Scolopsomorpha debakkeri Constant, 2009, n. sp.
Creators: name: Constant, Jerome
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2009
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Tropiduchidae
Scolopsomorpha
Scolopsomorpha debakkeri

description: Scolopsomorpha debakkeri n. sp.
Figs. 1 F, 4 A–G, 5, 6 I –L.
Etymology. Dedicated to its collector, Mr. Domir DeBakker (MRAC).
Material examined. Holotype 3: [Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Congo (RDC), Mayombe, Bas-Congo, Luki Biosphere Reserve, 5°37’16.7”S 13°05’54.6”E, 260m, 19.ix.2007, canopy fogging (6), leg. D. De Bakker, J.P. Michiels] (RBINS); 13, 1 Ƥ paratypes: [Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Congo (RDC), Mayombe, Bas-Congo, Luki Biosphere Reserve, 5°37’16.7”S 13°05’54.6”E, 260m, 25.ix.2007, canopy fogging (12), leg. D. De Bakker, J.P. Michiels] (MNHN); 1 Ƥ paratype: [Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Congo (RDC), Mayombe, Bas-Congo, Luki Biosphere Reserve, 5°37’16.7”S 13°05’54.6”E, 260m, 19.ix.2007, canopy fogging (6), leg. D. De Bakker, J.P. Michiels] (RBINS); 1 Ƥ paratype: [Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Congo (RDC), Mayombe, Bas-Congo, Luki Biosphere Reserve, 5°37’16.7”S 13°05’54.6”E, 260m, 26.ix.2007, canopy fogging (13), leg. D. De Bakker, J.P. Michiels] (RBINS); 1 3 paratype: [Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Congo (RDC), Mayombe, Bas-Congo, Luki Biosphere res., 5°37’16.7”S 13°05’54.6”E, 260m, 4.x.2007, canopy fogging, leg. D. De Bakker, J.P. Michiels] (MRAC); 2 3 paratypes: [Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Congo (RDC), Mayombe, Bas-Congo, Luki Biosphere Reserve, 5°37’16.7”S 13°05’54.6”E, 266m, 18.ix.2007, canopy fogging (5), leg. D. De Bakker, J.P. Michiels] (RBINS).
Other material examined: 1 Ƥ: [Congo belge, Bambesa, 26-I-1939, J. Vrydagh] [R. Mus. Hist. Nat. Belg. I. G. 12.291] (RBINS) coordinates of Bambesa: 3°28'N 25°43'E.
Note: this female is not included in the paratype series because no male has been collected together which would confirm the identity of the species.
Diagnosis. The species can be recognized by the clypeus yellow-white and the disc of frons entirely black (Fig. 6 K), the cephalic process strongly curved dorsad (Fig. 6 J), the black markings on the sides of the head (Fig. 6 J), the coxae dark brown (Fig. 6 K) and the shorter and more convex tegmina (LTg/BTg = [3] 3.3; [Ƥ] 2.9) (Figs. 6 I –J). Males should be identified by examination of the genitalia (Figs. 4 A–G).
Description. LT: 3 (n = 3): 9.6 mm (9.5–9.7); Ƥ (n = 3): 10.5 mm (10.0–11.1). L [anterior margin of eye – apex of tegmina]: 3 (n = 3): 7.2 mm; Ƥ (n = 3): 8 mm (7.9–8.2).
Head: pale yellow-brown (Fig. 6 I); lateral sides with one black patch before eye and another under eye, including base of antenna (Fig. 6 J); frons shiny black, smooth (Fig. 6 K); process projecting antero-dorsad, with apex and lateral line black-brown (Fig. 6 J); median carina of vertex reaching apex of process (Fig. 6 I); clypeus yellow-white with apical half black-brown (Fig. 6 K); scape black, pedicel yellow-brown; ratio BV/ LV = 0.20-0.21; BF/LF = 0.26.
Thorax: pro- and mesonotum pale yellow-brown with carinae darker (Fig. 6 I); sides of prothorax blackbrown anteriorly and posteriorly (Fig. 6 J); often 4 brown spots along hind margin, between carinae (Fig. 6 I); sides of meso- and metathorax black-brown (Fig. 6 J); tegulae yellow-brown to black-brown, darker posteriorly (Figs. 6 I –J); ratio LP+LM/BT = 1; LM/LP = 1.5.
Tegmina: tubercles pale yellow-brown to pale yellow-red; ground colour black brown on basal ¼, on large lateral zone at middle and on apical 1/5; rest red-brown with pale patch along lateral margin at basal 1/3; apical shiny black spot elevated; all parts more or less suffused with red, especially veins; apex of clavus black-brown (Figs. 6 I –J); underside largely red; ratio LTg/BTg = [3] 3.33; [Ƥ] = 2.94.
Hind wings: black-brown with veins slightly suffused with red (Fig. 6 L).
Legs: femora I and II pale yellow-brown with basal and preapical black-brown markings; tibiae pale yellow-brown at base and on apical 1/3, brown-black ring near base and rest red-brown; femora III yellowbrown dorsally, black-brown ventrally; tibiae III red-brown and tarsomeres yellow-brown (Fig. 6 I); all coxae brown to black-brown (Fig. 6 K).
Abdomen: pale yellow ventrally, dark brown dorsally.
Genitalia 3: pygofer narrow and curved in lateral view, slightly emarginate postero-dorsally (Fig. 4 A); gonostyli elongate, fused on basal 4/5, strongly sinuate laterally in middle and with digitate process dorsally (Figs. 4 A, C–D); right gonostylus with hook-shaped process dorsally near base and more strongly sinuate than left one (Figs. 4 A, C); anal tube dorso-ventrally compressed, suboval in dorsal view (Fig. 4 B); phallic complex directed ventrad and strongly curved rightwards (Figs. 4 E–G); basal, dorsal, pointed process, ventral pointed process at 2/3 and apex bilobous on left side (Fig. 4 E); apex unilobous on right side (Fig. 4 G).
Biology. Six specimens have been caught by canopy fogging in Bas-Congo, which may suggest that the species lives in the tree tops. Another specimen has been collected in NE Congo and this suggests that the species has a large distribution.
description: Published as part of Constant, Jerome, 2009, Revision of the Afrotropical genus Scolopsomorpha Melichar (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Tropiduchidae), pp. 38-48 in Zootaxa 2219 on pages 45-47, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.190028