Species Epithalamium moirae Fletcher, 2008

Epithalamium moirae Fletcher, adult.

© Copyright Murray Fletcher, Orange Agricultural Institute.

Museums

Regional Maps

• Epithalamium moirae Fletcher, M.J. 2008. A key to the genera of Ricaniidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) recorded in Australia with notes on the Australian fauna, including a new species of Epithalamium Kirkaldy. Australian Journal of Entomology 47: 107-120 [113].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV ♂ (coll: 26.i.1957), Darling Range, Western Australia.

Introduction

This delicate little species with ovate wings is only known from two localities in SW Western Australia. It was named in honour of Melinda Moir who collected the first specimens of Epithalamium aziola Kirkaldy in Western Australia and who has highlighted some of the rich diversity of Fulgoromorpha in the SW corner of Australia.

Distribution

States

Western Australia

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

WA: Jarrah Forest (JF), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: phloem feeder.

Diagnosis

Small delicate insects. Size, male (n = 1) length of body 2.25 mm, wingspan 6.9 mm; female (n = 9) length of body 2.5–3.0 mm (mean = 2.79 mm), wingspan 7.3–8.0 mm (mean = 7.66 mm). Head, thorax and abdomen pale brown. Face with clypeus convex, separated from frons by transverse crevice along frontoclypeal suture; frons short, broad with well-defined median longitudinal carina and arcuate lateral carinae which unite with apical marginal carina. Lateral portions of frons bearing short transverse carinae to margin. Tegmen ovate, broadly margined with dark brown with hyaline central area reaching margin at apex of costal cell and also, occasionally, near mid-length of costal membrane. Apical cells in M and Cu with small hyaline spot in centre of apical margin. Costal margin evenly convex, hind margin more strongly convex and continuous with apical margin. Clavus short, terminating at less than half length of tegmen. Costal membrane with 14–18 crossveins, as wide as costal cell. Hind wings whitish on basal portion, brown distally. Genitalia. Male pygofer short, unadorned. Anal segment short, broad with sinuate hind margin. Parameres narrow, divergent from each other from near base to near apex, then convergent so that apices are adjacent, apically truncate with dorsal apical corner produced to triangular point. Aedeagus with spatulate lateral conjunctival lobes, apically acutely rounded with two appendages derived from dorsal margin at about mid-length and directed towards base before curving laterally to acute apices. Female valves broad triangular with ventral margin serrulated (Fletcher 2008).

Diagnosis References

Fletcher, M.J. 2008. A key to the genera of Ricaniidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) recorded in Australia with notes on the Australian fauna, including a new species of Epithalamium Kirkaldy. Australian Journal of Entomology 47: 107-120 [113–114]

History of changes