Diaphorina elegans Burckhardt & Mifsud, 1998

Malenovský, Igor & Burckhardt, Daniel, 2014, Jumping plant-lice of Socotra Island (Hemiptera: Psylloidea), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54, pp. 23-61 : 37-39

Diaphorina elegans Burckhardt & Mifsud, 1998

( Figs 39–43 , 49–55 )

Diaphorina elegans Burckhardt & Mifsud, 1998: 26 ; BURCKHARDT & HARTEN (2006): 204.

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE ♀ ( MHNG, dry-mounted): Yemen, Socotra, Noged , 16.iv.1993, on Suaeda sp. , A. van Harten leg. PARATYPE: 1 ♀, same data as holotype but Noged to Hadiboh ( MHNG, slide-mounted).

Additional material examined. 12 ♂♂ 16 ♀♀, north-eastern Socotra , Homhil protected area , 12°34′30″N 54°18′30″E, 435 m, 11.vi.2012, open dry woodland with Boswellia elongata and Dracaena cinnabari trees , on Lycium sokotranum , I. Malenovský, P. Kment & J. Bezděk leg.; 6 ♂♂ 6 ♀♀, north-eastern Socotra , Kazazhan area, 12°33′48″N 54°19′48″E, 540 m, 10.vi.2012, dry shrubland , on Lycium sokotranum , I. Malenovský leg.; 1 ♂, central Socotra, Dixam plateau , wadi Zerig , 12°29′36″N 53°59′30″E, 655 m, 13.–14.vi.2012, open Dracaena cinnabari woodland , I. Malenovský leg.; 5 ♂♂ 4 ♀♀, southern Socotra , northern edge of Noged plain , Deiqab cave entrance environs , 12°23′03″N 54°00′56″E, 115 m, 12.vi.2012, Croton socotranus and Jatropha unicostata shrubland , on Lycium sokotranum , I. Malenovský leg.( MMBC, NHMB, NMPC; dry- and slide-mounted and preserved in alcohol).

Description. Adult female was described by BURCKHARDT & MIFSUD (1998). Here we provide description also for the male: Similar in coloration and structure to female. Male subgenital plate with slightly sinuate dorsal margin and few sparse, moderately long setae posteroventrally ( Fig. 49 ). Male proctiger relatively broad, with well-developed, broadly rounded posterior lobes ( Fig. 49 ). Paramere, in lateral view, slightly clavate with apex slightly bent posteriorly; apex broadly rounded, bearing a small tooth on inner side; inner face covered with numerous long unsclerotised setae ( Fig. 50 ). Distal segment of aedeagus with a simple, obovate apical dilation, ductus ejaculatorius short and sinuate ( Fig. 51 ).

Measurements (in mm). Males (n = 2): HW 0.43, AL 0.35–0.37, WL 1.46–1.51, WW 0.63–0.72, TL 0.38–0.41, MPL 0.24–0.25, PL 0.18, AEL 0.14. Females (n = 3, including values from BURCKHARDT & MIFSUD 1998): HW 0.43–0.46, AL 0.34–0.35, WL 1.53–1.60, WW 0.69–0.74, TL 0.36–0.40, FPL 0.41–0.49, SL 0.29–0.38. Ratios: AL/HW 0.74–0.86, WL/HW 3.33–3.63, WL/WW 2.03–2.40, TL/HW 0.84–0.93, MPL/HW 0.56–0.58, FPL/HW 0.85–1.00, FPL/SL 1.21–1.41.

Fifth instar immature unknown.

Differential diagnosis. Diaphorina elegans is easily diagnosable within the genus by the strongly angular apical portion of the forewing anterior margin and the forewing pattern ( Figs 39, 41 ). Host plant. Lycium sokotranum Wagner & Vierh. (Solanaceae) ( Fig. 26 ). Although no immature stages could be collected, D. elegans was invariably associated with this plant in Socotra. Suaeda sp. (Chenopodiaceae) reported by BURCKHARDT & MIFSUD (1998) and BURCKHARDT & HARTEN (2006) as a possible host plant (based on a record of a single specimen) is not confirmed here.

Biology. Unknown. No deformations were observed on the host plant with the presence of the psyllid.

Occurrence in Socotra. Probably widespread, although perhaps somewhat local, at lower and medium elevations in the vegetation of the coastal plains (e.g. the Croton socotranus community sensu BROWN & MIES 2012) and open woodland on limestone plateaus ( Buxanthus pedicellatus – Dracaena cinnabari community, BROWN & MIES 2012), including dry and grazed areas ( Fig. 26 ).

Distribution. So far only known from the Socotra Island. The host plant is endemic to Socotra ( MILLER & MORRIS 2004, BROWN & MIES 2012).

Figures

Figs 39–43. Diaphorina elegans Burckhardt & Mifsud, 1998, adult. 39 – habitus, lateral view; 40 – habitus, dorsal view; 41 – forewing; 42 – detail of forewing membrane in cell m1 at M-fork; 43 – head, dorsal view.

Figs 49–55. Diaphorina elegans Burckhardt & Mifsud, 1998, adult. 49 – male terminalia, outer lateral view; 50 – paramere, lateral view, inner face; 51 – distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; 52 – female terminalia, lateral view, with detail of circumanal ring structure; 53 – detail of dorsal and apex of ventral valvulae, lateral view; 54 – antenna; 55 – antennal segments 9 and 10.

Figs 23–26. Habitats of Diaphorina spp. in Socotra. 23 – montane evergreen woodland in Skand area, Hagher Mts., with a Carissa spinarum tree in foreground (centre): type locality of D. caliginosa sp. nov. 24 – detail of a Carissa spinarum twig, host plant of D. caliginosa sp. nov. 25 – montane shrubland with open grassland patches in wadi Madar, Hagher Mts.: type locality of D. hagherensis sp. nov. 26 – open dry woodland on limestone plateau near Firmihin with a Lycium sokotranum shrub in foreground:habitat and host plant of D. elegans Burckhardt & Mifsud, 1998. Photographs by I. Malenovský (23, 24) and P. Kment (25, 26).