Birdantis virginiae Constant 2011, n. sp.
Creators: name: Constant, Jerome
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2011
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Fulgoridae
Birdantis
Birdantis virginiae

description: <i>Birdantis virginiae</i> n. sp. Figs. 1 A–D, 2, 3 F–I, 7 C. <b>Etymology.</b> The species is dedicated to a promising young biologist, Miss Virginie Guibourt. <b>Material examined.</b> Holotype &amp;male;: [16.48’S 145.38’E. (GPS), Qld. Kuranda (335m) (top of the Range), 19 Butler Dr 1–15.ii.2010, DCF Rentz] [ANIC database No. 20 004475] (ANIC). Paratypes: QUEENSLAND, 1 &amp;male;: 16.48’S 145.38’E. (GPS), Kuranda (335m) (top of the Range), 19 Butler Dr 1–16.iv.2010, DCF Rentz (ANIC: 20 004474); 1 &amp;female;: 16°49’S 145°41’ E, Smithfield, James Cook University, near bldg E2, 8.i.2009, DCF Rentz, G. Wilson on trunk <i>Toona ciliata</i> M. Roem ANIC Database No. 20 004479 (RBINS, ex ANIC); 2 &amp;female;: 16°49’S 145°41’ E, Smithfield, James Cook University, near bldg E2, 8.i.2009, DCF Rentz, G. Wilson on trunk <i>Toona ciliata</i> M. Roem (ANIC: 20 004478, 20 004481); 1 &amp;male;: upper Jardine R, Cape York Pen., 11°14’S 142°36’ E, 26.x.1979, M.S. &amp; B.J. Moulds <i>Birdantis similis</i> (Schmidt), det: M.J. Fletcher (ASCU: MJF003015); 1 &amp;male;: same data as preceding, 24.x.1979 (RBINS: MJF003016); 1 &amp;male;: upper Davies Ck, Lamb Rg, Mareeba Dist., 800m, 25.xii.1988, H. &amp; A. Howden coordinates: 16°54'S 145°33'E (ASCU: MJF003017); 1 &amp;male;: Gap Creek, Mt Finlayson Rg., S. of Cooktown, 2.i.1981, M.S. &amp; B.J. Moulds <i>Birdantis similis</i> (Schmidt), det: M.J. Fletcher coordinates: 15°52'S 145°22'E (ASCU: MJF003018); 1 &amp;female;: Claudie R., Cape York Pen., J. Kem, v.1961 Birdantis sp., M.S.K. Ghauri det. 1962 coordinates: 12°50'S 143°21'E (ASCU: MJF003200); 2 &amp;male;, 2 &amp;female;: Hinchinbrook Is., Gayndah Ck, 10 m, 7–15.xi.1984, Monteith, Cook &amp; Thompson coordinates: 18°22'S 146°12'E (QM; 1&amp;male;, 1 &amp;female;: RBINS); 4 &amp;male;: 3 mls W of Mossman, 13.iii.1964, I.F.B. Common &amp; M.S. Upton coordinates: 16°28’S 145°22’E (ANIC); 1 &amp;male;: 2.i.1988, Polly Ck, Garradunga, J. Hasenpusch coordinates: 17°27’S 146°00’E (QM); 1 &amp;male;: Polly Creek, Garradunga, 12.i.1999, J. Hasenpusch (QM); 1 &amp;male;: 10°42.3’ Sx 142°13.5’ E, Prince of Wales Is., camp., 3–7.i.2008. 15460, G. Monteith, K. Aland, 10m (QM); 4 &amp;male;, 1 &amp;female;: 9 mls E of El Arish, 7.iii.1964, I.F.B. Common &amp; M.S. Upton coordinates: 17°48’S 146°00’E (ANIC); 5 &amp;male;: Shiptons Flat, via Helenvale, 30.xi. 1985, 200m, G. Monteith &amp; D. Cook coordinates: 15°48’S 145°15’E (QM); 2 &amp;male;: 15.47S 145.14 E, Shiptons Flat, 17–19.x.1980 T. Weir (ANIC); 2 &amp;female;: Lizard Is., NNE of Cooktown, 18.xi.1974, M.S. &amp; B.J. Moulds coordinates: 14°40’S 145°28’E (AM); 2 &amp;female;: Clump Pt., 6.iii.1964, I.F.B. Common &amp; M.S. Upton coordinates: 17°51’S 146°07’E (ANIC); 1 &amp;male;: Little Crystal Creek, Mt. Spec, 1000 ft., 3.i.1968, R. Dobson coordinates: 18°58’S 146°17’E (QM); 1 &amp;male;: Russell R. at Bellenden Ker Landing, 5m, 24–31.x.1981, Earthwatch / Qld. Mus. <i>Birdantis similis</i> (Schmidt), det. M.J. Fletcher coordinates: 17°13’S 145°58’E (QM); 1 &amp;male;, 1 &amp;female;: Bellenden Ker Range, Cableway Base Stn, 100m, 17–24.x.1981, Earthwatch / Qld. Mus. At mercury vapour light, rainforest <i>Birdantis similis</i> (Schmidt), det. M.J. Fletcher coordinates: 17°15’S 145°52’E (QM); 1 &amp;male;: Captain Billy Creek, Cape York Pen. 142°50’ E, 11°40’ S, 9–13.vii.1975, G.B. Monteith (QM); 1 &amp;male;: Babinda, 28.xii.1972 M.S. Moulds coordinates: 17°21’S 145°55’E (AM); 2 &amp;female;: Little Mulgrave, iii.1950, J.G. Brooks coordinates: 17°08’S 145°43’E (QM); 1 &amp;female;: 15.47S 145.17 E, Moses Ck. 4km N by E of Mt Finnigan, 14–16.x.1980 T. Weir (ANIC); 1 &amp;male;: Middle Claudie River. Iron Range. Qld. 22.x.1974, M.S. Moulds coordinates: 12°43’S 143°17’E (AM); 1 &amp;male;: Iron Range, 27.v.1975, M.S. Moulds coordinates: 12°46’S 143°19’E (AM); 1 &amp;male;: Iron Range, 12.iv.1964, I.F.B. Common &amp; M.S. Upton (ANIC); 1 &amp;female;: Lockerbie, 14– 17.v.1948 Archbold Exped. North Queensland, Australia L.J. Brass Collector coordinates: 10°48’S 142°27’E (AMNH); 1 &amp;male;: Lockerbie, Cape York, 1.iv.1964, I.F.B. Common &amp; M.S. Upton (ANIC); 1 &amp;female;: Gap Ck, Bloomfield district, 14.iv.1994, M.S. Moulds coordinates: 15°52’S 145°21’E (AM); 1 &amp;male;: 15.50S 145.20 E, Gap Ck. 5km ESE Mt Finnigan 13–16.v.1981, A. Calder (ANIC); 1 &amp;male;: Daintree River, Cape York Peninsula. ix.1947, N. Geary, coordinates: 16°17’S 145°27’E (QM); 1 &amp;male;: 15.04S 145.07 E, Mt. Webb Nat. Pk. 28–30.ix.1980, T. Weir (ANIC); 1 &amp;female;: 15.04S 145.07 E, Mt. Webb Nat. Pk. 27–30.iv.1981, A. Calder at light (ANIC); 1 &amp;female;: Graham Range, via Babinda, 9–10.iv.1979, G.B. Monteith coordinates: 17°19’S 145°59’E (QM); 1 &amp;female;: 1 mile East of Kuranda, 4.v.1955, Norris &amp; Common (ANIC); 1 &amp;male;: 3 mls. N. of Kuranda, 24.iv.1955, Norris &amp; Common (ANIC); 2 &amp;male;: 25 mls. W. of Tully, 8.iii.1964, I.F.B. Common &amp; M.S. Upton (ANIC); 1 &amp;male;: Kirrama Range, W. of Kennedy 17.i.1990, MS &amp; BJ Moulds coordinates: 18°06’S 145°42’E (AM); 1 &amp;male;, 2 &amp;female;: 5 mi. E. Cardstone, 13.i.1967 M V lamp, D.K. McAlpine &amp; G. Holloway (AM, 1 &amp;female;: RBINS ex AM); 1 &amp;male;: Iron Range, 12.v.1975, M.S. Moulds (RBINS ex AM); 1 &amp;male;: Iron Range, 18.v.1975, M.S. Moulds (RBINS ex AM); 1 &amp;female;: 4mls. W. of Babinda, 9.iii.1964, I.F.B. Common &amp; M.S. Upton (ANIC); 1 &amp;male;: Kuranda, 15.i.1985, R. Straatman, at light (QM); 1 &amp;female;: 1 ml. E. of Kuranda, 11.iii.1964, I.F.B. Common &amp; M.S. Upton (ANIC); 1 &amp;female;: 15.30S 145.16 E, 1km SE of Mt. Cook, 13.x.1980, T. Weir (ANIC); 1 &amp;male;: 15.50S 145.20 E, Gap Ck. 5km ESE Mt. Finnigan, 13–16.v.1981, A. Calder at light (ANIC); 1 &amp;male;: 9 mls. N. of Kuranda, 12.iii.1964, I.F.B. Common &amp; M.S. Upton (ANIC). <b>Description.</b> LT: &amp;male; (n = 48): 17.6 mm (15.8–18.8); &amp;female; (n = 22): 20.0 mm (18.7–21.2). <i>Head</i>: pale yellow-brown; vertex with transverse groove and all margins carinate (figs. 2 E, F); frons with 5 longitudinal brown lines: lines 1 and 5 limited to basal half, lines 2 and 4 curved internally basally and reaching upper margin of frons (sometimes limited to basal 4/5, especially in males), line 3 usually limited to basal 4/5, sometimes reaching upper margin; upper margin of frons marked by black line (fig. 2 G); clypeus with 2 curved brown lines (fig. 2 G); labium with penultimate segment surpassing hind coxae (fig. 2 H); ratio BV/LV = 3.85; BF/ LF = 1.2. <i>Thorax</i>: pronotum pale yellow-brown with median carina and impressed point on each side; small brown spot on each side of disc; mesonotum brown, sometimes with disc paler, and with median and peridiscal carinae sligtly marked; irregular yellow markings on sides; peridiscal carinae yellow with small yellow circle at base (figs. 2 E, F); metathoracic sternite black (fig. 2 H); ratio BT/LP+LM = 1.0. <i>Tegmina</i>: orange-brown, on basal half and clavus, apical half hyaline; irregular black-brown markings; largest and best defined markings on membrane, markings often confluent on latter; costal cell and veins on basal half tinged with green; veins on apical half variegated black-brown and pale yellow; costal and sutural margins subparallel, tegmina slightly broader at nodal line; apex rounded and with apical margin oblique (figs. 2 E, I, H); ratio LTg/BTg = 3.77. <i>Hind wings</i>: hyaline with base orange; apex and baso-sutural area slightly infuscate; veins lack-brown, orangebrown at base; maximal breadth near base; slightly broader than tegmina (figs. 2 E, H). <i>Legs</i>: yellow-green apex and one ring on tibiae I and II, and tarsi, brown; tibiae III with 6 lateral and 6 apical spines, brown (figs. 2 E, H). <i>Abdomen</i>: brown dorsally with segments margined with black posteriorly; yellow-green ventrally (figs. 2 E, H). <i>Genitalia</i> &amp;male;: pygofer higher than long and with posterior margin emarginate at upper third in lateral view (fig. 6 A); anal tube elongate, slightly curved ventrally in lateral view and slightly broadening from base to apex in dorsal view (figs. 6 A, C); gonostyli with angles of posterior margin rounded and well marked, and one tooth in middle of dorsal margin (fig. 6 A); tooth projecting antero-laterally and with apex pointing ventrally (fig. 6 B). <b>Biology.</b> The species seems to be restricted to Cape York Peninsula, and is attracted to light traps. <i>Toona ciliata</i> M. Roem (Meliaceae) is a host plant for this species. Several specimens were collected in Cairns on that species of tree by Gary Wilson (<i>pers. comm.</i>), who noticed the degree of camouflage of the animals when they were on or adjacent to old bark or wounds on the tree (the bark is generally light in colour). <b>Note.</b> Some of the specimens had been identified by Fletcher (2005) as <i>Birdantis similis</i> (Schmidt, 1911) after Lallemand’s (1963) revision. <i>B. virginiae</i> is easily separated from <i>B. similis</i> by the following characters of the latter: base of tegmina red; no black line between frons and vertex; three central lines of frons joining dorsally.
description: Published as part of <i>Constant, Jerome, 2011, The genus Birdantis Stål in Australia (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoridae), pp. 44-54 in Zootaxa 2885 (1)</i> on pages 51-54, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2885.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/5285748
description: {"references": ["Fletcher, M. J. (2005) Illustrated Key to the Genera of the family Fulgoridae described from Australia (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) http: // www 1. dpi. nsw. gov. au / keys / fulgor / fulgorid / fulgo 00. htm. Accessed December 20 th, 2010", "Schmidt, E. (1911) 1. Neue Fulgoriden. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 38 (7 / 8), 161 - 171.", "Lallemand, V. (1963) Revision des Fulgoridae (Homoptera). Deuxieme partie. Faunes asiatique et australienne. Memoires de l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique (2 e serie), 75, 1 - 99, pl. 1 - 11."]}