Species Phaconeura proserpina Hoch, 1993

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• Phaconeura proserpina Hoch, H. 1993. A new troglobitic planthopper species (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea: Meenoplidae) from Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 16: 393-398 [394].

  Type data:

   Holotype WAM WAM 93/94 ♂ (coll: 31.v.1990, J. Waldock), Cave C-215, North West Cape peninsula, Western Australia [22°01'40"S 113°55'55"E].

Introduction

This is one of two troglobitic meenoplids found in Western Australia, the other being Phaconeura pluto Fennah from which P. proserpina can be differentiated by features of the male and female genitalia. The species is named from Proserpina, queen of the underworld in classical mythology.

Distribution

States

Western Australia

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

WA: Carnarvon (CAR)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: cave dweller, phloem feeder.

Diagnosis

Cavernicolous. In general appearance resembling the Western Australian Phaconeura pluto, with eyes, tegmina and bodily pigmentation reduced, hind wings vestigial. Differing from this and other congeners mainly by characters of the male and female genitalia. Male: aedeagus with two stout laterobasal spinose processes, arising on each side of an unpaired dorsal projection. Female: ventral valvula globular bearing a short spine; anal segment laterally with an ear-shaped projection (Hoch 1993).

Diagnosis References

Hoch, H. 1993. A new troglobitic planthopper species (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea: Meenoplidae) from Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 16: 393-398 [394–397]

History of changes