Laohiracia acuta Constant, 2021

Constant, Jerome & Pham, Thai Hong, 2023, Parahiraciini planthoppers with elongate head from Vietnam: a new genus and species Pumatiracia venosa gen. et sp. nov. and first record of Laohiracia acuta Constant, 2021 (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Issidae), ZooKeys 1166, pp. 103-119 : 103

Laohiracia acuta Constant, 2021

Figs 5A , 6

Laohiracia acuta Constant, 2021: 8, figs 1-4.

Note.

The species was described from Laos, Hua Phan province, Mt Phu Pane, 900-1600 m. It is here recorded from Vietnam for the first time.

Material examined.

Vietnam • 2♂♂, 3♀♀; Thanh Hoa Province, Pu Luong National Park ; 20°27'48"N, 105°07'38"E; 5-10 Aug. 2022; 1700 m; [sweeping]; GTI project; leg. J. Constant, J. Bresseel & L. Semeraro; I.G.: 34.518; RBINS • 2♂♂, 2♀♀; same collection data as preceding; VNMN .

Biology.

The species was found in mountain forest (Fig. 6D ) belonging to the northern Indochina subtropical forests ecoregion, at the summit of Mount Pu Luong (1700 m). The specimens were collected by sweeping and visual screening of the lower vegetation and bushes up to 2 m high; they were sitting on the leaves (Fig. 6A-C ). The trees growing on the summit are considerably shorter (usually <10 m in height) in size than those growing in the well-preserved forests on the slopes and down the mountain (trees> 30 m). This also provides a habitat with more light than in the rest of the forest. The species seemed to be restricted to the summit as extensive sampling along the slopes of Mount Pu Luong and at lower altitude in Pu Luong National Park, did not provide any additional specimen, although other Issidae species were collected (pers. obs.). The host plant is unknown.

Distribution.

(Fig. 5A ) Laos: Hua Phan Province; Vietnam: Thanh Hoa Province (new country record).

Figures

Figure 5. A distribution map of Pumatiracia venosa gen. et sp. nov. and Laohiracia acuta Constant, 2021 B habitat of Pumatiracia venosa gen. et sp. nov. in Vietnam, Pu Mat National Park, 6 July 2017.

Figure 6. Laohiracia acuta Constant, 2021 in Vietnam, Pu Luong National Park, summit of Mount Pu Luong, 1700 m, 8 August 2022 A-C live specimen D habitat.