Species Colgar peracutum (Walker, 1858)

Colgar peracutum (Walker), the citrus planthopper

© Copyright Murray Fletcher, Orange Agricultural Institute.

Museums

Regional Maps

• Cromna peracuta Walker, F. 1858. List of specimens of Homopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Supplement. London : British Museum (Natural History) 369 pp. [120].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH ♂ (Walker (1858) indicated that he had three syntypes, representing both sexes. One was simply from Australia, from Mr Strange's collection, and the other two were from Moreton Bay, presented by Gibbons Esq. Medler (1990) has selected a male from Australia as the lectotype and notes that there are 2 female paralectotypes simply labeled from Moreton Bay and 2 male paralectotypes also from Moreton Bay but with a label stating "Miss Pascoe/69-41". These two males do not match data given in the original description and should be excluded from the type series), Queensland.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Medler, J.T. 1990. Types of Flatidae (Homoptera) XIV. Walker and Distant types in the British Museum. Oriental Insects 24: 127–195 [153].
• Phyllyphanta hyalinata Stål, C. 1859. Hemiptera. Species novas descripsit. Kongliga Svenska fregatten Eugenies Resa omkring jorden under befäl af C.A. Virgin åren 1851-1853 (Zoologi) 4: 219-298 [282].

  Type data:

   Lectotype NRS ♀ (coll: Stevens. P. hyalinata was listed by Melichar (1902: 62) as a synonym of this species and credited the name to Signoret "in litt.". Stål (1859) had provided a very basic description as a comparison with P. cereris and therefore validated the name. Metcalf (1957) listed Signoret's reference to the name as a nomen nudum. Medler (1986) designated a lectotype to confirm the name as a junior synonym of C. peracutum), Moreton Bay, Queensland.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Medler, J.T. 1986. The types of Flatidae (Homoptera) in the Stockholm Museum described by Stål, Melichar, Jacobi and Walker. Entomologica Scandinavica 17: 323-337 [328].
• Colgar roseipennis Distant, W.L. 1910. Rhynchotal Notes. L. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 5: 297-322 [307].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1907–54 ♂ (coll: F.P. Dodd), Queensland.
• Colgar rufostigmatum Distant, W.L. 1910. Rhynchotal Notes. L. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 5: 297-322 [308].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH ♀ (Distant's original data included specimens from Queensland, Townsville (F.P. Dodd) and Moreton Bay (Pascoe Colln). Medler's (1990) lectotype designation is of a female from Queensland (based on the data labels as detailed by Medler) with 2 female paralectotypes from Townsville. He made no mention of specimens from Moreton Bay which will also be paralectotypes. In Medler (2001) he referred to the lectotype as being one of the Townsville specimens which is not the case), Queensland.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Medler, J.T. 1990. Types of Flatidae (Homoptera) XIV. Walker and Distant types in the British Museum. Oriental Insects 24: 127–195 [180].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Distant, W.L. 1910. Rhynchotal Notes. L. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 5: 297-322 [308] (synonymy of Euphanta rubromarginata Schmidt)
• Medler, J.T. 1990. Types of Flatidae (Homoptera) XIV. Walker and Distant types in the British Museum. Oriental Insects 24: 127–195 [179] (synonymy of C. roseipennis Distant)
• Medler, J.T. 1990. Types of Flatidae (Homoptera) XIV. Walker and Distant types in the British Museum. Oriental Insects 24: 127–195 [180] (synonymy of C. rugostigmata Distant)

Generic Combinations

• Colgar peracutum (Walker, 1858). —
  Kirkaldy, G.W. 1900. Bibliographical and nomenclatorial notes on the Rhynchota. No. 1. The Entomologist 33(448): 238-243 [242]

Introduction

Although often found on Citrus, this species has quite a wide host range. Its taxonomic history has been quite messy but following examination of original type material by J.T. Medler of the species of Colgar described from Australia and the Oriental Region, the current status of the names appears to have been stabilised. This is a large species of flatid planthopper with some variation in the red colouring found on the tegmen.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Nandewar (NAN), Pine Creek (PCK), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: phloem feeder (associated flora: Melaleuca sp. [MYRTACEAE] Tea-tree (undet. (see Medler 2000)); Citrus sp. [RUTACEAE] ((Medler 2000)); Artocarpus sp. [MORACEAE] ((Medler 2000)); Clerodendrum sp. [LAMIACEAE] ((Medler 2000)); Sophora sp. [FABACEAE] ((Medler 2000))).

Diagnosis

Vertex noticeably longer than pronotum (vertex / pronotum ratio 1.33–1.66). Male pygofer with prominent process on posterodorsal corner. Female genitalia are unique in presence of notch and median tooth on posterior ventral margin of segment VII. The 7 metatibial apical spines are constant in this species. All other species of Colgar appear to have 6 spines (Medler 2001).

Diagnosis References

Medler, J.T. 2001. Flatidae of New Guinea and adjacent areas (Homoptera: Flatidae). Bishop Museum Bulletin in Entomology 8: 1-117 [16]

History of changes