Microsarimodes backeljaui, Constant & Pham, 2025

Constant, Jérôme & Pham, Hong Thai, 2025, Issid planthoppers from Bach Ma and Phong Dien in Central Vietnam. (III) Tribe Sarimini (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 1025, pp. 1-109 : 90-97

Microsarimodes backeljaui sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Figs 45–48

Diagnosis

Microsarimodes backeljaui sp. nov. can be recognized by (1) a rather large size ( ♂: 6.8 mm, ♀ 7.9– 8.3 mm) and wide vertex (1.66 × as wide as long in midline); (2) the pale greyish yellow tegmina with irregular but more or less symmetrical, dark brown to black markings roughly forming two transverse bands ( Figs 45A–D, 48); (3) the anal tube of the male distinctly sinuate in lateral view, tapering to narrow rounded apex in dorsal view ( An – Fig. 46A, G); (4) the long lateroventral processes of the aedeagus, distinctly and evenly curved cephalad in lateral view and strongly sinuate in ventral view ( lvp – Fig. 47G–I).

Differential diagnosis

The new species is close to Microsarimodes tumidus Chang & Chen, 2019 (see illustrations in Chang et al. 2019: figs 7–8, 18–35) but the latter is smaller ( ♂: 6.5 mm, ♀: 7.0– 7.4 mm compared to ♂: 6.8 mm, ♀: 7.9–8.3 in M. backeljaui sp. nov.) with a slightly wider vertex (1.8 × as wide as long in midline; 1.66 × in M. backeljaui ), shows a shorter and evenly downcurved anal tube in lateral view (distinctly longer and sinuate in M. backeljaui ), as well as weakly curved lateroventral processes of the aedeagus, directed cephalad and not sinuate (distinctly and evenly curved cephalad in lateral view and strongly sinuate in ventral view in M. backeljaui ).

Etymology

The species epithet is a patronym dedicated to Dr Thierry Backeljau (RBINS) in acknowledgement of his support to the work of the authors over the years.

Type material

Holotype

VIETNAM • ♂; Th ừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park; 16°12′ N, 107°52′ E; [ 500–600 m a.s.l.]; 10–16 Apr. 2017; J. Constant and J. Bresseel leg.; [pheasant trail]; I.G.: 33.447; RBINS.

Paratypes

VIETNAM – Thiên-Huế Province • 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; RBINS • 2 ♀♀; Bach Ma National Park ; 16°11′44″ N, 107°50′44″ E; 1200–1300 m a.s.l.; 22 May 2023; J. Constant and L. Semeraro leg.; roadside; I.G.: 34.640; RBINS • 1 ♀; Bach Ma National Park ; 16°11′18″ N, 107°50′56″ E; 1300–1400 m a.s.l.; 11–21 May 2023; J. Constant and L. Semeraro leg.; summit; I.G.: 34.640; RBINS • 4 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; VNMN • 1 ♀; Bach Ma National Park ; 16°11′18″ N, 107°50′56″ E; 1300–1400 m a.s.l.; 20 Oct. 2024; J. Constant, L. Semeraro and T. T. H. Nguyen leg.; summit; VNMN .

Description

MEASUREMENTS AND RATIOS. LT: ♂ (n = 1): 6.8 mm, ♀ (n = 9): 8.1 (7.9–8.3); LT/BB = 2.12; LTg/BTg = 2.50; LW/BW = 1.32; BV/LV = 1.66; LF/BF = 0.92.

HEAD ( Figs 45A–E, 48). Vertex pale greyish yellow, sometimes darker anteriorly, with pale median line containing in basal portion, narrow groove; 1.7 × as broad as long in midline; weakly concave with margins carinate; anterior margin angularly convex anteriad, posterior one subparallel, sides subparallel. Frons pale greyish yellow, upper portion darker with dark brown patch in middle; complete median pale yellowish line following weak carina, carina distinct in dorsal half only (weakly elevated); narrow black line densely covered in yellowish tubercles between obsolete peridiscal carina and upper and weakly carinate lateral margins; about 1.1 × as wide as long in midline; narrowly visible from above; dorsal margin slightly concave, upper half with distinct middle hump, lower half slightly concave, disc slightly coriaceous; widest at lateroventral angles. Genae yellow with the following dark brown: narrow line along anterior margin, markings at anterodorsal portion of eye, between eye and midheight of frons and at level of antenna; lower portion sometimes washed with brownish; anteroventral angle of genae distinctly projecting anteriad. Clypeus triangular, convex, smooth; pale yellowish, darker on sides. Labium yellowish, darker apically, with last segment longer than broad, shorter than penultimate. Antennae brown with scape short, ring-shaped, and bulbous pedicel.

THORAX ( Figs 45A, C–E, 48). Pronotum pale greyish yellow, 0.6 × length of mesonotum in midline with weak, yellowish median carina; anterior margin distinctly carinate, angularly protruding cephalad in middle; very narrow on sides, behind eyes; posterior margin weakly bisinuate and carinate; disc weakly concave with yellowish tubercles; paranotal lobes yellowish, sometimes washed with brown along lateral and ventral margins; few yellowish tubercles along lateral margin. Mesonotum greyish yellow, rather short with obsolete yellowish median carina, and weak peridiscal carinae often included in darker marking; apex of scutellum yellowish; shallow excavation before scutellum. Tegulae pale yellow brown.

TEGMINA ( Figs 45A–E, 48). Pale greyish yellow variegated with dark brown to black, with irregular, more or less symmetrical, dark markings roughly forming two transverse bands; main veins more or less concolourous with background, elevated (A1 and Pcu+A1 more strongly elevated), and cross-veins weakly raised and generally paler than background; distinctly convex, elongate, about 2.5 × as long as wide; costal margin broadly rounded laterad around basal ⅓; apical margin rounded; distinct lateral hump including vein ScP+RA around basal ¼, hiding costal margin in dorsal aspect; costal margin hidden by vein RP in distal 2 / 5, in dorsal view; narrow epipleuron; clavus closed, reaching about ¾ of tegmen length. Venation: ScP+R short; ScP+RA moderately long, reaching to around halflength of tegmen; RP unforked, long and weakly curved; first fork of MP around 2 /5 of tegmen length, first fork of CuA slightly after midlength of tegmen, MP1 with two or three terminales; Pcu and A1 fused around 3 /5 of clavus, Pcu+A1 reaching apex of clavus; cross-veins numerous and distinct.

HIND WINGS ( Fig. 45F). Well developed, with 3 distinct lobes ( Sarimini type) more or less equal in width (Pcu-A1 lobe slightly narrower); blackish brown with paler area in basal half between costal margin and CuA; veins darker than background. Venation: ScP+R and CuA furcate, MP simple, weakly sinuate; second branch of CuA fused with CuP distally; Pcu and A1 fused on basal half, Pcu and A2 simple; transverse vein between second branch of ScP+R and MP, and between MP and first branch of CuA; A2 not forked.

LEGS ( Figs 45A–E, 48). Slender and somewhat elongate, pale yellowish with the following brown: anteapical ring (more or less distinct) and ventral longitudinal line and on pro- and mesofemora, apex of pro- and mesotibiae and apical segments of pro- and mesotarsi. Metatibiae with 2 lateral spines on distal half and seven or eight apical spines; first metatarsus with row of 5–6 minute teeth along posteroventral margin, limited with a larger tooth on each side. Metatibiotarsal formula: (2) 7–8/ 7–8 / 2.

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 45B). Pale yellowish.

MALE TERMINALIA ( Figs 46–47). Pygofer ( Py – Fig. 46A, C, F–G) short, about 3.2 × as high as long at midheight in lateral view, with posterior margin more or less straight, slightly oblique with distinct, short posterior lobe in dorsal portion in lateral view; anterior margin sinuate; in caudal view oval (sides broadly rounded), 1.5 × as high as wide; deeply notched dorsally. Gonostyli ( G – Fig. 46B, D–E) massive, moderately convex; in lateral view, posterior portion roundly projecting caudad into short posterior lobe, and second lobe at base of capitulum, resulting in posterodorsal margin distinctly bisinuate; anterodorsal margin oblique, slightly rounded, then upcurved at base of capitulum, ventral margin broadly rounded; capitulum ( ca – Fig. 46B, D–E) massive, subtriangular without distinct neck and apically hooked in lateral view, laterally with oblique downcurved lamina, distinct area with concentric wrinkles under lamina reaching anterodorsal margin of gonostylus. Anal tube ( An – Fig. 46A, C, F–G) moderately elongate and rather narrow, about 2.8 × as long as wide in dorsal aspect; dorsoventrally flattened with lateral margin downcurved; more or less parallel-sided to anal opening (in basal ¼), then evenly tapering to narrow rounded apex; in lateral view distinctly sinuate, abruptly narrowing at anal opening and further downcurved. Aedeagus ( Figs 46H–O, 47) symmetrical, elongate, somewhat arrow-shaped in dorsal view, more or less evenly curved posterodorsad in lateral view, with pair of distinct basidorsal carinae. Ventral lobe of periandrium ( vl – Figs 46J–O, 47B–E) laminate, spatulate in distal portion, evenly constricted in middle, with acutely rounded apex and lateroventral groove (partly conceiling lateroventral process of aedeagus at rest). Dorsal lobe of periandrium ( dl – Figs 46H–O, 47A–E) longer and wider than ventral lobe, somewhat saddle-shaped with sides produced in large, evenly rounded, downcurved lobe partly covering ventral lobe of periandrium and partly conceiling lateroventral process of aedeagus at rest, with posterior portion showing strong carina (highest point subapically) roundly truncate apically in lateral view. Aedeagus (sensu stricto, ae – Figs 46H, J–N, 47F–H) elongate, deeply bifid; in dorsal view, each shaft with lateral margin sinuate in proximal ⅔, to widest point at base of lateroventral processes, then evenly tapering towards apex; pair of elongate lateroventral processes ( lvp – Figs 46J–O, 47F–I), strongly curved ventrad basally; distinctly and evenly curved cephalad in lateral view, strongly sinuate in ventral view. Connective ( co – Fig. 46J) well developed, corpus connective long, weakly curved in lateral view, tectiductus ( te – Fig. 46J) well developed, conical, produced cephalad dorsally; with anteroventral apodemes and wide anterior foramen.

Biology

Microsarimodes backeljaui sp. nov. was collected in the months of April, May and October at altitudes between 500 and 1400 m a.s.l., in moist evergreen tropical forest. The specimens were sitting on small branches and leaves, on bushes and trees. In Bach Ma National Park, it was found at the following collecting site/habitats ( Constant & Pham 2025a: fig. 2a): “pheasant trail” ( Constant & Pham 2025a: figs 2a(2), 3a), “roadside” ( Constant & Pham 2025a: figs 2a(4), 4a), “summit” ( Constant & Pham 2025a: figs 2a(5), 4b).

Distribution

Vietnam: Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park ( Fig. 47J).