Pariaconus wyvernus Percy

Percy, Diana M., 2017, Making the most of your host: the Metrosideros-feeding psyllids (Hemiptera, Psylloidea) of the Hawaiian Islands, ZooKeys 649, pp. 1-163 : 28

Pariaconus wyvernus Percy sp. n. Figure 8

Adult colour.

Variable, often strikingly bicoloured with black or dark brown head and pale cream or yellow-green thorax and abdomen, with or without a dark dorsal stripe from the head extending part or all the length of the body, but can also be completely pale throughout (Fig. 8G). Fore wing membrane clear or fuscous.

Adult structure.

Fore wing apex rounded; surface spinules well dispersed in all cells but reduced or absent in r1 and c+sc; setae on margins and veins short to minute (Fig. 8 A–C). Antennae short (av. length 0.71; ratio AL:HW av. 1.36); genal processes extremely short (ratio VL:GP av. 4.88); short to minute setae on vertex and thorax; distal proboscis segment short (av. length 0.07); hind tibia subequal to head width (ratio HW:HT av. 1.08) (Fig. 8 D–F, H–J). Male terminalia (Fig. 8 K–P): paramere length subequal to proctiger (ratio MP:PL av. 1.03), broad at base, tapering to anteriorly directed apex with short, interiorly directed hook; distal aedeagus segment length subequal to paramere (ratio PL:AEL av. 0.92), base angular and moderately inflated, apex developed into a dorsally flattened, bluntly rounded hook (ratio AEL:AELH av. 2.18). Female terminalia (Fig. 8 Q–S, U–W): proctiger dorsal surface moderately to strongly convex apically, apex bluntly acute, longer than subgenital plate (ratio FP:FSP av. 1.46), anal ring long (ratio FP:RL av. 2.08); subgenital plate with slight medial bulge ventrally, apex truncate; ovipositor apex with serrations (2-3 upper and 3-4 lower), valvulae dorsalis strongly convex dorsally.

Egg.

(only known for form wyvernus ) Unpigmented or light brown, large, with both continuous and interrupted striations over entire surface, apparently lacking pedicel and tail (Fig. 8T).

Immature.

Unknown.

Host plant notes.

Unconfirmed, but may prefer more glabrous morphotypes.

Island.

Hawaii.

Distribution notes.

All three forms are found in Kohala, with form wyvernus only known from this region.

Biology.

Unknown.

Etymology.

Named after “wyvern”, a mythical winged creature in Medieval mythology, in reference to the rarity and acknowledged taxonomic puzzle this taxon presents (noun in the nominative singular).

Comments.

Three forms are recognized (Fig. 8): form wyvernus (based on the type has a longer paramere and larger aedeagus hook), form chimera (larger form has the shortest paramere), and form gorgonus (longer, more slender tibiae, more slender paramere, and bulbous tip to aedeagus hook). The current genetic analyses suggest this taxon may actually be composed of two or more cryptic species that are polyphyletic. Further work is needed, particularly more sampling, to resolve this and therefore recognising this variation with forms is the best option at present.

Type material.

Holotype male (slide mounted, BMNH). See Table 2 for details of type and other material examined for this study.