Socoflata histrionica Stroiński & Malenovský & Świerczewski 2018, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Stroiński, Adam
name: Malenovský, Igor
name: Świerczewski, Dariusz
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Flatidae
Socoflata
Socoflata histrionica

description: Socoflata histrionica sp. nov.
(Figs 1–2, 11–22, 35–37, 39, 40, 43–60, 62)
Diagnosis. Socoflata histrionica sp. nov. is generally larger and darker than S. aurolineata sp. nov. and differs from the latter also in a more delimited wax pattern on tegmen, the strongly convex claval base and bulla, the tegmen venation, the shape of the male genital style, and details of the periandrium (see the key above).
Description. Measurements. Total length: males: 3.5–4.2 mm (mean 3.8; N = 50); females 3.7–4.6 mm (mean 4.2, N = 50). Ratios (N = 5 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀): Vertex: A/B = 1.89–2.47. Frons: C/E = 0.52–0.63, D/E = 0.75–0.98. Pronotum: F/B = 1.53–1.94. Mesonotum: G/F = 1.32–1.79, G/B+F = 0.87–1.10, G/H = 0.54–0.73. Tegmina: I/J = 3.38–4.00.
COLORATION. Vertex, pronotum and mesonotum light brown, usually with a well-delimited to diffuse, continuous, whitish to light ochreous median stripe extending from apex of vertex to the middle of mesonotum, apical half of mesonotum and scutellum brown (Figs 2, 62; rarely, in some specimens, this pale median band can be completely absent and body midline dark brown). Frons brown (with both apex and base darker brown in some specimens), carinae lighter ochreous. Postclypeus entirely light ochreous to dark brown with narrowly light ochreous base at frontoclypeal suture and lateral margins; anteclypeus light ochreous to brown; rostrum light ochreous with apex narrowly to extensively dark brown. Genae ochreous to brown. Antennae ochreous, pedicellus apically and flagellum darker brown. Compound eyes grey to reddish. Legs ochreous with femora ventrally and tibiae laterally darker brown and apices of spines black. Tegmen membrane light brown, with diffuse to contrasting dark brown markings in costal area basally, on bulla, around basal cell, in C4 cell, and in outer claval (postcubital) cell basally and apically, and with light ochreous streaks along MP3+4, M3 and M4 veins in apical half of tegmen, along entire cubital cell and in posterior (inner) claval (anal) cell along postclaval (commissural) margin. Live specimens with wax on tegmen restricted to zig-zag streaks in the basal half of the outer claval cell, along CuP, across bulla, and along CuA and MP3+4 subapically (Fig. 62). Hind wing membrane grey, opaque. Abdomen with first two visible tergites light ochreous, other tergites extensively dark brown; sternites in males ochreous, darker brown medially; in females, sternites brown with light ochreous posterior margins. Male terminalia uniformly light ochreous; female terminalia mostly light ochreous, teeth on gonoplacs brown.
STRUCTURE. Body robust, clavus basally and bulla strongly convex, outstanding of body outline (Figs 1–2, 12). Tegmen venation with ScP+RA with 3–4 terminals; RP with 2 terminals; MP with 8–9 terminals; CuA with a single terminal. Most cells in medial area of tegmen relatively large and irregular in shape (Figs 1, 11). Male terminalia: Genital style with dorsal margin almost straight, ventral and posterior margins weakly convex, capitulum relatively short and broad (Fig. 37). Dorsal part of periandrium, in lateral view, with dorsal margin descending to the basal part, with a small lobe-like extension medially (Fig. 39); median arm of periandrium appendage with lower process long, strongly curved, reaching the level of upper process ventral spines (Fig. 39). Apex of female anal tube, in dorsal view, narrowly rounded, not incised (Fig. 52).
Type material. Holotype: ♂, YEMEN: Socotra island, Hagher mountains, Mt. Skand, 12°34.6’N, 54°01.5’E, 1450 m, 16.–18.vi.2012, I. Malenovský et al. leg. The holotype is dry-mounted, deposited in MMBC and bearing the following labels: [YEMEN, SOCOTRA Island /Hagher Mts., Scand Mt. env./ 12°34.6’N, 54°01.5’E, 1450 m / montane evergreen woodland/ 16.-18.vi.2012], [SOCOTRA expedition 2012 /I. Malenovský, P. Kment,/J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula,/ J. Niedobová & L. Purchart leg.], [COLLECTIO/Moravské museum/Brno], [HOLOTYPUS ♂ / Socoflata / histrionica sp. nov. /det. A. Stroiński, I. Malenovský/& D. Świerczewski 2017].
Paratypes: 67 ♂♂, 83 ♀♀, same data and locality label as holotype (MMBC, MZPW, MNHN, NMPC, NMWC); 1 ♂, same data as holotype but 1300–1500 m, 12°34’33’N, 54°01’31’E, 31.i.–1.ii.2010, L. Purchart leg.—[YEMEN, SOCOTRA Island /Scant area, 1300–1500m /N12°34’33’, E54°01’31’, / 31.i.-1.ii.2010 /L. Purchart leg.] (MMBC). All paratypes are also labelled as: [PARATYPUS ♂ (or ♀)/ Socoflata / histrionica sp. nov. /det. A. Stroiński, I. Malenovský/& D. Świerczewski 2017].
Etymology. The specific epithet comes from the Latin adjective “ histrionicus ” (= acting, pertaining to actors), referring to the checkered multicoloured habitus of the adults of the new species (especially when alive, Fig. 62), humpbacked appearance due to the strongly convex clavus, and agility, features reminding of the Harlequin character from the 16–17th century Italian Comedia dell’arte theatre plays.
Distribution. So far only recorded from the Hagher mountains in central Socotra. Compared to S. aurolineata sp. nov., its distribution might be more restricted as it was collected only at altitudes above 1300 m a. s. l.
Habitat and host plants. On the peaks of the Hagher mountains, S. histrionica sp. nov. was syntopic in the same habitats with S. aurolineata sp. nov. and also seemed to share the same host plants. It was locally abundant in the montane evergreen woodland and dwarf shrub communities (Figs 63–67), especially on low shrubs (Hypericum scopulorum, Leucas hagghierensis, and Euryops arabicus), which are likely hosts.
description: Published as part of Stroiński, Adam, Malenovský, Igor & Świerczewski, Dariusz, 2018, Socoflata gen. nov., described for two new planthopper species from the mountains in Socotra island (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae), pp. 388-406 in Zootaxa 4379 (3) on pages 396-397, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4379.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/1174430