Species Nephotettix nigropictus (Stål, 1870)

Nephotettix nigropictus (Stål), adult male.

© Copyright Murray Fletcher, Orange Agricultural Institute.

Museums

Regional Maps

• Thamnotettix nigropicta Stål, C. 1870. Hemiptera insularum Philippinarum. Bidrag till Philippinska oarnes Hemipter-fauna. Öfversigt af Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar. Stockholm 27: 607-776 [740].

  Type data:

   Lectotype NHRM 345.69 ♂ (coll.: 1859-1865, C. Semper; lectotype designation by default), Philippines.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Ghauri, M.S.K. 1971. Revision of the genus Nephotettix Matsumura (Homoptera : Cicadellidae : Euscelidae) based on the type material. Bulletin of Entomological Research 60: 481-512 [492].
• Pediopsis nigromaculatus Motschulsky, V.I. 1859. Homoptères. In, Insectes des Indes orientales, et de contrées analogues. Etudes Entomologiques, rédigées par Victor de Motschulsky. 25-118 pp. [111].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) ZMM sex, quantity unknown (Vilbaste (1975) notes that two fragments of fore wings, the apex of a female abdomen and three fragments of the thorax with legs remain of Motschulsky's original type material), Sri Lanka.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Kirby, W.F. 1891. Catalogue of the described Hemiptera Heteroptera and Homoptera of Ceylon, based on the collection formed (chiefly at Pundaloya) by Mr. E. Ernest Green. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 24: 72-176 pls IV-VI [173] (Synonymy of Nephotettix nigromaculatus)
• Ghauri, M.S.K. 1971. Revision of the genus Nephotettix Matsumura (Homoptera : Cicadellidae : Euscelidae) based on the type material. Bulletin of Entomological Research 60: 481-512 [491] (synonymy of Nephotettix apicalis, sensu Distant)

Generic Combinations

• Nephotettix nigromaculatus (Motschulsky, 1859). —
  Matsumura, S. 1902. Monographie der Jassinen Japans. Természetrajzi Füzetek 25: 353-404 [379]
• Nephotettix nigropictus (Stål, 1870). —
  Kirkaldy, G.W. 1906. Leafhoppers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station Entomological Series 1(9): 271-479 [316]

Miscellaneous Literature Names

• Nephotettix apicalis Motschulsky, 1858 [misidentification]. —
  Distant, W.L. 1908. Rhynchota. — Vol. IV. Homoptera and Appendix. The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma 4: 1-501 [360]

Introduction

This species has had a confusing nomenclatural history, mainly because of the assumption that Motschulsky's type series of Pediopsis nigromaculatus had been lost. The name apicalis Motschuilsky had been synonymised with nigromaculatus by Melichar (1903). Ghauri (1971) proposed that Pediopsis apicalis and P. nigromaculatus be treated as nomina dubia since the original descriptions were inadequate for species recognition. Consequently, he based his recognition of this species on the types of T. nigropicta Stål (1870) which he regarded as being holotype and allotype, although Stål (1870) did not designate any types. Ghauri's (1971) recognition of a holotype is taken as a lectotype designation by default. However, Vilbaste (1975: 233) noted that fragments of Motschulsky's original type material still exist in ZMUM and reveal that N. apicalis and N. nigromaculatus are distinct species, the latter being the senior synonym of N. nigropictus (Stål). Widespread use of Stål's name in the literature would be destabilised by recognition of Motschulsky's type material although no application to the International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature has been made to clarify this situation.

In Australia, the species is confined to the tropical regions from Kununurra in NE Western Australia to the eastern coastline of Queensland where it has been found as far south as Brisbane in SE Queensland.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: phloem feeder (associated flora: Oryza sativa L. [POACEAE] Rice; Leersia hexandra Swartz [POACEAE]).

Diagnosis

Flavo-virescens, laevis, nitida; facie, linea transversa antica subimpressa verticis, margine antico thoracis, marginibus scutellari et commissurali clavi, macula ante medium sita, ad suturam clavi extensa et ibidem retrorsum acute producta, parteque tertia apicali corii, pectore, abdomine, maxima parte femorum, tibiis anterioribus tarsisque nigris; tibiis posticis ad ortum spinarum nigro-maculatis; incisuris ventris flavescentibus. ♀ Long. 5, lat. 1 ½ mm. (Stål 1870).

This species is immediately recognisable in the Australian fauna by the broad black transverse band on the vertex, both other species occurring here having either a very fine marginal black band or no black on the vertex. However, other species not recorded in Australia have a similar broad black band and the male genitalia need to be checked for confirmation of the species.

ID Keys

Ghauri 1971: 508–509

Diagnosis References

Ghauri, M.S.K. 1971. Revision of the genus Nephotettix Matsumura (Homoptera : Cicadellidae : Euscelidae) based on the type material. Bulletin of Entomological Research 60: 481-512 [508–509]

Stål, C. 1870. Hemiptera insularum Philippinarum. Bidrag till Philippinska oarnes Hemipter-fauna. Öfversigt af Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar. Stockholm 27: 607-776 [740]

General References

Ghauri, M.S.K. 1971. Revision of the genus Nephotettix Matsumura (Homoptera : Cicadellidae : Euscelidae) based on the type material. Bulletin of Entomological Research 60: 481-512 [491]

Vilbaste, J. 1975. On some species of Homoptera Cicadinea described by V. Motschulsky. Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised 24, Bioloogia. Vol. 3. 228-236 pp. [233]

History of changes