Idioscopus clypealis (Lethierry), 1889

Wang, Xian-Yi, Wang, Jia-Jia, Dai, Ren-Huai & Webb, Mick D., 2022, Descriptions of two new Idiocerini leafhoppers of the genus Idioscopus (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) from China, ZooKeys 1095, pp. 97-110 : 97

Idioscopus clypealis (Lethierry)

Fig. 4

Idiocerus clypealis Lethierry, 1889: 252-Matsumura 1912: 322 (Taiwan).

Idioscopus clypealis - Maldonado Capriles 1964: 92-93, figs 6-9; Khatri and Webb 2014: 282-284, table 1, fig. 5.

Idioscopus taiwanus Huang & Maldonado-Capriles, 1992: 7, fig. 3, syn. nov.

Remarks.

The above synonymy of I. taiwanus with I. clypealis is based on the similarity of the published figures of both species and examination of some paratypes of I. taiwanus (see below). It is surprising that I. taiwanus was described as a new species and not recognized as the widespread I. clypealis , as the latter species was well-known to Maldonado-Capriles and had been earlier figured by him ( Maldonado-Capriles 1964). Also, the described colour of I. taiwanus more or less matches the “typical” colour form of I. clypealis figured by the same author and latter figured by Khatri and Webb (2014) from mainland Asia. A variation of this colour is seen in some specimens collected from mainland China which have more extensive brown marking medially on the face (Fig. 4A-C ), matching some Pacific material figured by Khatri and Webb (2014).

Idioscopus taiwanus was described from the holotype and 80 paratypes with the following data: "Taiwan, Taichung, 16/1/1987, C. T. Yang collector. Paratypes: 40 males and 40 females, same collection data as holotype. Host plant: Mangifera indica " (Huang & Maldonado-Capriles 1992). In the introduction to their paper, Huang & Maldonado-Capriles stated that the type material was in the "Department of Entomology, National Chung-Hsing University (NCHU), Taichung; Division of Collection and Research, National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS), Taichung; and in the Department of Applied Zoology, Taiwan Agriculture Research Institute (TARI), Wufeng, Taichung." They added that "Some paratypes deposited in the junior author’s collection". For other new species described in the same paper the holotype depository is given as NMNS, but no depository is given for I. taiwanus ; however, the male genitalia dissection of the holotype is present in NMNS (Jing-Fu Tsai pers. comm.) and paratypes are present in both NCHU (see Fig. 4D-K ) and NMNS but not in TARI or Maldonado-Capriles’s collection (National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA).

Figures

Figure 4. Idioscopus clypealis A-C female (China) A lateral habitus female B, C face (male and female respectively) showing atypical marking of clypeus; photographs by Xue Qingquan D-G paratype male of I. taiwanus D dorsal habitus E lateral habitus F ventral habitus G labels H-K paratype female of I. taiwanus H dorsal habitus I lateral habitus J ventral habitus K labels; photographs by David Redei.