Species Phaconeura capricornia Hoch, 1990

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Regional Maps

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

  Type data:

   Holotype QM ♀ (coll: 8.vi.1986, F.G. Howarth & S. Robson), Swiss Cheese Cave, Capricorn Tower, Mt Mulgrave Station, Cape York, Queensland.

Introduction

This is one of the obligate troglobitic species found in the karsts of North Queensland. It is pale and blind with reduced tegmina and wings. It is currently only known from one cave on Mount Mulgrave Station.

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 cells and venation pale yellow. Compound eyes and median and lateral ocelli absent. Former position of compound eyes faintly recognisable as indistinctly limited membranous area dorsal of antennae. Vertex slightly broader at base than long medially (1.1 : 1), row of sensory pits on frons not as regular as in other species; third sensory pit above frontoclypeal suture placed slightly mediad. Mesonotum tricarinate with carinae vanishing, nearly planate. Tegmina reduced in length, ca 2.3–2.4 x longer than maximum width, broadly rounded distally, in repose surpassing tip of abdomen by ca. 1/5 their length; venation distad of nodal line individually variable, crossveins partly vanishing, 4–5 apical cells. Wings without any crossveins. Posttibia distally with 6–7 (individually asymmetrical), postbasitarsus with 5, and second posttarsal segment with 4 spines in a single row. Body length, Female, 2.7 mm. Male unknown. (Hoch 1990).

Hoch (1990) provides illustrations of the species and female 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 [197]

History of changes