Mohan planthopper (Metaurus mohanensis), new species based on mitochondrial genome and geographic distribution

NEWS - A new species, Mohan planthopper (Metaurus mohanensis) from Yunnan, China, was distinguished from the species Metaurus Stål, 1866 (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Dictyopharidae) based on analysis of geographical distribution and mitochondrial genome data.

Metaurus Oriental shows a continental distribution in Southeast Asia, restricted to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and southwest China. M. ramusitis Song & Liang 2012 is known from Laos and was found by only one female from Yunnan, China. The new species in this study was also collected from Yunnan.

Global distribution 748 species in 160 genera, family Dictyopharidae Spinola 1839 is a medium-sized taxon within Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha. Dictyopharidae are herbivorous insects known to feed on more than 25 families. Several dictyopharid species are known to be economically significant agricultural pests.

Dictyopharidae is classified into 19 tribes, plus two fossils divided between Dictyopharinae Spinola 1839 and Orgeriinae Fieber 1872. The genus Metaurus Stål 1866 was originally placed in Dictyopharini Spinola 1838, but was moved to Orthopagini Emeljanov 1983 by Emeljanov (2011) and later revised by Song and Liang (2012).

The species of Metaurus are externally similar to the species of Centromeria Stål 1870, a more diverse genus of Orthopagini with 14 species known to date, but with a wider Southeast Asian distribution consistent with the Oriental zoogeographic region.

This study describes M. mohanensis based on morphology and mitogenome. The new species in males has BL 17.3-17.1 mm, HL 3.6-3.7 mm, HW 1.7-1.8 mm, FWL 12-12.1 mm. The epithet “mohanensis” refers to the collection site in Mohan town.

The new species resembles M. ramusitis Song & Liang, but differs by the shape of the base of the base and segment X. The dorsal apical lobe of the base is formed in a pair of long lobes, directed posteriorly in lateral view and two lobes above it, the base extending forward to form a leaf-like projection in dorsal view (vs. not in M. ramusitis).

Segment X in dorsal view is relatively narrow with a maximum length to width ratio near the base of about 2.3:1. The ventral margin projects ventrally into a large rounded process at the base in lateral view and is slightly concave, not incised medially (vs. segment X is relatively wider in dorsal view and with irregular incisions medially in lateral view in M. ramusitis).

Original research

Zheng Y-L, Bourgoin T, Yang L, Chen X-S (2024). A new species of Metaurus Stål, 1866 (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Dictyopharidae), supplemented with mitogenome data from China. ZooKeys 1215: 53-64, DOI:10.3897/zookeys.1215.128976

Dlium theDlium

Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus)

Teki or purple nutsedge ( Cyperus rotundus ) is a species of plant in the Cyperaceae, an erect annual growing to a height of up to 140 cm, the leaves sprout in rows of three from the base to a length of 5-20 cm, ribbon-shaped, pointed tip and green in color. The inflorescence has a stalk with a triangular cross section and is green. The inflorescence has three to eight unequal spikes. The flower is bisexual, has 3 stamina and the pistil has three stigmas. The fruit is achene and triangular. Teki prefers dry places, but will tolerate moist soil and often grows in wastelands and in crop fields. Tubers are an important source of nutrition for migratory cranes. Source of carbohydrates in the tropics in times of famine. The initial stage forms a white fleshy rhizome, 25 mm long and in chains. Some of the rhizomes grow upright above the ground, then form a tuber-like structure from which new shoots and roots grow, new roots and new rhizomes grow. Other rhizomes grow horizontally or down...

Limestone beads (Jacquemontia paniculata)

Limestone beads ( Jacquemontia paniculata ) is a species of plant in the Convolvulaceae. It is a herbaceous, twining climbing plant with cylindrical, branched, green stems. It grows in shrubs, teak forest floors, agricultural lands, roadsides, and abandoned areas. J. paniculata has arrow-shaped, green leaves with a central main vein and numerous pinnate minor veins. The leaves are up to 9 cm long, 7 cm wide, and have stalks up to 5 cm long. The flowers are star-shaped, about 1 cm in diameter, and bluish-white. TAXON Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Solanales Family: Convolvulaceae Subfamily: Dichondroideae Tribe: Jacquemontieae Genus: Jacquemontia Choisy in Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 6: 476 (1833 publ. 1834) Species: Jacquemontia paniculata (Burm.f.) Hallier f. in Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 18: 95 (1893) Variety: Jacquemontia paniculata var. grandiflora Ooststr., Jacquemontia paniculata var. lanceolata S.H.Huang, Jacquemontia paniculata v...

Twoleaf nightshade (Solanum diphyllum)

Twoleaf nightshade ( Solanum diphyllum ) is a species of plants in Solanaceae, upright shrubs grow in shade, 1-2 m tall, rounded stems, dense, green-purple brown, short hairy, stopping cells, cornered young twigs and widely cultivated as plants decorate with bright yellow ripe fruit. S. diphyllum has leaves that are alternating, solitary or paired in twigs with generative organs. Some are stemmed for 1-1.5 cm. The leaves are oval to oblique round eggs, dynamic base, flat or wavy edges, tapered or rounded edges, 1-14.5 cm long, 0.5-4 cm wide and have short hair. Flowers facing leaves 5-25 mm long. Has a 2 mm handle, brownish purple, straight and unbranched. Hook 5-10 mm, greenish to brown and curved. The petals have five ears, resembling kupula, pale green, 1-5 mm long and short haired. Flowers have five crowns, coincide, star-shaped, yellowish white, 2-5 mm long. Has five stamens, free and facing the crown. Short and yellowish green pistil. The stigma is yellow, attached to the...

Dlium