Flavina quangi, Constant & Pham, 2024

Constant, Jérôme & Pham, Hong Thai, 2024, Issid planthoppers from Bach Ma and Phong Dien in Central Vietnam. I. Tribe Parahiraciini (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 975, pp. 1-64 : 29-36

Flavina quangi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E7483D65-1D70-4F06-AB40-CD01296EA0DE

Figs 1 , 2D , 15–18

Diagnosis

Flavina quangi sp. nov. can be recognized by:

(1) the moderately narrow dorsal margin of the frons, equal to 0.34 of the length of the frons in midline;

(2) the vertex without median carina;

(3) the pronotum with obsolete median carina;

(4) the mesonotum without median carina and with peridiscal carinae very weakly marked;

(5) the pygofer subquadrate in lateral view, with ventral ⅓ of posterior margin deeply emarginate, and dorsal ⅔ slightly concave;

(6) the anal tube with apical margin truncate (slightly concave) and lateral lobes well developed, angularly rounded apically and directed posteroventrad;

(7) the capitulum of the gonostylus massive, wide, subtriangular (about as high as wide), dorsally hooked cephalodorsad, and with wide, rather short neck;

(8) the lateroventral processes of the aedeagus elongate, rather wide in basal portion and directed mesocephalad (weakly sinuate), then tapering, curved laterocephalad and pointed apically.

Differential diagnosis

The identification key to the species of Flavina proposed by Zhang et al. (2010) leads to F. walkeri , described from “ India ”. However, from the description and illustrations provided by Signoret (1861), F. walkeri differs by the vertex more than 1.5 times as wide as long (about 1.1 times as long as wide in F. quangi sp. nov.), the pronotum densely tuberculate on disc and along anterior margin (no tubercles on pronotum in F. quangi ), the yellowish abdomen (dark brown in F. quangi ) and the seven lateral spines of the metatibiae (3–4 in F. quangi ). The species also shares a number of characters with F. lami sp. nov., also found in Bach Ma National park, but can be separated from the latter by a larger size (LT = 8.0 mm minimum; 6.6 mm in F. lami ), the hind margin of the pygofer in lateral view weakly concave in dorsal ⅔, then strongly emarginate in ventral ⅓ (broadly rounded in F. lami ) and the emarginate apical margin of the anal tube of the male in dorsal view (round in F. lami ).

Etymology

The species epithet is a patronym dedicated to Quang Thanh Nguyễn, one of the rangers who helped us during the fieldwork in Bach Ma National Park.

Type material

Holotype

VIETNAM • ♂; Th ừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park, summit; 16°11′18″ N, 107°50′56″ E; 11–21 May 2023; 1300–1400 m a.s.l.; J. Constant and L. Semeraro leg.; VNMN.

Paratypes

VIETNAM – Th ừa Thiên-Huế Province • 3 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; VNMN • 8 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; I.G.: 34.640; RBINS • 3 ♀♀; Bach Ma National Park, road to Bach Ma Peak ; 16°11′45.73″ N, 107°51′46.34″ E; May 2023; 1325 m a.s.l.; [by] net; Hoai leg.; VNMN • 1 ♀; Bach Ma National Park, stairs going up to Hai Vong Dai ; 16°11′53.77″ N, 107°51′26.92″ E; May 2023; 1272 m a.s.l.; [by] net; Hoai leg.; VNMN • 2 ♀♀; Bach Ma National Park, Pheasant trail; 16°13′41.18″ N, 107°51′16.82″ E; 15 Sep. 2024; 344 m a.s.l.; [by] net; Hoai leg.; VNMN • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Bach Ma National Park, road to Bach Ma Peak ; 16°11′45.73″ N, 107°51′46.34″ E; 14 Sep. 2024; 1325 m a.s.l.; [by] net; Hoai leg.; VNMN .

Description

MEASUREMENTS AND RATIOS. LT: ♂ (n = 5): 8.4 mm (8.0–8.6), ♀ (n = 5): 9.3 mm (9.1–9.6); LT/BB = 1.80; LTg/BTg = 2.53; LW/BW = 1.48; BV/LV = 1.13; LF/BF = 1.63.

HEAD ( Fig. 16A–D ). Narrower than thorax and moderately elongate, with less than half of vertex length surpassing eyes. Vertex variegated brown with median line and basal portion of lateral carinae paler, sometimes also a narrow line behind anterior margin, strongly concave (longitudinally grooved), about 0.88 times as long in midline as broad basally, with sides weakly, evenly converging towards somewhat angular apex; median carina absent; all margins carinate, lateral ones strongly elevated; posterior margin angularly concave. Frons variegated brown, with dense, yellowish, minute pitting, darker along dorsal margin; series of small yellowish tubercles along lateral margins; often a yellowish marking in middle of frons; median carina well marked, extending from dorsal margin to slightly before clypeal suture; dorsal margin rather strongly concave and moderately narrow, 0.34 times as wide as length of frons in midline. Posterior side of head yellowish brown. Genae yellowish with brown to black-brown markings, at anterodorsal angle, anterior to base of antennae, and along clypeal suture. Clypeus more or less coloured as frons with pale median stripe, flat in middle portion, moderately elongate, subtriangular with fronto-clypeal suture rounded; anteclypeus yellowish, brown apically, with median blunt carina. Labium yellowish, elongate and narrow, slightly surpassing mesocoxae, with apical segment elongate, nearly as long as penultimate. Eyes reniform (not emarginate) protruding laterally; ocelli absent. Antennae rather short with scape yellowish, ring-shaped and pedicel dark brown on anterior face and yellowish on posterior one, barrel-shaped, slightly longer than broad.

THORAX ( Fig. 16A–D ). Pronotum with disc (delimited by peridiscal carina) variegated yellowish brown, usually with rather wide median brown band, smooth, with central depression with two brown impressed points; some more or less distinct yellowish tubercles on disc, along posterior margin of lateral fields and at posterodorsal angles of paranotal lobes; wide dark brown area on dorsal portion of lateral fields, continued on most surface of paranotal lobes; paranotal lobes usually with yellowish marking in middle of ventral portion; 0.60 times as long as mesonotum in midline; anterior margin strongly protruding in round angle anteriorly between eyes, with carinae directed obliquely posteriorly, not reaching hind margin of pronotum; posterior margin weakly rounded, slightly elevated; median carina obsolete; paranotal lobes (lateral view) broad with hind margin rounded, angularly rounded posteroventrally. Mesonotum variegated yellowish brown, with paler scutellum; subtriangular with nearly complete transverse anterior carina and with obsolete median carina; peridiscal carina weakly marked; disc smooth, slightly depressed in midline. Tegulae dark brown.

TEGMINA ( Figs 15A–C , 18 ). Variegated yellowish brown, sometimes washed with green, with more or less extensive, scattered, irregular blackish brown markings; sometimes with more or less distinct subtriangular paler area before midlength; tegmina subcoriaceous with longitudinal veins elevated and with dense reticulum of paler veinlets; shape elongate and convex with sides broadly rounded, subparallel in middle portion, about 2.5 times as long as wide; rather narrowly rounded apically. Postclaval margin straight, slightly notched at apex of clavus. Clavus closed, reaching about 3/5 of tegmen. Venation ( Fig. 15A, C ): ScP+R moderately developed, forking into subparallel ScP+RA and RP; MP forking rather close to base into diverging MP 1 and MP 2+3; MP 2 and MP 3 separated at about 2/5 of tegmen length, MP 2 and MP 3 running subprallel to MP 1; CuA unforked, parallel to claval joint and curved at apex of clavus, then parallel to postclaval margin; Pcu fused with A1 at ⅔ of clavus length; Pcu+A1 fused with CuP slightly before apex of clavus.

HIND WINGS ( Fig. 16E ). Dark brown with paler areas along costal margin following vein ScP+R, and along basal portion of Pcu; veins mostly coloured darker than background; wing broader than tegmen and deeply bilobed at CuP; costal margin rather weakly sinuate; CuP-Pcu-A1 lobe nearly 1.5 times as wide as ScP-R-MP-CuA lobe, the two lobes almost the same length; both lobes somewhat angularly rounded apically; postclaval margin broadly rounded; A2 lobe brown, reduced and narrow. Venation: main veins present, dense network of cross-veins; ScP+R parallel to costal margin; MP and CuA running more or less parallel; Pcu rather strongly curved before basal half of wing towards CuP; A1 curved, more or less parallel to postclaval margin; vein A2 distinct.

LEGS ( Fig. 15A–E ). Coxae yellowish with anterior margin brown; trochanters variegated yellowish and brown. Pro- and mesofemora yellowish with brown wide median, and anteapical rings; ventral face darker than dorsal; elongate, rather slender and slightly flattened dorsoventrally. Pro- and mesotibiae yellowish with brown more or less distinct subbasal ring; apex brown; tibiae weakly flattened dorsoventrally, narrower and longer than corresponding femora. Pro- and mesotarsi elongate and brown. Metafemora yellowish with ventral apical marking and elongate marking along anterior face, brown. Metatibiae yellowish, with one lateral spine near base (sometimes weak to obsolete), 2 lateral spines in distal half, and 8 apical spines, all spines brown, apically black. First metatarsomere elongate and slender, with a strong spine at each side and a row of 6 smaller spines in between ventrally along posterior margin; second metatarsomere short with one spine at each side, all spines black-brown apically. Metatibiotarsal formula: (2–3) 8 / 8 / 2.

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 15B ). Brown with basal segment yellowish.

MALE TERMINALIA. Pygofer (Py – Fig. 9A–D ) massive, about 1.8 times as high as long (at ventral ⅓) in lateral view, with anterior margin weakly sinuate and posterior margin, along dorsal ⅔ more or less oblique and weakly concave then abruptly rounded at posterodorsal angle, in ventral ⅓, rather strongly excavate; posterior margin dorsally with deep, open-U-shaped excavation. Gonostyli (G – Fig. 9A–C ) (in lateral view) longer than high (without dorsal capitulum), projecting posteriorly in distinct elongate lobe rounded apically and with ventral margin broadly rounded; capitulum (ca – Fig. 9A–C ) massive, wide, subtriangular (about as high as wide), slightly twisted, dorsally hooked cephalodorsad, and with wide, rather short neck with posterior margin rounded, and with basal lamina projection directed lateroventrad in caudal view. Aedeagus ( Fig. 9E–J ) symmetrical, evenly curved dorsad (in lateral view); pair of lateroventral processes (lvp) elongate, rather wide in basal portion and directed mesocephalad (weakly sinuate), then tapering, curved laterocephalad and pointed apically; ventral lobe of periandrium (vl) rather wide, spatulate, weakly notched apically, shorter than aedeagus (ae) and dorsal lobe (dl); aedeagus bilobed apically, each lobe with apical subtriangular process pointing laterocephalad. Connective (co) well developed, elongate, curved, with tectiductus (te) well developed, widely open. Anal tube (An – Fig. 9A–D ) dorsoventrally flattened, in dorsal view widening from base towards apex in proximal half, then abruptly narrowing with apical margin truncate (slightly concave); lateral lobes well developed, angularly rounded apically and directed posteroventrad; anal opening before basal ½.

FEMALE TERMINALIA. Hind margin of sternum VII (St VII – Fig. 16F ) concave, moderately inflated in middle portion.

Biology

Flavina quangi sp. nov. was collected in May and September, in montane evergreen tropical forest, at about 1300–1400 m a.s.l., near the summit ( Fig. 2D ), and in September in lowland evergreen forest in Bach Ma, at altitudes around 300-400 m a.s.l. ( Fig. 2A ). The species seemed rather common at that moment and specimens were collected on tree trunks densely covered in lichens and mosses while a few were also found sitting on leaves of lower plants and bushes ( Fig. 18 ). However, previous fieldwork in July 2011 and April 2017 at the same locality did not provide any specimens. When disturbed, they tend to walk away and hide on the opposite side of the trunk or branch, and jump away as a last solution.

Distribution

Vietnam: Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park ( Fig. 1 ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Map of the sampled localities in Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Vietnam.

Fig. 2. Typical habitats in Bach Ma National Park, May 2023. A. Pheasant trail. B. Roadside (1200– 1300 m a.s.l.). C. Rhododendron trail. D. Summit (1300–1400 m a.s.l.).

Fig. 15. Flavina quangi sp. nov., dissected holotype, ♂ (VNMN). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Habitus, lateral view. D. Right hind leg, ventral view. E. Metatarsus and apex of metatibia, ventral view.

Fig. 16. Flavina quangi sp. nov. A–E. Holotype ♂ (VNMN). A. Head and thorax, dorsal view. B. Frons, perpendicular view. C. Head and thorax, lateral view. D. Head and thorax, anterolateral view. E. Right hind wing. F. Paratype ♀ (VNMN), terminalia, ventral view. Abbreviation: see Material and methods.

Fig. 17. Flavina quangi sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (VNMN). A–D. Pygofer, anal tube and gonostyli. A. Left lateral view. B. Posterolateral view. C. Caudal view. D. Dorsal view. E–K. Aedeagus. E. Left lateral view. F. Left laterodorsal view. G. Posteroventral view. H. Dorsal view. I. Anterodorsal view. J. Ventral view. K. Anteroventral view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.

Fig. 18. Flavina quangi sp. nov., live specimens in Bach Ma National Park, summit. A–B. 14 May 2023. C–E. 21 May 2023. F. 14 May 2023. G. 13 May 2023. H. 11 May 2023.

Fig. 9. Flavina bachmana sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (VNMN). A–D. Pygofer, anal tube and gonostyli. A. Left lateral view. B. Posterolateral view. C. Caudal view. D. Dorsal view. E–K. Aedeagus. E. Left lateral view. F. Left laterodorsal view. G. Posteroventral view. H. Dorsal view. I. Anterodorsal view. J. Ventral view. K. Anteroventral view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.