Fipsianus andreae, Distant, 1917

Holzinger, Werner E., 2009, A new endemic genus of Oecleini from Seychelles (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae), Zootaxa 2127 (1), pp. 59-68 : 64-66

Fipsianus andreae sp. nov.

Material studied: Holotype: Male , glued on card, Seychelles, Praslin island, Vallée de Mai, palm forest (4° 19' 45'' S 55° 44' 15'' E, 130–250m), 23. ix. 2008, W. Holzinger leg. Paratypes: 7 ♂ 5 ♀ same locality and date as holotype , 7 ♂ 7 ♀ same locality as holotype, collected on 22. ix. 2008 , W. Holzinger leg., and on 28.xi., 30.xi. and 2.xii.2006, W. Holzinger & B. Komposch leg.; 5 ♂ 30 ♀ Salazie–Track , highest point, Chrysobalanus shrub (4° 19' 20'' S 55° 43' 49'' E, 170–220m), 26.xi.2006 ; 1 ♀ near Anse Lazio , Chrysobalanus shrub (4° 17' 31'' S 55° 42'' E, 25m), 3.xii.2006 ; 2 ♂ 1 ♀ Fond Ferdinand , mixed forest and palm forest (4° 21' 14–20'' S 55° 45' 15–35'' E, 30–80m), 4.xii.2006 ; 1 ♂ 1 ♀ Mt Chenard NE Anse Kerlan, Chrysobalanus shrub (4° 18' 0'' S 55° 41' 22'' E, 100m), 6.xii.2006 , all W. Holzinger & B. Komposch leg.; 10 ♂ 10 ♀ Vallée de Mai , palm forest 22. and 23.ix.2008 , W. Holzinger leg. (all in OEKO except for 1 male and 1 female paratypes deposited in BMNH) .

Etymology: The species is dedicated to my daughter Andrea.

Description (see also Figs 2 , 4 , 6 , 7B ): Body length in males 4.2–4.4 mm, in females 4.6–4.7 mm.

Head and thorax bright yellowish, sometimes orange, mesonotum with blackish spot caudally, abdomen brownish to blackish with yellowish segment margins. Body coloration of females again darker than males, richer in contrast. Frons with large, semicircular red band, adjacent area of clypeus also largely red. Prothoracic lateral areas red. Legs yellow, pro- and metatibiae with central black band. 1 st and 2 nd tarsi black. Fore wings of males semihyaline with yellowish tinge and three small dark spots (one at end of clavus, second one distad from first and third at base of pterostigma). Fore wings in females opaque with three small, disconnected, dark transverse bands as described in previous species.

Male anal segment short and stout, asymmetrical, with two apical pointed processes directed ventrocephalad ( Figs 6 A, B ). Genital style long, apically pointed, its subapical inner lobe much larger than in F. picturatus (cf. Figs 5 C and 6 C ). Aedeagus with three larger rigid spines: long, bifurcate spine pointed cephalad on ventral side with its apical tips very different in length. On left, a long, strongly curved spine pointing cephalad. Distinctly shorter, almost straight spine on right side, pointing cephaloventrad. ( Figs 6 D, E, F ).

Differential diagnosis: This species is generally similar to the preceding species but males are brighter orange and females are distinctively darker than those of F. picturatus . Male genitalia differ in the shape of the anal segment appendages (longer and pointed in F. andreae ), in the shape of the genital style (cf. Figs 5C and 6C ) and in the shape and spinulation of the aedeagus. The apical spine of the aedeagus is missing in F. andreae . The ventral process is longer in F. andreae than in F. picturatus , more strongly bent with its apical tips very different in length.

Ecology and distribution: The species is monophagous on the endemic “thief palm” P. borsigianum and it is endemic to Praslin island. It occurs island-wide in natural mid- and high altitude forests, almost wherever its host-plant occurs. Fipsianus andreae occupies, on Praslin island, the same ecological niche as F. picturatus on Mahé and Silhouette and is the most common planthopper on its host plant.

Figures

FIGURE 2. F. andreae, male. Praslin, Valleé de Mai, 22.ix.2008.

FIGURE 4. F. andreae, female. Praslin, Valleé de Mai, 22.ix.2008.

FIGURE 5. F. picturatus, male genitalia. A = anal segment, lateral view; B = anal segment, caudal view; C = genital style; D, E, F = aedeagus in left lateral, ventral and right lateral view.

FIGURE 6. F. andreae, male genitalia. A = anal segment, lateral view; B = anal segment, caudal view; C = genital style; D, E, F = aedeagus in left lateral, ventral and right lateral view.

FIGURE 7. A = F. picturatus, hind wing. B = F. andreae, fore wing. C = F. picturatus, inner female genitalia. D = F. picturatus, male genital segment, lateral view.