Fordicidia robusta Distant, 1917

Löcker, Holger, Löcker, Birgit & Holzinger, Werner E., 2009, Revision of the Derbidae of Seychelles Islands (Insecta: Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha), Zootaxa 2221, pp. 1-26 : 10-11

Fordicidia robusta Distant, 1917

( Fig. 5 )

Fordicidia robusta Distant, 1917: 291 .

Types. Lectotype, (here designated), Ƥ (examined), SEYCHELLES, Silhouette: glued on card, labelled “Silhouette ‘08’, Seychelles Exp., (handwritten) 126, (round label with red border) Type, H. T., (handwritten) Fordicidia robusta Type Dist., (handwritten) Spec. figd., Seychelle Islands, Percy Sladen Trust Expedition, 1913-170 (BMNH). Paralectotype, (here designated), Ƥ (examined), Mahé: pinned [head missing], labelled Mahe ’08’, Seychelles Exp., (handwritten) Cascade Mahé 104, Seychelle Islands, Percy Sladen Trust Expedition, 1913-170 (BMNH).

Remarks. The two specimens examined match the features given in the original description. The original description further details the type localities. The specimen from Silhouette was collected in the forest above Mare aux Cochons. The original description does not list the number of specimens collected from Mahé. However, Distant seemed to have at least two specimens as he provides details of two different localities: Cascade Estate, 800–1000 feet and over; high forest behind Trois Frères, 1500–2000 feet. We could only locate one specimen from Mahé in the BMNH. Because the original description does not mention the designation of a holotype, these specimens are regarded as syntypes. The specimen from Silhouette labelled Type, H.T., is hereby designated as lectotype to provide a diagnostic reference for the species.

Other material examined. SEYCHELLES, Praslin:1 Ƥ, Fond Ferdinand, near entrance, on Phoenicophorium borsigianum , 4°21'20''S, 55°45'35''E, 10–50m, 4.xii.2006, [28-1] (W. Holzinger & B. Komposch) ( OEKO).

Description. The original description is accurate. Body and legs yellowish. Head narrow, pronotum about twice as wide as head. Head with crest-like subantennal processes. Frons very narrow, lateral carinae contiguous to near apex. Lateral pronotal carinae and lateral margins foliate, forming a deeply concave fovea. Forewings subhyaline with three dark, discontinuous transverse bands: one crossing the claval area, a second one crossing in the middle of the wing, and the third, broadest, crossing the apical cells. Costal vein with an orange tinge, other veins concolorous with cells. Hindwing more than half as long as forewing. Resting position with wings folded above abdomen. Body length of female 2.0– 2.6 mm, length of forewings 4.5 mm.

Distribution. Mahé, Praslin, Silhouette.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Fordicidia robusta: A habitus dorsal; B head with subantennal crest; C forewing. Scalebar 1 mm applies to figures A, C; scalebar 0.2 mm applies to figure B.