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symbionts Sulcia and Vidania, but in many of the planthopper lineages, these symbionts are now accompanied or have been replaced by other heritable bacteria (e.g., Sodalis, Arsenophonus, Purcelliella) or fungi.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

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

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

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.

Griveaudus tsaratananae Stroiński & Świerczewski, 2014, sp. nov.

Griveaudus tsaratananae sp. nov. (Figs 11 –16, 65– 70) Etymology. The specific epithet comes from the name of the Tsaratanana massif— locus typicus of newly described species. Diagnosis. The species differs from G. issidiformis by the combination of the following characters: male—lower part of periandrium with longer process only (Figs 67–68); female—anal tube (in dorsal view) ovoid, gonapophysis VIII with 4 well developed and sharp teeth, ductus receptaculi shorter than diverticulum ductus. Description. Total length 0.47–0.54 cm. Head. Vertex: proportion A/B = 24.00–28.00; Frons: proportion C/E = 0.90 –1.00; proportion D/E = 1.07–1.15. Thorax. Pronotum: proportion F/B = 12.00–13.00. Mesonotum: proportion G/F = 2.31–2.50, proportion G/B+F = 2.14–2.31, proportion G/H = 0.69–0.73. Tegmina: proportion I/J = 1.00– 2.32. Coloration. Coloration pattern similar to that of G. issidiformis but specimens are much lighter. Type material. Holotype: &male;, [Madagascar Nord/massif du Tsaratanana/piste de Mangindrano/ au Maromokotra, au N./du piton coté 2362m / 9 / 12 -XI-1966, 2310m], [mission au Tsaratanana/ XI- 1966 Camp n° 2 /P. Griveaud, P. Soga/P. Viette et D. Wintrebert], [Museum Paris]—(MNHN). Paratypes: 1 &male;, 2 &female;&female;, locality labels the same as the holotype. Distribution. Madagascar, Antsiranana Province.Published as part of Stroiński, Adam & Świerczewski, Dariusz, 2014, Griveaudus gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae) from Tsaratanana Massif supports the biodiversity of montane flatids in Madagascar, pp. 61-75 in Zootaxa 3861 (1) on page 73, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/28709