Species Phaconeura crevicola Hoch, 1990

Museums

Regional Maps

• Phaconeura crevicola Hoch, H. 1990. Cavernicolous Meenoplidae of the genus Phaconeura (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea) from Australia. Occasional Papers of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum 30: 188-203 [195].

  Type data:

   Holotype QM ♂ (coll: 5.i.1989, M. Asche), Raindance Cave, Katie Breen Tower, Rookwood Station, Chillagoe, Queensland.

Introduction

This is an obligate troglobite from the Chillagoe karst in North Queensland. It is known from four male specimens living in rock crevices. Its adaptations to subterranean life include reduction in tegmen and wings, paler colouring and loss of eyes and ocelli.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

Qld: Einasleigh Uplands (EIU)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: cave dweller, phloem feeder.

Diagnosis

Body and legs pale yellow; tegmina shallowly tectiform; tegmina and wings translucent; tegmen with venation pale yellow, cells pale brown; anterior portion of cell enclosed by M and Cu as well as anal cells distinctly darker, brown. Wings hyaline. Tegmina length ca 2.6 x their maximum width, in repose almost reaching tip of abdomen; 5 apical cells; venation distad of nodal line variable, crossveins partially vanishing. Wings without crossveins in distal part. Posttibia distally with 6–8, postbasitarsus with 5–6, and 2nd posttarsal segment with 3–5 spines in a row (variable within 1 individual). Body length, Male. 2.6–3.0 mm, Female unknown (Hoch 1990).

Hoch (1990) provides illustrations of the fore and hind wings and the male genitalia.

Diagnosis References

Hoch, H. 1990. Cavernicolous Meenoplidae of the genus Phaconeura (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea) from Australia. Occasional Papers of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum 30: 188-203 [195–197]

History of changes