Pyrops atroalbus (Distant, 1918) comb. nov.

Figs 1, 5–6, 9A

Fulgora atroalba Distant, 1918: 199 (type in BMNH).

Laternaria atroalba – Metcalf 1947: 187 [transferred to Laternaria; catalogued].

Fulgora watanabei apicalis – Lallemand 1963: 90 [considered as a junior synonym of Fulgora watanabei atroalba (Distant, 1918) (erroneous)].

Fulgora watanabei atroalba – Lallemand 1963: 90 [transferred back to Fulgora and considered as a subspecies of P. watanabei (erroneous)].

Fulgora watanabei var. formosana – Lallemand 1963: 90 [considered as a junior synonym of Fulgora watanabei atroalba (Distant, 1918) (erroneous)].

Pyrops watanabei apicalis – Nagai & Porion 1996: 26 [transferred to Pyrops but still considered as a junior synonym of Fulgora watanabei atroalba (erroneous)].

Pyrops watanabei atroalba – Nagai & Porion 1996: 26, pl. 18, fig. 223 [transferred to Pyrops, but still considered as a subspecies of P. watanabei (erroneous), type illustrated]. — Liang 1998: 22 [considered as a subspecies of P. watanabei (erroneous)].

Pyrops watanabei formosana – Nagai & Porion 1996: 26 [transferred to Pyrops but still considered as a junior synonym of Fulgora watanabei atroalba (erroneous)].

Non Fulgora watanabei apicalis Kato, 1928: 221, pl. 9 fig. 1.

Non Fulgora watanabei var. formosana Metcalf, 1947: 208 .

Note

Liang (1998) erroneously stated that the name “ Pyrops watanabei atroalbus (Distant, 1918) ” was a new combination he proposed while the combination had already been proposed by Nagai and Porion (1996).

Diagnosis

The species is immediately recognized by the following combination of characters:

(1) Cephalic process yellow and strongly inflated apically (Fig. 1 D–F).

(2) Abdomen black ventrally (Fig. 1B).

(3) Tegmina strongly contrasted: pale yellow-white with black markings, including 3 black spots in costal area before nodal line (Fig. 1A).

Etymology

From Latin ater (adj.) ‘black’ and albus (adj.): ‘white’; the species epithet refers to the black and white colouration of the species.

Type material

Holotype (Fig. 5)

VIETNAM: ♂ [Indo-China, Tonkin, R.V. de Salvaza . 1917–98] [1918–1] [ Fulgora atroalba Dist. Type] [Type] (BMNH).

Additional material

VIETNAM: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Da Krong Nature Reserve, Quang Tri Province, 10 Jul. 2011, 16°37′ N, 106°47′ E, day collecting, Pham & Hoang (♂ in RBINS, ♀ in VNMN); 1 ♀, Bach Ma National Park, 29 Sep. 2014, 16°12′ N, 107°52′ E, Tuan (VNMN).

Material examined from photograph

THAILAND: 1 ex. (Fig. 9A), Chiang Mai Prov., Maerim District, 18°54′50″ N, 98°56′42″ E, 14 Mar. 2016, Panaka Jirasuttayaporn.

Measurements and ratios

TL: ♂ (n = 1): 3.4 cm; ♀ (n = 1): 4.2 cm; LPr: ♂: 1.1 cm; ♀: 1.4 cm; LTg/BTg = 2.55; BF/BPrH = 3.1; LPr/LF = 2.95; LPr/BPrH = 8.8.

Male genitalia

Pygofer higher than long, with posterior margin regularly rounded dorsally in lateral view (Fig. 6A). Anal tube slightly elongate, 1.1 times as long as broad in dorsal view, broader at 4/5 of total length (Fig. 6C); lateral margins very slightly sinuate and apical margin strongly concave in dorsal view (Fig. 6C). Gonostyli (Fig. 6A) elongate, twice as long as high in lateral view; dorsal margin regularly rounded and posterior margin slightly projecting posteriorly in middle in lateral view (Fig. 6A).

Remarks

There is a discrepancy between the location given on the label of the specimen (“ Tonkin ”) and the one given in the original description (Distant 1918): “ Indochina, Xieng Klouang (R. Vitalis de Salvaza) ”. The latter location is situated in Laos, not far from the places where we have collected specimens in Central Vietnam. Despite our intensive collecting effort in northern Vietnam, we have never found the species in that region. Hence, it seems that the location given by Distant (1918) is more likely to be the correct one.

Nagai & Porion (1996: fig. 223) erroneously gave “central Taiwan ” as the type locality.

Distribution

The species is known from one location in Laos, one in Northern Thailand, and two in Central Vietnam.