Species Chlamydopteryx mammoides Gnezdilov & Fletcher, 2010

Chlamydopteryx mammoides Gnezdilov & Fletcher, adult female

© Copyright Vladimir Gnezdilov, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg.

Chlamydopteryx mammoides Gnezdilov & Fletcher, frontal view of head.

© Copyright Vladimir Gnezdilov, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg.

Museums

Regional Maps

• Chlamydopteryx mammoides Gnezdilov, V.M. & Fletcher, M.J. 2010. A review of the Australian genera of the planthopper family Issidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) with description of an unusual new species of Chlamydopteryx Kirkaldy. Zootaxa 2366: 35–45 [36].

  Type data:

   Holotype UQIC 32753 ♀ (coll: 7.iv.1957, E.F. Henzell), Mapleton, Queensland.
  Paratype(s) AM 2 ♀ (ex Eremophila mitchellii Benth. (Myoporaceae), 365m, 1.xi 1998, Schuh, Cassis & Silveira), 48.6 km NW of Charleville, Queensland [26°08'49"S 145°51'49"E]; ASCU ♀ (ex Eremophila mitchellii Benth. (Myoporaceae), 365m, 1.xi 1998, Schuh, Cassis & Silveira), 48.6 km NW of Charleville, Queensland [26°08'49"S 145°51'49"E].

Introduction

This species, which is known from SE Queensland and from near Charleville in SW Queensland, is immediately recognisable by the pair of polished orbs on the front of the head. These are almost certainly mimics of the large frontal eyes of salticid spiders which are about the same size as these planthoppers. Although they haven't been observed in life, the planthoppers probably move with short jumps to heighten the illusion that they are salticid spiders.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

Qld: Mulga Lands (ML), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: phloem feeder (associated flora: Eremophila mitchellii Benth., 1848 [SCROPHULARIACEAE]).

Diagnosis

This species is placed in the genus Chlamydopteryx by virtue of its wide fore wings and triangularly elongate gonoplacs but differs from all other species in the genus in the presence of rounded, polished orbs on the frons.

History of changes