorsally with four free sclerites and incompletely fused caudal plate; caudal plate margin broadly rounded. Anus in ventral position. Circumanal ring moderately large, with fore and hind margin close together; outer ring composed of a single row of pores, not sinuate (
Fig. 66
).
Measurements (n = 4; in mm). BL 0.72–0.90, BW 0.53–0.59, AL 0.15–0.19, FL 0.28–0.31, TL 0.22–0.25, CPL 0.31–0.41, CPW 0.34–0.45, CRW 0.10–0.11. Ratios: BL/BW 1.31–1.53, AL/FL 0.50–0.61, CL/CW 0.86–0.91, CRW/CPW 0.22–0.29.
Differential diagnosis.
The fifth instar immature of
P. verrucifrons
resembles immatures of
P. marmoratum
Malenovský & Burckhardt, 2009
(sympatric with
P. verrucifrons
on
Commiphora africana
in
Kenya
) and
P. stigmatum
Malenovský & Burckhardt, 2009
(associated with
Aucoumea klaineana
in tropical West Africa and
South Africa
) in the relatively robust body (ratio BL/BW ≤ 1.50), ventral anus, and short, obliquely forwards directed antenna. Lanceolate setae in both these similar species are, however, confined only to the body margin (in
P. marmoratum
only to the apex of the caudal plate) and are completely missing on the body dorsum, in contrast to
P. verrucifrons
. The fifth instar immature of
P. marmoratum
is also larger than
P. verrucifrons
(BL> 1.0) (
MALENOVSKÝ & BURCKHARDT 2009
).
Host plants.
Found on
Commiphora africana
(A.Rich.) Endl.
in
Kenya
(
BURCKHARDT & HARTEN 2006
,
MALENOVSKÝ & BURCKHARDT 2009
); in
Socotra
associated with
Commiphora parvifolia
(Balf.f.) Engl. and
C. planifrons
(Balf.f.) Engl. (
Burseraceae
) (
Fig. 70
).
Biology.
Immatures were found free-living on lower surface of leaves of
Commiphora parvifolia
and
C. planifrons
which are quite small in size (only
one immature
individual of
P.
verrucifrons
per leaf was observed each time). No deformations were observed on the hosts which could be associated with the development or feeding activity of
P. verrucifrons
.
Figs 63–66.
Pseudophacopteron verrucifrons
Burckhardt & Harten, 2006
, fifth instar immature. 63 – body, left dorsal view with details of lanceolate setae on cephaloprothorax, forewing pad and abdomen, right ventral view; 64 – antenna; 65 – detail of tibiotarsus apex; 66 – detail of circumanal pore ring (right side only).
Occurrence in
Socotra
.
Probably widespread, although quite local on
Commiphora parvifolia
in open dry woodland on limestone plateaus in central and eastern Socotra and on
C. planifrons
in montane shrubland on southern slopes of the Hagher Mts. (
Fig. 70
).
Figs 67–73. 67–70 –
Pseudophacopteron verrucifrons
Burckhardt & Harten, 2006
, habitus and habitat. 67 – adult, habitus, lateral view; 68 – adult, head, oblique frontal view; 69 – fifth instar immature, dorsal view (alcohol-preserved specimen); 70 – montane shrubland with
Commiphora planifrons
in Tudhen, Hagher Mts.: habitat and host plant of
P. verrucifrons
(photograph by P. Kment). 71–73 –
Cacopsylla
sp.
, adult. 71 – habitus, lateral view; 72 – habitus, dorsal view; 73 – head, frontal view.
Distribution.
Kenya
, mainland
Yemen
(
BURCKHARDT & HARTEN 2006
, MALENOVSKÝ & BURCKHARDT 2009);
Oman
(unpublished record; A. Al-Wahaibi, pers. comm.),
Socotra
(new record). One of the known host plants,
Commiphora africana
, is widely distributed in the Afrotropical Region and the Arabian Peninsula (
HASSLER 2014
) while
C. parvifolia
and
C. planifrons
are endemics of
Socotra
(
MILLER & MORRIS 2004
,
BROWN & MIES 2012
).