Species Magia subocellata Distant, 1907

Magia subocellata Distant, adult.

© Copyright Murray Fletcher, Orange Agricultural Institute.

Museums

Regional Maps

• Magia subocellata Distant, W.L. 1907. Rhynchotal Notes. xli. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 7 19: 277-295 [288].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1902-319 ♂ (coll.: F.P. Dodd), Kuranda, Queensland.
• Kasserota illingworthi Baker, C.F. 1925. Some Lophopidae (Fulgoridea) of the Indo-Malayan and Papuan regions. Treubia 6: 271-296 [295].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) BPBM ♂, Babinda, North Queensland; MNHP ♀ (sent to Dr Illingworth), Babinda, North Queensland; MNHP ♀ (held in C.F. Baker's collection), Babinda, North Queensland.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Soulier-Perkins, A. 2008. The genus Magia Distant (Hemiptera: Lophopidae): review and biogeographic history. Zootaxa 1870: 62-68 [62]

Introduction

This species has been collected on a number of different species of palms in North and SE Queensland. It has also been found in the tropical palm glasshouse in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, presumably introduced with palms from Queensland.
The type series of Kasserota illingworthi Baker, was not discussed in detail by Soulier-Perkins (2008) although it is clear from the material examined that specimens she examined were part of the type series. Baker (1925) stated that he had three specimens from Babinda, N. Queensland collected by Dr J.F. Illingworth. One was retained in his own collection, a second was returned to Dr Illingworth and one sent to Dr F. Muir (BPBM) "for detailed examination of the genitalia". Soulier-Perkins (2008) lists two females in Paris with these data and two males (one without a head) in BPBM with the same data. It would appear that all four may be syntypes.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

Qld: South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: phloem feeder.

Diagnosis

The two species of Magia can be distinguished reliably only by examination of the male genitalia. In addition, M. subocellata is slightly larger and darker than M. stuarti.

History of changes