Irridiculum deformatum, Andrew Hamilton, K. G., 2014

Andrew Hamilton, K. G., 2014, The old-world Zygonini tr. nov. (Hemiptera, Cercopoidea, Clastopteridae), with new taxa from the related Machaerotinae, Zootaxa 3768 (4), pp. 437-459 : 442

Irridiculum deformatum sp. nov.

Etymology. deformatum (adjective), Latin for “disfigured”.

Diagnosis. Pale sordid tawny, crown and wing tips darkened; tegmina not hyaline. Head process broadly conical, directed forwards; scutellar spine decurved. Ovipositor 2nd valvulae strongly tapered to blunt tip, dorsal surface with 1 weak tooth ( Fig. 17B ). Length: female 9.7 mm.

Type. Holotype female, INDONESIA: Sulawesi Utara, Dumoga-Bone N.P., Toraut, nr base camp ca. 200 m, 19 Sept. (fog); R. Ent. Soc. Lond. Project Wallace B.M. 1985–10; in BMNH.

A second, non-type female specimen in the BMNH, also from Dumoga-Bone N.P., is labelled 10 March 1985 ( BMNH Plot A)/Tray 105. It is smaller than the holotype, 8.8 mm, and differs also in the darker colour of the venter, which is brown like the head, by the head process which is narrow and vertical at the tip, by the scutellar process which is straight and directed caudad (in line with the axis of the scutellum from its base to the base of the spine), by the semihyaline, infumose tegmina, and by the smaller number of tibial spines in the apical pecten (8). This may be a second species in the genus, but appears to be abnormal. The hind wing on one side is greatly narrowed, 1.0 mm wide to 4.5 mm long, venation reduced to 4 cells, of which apical one is stalked; and the third valvula is absent.

Remarks. Members of this genus are rarely collected. They appear to be inhabitants of rain forest canopy, collectable only by fogging.

Figures

FIGURES 17 A – R. Ovipositor shapes in 17 genera and subgenera of Clastopteridae: Zygonini (A, G – J, Q), Machaerotinae (B – D, K, R) and Clastopterinae (E, F, L – Q). A, Zygon desegregatum, paratype; B, Irridiculum deformatum, holotype; C, Allox transfigurata, paratype; D, Taiorhina geisha Schumacher; E, Grellaphia costalis Schmidt; F, Beesoniella sylvestris Lallemand; G, Pseudomachaerota olivacea, holotype; H, Ambonga lanceolata; J, Hemizygon saturnus (as in Ambonga apicenotata); K. Machaeropsis dramatica; L, Tremapterus (Nyanja) bimaculata Synave, holotype; M, Tremapterus (Abbalomba) typica Distant; N, Tremapterus (Patriziana) janus Linnavuori; O, Tremapterus (s. s.) rufus (Thunberg); P, Sepullia fuscolimbata Lallemand; Q, Pseudoclastoptera irrubesco; R, Machaerota sp. Scale line: 1 mm.