Research Article
Print
Research Article
Revision of the planthopper genus Nycheuma Fennah (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Delphacidae)
expand article infoXiao-Hui Hou‡§, Xiang-Sheng Chen§
‡ Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
§ Guizhou University, Guiyang, China

Corresponding author: Xiao-Hui Hou ( hxh19801122@163.com )

Academic editor: Mike Wilson
© 2014 Xiao-Hui Hou, Xiang-Sheng Chen.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Hou X-H, Chen X-S (2014) Revision of the planthopper genus Nycheuma Fennah (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Delphacidae). ZooKeys 462: 47-57. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.462.6657
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2B4327EC-2677-4C28-8D91-EC73F74B6D51
Open Access

Abstract

Chinese species in the genus Nycheuma Fennah, 1964a (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Delphacidae: Delphacinae: Delphacini) are revised to include three species: N. cognatum (Muir, 1917), N. dimorpha (Matsumura, 1910) and N. nilotica Linnavuori, 1973. N. coctum Yang, 1989 is placed in synonymy with N. nilotica Linnavuori, 1973. N. dimorpha (Matsumura, 1910) is newly recorded from China. The generic characteristics are redefined. The main morphological characters, male genitalia of 3 species are described or redescribed and illustrated. A key to Chinese species in the genus is provided.

Keywords

Hemiptera , Fulgoroidea , Delphacini , Nycheuma , synonymy, new record, taxonomy

Introduction

The delphacid genus Nycheuma was erected by Fennah (1964a) with Dicranotropis capensis Muir, 1926 as its type species. It belongs to the tribe Delphacini within subfamily Delphacinae (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Delphacidae) (Fennah 1964a; Kuoh et al. 1983; Yang 1989; Ding 2006) and is easily separated from other members in this tribe by the following diagnostic features. Head including eyes slightly wider than pronotum. Vertex quadrate, wider at base than long submedially about 1.2:1. Frons median carina forked about level of ocelli. Antennae surpassing the level of frontoclypeal suture. Pronotum lateral carinae not reaching hind margin. Pygofer ventral margin with 3 small medioventral processes (N. endymion only 1 and N. menuis absent). Aedeagus with a long retrose process at apex (Kuoh et al. 1983; Yang 1989; Ding 2006). This genus is known to occur in the Afrotropical, Indo-Malayan, Australian and Pacific regions. To date, 9 species have been recorded in the worldwide, Nycheuma afrocognata Asche (Ivory Coast), Nycheuma cognatum (Muir) (Australia, China, Fiji, Philippines, Sri Lanka, West Caroline Is., Bonin Is., New Caledonia), Nycheuma coronata Asche (Ivory Coast), Nycheuma dimorpha (Matsumura) (Australia, Cape Verde, Italy, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa), Nycheuma endymion (Fennah) (Senegal), Nycheuma menia Fennah (Sudan), Nycheuma menuis Fennah (Sudan), Nycheuma nilotica Linnavuori (Sudan), Nycheuma sectator (Fennah) (Cameroon, Sudan: Blue Nile, Umm Banein) (Matsumura 1910; Muir 1917; Fennah 1958, 1963, 1964a, 1964b, 1969; Linnavuori 1973; Asche 1988). But only 2 species have been described in China. Only the host plant of N. cognatum is known (Paspalum orbiculare G. Forst), most of species in the genus Nycheuma feed unknown.

Here, the Chinese species of the genus Nycheuma are revised to include three species: N. cognatum (Muir, 1917), N. dimorpha (Matsumura, 1910) and N. nilotica Linnavuori, 1973. N. coctum Yang, 1989 is placed in synonymy with N. nilotica Linnavuori, 1973. N. dimorpha (Matsumura, 1910) collected from Datian National Natural Reserve, Hainan Province, is newly recorded from China. The generic characteristics are redefined. The main morphological characters and male genitalia of 3 species are described or redescribed and illustrated. A key for identifying the Chinese species of Nycheuma is also provided.

Material and methods

The methods and morphological terminology used in this study follow that of Yang and Yang (1986) and Ding (2006). The genital segments of the examined specimens were macerated in 10% KOH and drawn from preparations in glycerin jelly using a light microscope. Illustrations of the specimens were made by using Leica MZ 12.5 stereomicroscope and enhanced using Adobe Photoshop 7.0 (Adobe Systems). Spinal formula means the numbers of apical spines of the hind tibiae and 1st and 2nd hind tarsomeres. The type specimens and materials examined are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China (IEGU).

Taxonomy

Nycheuma Fennah, 1964

Figs 1–36

Nycheuma Fennah, 1964a: 145; Kuoh et al. 1983: 81; Yang 1989: 95; Ding 2006: 247.

Type species

Dicranotropis capensis Muir, 1926, by original designation.

Description

The characters used by Fennah (1964a), Kuoh et al. (1983), Yang (1989) and Ding (2006) are modified as follows:

Body size. Macropterous form, body length (including forewing): male 3.20–3.44 mm, female 3.70–4.32 mm.

Coloration. General color light yellowish brown to yellowish brown. Pronotum and mesonotum with carinae and border pale yellowish brown. The terminal of first segment and the base of second segment antennae dark brown (Figs 2, 14, 26). Metapleura with round spot dark brown. Abdomen brown to dark brown. Forewings hyaline, veins dark brown (Figs 3, 15, 27). Hindwings hyaline with veins dark brown.

Figures 1–12. 

Nycheuma cognatum (Muir) 1 Head and thorax, dorsal view 2 Frons and clypeus 3 Forewing 4 Male genitalia, posterior view 5 Male genitalia, lateral view 6 Diaphragm of pygofer 7 Pygofer, ventral view 8 Anal segment, aedeagus, connective and genital styles, lateral view 9 Aedeagus, lateral view 10 Suspensorium 11 Genital style, posterior view 12 Right genital style, lateral view. Scale 1 mm (Figure 3); 0.2 mm (Figures 1, 2, 4–8); 0.1 mm (Figures 9–12).

Figures 13–24. 

Nycheuma dimorpha (Matsumura) 13 Head and thorax, dorsal view 14 Frons and clypeus 15 Forewing 16 Male genitalia, posterior view 17 Male genitalia, lateral view 18 Diaphragm of pygofer 19 Pygofer, ventral view 20 Anal segment, aedeagus, connective and genital styles, lateral view 21 Aedeagus, lateral view 22 Suspensorium 23 Genital style, posterior view 24 Right genital style, lateral view. Scale 0.2 mm (Figures 13–20); 0.1 mm (Figures 21–24).

Figures 25–36. 

Nycheuma nilotica Linnavuori 25 Head and thorax, dorsal view 26 Frons and clypeus 27 Forewing 28 Male genitalia, posterior view 29 Male genitalia, lateral view 30 Diaphragm of pygofer 31 Pygofer, ventral view 32 Anal segment, aedeagus, connective and genital styles, lateral view 33 Aedeagus, lateral view 34 Suspensorium 35 Right genital style, posterior view 36 Left genital style, lateral view. Scale 0.5 mm (Figure 27); 0.2 mm (Figures 25, 26, 28–32); 0.1 mm (Figures 33–36).

Head and thorax. Head, including eyes (Figs 1, 13, 25), as wide as pronotum or slightly wider. Vertex quadrate, shorter submedially than wider at base about 1:1.2, moderately rounding into frons, apical margin transverse with submedian carinae moderately prominent, Y-shaped carina feeble, submedian carinae not uniting at apex, basal compartment of vertex wider at base than greatest length about 2.2:1, than medium length about 2.7:1. Frons (Figs 2, 14, 26) in midline longer than wide at widest part about 2.0:1, widest at level of ocelli, lateral margins straight and converging distad beyond this level, median carina forked at base. Postclypeus in profile apical part of median carina bend. Rostrum with apical segment about as long as subapical. Antennae cylindrical, reaching slightly beyond frontoclypeal suture, basal segment longer than wide about 2:1, shorter than second about 1:2 (Figs 2, 14, 26). Pronotum (Figs 1, 13, 25) with lateral carinae not attaining hind margin. Spinal formula of hind leg 5–7-4. Posttibial spur with about 20 teeth.

Male genitalia. Pygofer short dorsally, long and strongly convex ventrally (Figs 5, 17, 29), posterior opening about as long as wide, laterodorsal angle not produced, lateral margins rather feeble, medioventral processes present (3 or 1 small processes) or absent (Figs 7, 19, 31). Diaphragm deeply impressed with dorsal margin membranous (Figs 6, 18, 30). Phallus rather long, laterally compressed, with a long retrose process at apex (Figs 8, 9, 20, 21, 32, 33). Suspensorium in posterior view Y-shaped (Figs 10, 22, 34). Genital styles simple, rather narrow, tapering distally, rectangulately or subacutely bent dorsad, if produced caudad at point of flexure, then lobe narrow and very small, divergent in opposite direction apically (Figs 11, 12, 23, 24, 35, 36). Anal segment of male (Figs 4, 5, 8, 16, 17, 20, 28, 29, 32) short, lateroapical angles widely separated, each produced ventrad in a spinose process.

Host plant

Paspalum orbiculare Forst (Ding 2006).

Distribution

Afrotropical, Indomalayan, Australian and Pacific regions.

Remarks

In the genera of Delphacini, this genus is most similar to Euidopsis Ribaut, 1948 (with the single species E. truncata Ribaut, 1948), but differs in the following: Frons median carina forked level of ocelli (in Euidopsis, frons median carina forked above level of ocelli); antennae reaching the level of frontoclypeal suture (in Euidopsis, antennae reaching the level of end part of post-clypeus); metatarsal tibial spur with 20 small teeth on lateral margin (in Euidopsis, metatarsal tibial spur with 30 small teeth on lateral margin); pygofer ventral margin with medioventral processes (3 or 1) or absent (in Euidopsis, pygofer ventral margin with 1 small medioventral process); diaphragm without armature (in Euidopsis, diaphragm with 1 armature); aedeagus with 1 long retrose process arising near apex (in Euidopsis, aedeagus with 2 long retrose processes arising near apex).

Key to known Chinese species of Nycheuma

1 Forewing of macropterous male without marking apically; phallus with process on right side near apex (Figs 3, 8) N. cognatum
– Forewing of macropterous male with marking apically; phallus with process on right side near middle (Figs 15, 20, 27, 32) 2
2 Pygofer ventral margin with 3 identical medioventral process, all processes in a row (Fig. 31); phallus with processes strong and long (Fig. 33); genital styles inner basal angle moderate and stout (Figs 35, 36) N. nilotica
– Pygofer ventral margin with 3 distinct medioventral process, intermediate process shorter than lateral processes, processes not in a row (Fig. 19); phallus with processes slender and short; genital styles inner basal angle obvious and fig-like (Figs 23, 24) N. dimorpha

Nycheuma cognatum (Muir, 1917)

Figs 1–12

Dicranotropis cognata Muir, 1917: 317.

Nycheuma cognatum (Muir), comb. by Fennah 1964a: 145; see also Fennah 1969: 37; Fennah 1971: 571; Fennah 1973–75: 89; Kuoh et al. 1983: 81; Ding 2006: 249.

Description

Body length including forewing 3.44 mm (male), 3.95 mm (female).

Coloration. General color uniformly brown. Forewing subhyaline, brown, in brachypterous male with a large black marking at apex.

Head and thorax. Vertex (Fig. 1) shorter submedially than wide at base about 1:1.1, Y-shaped carina moderately distinct, basal compartment of vertex wider at base than greatest length about 1.8:1. Frons (Fig. 2) in midline longer than wide at widest part about 2.2:1, widest at level of ocelli. Postclypeus wider at base than frons at apex, slightly wider at base than length in middle line. Rostrum reaching to metatrochanters, apical segment distinctly shorter than subapical. Antennae (Fig. 2) surpassing level of middle of postclypeus, basal segment longer than wide about 1.7:1, shorter than second about 1:1.8. Post-tibial spur with about 27 teeth.

Male genitalia. Anal segment of male (Figs 4, 5, 8) moderately long, collar-shaped, lateroapical angles very widely separated, each produced caudad and slightly mesad in a stout spinose process. Pygofer in profile (Fig. 5) wider ventrally than dorsally, posterior margin strongly produced caudad medially, in posterior view (Figs 4, 6) with opening small, distinctly wider than long, lateral margin weakly defined, ventral margin shallowly concave, with 3 distinct medioventral processes, middle the longest. Phallus (Figs 8, 9) long, tubular, slightly arched upward medially, reflected cephalad at apex in a flagellum on right side, top of flagellum slightly turned mesad than laterad, pointed at apex, with a large, stout process at middle left and a smaller one near apical fourth right. Orifice terminal dorsad. Suspensorium (Fig. 10) Y-shaped, arms longer than stem. Diaphragm (Fig. 6) rather broad, membranous, triangularly incised dorsally. Opening for genital styles elongate oval. Genital styles (Figs 11, 12) slender, widely divergent, narrowing to apex, inner margin nearly straight, outer margin moderately produced laterad medially.

Material examined

2 ♂♂, CHINA: Jianfengling National Natural Reserve (18°43'N, 108°53'E), Hainan Province, 17–20 Apr. 2009, collected by X.-H. Hou; 3 ♂♂, CHINA: Bawangling National Natural Reserve (19°05'N, 109°07'E), Hainan Province, 24–28 Apr. 2009, collected by X.-H. Hou; 1 ♂, CHINA: Datian National Natural Reserve (19°06'N, 108°47'E), Hainan Province, 21–23 Apr. 2009, collected by X.-H. Hou; 1 ♂, CHINA: Volcano Park (19°55'N, 110°13'E), Hainan Province, 6–8 Apr. 2009, collected by X.-H. Hou; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, CHINA: Datian National Natural Reserve (19°06'N, 108°47'E), Hainan Province, 9 Jul. 2007, collected by Z.-G. Zhang.

Host plant

Paspalum orbiculare Forst.

Distribution

China (Hainan, Taiwan), Philippines, West Caroline Is., Bonin Is., Sri Lanka, New Caledonia, Fiji, Australia.

Nycheuma dimorpha (Matsumura, 1910)

Figs 13–24

Dicranotropis dimorpha Matsumura, 1910: 37.

Nycheuma dimorpha (Matsumura), comb. by Asch 1988: 195.

Description

Body length including forewing 3.20–3.36 mm (male), 4.20–4.32 mm (female).

Coloration. General color dirty yellowish brown to yellowish brown. Vertex, pronotum and mesonotum (Fig. 13) dirty yellowish. Frons and genae (Fig. 14) dirty yellowish brown, with several circular spots light yellowish brown. Clypeus (Fig. 14) dark yellowish brown. Eyes blackish brown, ocelli reddish brown. Antennae general dirty yellowish brown, with apex of scape ring with dark yellowish brown. Thorax with ventral parts light yellowish brown to yellowish brown. Legs with trochanters light yellowish brown to yellowish brown. Forewings (Fig. 15) hyaline, with apex of irregular spot brown. Abdomen with ventral parts dirty yellowish brown.

Head and thorax. Head including eyes wider than pronotum about 1.1:1. Vertex (Fig. 13) wider at base than long submedially about 1.4:1. Pronotum (Fig. 13) slightly shorter than vertex submedially about 0.8:1. Mesonotum (Fig. 13) longer than pronotum and vertex combined about 1.5:1. Frons (Fig. 14) longer in middle line than wide at widest part about 2.1:1, widest about level of ocelli, lateral carinae nearly straight below ocelli, median carina forked at level of ocelli. Postclypeus (Fig. 14) wider slightly at base than frons at apex, as long as wide at base. Rostrum reaching metacoxae, apical segment distinctly shorter than subapical. Antennae (Fig. 14) reaching frontoclypeal suture, basal segment longer than wide about 1.6:1, shorter than second about 1:2.1. Post-tibial spur with about 26 teeth.

Male genitalia. Anal segment of male (Figs 16, 17, 20) short, moderately, collar-like, lateroapical angles separated and produced into a stout spinose process. Pygofer in profile (Fig. 17) distinctly longer ventrally than dorsally, with laterodorsal angle not produced, in posterior view (Figs 16, 18) with opening as long as wide, lateral margin weakly defined, ventral margin concave, with 3 small medioventral processes, in ventral view pointed at different level. Phallus (Figs 20, 21) large, tubular, apex reflected cephalad at right, turned dorsad near apex, with 2 long, stout processes directed basad, one on apical fifth left, another on apical third right. Suspensorium (Fig. 22) Y-shaped, arms distinctly longer than stem. Diaphragm (Fig. 18) narrow, partly membranous, dorsal margin distinctly concave. Opening for genital styles small, dorsal and ventral margins evenly planus. Genital styles (Figs 23, 24) moderately long, divergent, slender, wider at base than at apex, inner base angle obvious, inner margin planus, outer margin slightly sinuate, with a nodule-like process nearly middle.

Material examined

3♂♂, 2 ♀♀, CHINA: Datian National Natural Reserve (19°06'N, 108°47'E), Hainan Province, 12–15 Apr. 2009, collected by X.-H. Hou.

Host plant

Unknown.

Distribution

China (Hainan: Datian).

Nycheuma nilotica Linnavuori, 1973

Figs 25–36

Nycheuma nilotica Linnavuori, 1973: 105.

Nycheuma coctum Yang, syn. by Yang 1989: 98; see also Ding 2006: 247.

Description

Body length including forewing 3.28–3.37 mm (male), 3.88 mm (female).

Coloration. General color pale yellowish brown. Apex of first antennal segment and base of second, abdomen and pygofer brown, metapleura with large rounded brown spot. Forewing (Fig. 27) hyaline, with brown marking on hind margin near end of clavus, anterior area of Cu, on ends of Sc1, Sc2, wider on R1, narrower on Rs, oblique area along posteroapical area, reaching to end of M1 except for 3 hyaline areas.

Head and thorax. Vertex (Fig. 25) wider at base than long submedially about 1.1:1, at apex as wide as at base, basal compartment at base wider than greatest length about 1.8:1. Frons (Fig. 26) in midline longer than wide at widest part about 2.3:1, widest about level of ocelli, lateral carinae nearly straight below ocelli, median carina forked at level of ocelli. Postclypeus (Fig. 26) wider at base than frons at apex, slightly longer than wide at base. Rostrum reaching metacoxae, apical segment shorter than subapical. Antennae (Fig. 26) reaching frontoclypeal suture, basal segment longer than wide about 1.8:1, shorter than second about 1:2.0. Post-tibial spur with about 26 teeth.

Male genitalia. Anal segment of male (Figs 28, 29, 32) short, collar-shaped, lateroapical angles each produced into a long spinose process, widely separated each other, directed ventrad. Pygofer in profile (Fig. 29) distinctly longer ventrally than dorsally, in posterior view (Figs 28, 30) with opening longer than wide, lateral margins defined, ventral margin shallowly concave with 3 medioventral processes, in ventral view pointed at same level. Phallus (Figs 32, 33) large, tubular, apex reflected cephalad at right, turned dorsad near apex, with 2 long, stout processes directed basad, one on apical fourth left, another near middle right. Suspensorium (Fig. 34) Y-shaped, arms slightly longer than stem. Diaphragm (Fig. 30) not distinctly membranous, dorsal margin slightly concave. Opening for genital styles small, dorsal and ventral margins evenly convex. Genital styles (Figs 35, 36) moderately long, divergent, apical half slightly twisted, turned caudad apically, inner margin slightly sinuate, outer margin shallowly concave at apical half, outer angle pointed.

Material examined

3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, CHINA: Datian National Natural Reserve (19°06'N, 108°47'E), Hainan Province, 10 Jul. 2007, collected by Q.-Z. Song and B. Zhang; 2 ♂♂, CHINA: Sanzhao Yangguangzui (22°16'N, 113°34'E), Guangdong Province, 8 Oct. 2008, collected by X.-H. Hou; 1 ♂, CHINA: Diaoluoshan National Natural Reserve (18°40'N, 109°52'E), Hainan Province, 14 Jul. 2008, collected by H.-R. Li.

Host plant

Unknown.

Distribution

China (Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan).

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31160163, 31472033), the Program of Science and Technology Innovation Talents Team, Guizhou Province (No. 20144001) and the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program of Guizhou (No. 20107005).

References

  • Asche M (1988) Delphacidae from Cote D’Ivoire. Revue Française d’Entomologie. ParisN.S.10(2): 151–231.
  • Ding JH (2006) Fauna Sinica. Insecta Vol. 45. HomopteraDelphacidae. Editorial Committee of Fauna Sinica, Chinese Academy of Science. Science Press, Beijing, China, 1–776.
  • Fennah RG (1958) Fulgoroidea from West Africa. Bulletin de l’Institut Français Afrique Noire 2: 460–538.
  • Fennah RG (1963) New Delphacidae (Homoptera, Fulgoroidea) from South America and West Africa. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 13: 689–700. doi: 10.1080/00222936308651416
  • Fennah RG (1964a) Delphacidae from Madagascar and the Mascarene Island (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea). Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Ent.) 116(7): 131–150.
  • Fennah RG (1964b) Three new genera of Eurybrachidae (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea) from West Africa and Australia. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London (B) 33(9–10): 157–162.
  • Fennah RG (1969) Fulgoroidea (Homoptera) from New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands. Pacif. Ins. Monogr. 21: 1–116.
  • Fennah RG (1971) Homoptera: Fulgoroidea, Supplement. Ins. Micronesia 6(9): 563–609.
  • Fennah RG (1973–75) Homoptera: Fulgoroidea, Delphacidae from Ceylon. Ent. Scand.Suppl.4: 79–136.
  • Kouh CL, Ding JH, Tian LX, Huang QL (1983) Economic Insect Fauna of China, Fasc. 27, Homoptera: Delphacidae. Science Press, Beijing, China, 1–166.
  • Linnavuori RE (1973) Hemiptera of the Sudan, with remarks on some species of the adjacent countries. 2. HomopteraAuchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae, Cercopidae, Machaerotidae, Membracidae and Fulgoroidea. (Zoological contribution from the Finnish expeditions to the Sudan No. 33). Notulae Entomologicae 53(3): 65–137.
  • Matsumura S (1910) Neue Cicadinen aus Europa und Mittelmeergebiet (Schluss). Journal of the College of Sciences, Imperial University of Tokyo. Tokyo27(18): 1–38.
  • Muir FAG (1917) Homopterous notes. Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society. Honolulu3: 311–338.
  • Muir FAG (1926) On some new and little-known Delphacidae from South Africa (Fulgoroidea, Homoptera). Annals and Magazine of Natural History 17: 17–35.
  • Ribaut H (1948) On the insect fauna of Cyprus. Kcsults of the expedition in 1939 by Harald, Hakan and P. H. Lindberg. Commentationes Biologicae Societas Scientiarum Fennica. Helsingfors 10(8–14): 1–44.
  • Yang CT (1989) Delphacidae of Taiwan (II). (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea). NSC Spec. Publ.Taiwan, China6: 1–334.
  • Yang JT, Yang CT (1986) Delphacidae of Taiwan (I) Asiracinae and the tribe Tropidocephalini (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea). Taiwan Mus. Spec. Publ.Taiwan, China6: 1–79.
login to comment