Species Tarophagus colocasiae (Matsumura, 1920)

Tarophagus colocasiae (Matsumura), adult female

© Copyright Murray Fletcher, Orange Agricultural Institute.

Museums

Regional Maps

• Liburnia (Delphax) colocasiae Matsumura, S. 1920. Fulgoridae. Dainippon Gaichû Zensho 1: 259-290 [264].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) EIHU sex, quantity unknown (existence uncertain), Taiwan.
• Tarophagus proserpina taiwanensis Wilson, S.W. & Tsai, J.H. 1988. Descriptions of adults and nymphs of the taro planthopper Tarophagus proserpina taiwanensis ssp. n., from Taiwan (Homoptera: Delphacidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist 64: 53-61 [54].

  Type data:

   Holotype BPBM ♂ (coll: 1.x.1986, J.H. Tsai, ex taro), Taichung, Tsao-Tun, Taiwan.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Asche, M. & Wilson, M.R. 1989. The three taro planthoppers: species recognition in Tarophagus (Hemiptera : Delphacidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 79: 285-298 [288]

Generic Combinations

• Tarophagus colocasiae (Matsumura, 1920). —
  Asche, M. & Wilson, M.R. 1989. The three taro planthoppers: species recognition in Tarophagus (Hemiptera : Delphacidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 79: 285-298 [288]

Introduction

This species was recorded in Australia by Matthews (2003). It is otherwise widespread from Hawaii to New Guinea to SE Asia.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: phloem feeder (associated flora: Colocasia esculenta (L., 1832) Schott [ARACEAE] Taro).

Diagnosis

This species can be distinguished from the other Tarophagus species by the shape of the ventrocaudal lobes of the male genital segment, which are laterodistally broadly rounded, and by the diverging reflected processes (in lateral view) of the aedeagus, and in the female genitalia by the finger-shaped basal process of valvifer VIII and the strongly developed double-scale of abdominal sternite VI which is about double the size of that of T. proserpina. Intraspecific variation is found in the shape and size of the ventrodistal processes of the male genital segment (Asche & Wilson 1989, who also provide figures to illustrate these features).

ID Keys

Asche & Wilson 1989: 287–288

Diagnosis References

Asche, M. & Wilson, M.R. 1989. The three taro planthoppers: species recognition in Tarophagus (Hemiptera : Delphacidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 79: 285-298 [289–290]

General References

Matthews, P.J. 2003. Taro planthoppers (Tarophagus spp) in Australia and the origins of taro (Colocasia esculenta) in Oceania. Archaeology in Oceania 38: 192–202

History of changes