Research Article |
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Corresponding author: Daniel Burckhardt ( daniel.burckhardt@bs.ch ) Academic editor: Igor Malenovský
© 2025 Daniel Burckhardt, Dalva Luiz de Queiroz.
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:
Burckhardt D, Queiroz DLde (2025) The psyllid genus Ciriacremum (Hemiptera, Psyllidae) in Brazil. ZooKeys 1258: 119-136. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1258.167703
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Ciriacremum is a genus of Ciriacreminae (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Psylloidea, Psyllidae) comprising 26 validly described species in the Afrotropical realm and only one in the Neotropics. Here we add four new species from Brazil, which are named and diagnosed, including illustrations and an identification key for adults: Ciriacremum lanceolatum sp. nov. (from Mato Grosso), C. maederae sp. nov. (from Amazonas), C. pollicigerum sp. nov. (from Amazonas) and C. roraima sp. nov. (from Roraima). Two other species are reported from Brazil (Amazonas and Pará) but not formally named due to insufficient material. Apart from C. setosum (from Nicaragua) and the Brazilian species treated in this paper, there are at least four additional undescribed species from the Neotropics (Colombia, Guyana, Panama, Suriname, and Venezuela), which are briefly discussed. Little is known about the immatures and host plants of the Neotropical species. The only confirmed host is Hymenaea sp. (Fabaceae) of C. maederae sp. nov. Adults were collected also on other fabaceous genera that are possible hosts. In the Neotropics, Ciriacremum is restricted to the tropics between Nicaragua in the north and Brazil (Mato Grosso) in the south.
Ciriacreminae, Fabaceae, jumping plant lice, Neotropics, Psylloidea, Sternorrhyncha, taxonomy
Psyllids or jumping plant lice (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Psylloidea), which feed exclusively on plant sap, are generally very host-specific insects. While in the northern hemisphere many genera occur in the Nearctic and Palaearctic realms (e.g. Aphalara Foerster, Bactericera Puton, Cacopsylla Ossiannilsson, Craspedolepta Enderlein, Livia Latreille, Psylla Geoffroy, Spanioneura Foerster, and Trioza Foerster) and several genera have a pantropical distribution (e.g. Calophya Löw, Colophorina Capener, Diclidophlebia Crawford, Euryconus Aulmann, Melanastera Serbina, Malenovsky, Queiroz & Burckhardt, and Pseudophacopteron Enderlein) (
The Afrotropical species of Ciriacremum were revised by
Fieldwork carried out over the last 15 years in various Brazilian states (Fig.
The Brazilian material was collected by D. Burckhardt, D.L. de Queiroz, and collaborators in, or is reported from, the following states: Amazonas (AM), Mato Grosso (MT), Pará (PA), Roraima (RR). The material examined or cited is deposited in the following institutions: Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Geneva (
The morphological terminology follows
Ciriacremum Enderlein, 1910: 139. Type species: Ciriacremum filiverpatum Enderlein, by original designation.
Ceriacremum;
Bunoparia
Enderlein, 1926: 397. Type species: Ciriacremum capillicorne Enderlein, by original designation. Synonymised by
A detailed description of the genus is provided by
Diagnosis. Adult (Figs
Habitus in lateral view (A, B) and head in dorsal view (C) of Ciriacremum spp. A. Ciriacremum sp. A, Pará (photo S. Dantas; iNaturalist https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/221943814); B, C. Ciriacremum sp. B, Amazonas (photos L.Š. Serbina). Scale bars: 0.5 mm (B); 0.1 mm (C).
Inner face of paramere, in lateral view (A, C, E, G), and distal segment of aedeagus, in lateral view (B, D, F, H) of Ciriacremum spp. A, B. Ciriacremum lanceolatum sp. nov.; C, D. Ciriacremum maederae sp. nov.; E, F. Ciriacremum pollicigerum sp. nov.; G, H. Ciriacremum roraima sp. nov. Scale bar: 0.05 mm.
Fifth instar immature. Unknown.
Affinities. The species of the Ciriacremum setosum group differ from those of the Afrotropical realm by the presence of densely arranged surface spinules of the forewings, which cover the membrane up to the veins (exceptions C. julbernadoides Hollis and C. orientale Hollis). Most African species possess hypovalves at the rear end of the male subgenital plate (absent in C. capense Enderlein, C. capilicorne Enderlein, C. filiverpatum Enderlein, and C. gabonense Aléné, Hoess & Burckhardt) and lack a posterior lobe on the male proctiger (exception C. capense), which is always present in the New World species. In many African species the genal processes are short; in the Neotropical species they are always longer than 0.5 times the vertex length along the coronal suture. Adults of the Brazilian species can be identified with the following key.
| 1 | Genal processes longer than 0.8 times vertex along coronal suture, pointed or subacute apically (Figs |
2 |
| – | Genal processes shorter than 0.8 times vertex along coronal suture, relatively blunt apically (Fig. |
5 |
| 2 | Forewing dark (Figs |
3 |
| – | Forewing light with distinct or indistinct dark brown apical band (Figs |
4 |
| 3 | Forewing dark also at base (Fig. |
Ciriacremum maederae sp. nov. |
| – | Forewing with white transverse band at base (Fig. |
Ciriacremum sp. A |
| 4 | Forewing with well-defined, dark, transverse apical band (Figs |
Ciriacremum pollicigerum sp. nov. |
| – | Forewing with ill-defined, dark, transverse apical band (Fig. |
Ciriacremum sp. B |
| 5 | Antenna long, 2.9 times head width. Forewing with R1 short, about one-third as long as maximum width of pterostigma (Fig. |
Ciriacremum lanceolatum sp. nov. |
| – | Antenna short, 2.4 times head width. Forewing with R1 long, about as long as maximum width of pterostigma (Fig. |
Ciriacremum roraima sp. nov. |
Brazil, Mato Grosso state, Nova Guarita municipality, forest at the Rio Peixoto de Azevedo River 15 km NE of Nova Guarita, 10.1893°S, 55.3499°W.
Holotype. Brazil • ♂; MT, Nova Guarita; 10.1893°S, 55.3499°W; 240 m a.s.l.; 28 May 2016; L.A. Pezzini leg.; sweeping; #687;
Adult male (Fig.
Structure. Genal processes 0.6 times as long as coronal suture, blunt apically (Fig.
Measurements (1 ♂, in mm). Head width 0.72; antenna length 2.10; forewing length 2.00; male proctiger length 0.32; paramere length 0.28; length of distal portion of aedeagus 0.20.
Adult female and fifth instar immature unknown.
From the Latin adjective lanceolatus, “lanceolate”, referring to the shape of the paramere in lateral view.
Brazil (MT).
Unknown.
A member of the Ciriacremum setosum group, C. lanceolatum sp. nov. shares the short, apically blunt genal processes with C. roraima sp. nov., from which it differs as indicated in the key. The antennae are longer, the vein R1 of the forewing is shorter, the paramere is lanceolate rather than lamellar and the apical dilatation of the aedeagus is larger. From C. setosum it differs in the slightly smaller body dimensions (head width 0.72 mm versus 0.91 mm in C. setosum, forewing length 2.00 mm versus 2.10 mm), the shorter and apically blunt genal processes (about as long as coronal suture and apically subacute in C. setosum); the lanceolate paramere (with large anterior lobe in C. setosum).
Brazil, Amazonas state, Novo Airão municipality, Anavilhanas National Park, 2.5366°S/2.6217°S, 60.8327°W/60.9559°W.
Holotype. Brazil • ♂; AM, Novo Airão, Parque Nacional de Anavilhanas; 2.5366°S/2.6217°S, 60.8327°W/60.9559°W; 20–30 m a.s.l.; 18–20 Apr. 2014; D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz leg.; Hymenaea sp., Amazonas inundation forest; #128(4);
Paratypes. Brazil • 6 ♂, 11 ♀; same data as holotype;
(not included in type series) Brazil • 187 immatures of younger instars; same data as holotype;
Adult (Figs
Structure. Genal processes 1.0–1.1 times as long as coronal suture, pointed or subacute apically (Fig.
Measurements (2 ♂, 2 ♀, in mm). Head width 0.76–0.84; antenna length 2.60–2.96; forewing length 2.06–2.44; male proctiger length 0.32–0.38; paramere length 0.36–0.38; length of distal portion of aedeagus 0.32; female proctiger length 0.84–0.86.
Fifth instar immature unknown.
Noun in the genitive case; dedicated to our dear friend Dr h. c. Felicitas Maeder in recognition of her many years of work as administrator of Pro Entomologia, the foundation that partly financed our collections and studies on Brazilian Psylloidea.
Hymenaea sp. (Fabaceae).
Brazil (AM).
A member of the Ciriacremum setosum group, C. maederae sp. nov. shares the long, apically pointed or subacute genal processes with C. pollicigerum sp. nov., C. sp. A, and C. sp. B, from which it differs as indicated in the key. It differs from C. pollicigerum and sp. B in having a mostly dark-brown forewing (versus with a transverse marginal band), and from sp. A in lacking a white forewing base. Ciriacremum maederae sp. nov. shares the long, apically pointed genal processes with C. setosum from which it differs in the dark-brown forewing (versus bearing a dark marginal band), the lamellar paramere (versus paramere with large anterior lobe) and the relatively longer female subgenital plate (about two-thirds as long as proctiger versus about half as long).
Brazil, Amazonas state, Manaus municipality, Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental research centre, 2.8994°S, 59.9745°W.
Holotype. Brazil • ♂; AM, Manaus, Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental; 2.8994°S, 59.9745°W; 90–100 m a.s.l.; 13 Oct. 2015; E.S. Figueiredo leg.; cultivated plants;
Paratypes. Brazil • 1 ♂; same data as holotype; 13 Mar. 2014; C. Krug & E. Soares leg.; Tachigali paniculata, cultivated plants;
Adult (Fig.
Structure. Genal processes 0.9 times as long as coronal suture, subacute apically (Fig.
Measurements (1 ♂, 1 ♀, in mm). Head width 0.96–1.02; antenna length 3.28–3.30; forewing length 2.40–2.80; male proctiger length 0.38; paramere length 0.42; length of distal portion of aedeagus 0.30; female proctiger length 1.00.
Fifth instar immature unknown.
From the Latin noun pollux, “thumb”, and the Latin suffix -ger, “bearing”, referring to the thumb-like process on the paramere in lateral view.
Unknown. Adults were collected on Hymenaea courbaril and Sclerobium paniculatum (Fabaceae) which are possible hosts.
Brazil (AM).
A member of the Ciriacremum setosum group, C. pollicigerum sp. nov. shares the long, apically pointed or subacute genal processes with C. maederae sp. nov., C. sp. A, and C. sp. B, from which it differs as indicated in the key. It differs from C. maederae and C. sp. A in having a transverse marginal band on the forewing (versus mostly dark brown or black), and from C. sp. B in having a well-defined marginal band on the forewing rather than an indistinctly delimited one. Ciriacremum pollicigerum sp. nov. resembles C. setosum in the long, apically pointed genal processes, the apically banded forewing, the anteriorly lobed paramere, and the short female subgenital plate (<0.5 times proctiger length). It differs from the latter species in the slightly larger body dimensions (head width 0.96–1.02 mm versus 0.91 mm, forewing length 2.40–2.80 mm versus 2.1 mm) and details of the paramere (anterior lobe broadly rounded anteriorly with 2–3 rows of peg setae along anterior margin on inner face which is glabrous otherwise versus anterior lobe narrowly rounded anteriorly with bristles densely covering entire inner face).
Brazil, Roraima state, Boa Vista municipality, Rio Cauamé, 2.8650°N/2.8683°N, 60.6983°W/60.7433°W.
Holotype. Brazil • ♂; RR, Boa Vista, Rio Cauamé; 2.8650°N/2.8683°N, 60.6983°W/60.7433°W; 80 m a.s.l.; 20 Apr. 2015; D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz leg.; degraded riverine forest, #168(-);
Paratypes. Brazil • 1 ♀; same data as holotype;
Adult (Fig.
Structure. Genal processes 0.7 times as long as coronal suture, blunt apically (Fig.
Measurements (1 ♂, 1 ♀, in mm). Head width 0.82–0.86; antenna length 1.96–2.08; forewing length 1.98–2.20; male proctiger length 0.34; paramere length 0.36; length of distal segment of aedeagus 0.28; female proctiger length 1.00.
Fifth instar immature unknown.
Named after the Brazilian state of Roraima. A noun in apposition.
Unknown. Adults were collected on Deguelia densiflora (Fabaceae) which is a possible host.
Brazil (RR).
A member of the Ciriacremum setosum group, C. roraima sp. nov. shares the relatively short, apically blunt genal processes with C. lanceolatum sp. nov., from which it differs as indicated in the key. The antennae are shorter, the vein R1 of the forewing is longer, the paramere is lamellar rather than lanceolate and the apical dilatation of the aedeagus is smaller. Ciriacremum roraima sp. nov. differs from C. setosum in the shorter, apically blunt genal processes, the lamellar paramere (versus paramere with large anterior lobe) and the relatively longer female subgenital plate (about two-thirds as long as proctiger versus about half as long).
(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/221943814) Brazil • 1 ♂; PA, Belém, Jurunas, Travessa Tupinambás; 1.4660°S, 48.4884°W; 10 Apr. 2024; photo taken by S. Dantas; no material.
Brazil (PA).
This species resembles C. maederae sp. nov. in its long, apically pointed or subacute genal processes and dark forewings, but differs by having a white forewing base. The species is new, but it is not formally named due to the absence of material (S. Dantas pers. comm.).
Brazil • 1 ♀; AM, 25 km NW Novo Airão; 30 Nov. 2000; U. Göllner leg.; at light; MNHU, dry mounted.
Brazil (AM).
This species resembles C. pollicigerum sp. nov. in its apically pointed or subacute genal processes and the transverse dark marginal band on the forewing, which is, however, indistinctly delimited (versus well defined in C. pollicigerum). The species is new, but it is not formally named due to the absence of male specimens.
Ciriacremum setosum was originally described from a small series of males and females from Nicaragua (
With 36 valid species, Ciriacremum is species-rich in Africa (
The morphological similarity of the American species suggests that they constitute a monophyletic clade. There is no evidence that this is also true for the African species and, thus, the phylogenetic relationships of the two groups remain obscure. There is no cladistic analysis incorporating all ciriacremine genera. Using morphological characters,
Further fieldwork is necessary to find additional specimens of the currently unnamed species, to possibly find other undescribed species, and to evaluate the diversity of Ciriacremum in the New World. Additional material and analyses will help to elucidate the phylogeny which is a prerequisite for considerations on biogeography and host patterns.
We are very grateful for the photos provided by S. Dantas (Belém, PA, Brazil) and L.Š. Serbina (MNHU), and the beautiful habitus drawing of Ciriacremum maederae by A. Coray (
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Collecting and export permits were provided by IBAMA/SISBIO (permit number 11832—Licença permanente para coleta de material zoológico) and CNPq (project “Biodiversidade de Psylloidea no Brasil”, processo de Expedição Científica n° 002152/2012).
No use of AI was reported.
We are grateful to Pro Entomologia, Basel, for financial support of the project “Biodiversidade de Psylloidea no Brasil”.
Field collections, sorting and labelling specimens; DB, DLQ; organising collecting permits: DLQ; designing, writing and revising manuscript: DB, DLQ; illustrations Fig.
Daniel Burckhardt https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8368-5268
Dalva Luiz de Queiroz https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3556-9910
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.