Falcidius Stål, 1866

Gnezdilov, Vladimir M. & Wilson, Michael R., 2008, Revision of the genus Falcidius Stål (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Issidae), Journal of Natural History 42 (21 - 22), pp. 1447-1475 : 1449-1463

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222930802106229
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FD87FF-FFE4-FFAF-FDF9-FB1EFCA7F914
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Falcidius Stål, 1866
status

Treatment

Genus Falcidius Stål, 1866 View in CoL View at ENA

Falcidius Stål 1866: 205 View in CoL . Type species: Cercopis aptera Fabricius, 1794 .

Diagnosis

Coryphe transverse, anterior margin convex, posterior margin concave. Metope sometimes with weak median or sublateral keels. Forewings with or without narrow hypocostal plate. Radius usually bifurcate, sometimes trifurcate, median bi-, tri- or tetrafurcate, cubitus anterior simple or bifurcate (R 2–3 M 2–4 CuA 1–2). Hind wings rudimentary. Pronotum sometimes with weak median keel. Scutellum sometimes with weak lateral keels. Hind tibia usually with two lateral spines. Metatarsomere I with one to four intermediate spines.

Male genitalia. Pygofer with hind margin convex or nearly straight. Dorsolateral phallobase lobes form distinctive ‘tubular collar’ apically ( Figure 27B View Figure 27 ). Aedeagus with a pair of long, pointed, curved ventral hooks ( Figure 27A View Figure 27 ). Style with concave hind margin, caudodorsal angle widely rounded. Capitulum on distinct neck; lateral tooth in shape of wide lobe; apical tooth weak.

Female genitalia. Hind margin of sternum VII usually with short and wide median process. Gonoplacs usually with a pair of weak transverse keels. Median field of the gonapophyses IX with a single lobe.

Relationships of the species

Falcidius apterus , F. limbatus , and F. marocanus are close to each other in their pattern of forewing coloration – yellowish brown with cells bearing a dark brown edging inside ( Figures 1, 2, 4 View Figures 1–8 , and 6). The two first species are also characterized by wide supporting processes of the phallobase ( Figures 27A View Figure 27 and 28A View Figure 28 ). Falcidius marocanus is distinguished by a phallobase strongly enlarged proximally, with groove on its median line and very wide covering processes ( Figure 29A,B View Figure 29 ).

Falcidius doriae , F. chlorizans , F. diphtheriopsis , and F. scipionis sp. nov. are close each to other in their yellow general coloration ( Figures 8 View Figures 1–8 , 10, 12 View Figures 9–16 , and 15). The three last species are characterized by narrow or reduced supporting processes of the phallobase ( Figures 31A View Figure 31 , 32A View Figure 32 , and 33A View Figure 33 ). Falcidius chlorizans is distinguished by a phallobase with a waist proximally and a ventral phallobase lobe with a pair of longitudinal bulge-like projections basally ( Figure 31A,B View Figure 31 ); F. diphtheriopsis is distinguished by a wide male anal tube (in dorsal view) ( Figure 32D View Figure 32 ); F. scipionis sp. nov. is distinguished by the lateral margins of the male anal tube being turned down ( Figure 33F View Figure 33 ); and F. doriae is distinguished by the lateral margins of male anal tube straight in lateral view and a wide horizontal supporting processes of the phallobase ( Figure 30A,B View Figure 30 ).

Falcidius duffelsicus , F. ebejeri sp. nov., and F. hannibal sp. nov. are characterized by a metope with large dark brown or black spot or band near above the clypeus ( Figures 19, 22 View Figures 17–22 , 25 View Figures 23–26 , and 26), phallobase with narrow (rudimentary) supporting processes ( Figures 34A View Figure 34 , 35A View Figure 35 , 36A View Figure 36 , and 37A View Figure 37 ), and male anal tube with apical angles turned down ( Figures 34F View Figure 34 , 35D View Figure 35 , 36C View Figure 36 , and 37C View Figure 37 ). Within this group F. duffelsicus and F. ebejeri sp. nov. are more closely related each to other according to the forewings, which have dark brown longitudinal veins ( Figures 18 and 21 View Figures 17–22 ).

It is quite difficult to recognize plesiomorphic and apomorphic conditions of the features within the genus. The species groups mentioned above are erected provisionally based on the pattern of coloration. Within the structural features of the male genitalia we can treat as plesiomorphic conditions the narrow phallobase (presented in most of the species) and the narrow supporting and covering processes of the phallobase (but this could also be secondary rudimentation). In contrast, an enlarged phallobase with wide processes may be treated as an apomorphic condition. According to this, the F. apterus species group is the most advanced one.

Falcidius apterus ( Fabricius, 1794) View in CoL

( Figures 1–3 View Figures 1–8 , 27 View Figure 27 )

Cercopis aptera Fabricius 1794: 54 .

Material examined

Algeria: 2 „, 1♀, 16.VI.[18]60, C. Moravits leg. ( ZIN); 2 „, 1♀, V.1860, C. Moravits leg. ( ZIN); 1♀, [18]60, C. Moravits leg. ( ZIN); 1 „, Blidah, 25–26.IV.1860, C. Moravits leg. ( ZIN); 1 „, Blidah, J. de Gaulle 1898 ( MNHN); 1 „, Hammam El Rh’ira, 30.IV.1913, I.L. Pastukhov leg. ( ZIN); 1 „, Teniet, 10.V.[18]?95, J. de Gaulle 1898 ( MNHN); 2 „, 1♀, Alger, 29.IV.[18]94, J. de Gaulle 1898 ( MNHN); 1 „, env. d’Alger, Vacherot ( MNHN); 26 „, 28♀, Alger, 15–16.V.1971, A. Hoffer et J. Hora «k leg. ( NMPC); 1♀, Saida, 23.V.[18]95, J. de Gaulle 1898 ( MNHN); 3♀, Constantine, Coll. E. de Bergevin ( MNHN); 1 „, Oran ( MNHN); 1 „, 6♀, Djebel Ouach ( MNHN) .

Supplementary description

Metope convex (visible from above), longitudinal keels indistinct. Coryphe plate concave, three times as wide as long. Pronotum and scutellum without keels. Forewings widely rounded apically, without hypocostal plate. Radius, median, and cubitus anterior are bifurcate ( R 2 M 2 CuA 2), longitudinal veins with plenty of small branches after first bifurcation. Metatarsomere I with single intermediate spine.

Coloration ( Figures 1–3 View Figures 1–8 ). Head, pronotum, scutellum, and forewings yellowish brown. Metope, especially in lower part, with plenty of dark brown dots, traces of sensory pits also dark brown. Postclypeus with dark brown transverse stripes. Anteclypeus dark brown excluding median line. Rostrum dark brown. Paranotal lobes with wide dark brown stripe. Cells of forewings with dark brown edging inside. Costal margin of forewing light yellowish. Abdomen dark brown excluding yellow brownish anal tube in male. Femora and tibiae with wide dark brown longitudinal stripes. Pro- and mesotarsi, metatarsomeres III, claws, apices of spines dark brown.

Male genitalia ( Figure 27 View Figure 27 ). Pygofer with weakly convex hind margin. Anal tube elongate, apical angles distinctly turned down. Anal column narrow, one-quarter as long as anal tube. Phallobase strongly curved (in lateral view), with a pair of bulgelike projections under aedeagal hooks. Each dorsolateral lobe with wide vertical supporting process situated near to its ventral margin under aedeagal hook and large covering process above the hook. Ventral phallobase lobe long, narrowing apically, apex with weak longitudinal cranny-like incision. Aedeagal hooks strongly curved and directed to the ventral margin of the phallobase. Apical aedeagal processes wide, not narrowing to weakly bifurcated apices. Style with strongly concave hind margin. Capitulum of style narrow, not narrowing apically (in dorsal view), apex truncated. Female genitalia. Hind margin of sternum VII with short and wide median process. Gonocoxa VIII with low lobe-shaped hind margin equally advanced on all an extent. Endogonocoxal process gradually narrowing apically.

Body length. Males 4.0– 4.7 mm; females 4.5–5.5 mm.

Distribution

Confirmed records of this species are from Algeria and Italy (Abruzzo Province) ( Fabricius 1794; Gnezdilov 2004; present data).

Note

The species was described after a female from Berberia ( Fabricius 1794), which is an ancient name (since the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries) for the territory of northern Africa that now comprises Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. The photos of the type specimen were examined .

Falcidius limbatus (A. Costa, 1864) View in CoL

( Figures 4, 5 View Figures 1–8 , and 28)

Hysteropterum limbatum A. Costa 1864: 137 View in CoL .

Falcidius limbatus Gnezdilov 2003: 39 View in CoL (redescription).

Falcidius apterus Holzinger et al. 2003: 465 View in CoL , fig. 254.

Material examined

Italy, Sicilia: 1 „, Sotto M. Barca (Etna), 700 m, 30.V.1988, A. Guglielmino leg. ( CAG); 1 „, Lago Fonaco ( Costronovo ), 18.V.1986, V. D’Urso leg. ( CVDU); 1 „, 8♀, Palermo, 18.V.1961, H. Eckerlein leg. ( NMWC); 1 „ , 1♀, Pachino, III.1961 ( MNHN) ; 1♀, Siracusa, IV.1961 ( MNHN); 1 „, Ragusa ( MNHN) ; 1♀, Ragusa, Ashmead leg. ( USNM) . Algeria: 1 „, Souq Ahras (Souk Akras), Coll. E. de Bergevin ( MNHN); 1 „, Te «niet, Coll. H. Marmottan 1914 ( MNHN); 1 „, Kef Kourrat, 1886 ( MNHN); 1 „, 3♀, Laverdure, 30.IV. 214.V.[19]27, Mořan leg. ( NMPC, MNHN); 2 „ , 1♀, near Aïn Amara, 18 km SW of Guelma, 650 m, 5.V.1980, olive yard, E. van Nieukerken, G. Bryan & P. Oosterbroek leg. ( ZMAN, MNHN) .

Supplementary description (after Gnezdilov 2003)

Externally similar to F. apterus . Pronotum with weak median keel. Forewing with radius and median bi- or trifurcate, cubitus anterior simple ( R 2–3 M 2–3 CuA 1). Hind tibia with two lateral spines, sometimes there is also an additional small spine.

Coloration ( Figures 4 and 5 View Figures 1–8 ). As given for F. apterus .

Male genitalia ( Figure 28 View Figure 28 ). Anal tube elongate, apical angles distinctly turned down. Anal column about one-third as long as anal tube. Each dorsolateral phallobase lobe with wide horizontal supporting process situated near to its dorsal margin and large covering process. Ventral phallobase lobe long, narrowing apically, apex with weak longitudinal cranny-like incision. Aedeagal hooks strongly curved and directed to the dorsal margin of the phallobase. Hind margin of style weakly concave; caudodorsal angle widely rounded. Capitulum of style not narrowing to truncated apex (in dorsal view).

Body length. Males 4.4–4.7 mm; females 4.5–5.3 mm.

Distribution

Sicily and Algeria ( Costa 1864; Gnezdilov 2003, 2004; present data). Note

The type specimen was not examined. The species was decribed from Sicily ( Costa 1864) and only this species from the F. apterus species group is known from Sicily. We have based our treatment of the species on male specimens from Sicily. The material described by Holzinger et al. (2003) as F. apterus really belongs to F. limbatus .

Falcidius marocanus Bergevin, 1923 View in CoL

( Figures 6, 7 View Figures 1–8 , and 29)

Falcidius marocanus Bergevin 1923: 80 View in CoL

Falcidius bergevini Lindberg, 1963: 29 View in CoL , syn. nov.

Material examined

Morocco: 1 „, type, Volubilis, 400 m, Alluaud 197, Coll. E. de Bergevin ( MNHN); 2 „ , 1♀ (all specimens on single pin labelled as ‘ holotype Falcidius bergevini ’), Benslimane, 25.III.1961, Lindberg leg. ( MZHF); 1 „ (paratype of F. bergevini ), same data ( NMWC); 1 „ , 1♀ (paratypes of F. bergevini ), Oulmes-Maaziz, 19.III.1961, Meinander leg. ( MZHF); 2 „, 1♀, Sebou, A. The «ry ( MNHN); 4 „, env. Tanger, Favier ( MNHN) ; 1♀, Korifla, Coll. The «ry ( MNHN) .

Supplementary description

Externally similar to F. apterus . Metope with weak median keel. Forewing with radius bifurcate, median trifurcate, cubitus anterior simple ( R 2 M 3 CuA 1). Metatarsomere I with 4 (3+1) intermediate spines.

Coloration ( Figures 6 and 7 View Figures 1–8 ). As mentioned for F. apterus . Abdominal tergites from brown to dark brown. Abdominal sternites with dark brown median line. Male genital segments light brown yellowish.

Male genitalia ( Figure 29 View Figure 29 ). Pygofer with weakly convex hind margin. Anal tube elongate, its lateral margins weakly turned down. Anal column about one-third as long as anal tube. Phallobase strongly enlarged proximally, with groove on median line (in ventral view). Each dorsolateral phallobase lobe with narrow supporting process and very wide covering process. Ventral phallobase lobe long and wide. Aedeagal hooks turned to dorsal side of the phallobase. Style with strongly concave hind margin; caudodorsal angle narrowly rounded. Capitulum of style narrowing to truncated apex (in dorsal view).

Body length. Males 4.1–4.5 mm; females 5.0– 5.5 mm.

Distribution

Morocco ( Bergevin 1923; Lindberg 1963; present data).

ZIN	Russian Academy of Sciences, Zoological Institute, Zoological Museum
MNHN	Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle
NMPC	National Museum Prague
R	Departamento de Geologia, Universidad de Chile
CAG	Università degli Studi di Cagliari
NMWC	National Museum of Wales
USNM	Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History
ZMAN	Instituut voor Taxonomische Zoologie, Zoologisch Museum

Copyright notice

No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Class	Insecta
Order	Hemiptera
Family	Issidae