Yuripopoverus africanus gen.et sp.n.from East African copal (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Ricaniidae)

A new genus and species of the planthopper family Ricaniidae Yuripopoverus africanus gen. et sp. n. is described and illustrated on the basis of an inclusion in East African copal

Two new genera of flatid planthoppers from Socotra island (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae)

Two new monotypic genera of flatid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae) are described from Socotra island (Yemen): Dixamflata gen. nov. for D. petri sp. nov. and Kesaflata gen. nov. for K. lubosi sp. nov. Habitus, male and female external and internal genital structures of the new species are illustrated and compared to similar taxa. Both new genera share an “issid-like” habitus which evolved convergently in many unrelated planthopper groups distributed in arid and semi-arid zones of the world. They might be closely related to the western Palaearctic genera Cyphopterum Melichar, 1905 and Riodeorolix Lindberg, 1956. As both new species are sub-brachypterous and were collected in plant communities specifi c to Socotra, they may represent endemics of the island

Variable organization of symbiont-containing tissue across planthoppers hosting different heritable endosymbionts

Sap-feeding hemipteran insects live in associations with diverse heritable symbiotic microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) that provide essential nutrients deficient in their hosts’ diets. These symbionts typically reside in highly specialized organs called bacteriomes (with bacterial symbionts) or mycetomes (with fungal symbionts). The organization of these organs varies between insect clades that are ancestrally associated with different microbes. As these symbioses evolve and additional microorganisms complement or replace the ancient associates, the organization of the symbiont-containing tissue becomes even more variable. Planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) are ancestrally associated with bacterial symbionts Sulcia and Vidania, but in many of the planthopper lineages, these symbionts are now accompanied or have been replaced by other heritable bacteria (e.g., Sodalis, Arsenophonus, Purcelliella) or fungi. We know the identity of many of these microbes, but the symbiont distribution within the host tissues and the bacteriome organization have not been systematically studied using modern microscopy techniques. Here, we combine light, fluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy with phylogenomic data to compare symbiont tissue distributions and the bacteriome organization across planthoppers representing 15 families. We identify and describe seven primary types of symbiont localization and seven types of the organization of the bacteriome. We show that Sulcia and Vidania, when present, usually occupy distinct bacteriomes distributed within the body cavity. The more recently acquired gammaproteobacterial and fungal symbionts generally occupy separate groups of cells organized into distinct bacteriomes or mycetomes, distinct from those with Sulcia and Vidania. They can also be localized in the cytoplasm of fat body cells. Alphaproteobacterial symbionts colonize a wider range of host body habitats: Asaia-like symbionts often colonize the host gut lumen, whereas Wolbachia and Rickettsia are usually scattered across insect tissues and cell types, including cells containing other symbionts, bacteriome sheath, fat body cells, gut epithelium, as well as hemolymph. However, there are exceptions, including Gammaproteobacteria that share bacteriome with Vidania, or Alphaproteobacteria that colonize Sulcia cells. We discuss how planthopper symbiont localization correlates with their acquisition and replacement patterns and the symbionts’ likely functions. We also discuss the evolutionary consequences, constraints, and significance of these findings.</p

Genome comparison reveals inversions and alternative evolutionary history of nutritional endosymbionts in planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha)

The evolutionary success of sap-feeding hemipteran insects in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha was enabled by nutritional contributions from their heritable endosymbiotic bacteria. However, the symbiont diversity, functions, and evolutionary origins in this large insect group have not been broadly characterized using genomic tools. In particular, the origins and relationships among ancient betaproteobacterial symbionts Vidania (in Fulgoromorpha) and Nasuia/Zinderia (in Cicadomorpha) are uncertain. Here, we characterized the genomes of Vidania and Sulcia from three Pyrops planthoppers (family Fulgoridae) to understand their metabolic functions and evolutionary histories. We find that, like in previously characterized planthoppers, these symbionts share nutritional responsibilities, with Vidania providing seven out of ten essential amino acids. Sulcia lineages across the Auchenorrhyncha have a highly conserved genome but with multiple independent rearrangements occurring in an early ancestor of Cicadomorpha or Fulgoromorpha and in a few succeeding lineages. Genomic synteny was also observed within each of the betaproteobacterial symbiont genera Nasuia, Zinderia, and Vidania, but not across them, which challenges the expectation of a shared ancestry for these symbionts. The further comparison of other biological traits strongly suggests an independent origin of Vidania early in the planthopper evolution and possibly of Nasuia and Zinderia in their respective host lineages. This hypothesis further links the potential acquisition of novel nutritional endosymbiont lineages with the emergence of auchenorrhynchan superfamilies

Hemiptera (Auchenorrhyncha, Heteroptera) of the „Góry Opawskie” Landscape Park (south-western Poland)

Es werden die Ergebnisse von faunistischen Untersuchungen der beiden Hemipteren-Gruppen der Wanzen (Heteroptera) und Zikaden (Auchenorrhyncha) präsentiert, die während des 23. Auchenorrhyncha-Tagung 2016 und an weiteren Terminen der Vegetationsperioden 2016 und 2017 an 22 Standorten im Landschaftspark “Góry Opawskie” (Zuckmanteler Bergland, Südwest Polen) durchgeführt wurden. Dabei wurden insgesamt 143 Hemipteren-Arten nachgewiesen, davon 116 Zikadenarten (17 Arten der Fulgoromorpha, 99 Arten der Cicadomorpha) und 27 Wanzenarten. 3 Fulgoromorpha-Arten und 54 Cicadomorpha-Arten sind Neunachweise für die Region der Östlichen Sudeten.Summary: The collecting results of hemipteran insects (Auchenorrhyncha, Heteroptera) are presented which was carried out during the 23th Central European Auchenorrhyncha meeting in 2016 and on further surveys during the growing seasons of 2016 and 2017 at 22 collecting sites within the area of the “Góry Opawskie” Landscape Park. The list contains altogether 143 species of Hemiptera including 116 species of Auchenorrhyncha (17 of planthoppers, 99 of leafhoppers), and 27 species of true bugs. Three species of planthoppers and 54 species of leafhoppers were recorded as knew for the region of Eastern Sudetes

Hagneia kallea gen. and sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Ricaniidae) from North Vietnam

Stroiński, Adam (2020): Hagneia kallea gen. and sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Ricaniidae) from North Vietnam. Zootaxa 4861 (2): 241-256, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4861.2.

Selizitapia Świerczewski & Stroiński 2021, gen. nov.

Selizitapia gen. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 7CB34782-C76D-43AE-808C-4911F4CB0A2E Figs 1–7 Type species Selizitapia pennyi gen. et sp. nov., here designated. Diagnosis The new genus differs from other taxa of Selizini in Madagascar by the following characters: 1) wings subrectangular (wings strongly constricted apically in Stenocyarda Fennah, 1965); 2) frons with median carina not diverged (frons with Y-shaped median carina in Urana); 3) mesonotum without gibbosities (mesonotum with four gibbosities in Urana); 4) dorsal part of periandrium unilobate (dorsal part of periandrium bilobate in Lembakaria and trilobate in Kelyflata &Sacute;wierczewski & Stroi&nacute;ski, 2019); 5) lateral split of periandrium exceeding &frac13; of its length (lateral split of periandrium reaching &frac13; of its length in Peyrierasus Stroi&nacute;ski & &Sacute;wierczewski, 2013). Etymology The generic name is an arbitrary combination of the name of the tribe ‘Selizini’, which the new genus belongs to, and the name of the forest formation – ‘tapia’, which the insect is associated with. Gender feminine. Description HEAD. Head with compound eyes, in dorsal view, slightly narrower than thorax. Vertex transverse, constricted in middle, medially slightly overlapped by pronotum: posterior margin carinate and strongly elevated, anterior margin carinate medially, covered by posterior margin, lateral parts obsolete; lateral margins carinate and subparallel (Figs 1A, 2A, C–E). Frons convex, widest at its lower third in frontal view; lateral margins carinate, arcuate and elevated, without incisions; upper margin almost straight; disc of frons with single, well-visible, median carina, laterally with obsolete ridges; frontoclypeal suture arcuate (Figs 1B, 2A–B). Clypeus smooth, weakly convex, without carinae (Figs 1B, 2B). Rostrum with apical segment shorter than subapical one, apex reaching hind coxae level. Compound eyes oval, with narrow callus at posterior margin. Lateral ocelli present. Antennae placed very close to medioventral margin of eyes; scapus small, ring-like, with single setae; pedicel shorter than diameter of eye but distinctly longer than scapus, bulbous, functional area at the top and on dorsal surface with trichoid sensilla type 1, antennal plate organs present on apical concavity and basally delimiting lateral margins of dorsal functional surface (Figs 2F, 3A). THORAX. Pronotum, in dorsal view, shorter than mesonotum at midline: anterior margin arcuate with median portion almost straight, reaching anterior margin of compound eyes, posterior margin concave; disc of pronotum wrinkled, without carinae, with lateral impressions and central groove; postocular eminences conical (Figs 1A, 2A, C–E). Mesonotum with scutellum widely deltoid, wider than long at midline, scutellum with elevated apex; disc of mesonotum medially depressed with shallow groove; lateral carinae as ridges, only visible in posterior part and connected with posterior margin (Figs 1A, 2E). Tegmina longer than wide, subrectangular, with distinct venation and numerous transverse veinlets in apical part, without nodal line and with single apical line; costal margin sinuate, costal and sutural angle rounded, apical margin slightly rounded, postclaval sutural margin straight. Costal area short, with dense transverse veinlets, ending at the level of fusion of claval veins (Figs 1C, 3E–F). Costal cell about the same width as costal area, tapering apicad. Basal cell longer than wide. Tegmen with longitudinal veins ScP+RA and RP arising as short common stem from basal cell before bulla. Vein ScP+RA with fork distinctly after RP fork, ending on costal margin with 4 terminals; vein RP with fork before MP fork, ending on costal margin with 8–9 terminals; vein MP with fork distinctly apicad to CuA fork, ending on apical and postclaval margins; CuA with the first fork distinctly before RP fork. Apical cells subrectangular. Veins of apical half of tegmen wrinkled. Sensory and wax gland-plates concentrated on bulla and costal area, with a few scattered on the whole tegmen (Figs 1C, 3E–F). Clavus ending a bit before the end of costal area; Pcu and A1 joined slightly anterior to clavus apex; A1 slightly elevated; sensory and wax gland-plates concentrated on the area between Pcu and A 1 and basal part of the area after A 1 vein; single transverse veinlet after Pcu-A 1 connection (Figs 1C, 3E). LEGS. Pro- and mesofemora slightly shorter than tibiae, subrectangular in cross section. Pro- and mesotibiae with shallow groove on external side; apical tarsomere of anterior and median legs longer than cumulative length of second and basal tarsomeres. Metatibiae longer than metafemora, triangular in cross section with two lateral spines and apical row of spines – first lateral spine placed subapically, second lateral spine placed a bit after midlength, apical spines in formula 2 longer (external) + 5 shorter (internal); basitarsomere of metatarsus a bit longer than cumulative length of second and apical tarsomeres, with apical spines lined as semicircle – 2 external spines a bit longer than 7 shorter internal spines; each internal spine bearing single, distinct seta; second segment of tarsomere with two lateral spines and median pad with setae. Metatibiotarsal formula: 2-(2+5)/(2+7)/2 (Figs 3B–D). MALE TERMINALIA. Anal tube, in lateral view, elongate, with breaking point before anal opening, tapering apicad; anal opening placed a bit after midlength; basal part wider than apical part (Figs 4A–B, 5A); in dorsal view, rhomboid, with rounded apex (Figs 4C–D, 5B). Pygofer, in lateral view, with dorsal and ventral margin almost the same length, subparallel; anterior margin weakly concave, posterior margin convex. Genital style triangular, bearing short, hook-like capitulum with apex oriented anteriad (Figs 4A–B, E, 5A). PHALLIC COMPLEX. Periandrium without any additional processes; in lateral view, about as long as aedeagus; lateral split reaching &frac23; of periandrium (Fig. 5C). Dorsal part of periandrium, in dorsal view, a bit shorter than ventral part, unilobate, smooth, spearhead-shape. Ventral part of periandrium elliptic, tapering apicad, basally with lateral lobes (Fig. 5D). Aedeagus, in lateral view, long and narrow, oriented ventrad, medially with acute process oriented apicad (Fig. 5E); in dorsal view bipartite, symmetrical, with deep median split, reaching ¾ of its length (Fig. 5F). FEMALE TERMINALIA. Pregenital sternite with lateral lobes distinctly separated (Figs 6A–B, 7A). Anal tube, in lateral view, covering gonoplac and reaching its posterior margin (Figs 6B, 7C); in dorsal view, elliptic (Figs 6C, 7B). Gonoplac unilobate, rounded posteriorly, oriented ventrad, covering gonapophysis VIII (Figs 6B, 7D); posterior margin with one row of stout teeth, positioned at some distance one from another; teeth of both gonoplacs fitting together in a zip-like manner (Figs 6E–F, 7D). Gonapophysis VIII widely triangular, flattened, slightly oblique in respect to longitudinal body axis (Fig. 7E); endogonocoxal process as long as gonapophysis, wide, tapering apicad, with spiniferous microsculpture. Gonospiculum as in Fig. 7H–I. Bursa copulatrix with single pouch, rounded, cells with weakly sclerotized central areas (Fig. 7F). Spermatheca well developed; ductus receptaculi longer than diverticulum ductus, both parts smooth (Fig. 7G). Tergites of abdomen membranous in median portion (Fig. 6C–D). Diversity and distribution The genus is monotypic and contains a single species from Madagascar.Published as part of Świerczewski, Dariusz & Stroiński, Adam, 2021, Selizitapia gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae) from tapia woodlands of Madagascar, pp. 124-139 in European Journal of Taxonomy 750 (750) on pages 126-128, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.750.1367, http://zenodo.org/record/545168