Lycorma meliae

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Lycorma meliae
Lycorma Meliae.png
Adult, red morph of L. meliae
Lycorma olivacea.png
Adult, dark blue morph of L. meliae, formerly classified as Lycorma olivacea.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
Infraorder: Fulgoromorpha
Family: Fulgoridae
Genus: Lycorma
Species:
L. meliae
Binomial name
Lycorma meliae
Kato, 1929
Synonyms

Lycorma olivaceaKato, 1929

Lycorma meliae is a planthopper species endemic to Taiwan, with multiple, dramatically different color morphs depending on the life stage. The species was described by Masayo Kato in Taiwan in 1929, and is the only member of its genus confirmed to be native to the island. In 1929, a specimen of L. meliae was originally described as a separate species, L. olivacea, also by Kato. These two taxon names were declared synonymous in 2023. L. meliae undergoes four instar stages before achieving adulthood and generally only survive until the winter.

Contents

Taxonomy

L. meliae is a species in the genus Lycorma , in the planthopper family Fulgoridae, subfamily Aphaeninae. Species within this genus are found in Asia. [1] L. meliae, along with its synonym L. olivacea, was described by Masayo Kato in Taiwan in 1929. [2] While initially seen as two separate species, a 2023 report in the Zoological Studies journal concluded that L. meliae and L. olivacea represented two different life stages of the same species. In this reclassification, L. olivacea was redefined as a junior synonym. [3]

Description

Males have a body length that ranges from 22.2 millimetres (0.87 in) to 28.5 millimetres (1.12 in). Females are larger, with a body length ranging from 26.5 millimetres (1.04 in) and 32.2 millimetres (1.27 in). Male forewing (tegmen) length ranges from 18.9 millimetres (0.74 in) to 25 millimetres (0.98 in); female forewing length ranges from 23.2 millimetres (0.91 in) to 27.8 millimetres (1.09 in). [3]

The head is short, broad, and angled upward; it ranges from a brown to black. The back of the head is marked with two dark brown projections, both of which have a ridge running down the back. There are two longitudinal ridges also running down each side of these. The clypeus is broad and the labium (a part of the mouth) is long but does not reach the abdomen. The antennae are both a marigold orange-yellow. The prothorax and mesonotum are both black, as is the abdomen. The margins of the abdominal tergites are sometimes a marigold orange-yellow. [3] The basal 3/5ths of the forewings range from a bright red to blue. These sections are covered in black and brown spots that vary in size, and sometimes have a white powdery appearance. The rest is covered in a reticulate pattern of veins. The hindwings vary from pink to light blue, often featuring brown spots. The basal third of the hindwings are brown. The legs are generally dark brown to black. Throughout maturation, the forewings undergo a series of color changes. [3] They begin as bright red with black spots, then transition to reddish brown, brown, deep green, and ending at a dark blue, while the spots gradually transition from black to white.

The male genitalia are formed by the 9th, 10th, and 11th abdominal segments. On the 9th segment, the anterior margin is concave and the margins have a series of small projections. The 10th segment is moderately convex, and the apical section is broader than the basal section. This forms a V shape from the side view and a U shape from the top view. The 11th segment is made up of a sternite that is approximately twice the size of the tergite. This segment is an oval shape with hooks on the lateral margins. When mating, the lobes can expand to five times their sheathed length, folding backwards and downwards. [3]

L. meliae is similar in appearance to and has sometimes been mistaken for Lycorma delicatula, but they can be differentiated based upon coloration and eye structure. [3]

Life cycle and ecology

Melia azedarach, the host plant of L. meliae Melia azedarach - Bead-tree, Adana 2016-11-12 01-1.jpg
Melia azedarach , the host plant of L. meliae

L. meliae is hemimetabolous, meaning that it has nymphal stages before becoming an adult, rather than larval and pupal stages. [4] [5] L. meliae lays its egg clusters, coated in a waxy layer, during the late fall to early winter seasons. The eggs develop until late spring when L. meliae nymphs emerge. [6] In total, L. meliae nymphs pass through four instar stages before achieving adulthood. [7]

The chinaberry tree Melia azedarach is a known host for L. meliae. [3] Lycorma meliae, along with the rest of the genus Lycorma, are parasitized by the eupelmid wasp Anastatus orientalis and by Dryinus sinicus , a dryinid wasp. [8]

Distribution and evolution

Lycorma meliae is endemic to the island of Taiwan. [2] [9] The following cladogram shows the phylogenetic position of L. meliae among select members of the tribe Aphaenini, based upon comparison of mitochondrial DNA: [10]

Aphaenini   

other species

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fulgoridae</span> Family of true bugs

The family Fulgoridae is a large group of hemipteran insects, especially abundant and diverse in the tropics, containing over 125 genera worldwide. They are mostly of moderate to large size, many with a superficial resemblance to Lepidoptera due to their brilliant and varied coloration. Various genera and species are sometimes referred to as lanternflies or lanthorn flies, though they do not emit light.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planthopper</span> Superfamily of insects

A planthopper is any insect in the infraorder Fulgoromorpha, in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha, a group exceeding 12,500 described species worldwide. The name comes from their remarkable resemblance to leaves and other plants of their environment and that they often "hop" for quick transportation in a similar way to that of grasshoppers. However, planthoppers generally walk very slowly. Distributed worldwide, all members of this group are plant-feeders, though few are considered pests. The infraorder contains 2 superfamily, Fulgoroidea and Delphacoidea. Fulgoroids are most reliably distinguished from the other Auchenorrhyncha by two features; the bifurcate (Y-shaped) anal vein in the forewing, and the thickened, three-segmented antennae, with a generally round or egg-shaped second segment (pedicel) that bears a fine filamentous arista.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derbidae</span> Family of true bugs

The family Derbidae is a large and diverse group of planthoppers, widely distributed in the tropics and also found in subtropical and temperate regions. It includes more than 150 genera and more than 1500 species. The adults suck the sap of plants while the nymphs live mainly in decaying organic matter, for example under the bark of dead tree trunks, feeding on fungi. In some groups of species the general structure of the insects is largely uniform, whereas in others like in the subfamily Otiocerinae various forms can be found. For example, the shape of the head, the antennae or the wings can differ considerably among genera and species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aphaeninae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

The subfamily Aphaeninae is a group of hemipteran insects, especially abundant and diverse in the tropics. They belong to the Fulgoridae (fulgorids), though they are not among the better-known members of that family that are called "lantern bugs" or "lanternflies". In 2009, the first molecular analysis of the Fulgoridae challenged the existing structure of eight currently recognized subfamilies and eleven tribes.

<i>Acanalonia</i> Genus of true bugs

Acanalonia is a genus of planthopper and contains the majority of the species within the family Acanaloniidae. Species have been recorded from southern Europe and the Americas.

<i>Issus coleoptratus</i> Species of planthopper

Issus coleoptratus is a species of planthopper belonging to the family Issidae.

<i>Zanna</i> (planthopper) Genus of planthoppers

Zanna is a genus of tropical planthoppers found in Asia and Africa, now belonging to the monotypic subfamily Zanninae.

<i>Euterpnosia</i> Genus of cicadas

Euterpnosia is a genus of cicada native to the island of Formosa, the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, Hainan and mainland Asia - China, Bhutan, Nepal and Vietnam. The type species is Euterpnosia chibensisMatsumura, 1917. Until 2013 this genus was placed in the subtribe Leptopsaltriina, but is now considered typical of the Euterpnosiina Lee, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted lanternfly</span> Species of planthopper indigenous to China

The spotted lanternfly is a planthopper indigenous to parts of China and Vietnam. It has spread invasively to Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Its preferred host is tree of heaven, but it infests crops including soybean, grapes, stone fruits, and Malus spp. In its native habitat, L. delicatula populations are regulated by parasitic wasps.

<i>Ricania speculum</i> Species of true bug

Ricania speculum, common name Black planthopper or Ricaniid Planthopper, is a species of planthoppers belonging to the family Ricaniidae.

<i>Pyrops watanabei</i> Species of true bug

Pyrops watanabei is a species of planthopper endemic to Taiwan. Pyrops atroalbus was formerly considered a subspecies; its status as a species was reinstated in 2017. P. watanabei was first described by Shōnen Matsumura in 1913 as Fulgora watanabei.

<i>Pyrops maculatus</i> Species of true bug

Pyrops maculatus is a species of planthopper belonging to the family Fulgoridae. A population is found in Sri Lanka while another is known from southwestern India.

<i>Lycorma</i> Genus of planthoppers

Lycorma is a genus of planthoppers native to Asia. The first species within the genus was described by Frederick William Hope in 1843 and the genus was formally established by Carl Stål in 1863.

<i>Penthicodes variegatus</i> Species of planthopper

Penthicodes variegatus is a species of planthoppers in the subfamily Aphaeninae (Fulgoridae): found in South-East Asia. It belongs to the subgenus EreosomaKirkaldy, 1906. The genus name was formerly treated as feminine, but in 2022 it was revised to masculine in accordance with ICZN Article 30.1.4.4, changing the spelling of this species' name from variegata to variegatus.

<i>Lycorma imperialis</i> Species of insect

Lycorma imperialis is a planthopper indigenous to parts of China and Indo-Malaysia. L. imperialis was originally discovered in 1846 by Adam White and has one recognized non-nominate subspecies, L. i. punicea. L. imperialis has undergone a number of reclassifications since its discovery and is one of four species in the genus Lycorma. L. imperialis follows a hemimetabolous life cycle and will undergo a series of nymphal stages (instars) before maturing to an adult.

<i>Aphaena submaculata</i> Species of insect

Aphaena submaculata is a species of planthoppers in the sub-family Aphaeninae of Fulgoridae. Various subspecies are distributed throughout the Indo-China region. The species was first observed by Frederick William Hope in 1840 and was formally described by James Duncan in 1843. Since then, it has undergone multiple reclassifications and now has 3 recognized subspecies which differ by color and/or length. The species feeds on tree sap via specialized mouthparts and follows a hemimetabolous life cycle.

<i>Scaralina aethrinsula</i> Species of planthopper

Scaralina aethrinsula is a species of planthopper in the family Fulgoridae. It is found from Idaho in the United States south to the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico. It is one of four species that were, for several decades, erroneously grouped together under a single name, Alphina glauca; this name is now treated as a synonym of S. marmorata.

Scaralina cristata is a species of planthopper in the family Fulgoridae. It is found from Arizona in the United States south to the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico. It is one of four species that were, for several decades, erroneously grouped together under a single name, Alphina glauca; this name is now treated as a synonym of S. marmorata.

Scaralis inbio is a species of lanternfly from Guatemala and Costa Rica. It is placed in a new subgenus Alphinoides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhotanini</span> Tribe of true bugs

The Rhotanini is a group (tribe) of planthoppers in the family Derbidae. They are found mainly in countries of south-eastern Asia like Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. They are characterized by their small size, their broad forewings, the vein pattern on their wings, and a simple head structure. Around 300 species have been described. Like in other derbids, the adults suck the sap of plants while the nymphs live mainly in decaying organic matter.

References

  1. ↑ Barringer, Lawrence (17 December 2021). "Lycorma delicatula (spotted lanternfly)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Planthoppers: FLOW Website". flow.hemiptera-databases.org. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lin, You-Sheng; Liao, Jhih-Rong; Shiao, Shiuh-Feng & Ko, Chiun-Cheng (2023). "Lanternflies (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) of Taiwan". Zoological Studies. 62 (7): e7. doi: 10.6620/ZS.2023.62-07 . PMC   10201347 . PMID   37223434.
  4. ↑ "Planthoppers". Missouri Department of Conservation. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  5. ↑ "Lycorma meliae Kato 1929 – Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  6. ↑ Mason, Robert T.; Fales, Henry M.; Jones, Tappey H.; O'Brien, Lois B.; Taylor, Terry W.; Hogue, Charles L. & Blum, Murray S. (1 January 1989). "Characterization of fulgorid waxes (Homoptera: Fulgoridae: Insecta)". Insect Biochemistry. 19 (8): 737–740. doi:10.1016/0020-1790(89)90054-1. Archived from the original on 10 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  7. ↑ Chen, Shuo & Yang, Chung-Til (1995). "The metatarsi of the Fulgoroidea (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha)" (PDF). Journal of Entomology. 15 (3): 257–269.
  8. ↑ "Genus Lycorma Stal, 1863 | Planthoppers of North America". University of Delaware. n.d. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  9. ↑ Chen, Wei-Chen. "Lycorma meliae Kato, 1929". Catalogue of life in Taiwan. Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Wang, Wenqian; Zhang, Huan; Constant, Jérôme; Bartlett, Charles R. & Qin, Daozheng (30 July 2021). "Characterization, comparative analysis and phylogenetic implications of mitogenomes of Fulgoridae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha)". Genes. 12 (8): 1185. doi: 10.3390/genes12081185 . PMC   8394797 . PMID   34440359.
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