Lycoderides fernandezi (Strümpel, 1988)

Flórez-V, Camilo, Lapèze, Jérémie & Urban, Julie M., 2025, Taxonomic and ecological notes on Lycoderides Sakakibara (Hemiptera: Membracidae), including two new species from the highlands of the Colombian Andes, Zootaxa 5665 (2), pp. 151-186 : 175

Lycoderides fernandezi (Strümpel, 1988) / Lycoderes argutus Sakakibara, 1991

( Fig. 8C–D , 9A )

This species was found on Melastomataceae in Leticia and Mitú (Colombia) ( Fig. 17A–C ), where it was tended by ants of the genera Azteca and Camponotus , and the species Crematogaster cf. levior and Crematogaster cf. brasiliensis . Lapèze and Lopez-Vaamonde (2024) discussed the potential synonymy between Lycoderes argutus and Lycoderides fernandezi . Individuals from the presumably same population exhibit a high degree of variation in forewing venation, particularly in the position of the r-m crossvein relative to the M division, which varies continuously from distal to basal. These individuals have been found on the same species of Melastomataceae , suggesting that this variation may not correspond to distinct species but rather to intraspecific variability.

The specimen with the following information was collected: COLOMBIA. Amazonas: Leticia, Antigua Estación Biológica El Zafire , 4°0’10.296’’ S, 69°53’44.087’’ W, 100–150 masl, July 14/2022, leg. C. Flórez-V, M. Idárraga, S. Quintero-M, M. Arcángel, CBUCES-F ; Vaupés: Mitú, Comunidad Cucura , 1.164157ºN, 70.169093ºW, 240 masl, February 20/2024, leg. C. Flórez-V, S. Quintero-Montoya, CBUCES-F .

Figures

FIGURE 8. Lateral habitus of Lycoderides species herein recorded. A) L. luteus holotype (USNM), B) L. phasianus; C and D) Lycoderes argutus (C) / Lycoderides fernandezi complex (D); E) L. amazonicus, F) L. aff. brulei, G) L. gradatus, H) L. marginalis. Scale: 1 mm.

FIGURE 9. Frontolateral habitus of Lycoderides species herein recorded.A) Lycoderes argutus /Lycoderides fernandezi; B) L. amazonicus, C) L. aff. brulei, D) L. gradatus, E) L. marginalis.

FIGURE 17. Biology and live specimens of some species of Lycoderides. Lycoderes argutus/Lycoderides fernandezi: A) Adult and nymph on Melastomataceae, B) nymph and C) adult on Melastomataceae. D) L. amazonicus on Piper (Piperaceae).