Chidaea crassa, Löcker & Holzinger, 2019

Löcker, Birgit & Holzinger, Werner E., 2019, Revision of the Australian planthopper genus Chidaea Emeljanov with a redescription of Cixius sidnicus Stål, 1859 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae), Zootaxa 4691 (5), pp. 401-443 : 416-418

Chidaea crassa sp. nov.

( Figs 7 , 22 , 31D )

Zoobank Registration:

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7EA414D6-5F46-4BCF-A34C-91341CCE09D7

Types. Holotype, ♂, AUSTRALIA, NSW: Mt Kaputar , 2000ft, 5.ix.1962 (C.W. Frazier) ( ASCU ASCTHE016821 ) . Paratypes, NSW: 3 ♂, Mount Kaputar , 3000ft, at mercury vapour lamp, 1.x.1966 (C.W. Frazier) ( ASCU) ; 2 ♂, Pisgah Ridge, Blue Mountains NP, 150º 35’E, 33º 30’S, 210m, 18.x.1987 (G. Brown, P. Gillespie, J. Macdonald) ( ASCU) ; 3 ♂, Murwillumbah , 8.iv.1919 (F. Muir) ; 1 ♂, Gosford , on L[antana] camara , 24.x.1967 (K.M. Moore) ( ASCU) ; 2 ♂, Ophir , ex Cassinia sp., 25.x.1998 (McNeil, Gillespie) ( ASCU) ; 1 ♂, Ophir , ex Pomaderris sp. flowers, 5.x.1998 (P. Gillespie, B.C. McNeil) ( ASCU) ; 1 ♂, Devines S.F., Grafton , Acacia falcata , (coll. code DV02, vial H2620), v.2001 (Nigel Andrew) ( NENH) ; 1 ♂, same data except for v.2000 (coll. code DV01, vial H967) ( NENH) ; 1 ♂, Lennox Bridge , 28.ix.1958 (M.I. Nikitin) ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂, New England Uni [versity] Armidale , 18.xi.1991 (C.W. Frazier) ( ASCU) ; 3 ♂, 10 km NE of Ulan , 32º 13’S, 149º 50’E, in woodland, 1.x.2005 (M.J. Fletcher) ( ASCU) ; 1 ♂, Kemps Creek , sweeping in shrubs, 25.x.1970 (C.E. Chadwick) ( ASCU) . Qld : 1 ♂, Bingera , 9 mi S of Bundaberg, 24.54S, 152.12E, eucalypt w[oo]dl[an]d, 17.vii.1971 (H. Frauca) ( ANIC) ; 1 ♂, North Pine R. South East Queensland, 24.viii.1964 (G. Montheith) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 13 ♂, Cooloola National Park , 26–28.viii.1985 (A. Kotze, H. Rose, D. Rugg, L. Sanchez, J.R. Woodward) ( ASCU) ; 2 ♂, Halifax, N [orth] Q[ueensland], iv.1924 (F. Muir) ( BPBM) ; 1 ♂ Beaudesert (3.iii.1956) (Kirkpatrick) ( UQIC, formerly QM) ; 1 ♂, Watalgan Ra [nge], ca. 35 mi N of Bundaberg, 3.vii.1971 (H. Frauca) ( ANIC) ; 2 ♂, Coolangat [t]a, viii.1919 (F. Muir) ( BPBM) ; 1 ♂, Sandgate , ix.1919 (F. Muir) ( BPBM) ; 1 ♂, St Marys S.F., Gympie , Acacia leptostachys , (coll. code SM15, vial H1692), viii.2000 (Nigel Andrew) ( NENH) ; 1 ♂, same data except for Acacia falcata , (coll. code SM05, vial H1633) ( NENH) ; 1 ♂, Neerdie S.F., Gympie , Acacia falcata , (coll. code NE08, vial H3193), viii.2001 (Nigel Andrew) ( NENH) ; 1 ♂, Corella S.F., Gympie , Acacia falcata , (coll code CO07, vial H3224), viii.2001 (Nigel Andrew) ( NENH) ; 1 ♂, Toowoomba , 1?. xi.1953 (J.R. Pollock) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♂, Bribie I [sland], Moreton Bay (Lea & Hacker) ( SAMA) ; 1 ♂, Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane , sweeping grass, vii.1971 (R. Monroe) ( QM) ; 1 ♂, Brisbane , 4.iii.1962 (E.A. Bernays) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♂, Tinaroo Ck Rd, E. Mareeba , r[ain]forest, 1.vii.1980 (B.K Cantrell) ( QDPI) ; 2 ♂, Chelsea Rd, Bushland Res. , 27º 29.0’S, 153º 11.3’E, 15m, sweeping, ironbark open forest, (51161), 23 April 2003 (E. Volschenk) ( QM) ; 1 ♂, same data except for hand coll[ecting], (51162) ( QM) ; 2 ♂, Cooloola , open forest, to light, 17–28.viii.1970 (E.C. Dahms) ( QM) ; 1 ♂, Brisbane , 1.i.1956 (J. Martin) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♂, Brisbane , (9.), 22.iv.1913 (H. Hacker) ( BPBM) ; 1 ♂, Brisbane , 12.vi.1926 ( SAMA) ; 1 ♂, Brisbane , 9.ix.1957 (B.R. Grant) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♂, Beerwah , 17.ix.1957 (DJT?) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♂, Mt Coot-tha , 4.x.1997 (P. Gillespie) ( ASCU) .

Other material examined. Australia, Qld: 2 ♀, Bingera , 9 mi S of Bundaberg, 24.54S, 152.12E, eucalypt w[oo]dl[an]d, 17.vii.1971 (H. Frauca) ( ANIC) ; 7 ♀, Coolangat [t]a, viii.1919 (F. Muir) ( BPBM) ; 1 ♀, Bundaberg , grass, 10.vi.1956 (I.C. Yeo) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, same data except for 30.v.1956 ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, Corella S.F., Gympie , Acacia concurrens , (coll. code CO15, vial H3234), viii.2001 (Nigel Andrew) ( NENH) ; 1 ♀, same data except for Acacia falcata (coll. code CO02, vial H8216) ( NENH) ; 1 ♀, Mt Coot-tha , 4.x.1997 (P. Gillespie) ( ASCU) ; 4 ♀, Mt Cootha , 2.ix.1923 (H. Hacker) ( QM) ; 1 ♀, Ransome Reserve , 27º 29.6’S, 153º 11.1’E, 10m, sweeping Casuarina woodland, (51155), 23.iv.2003 (E. Volschenk) ( QM) ; 3 ♀, Chelsea Rd, Bushland Res. , 27º 29.0’S, 153º 11.3’E, 15m, sweeping, ironbark open forest, (51161), 23 April 2003 (E. Volschenk) ( QM) ; 3 ♀, same data except for hand coll[ecting], (51162) ( QM) ; 5 ♀, Cooloola , open forest, to light, 17–28.viii.1970 (E.C. Dahms) ( QM) ; 3 ♀, Cooloola National Park , 26–28.viii.1985 (A. Kotze, H. Rose, D. Rugg, L. Sanchez, J.R. Woodward) ( ASCU) ; 1 ♀, Acacia Ridge, Brisbane , 15.vii.1962 (E.C. Dahms) ( QM) ; 1 ♀, Brisbane , 18.viii.1914 (H. Hacker) ( QM) ; 1 ♀, Brisbane , 17.ix.1925 ( SAMA) ; 1 ♀, Brisbane , 20.v.1946 (J. Rosser) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, Brisbane , 26.x.1954 (J.R. Pollock) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, same data except for 9.x.1954 ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, same data except for 10.x.1954 ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, Brisbane , iv.1964 (J.E. Dunwoody) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, Brisbane , 4.ix.1964 (H.E. Rose) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, Brisbane , i.1956 (D. Nunn) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, Brisbane , 22.vii.1956 (H. J. Lavery) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, Central Station, Fraser Island , 14–15.x.1978 (G.B. Monteith) ( QM) ; 1 ♀, Lake Broadwater nr Dalby , 27º 21’S, 151º 06’E, site A, mv lamp, 27.ix.1986 (G. and A. Daniels) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 3 ♀, Alderley, Brisbane , 30.ix.1923 (H. Hacker) ( QM) ; 1 ♀, Mount Tinbeerwah, nr Cooroy , 26º 24’S, 152º 58’E, 29.ix.1985 (G. and A. Daniels) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, Fletcher, South Queensland, on Acacia , 22.ix.1966 ( ANIC) ; 1 ♀, Bin-Bin Ra E of Didcot, 13.viii.1974 (Frauca) ( ANIC) ; 4 ♀, Willowburn , 14.ix.1920 (J.A. Beck) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, 5km N Leyburn , 27º 58’S, 151º 38’E, 21.ix.1986 (G. and A. Daniels) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, Yarraman , 19.iv.1957 (S. Sekhon) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, Albert River , 9.iv.1939 (W. Bryan) ( QM, formerly UQIC) ; 1 ♀, 8.2km E of Mungallala , 26º 27’ 50”S, 147º 37’ 29”E, 560m, ex Cassinia sp., 98–07, 31.x.1998 (Schuh, Cassis, Silveira) ( AMS) .

Notes. There are no diagnostic external features to differentiate between females of Ch. crassa and Ch. bobadeenensis . However, Ch. crassa is the only species with dark tubercles that occurs in Queensland, Ch. bobadeenensis only occurs in New South Wales with Ulan being its most northerly record, which is quite distant from the Queensland border. Therefore females from Queensland with dark tubercles are listed under ‘Other material examined’. Numerous females collected in NSW were amongst material studied in this project, however, due to the fact that the distribution of Ch. crassa and Ch. bobadeenensis partly overlaps within NSW, and the lack of diagnostic characters to distinguish them, they could not be assigned with certainty to a species and are therefore not listed here. They can be found in the following collections: BPBM, ASCU, AMS, ANIC, QM.

Etymology. The Latin term ‘crassus’ means ‘thick, stout’. Named after the very wide phallotheca.

Colour. Vertex light, mid or dark brown with paler carinae. Frons mid to dark brown with paler carina (lateral carinae palest near frontoclypeal suture). Post- and anteclypeus same colour or slightly darker than frons with pale carinae. Pronotum light brown, sometimes with darker patches. Mesonotum mid to dark brown with concolorous or slightly paler carinae; central area of mesonotum (in between carinae) often lighter coloured. Forewings light brown or whitish, veins light brown or whitish, concolorous with cells, tubercles dark, in distinct contrast with lighter coloured veins. Pterostigma, crossveins and apical parts of veins often slightly darker. Body and legs light brown, (sometimes mid brown or dark brown).

Morphology. Body length: ♂ 5.8–6.6 mm; ♀ 6.3–8.2 mm.

Head: Vertex 2.1–2.3 x wider than long; median carina covering 1/3 to full length of basal compartment of vertex; absent in apical compartment. Frons 1.0–1.1 x as long as wide; position of maximum width more or less around centre of frontoclypeal suture or slightly dorsad; lateral carinae of frons in facial view convex, rectilinear apically or convex, evenly rounded or sinuate, s-shaped. Frontoclypeal suture strongly semicircular, bent upwards, median part reaching at least lower margin of antennal scape. Postclypeus with median carina moderately or well developed. Anteclypeus with moderately developed, evanescent or absent median carina. Rostrum surpassing hind coxae.

Thorax: Hind margin of pronotum acutely angled. Mesonotum with median carina moderately developed, evanescent near posterior end; lateral carinae moderately developed. Forewing 3.1–3.3 x longer than wide; concavity at costal border absent; costal margin with 10–19 tubercles; fork of ScP+RA and RP slightly basad or slightly distad of fork CuA1 and CuA2; tubercles of forewing dark, distinctly contrasted to paler coloured veins; ScP+RA apically bifid; RP trifid; additional subapical cell between branches of MP1 and MP2 absent; MP1+2 trifid; MP3+4 trifid (rarely 4 branches); 12 (rarely 13) apical cells; 6 subapical cells. Hind leg: tibia with 6 (rarely 5) apical spines; 1 st tarsomere with 11–13 apical teeth and 5–9 platellae; 2 nd tarsomere with 9–11 (rarely 12) apical teeth and 7–10 platellae.

Male genitalia: Anal tube as in Figs 22 D–E. Pygofer and genital styles as in Figs 22 F–G. Aedeagus as in Figs 22 A–C. Phallotheca very wide (widest around midline) with a bifurcate ventral process that are attached to the phallotheca with a minute or without a stalk in ventral view; phallotheca on each side with a very long, in ventral view almost straight (in lateral view slightly curved) spine (a,b) reaching down aedeagus shaft as far as tip of the bifurcate ventral process or surpassing it.

Diagnosis. This species shares the wide phallotheca with Ch. bobadeenensis and Ch. etelis . In Ch. bobadeenensis and Ch. etelis the phallotheca is usually widest in the apical half and narrow in the basal third of the phallotheca whereas in Ch. crassa the phallotheca is rather wide throughout, but is usually widest around midline. In Ch. crassa the phallotheca forms a symmetrical ridge, which bears the bifurcate ventral process which are attached to the ridge without an obvious stalk in ventral view. In Ch. bobadeenensis , the end of the ridge that bears the bifurcate ventral process is irregularly shaped and strongly tapers towards the bifurcate ventral process. There are further differences between these two species in the aedeagal spines: in Ch. crassa spine (a) is more or less straight in dorsal view (in Ch. bobadeenensis it is strongly curved), in Ch. crassa spine (a) is visible in its entire length in ventral view whereas in Ch. bobadeenensis spine (a) is entirely covered by the phallotheca (although it appears to be visible in its most basal part, where it is, however, covered by a thin, transparent layer of the phallotheca). The male genitalia of Ch. crassa resembles that of Ch. dickinsonorum in certain aspects, however, these species can easily be distinguished by the presence ( Ch. crassa ) or absence ( Ch. dickinsonorum ) of platellae on the first hind tarsomere.

Distribution: NSW, Qld.

Associated plant records: Acacia concurrens , Ac. falcata , Ac. leptostachys, Ac. sp., Cassinia sp., Lantana camara , Pomaderris sp.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Chidaea crassa: A habitus; B–D head.

FIGURE 22. Chidaea crassa: A aedeagus left lateral; B aedeagus ventral; C aedeagus right lateral; D–E anal tube; F–G genital styles.

FIGURE 31. Known distribution of Chidaea species.