J. South Asian Nat. Hist., ISSN 1022-0828. June, 2000. Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 101-105, 12 figs. © 2000, Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka, 95 Cotta Road, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka.

Halictophagus palmae sp. nov. (: ) parasitic in Proutista moesta (Westwood) (Homoptera) a vector of phytoplasma diseases of palms in India

Jeyaraney Kathirithamby* and K. N. Ponnamma **

* Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, U.K. ** Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Research Centre, Palode -695 562, P. B. No. 2 Thiruvananthapuram Dist., Kerala, India.

Abstract A new species of Halictophagidae, palmi is described from India which is a parasite of Proutista moesta (Westwood) (Homoptera). Proutista moesta is a vector of phytoplasma diseases in coconuts, araca nuts and oil palm.

Key words: Strepsiptera, Halictophagidae, oil palm, coconuts, araca nuts, Homoptera, Derbidae.

Aedeagus simple, hook-like with a slight hump Introduction on the basal dorsal side and sits under the Xth Poonamma and Babjan (1998) wrote a note that a abdominal segment (Fig. 4). Halictophagus sp. is parasitic in Proutista moesta (Westwood) (Homoptera: Derbidae). As it is an Male cephalotheca slightly wider than long (width, economically important parasite, we now describe 0.49-0.60 mm; length— 0.35-0.38 mm) (Fig. 9). this species. Mandibles with two small teeth (Fig. 10).

Halictophagus palmae sp. n. Female cephalothorax as long as wide (width, 0.28- 0.32 mm; length, 0.29-0.37 mm) square in shape. M ale. Mandibles knife-shaped (0.07-0.08 mm); Opening of cephalothorax broad and large (width, maxilla very small, only a third of the length of 0.17-0.21 mm; length, 0.06-0.09 mm), about midway mandibles (0.02-0.03 mm) (Fig. 1). on the cephalothorax (Figs. 8, 12). Mandibles with Antennae: 7 segmented with flabella on the III— two teeth (Fig. 10). VII segments. Ill flabella broader than rest (0.28- 0.29 mm), IV flabella: 0.23-0.25 mm, V flabella: Type material 0.20 mm, VI flabella: 0.17-0.19 mm, VII flabella: Holotype ?: Oil Palm Plantation National Research 0.16-0.19 mm (Fig. 2). Center for Oil Palm, Regional Station, Palode, Kerala, Wings: R2 and R3 present, R6 joins R5 halfway; India; Jan.1990, K. N. Ponnamma (Hope Entomo­ MA, CuA and CuP present (Fig. 3). logical Collections, University Museum of Natural Tarsi: three segmented with a spin on the 1st History, Oxford). segment. Abdomen: VIII abdominal sternite prominent Paratypes: ?: Oil Palm Plantation National Research and pointed at apex and surpasses the caudal IX Center for Oil Palm, Regional Station, Palode, Kerala, abdominal segment (genital capsule) and encloses India; Jan. 1990, K. N. Ponnamma (Hope Entomo­ it (VUI-length: 0.27=0.29 mm; IX-length: 0.19- logical Collections, University Museum of Natural 0.25 mm) (Figs. 6, 7). X abdominal segment History, Oxford). (proctiger) large and lobed (Figs. 4, 5, 6) unlike any ?, Oil Palm Plantation National Research Center other Strepsiptera known (0.08 mm). for Oil Palm, Regional Station, Palode, Kerala, India; KATHIRITHAMBY & POONAMMA

Figure 1. Lateral view of mandible and maxilla; scale bar Figure 5. Dorsal view of X abdominal segment; scale bar 0.2 mm. 0.2 mm.

Figure 2. Antenna; scale bar 0.2 mm. Figure 6. Lateral view of VIII, IX and X abdominal segments; scale bar 0.2 mm.

Figure 3. Right hind wing; scale bar 0.3 mm. Figure 7. Ventral view of VIII abdominal sternite; scale bar 0.2 mm.

Figure 4. Lateral view of IX and X abdominal segments Figure 8. Female cephalothorax; scale bar 0.2 mm. with VIII sternite removed; scale bar 0.2 mm.

J. South Asian Nat. Hist. H alictophagus p a l m a e , sp. n o v .

Jan. 1990, K. N. Ponnamma (Hope Entomological Collections, University Museum of Natural History, Oxford). Two ? cephalothecae, Oil palm Plantation National Research Center for Oil Palm, Regional Station, Palode, Kerala, India; Jan.1990, K. N. Ponn­ amma (Hope Entomological Collections, University Museum of Natural History, Oxford).

Diagnosis The most distinguishing features of this new species are the elaborate X abdominal segment, the large VIII abdominal sternite and the shape of the aedeagus Figure 9. Male cephalotheca; scale bar 0.1 mm. in the male; and the large opening of the cephalothorax in the female. It differs from all other described species of Halictophagus by these features.

Biological notes It has been noticed that when the wings of the host are long the male puparium extrudes above the host cuticle. Therefore when the cephalotheca (cap of the puparium) breaks open, just before the emergence of the free-living male, it is well away from the host (Fig. 11). Thus the emergence of the male is not hindered by the long wings of the host. However, when the wings of the host are short the puparium extrudes on to the surface of the host cuticle, and Figure 10. Mandibles of male cephalotheca; scale bar 0.1 mm. when the cephalotheca breaks open, before the emergence of the free-living male, it does so fairly close to the host cuticle, as has been seen in Delphacidae and Cicadellidae (Homoptera) hosts of Strepsiptera.

Acknowledgements We thank Dr. K. U. K. Nampoothiri, Director CPCRI, Kasaragod for permitting this research.

Literature cited Baliga, H. 1967. A new species of Corioxenos (Stylopoidea) parasitizing Antestiopsis cruiata (F.) (Homoptera, ) in India. Bull. Entomol. Res., 57: 387- Figure 11. Mandible of female cephalothorax; scale bar 10 /xm. 393. Blair, K. G. 1936. A genus of Strepsiptera. Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond., Ser B, 5(6): 113-117. Bohart, R. M. 1943. New species of Halictophagus with a key to the genus in North America. Ann. Entomol. Soc. America, 36: 341- 359. Bohart, R. M. 1951. The Myrmeoclacidae of the Philippines (Strepsiptera). Wasmann J. Biol. 9(1): 83-103. Chattopadhyay, A. K. & P. K. Chaudhuri. 1980. Record of genus Pierce (, Strepsip­ tera) from India. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 76: 490- 492. Chaudhuri, P. K , Ghosh, M. & S. K. Das Gupta. 1983. Figure 12. Posterior view of abdomen of Proutista moesta Notes on Indian Strepsiptera with descriptions of three with two empty male puparia (arrow) and a neotenic new species. Dt. ent. Z. N. F., 30: 23-29. female (arrow head); scale bar 0.4 mm. Chaudhuri, P. K , Das Gupta, S. K. & A. K. Chatterjee. 1978.

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Description of a new species of Parastylops (Strep- winged comprising the order Strepsiptera siptera:) from Arunachal Pradesh. Oriental Kirby. Bull. U.S. natn. Mus., 66:1-232. Insects, 12: 387-389. Pierce, W. D. 1911a. Notes on insects of the order Chaudhuri, P. K. & S. K. Das Gupta. 1979. New species of Strepsiptera, with descriptions of new species. Proc. Halictophagus and Triozocera [Strepsiptera from West U. S. natn. Mus., 40: 487-511. Bengal, India]. Oriental Insects, 13: 133-137. Pierce, W. D. 1911b. Genera Insectorum. 121: 54 pp. Curtis, J., 1831. Elenchus Walkeri [mit Mitt., von A. H. Pierce, W. D. 1914. Description of two new species of Haliday]. Brit. Entomol. 8: 338-383. Strepsiptera parasitic on sugar cane insects. Proc. Esaki, T. & S. Hashimoto. 1931. Report on the leaf-hoppers Entomol. Soc. Wash., 16: 126-129. injurious to the rice plant and their natural enemies. Pierce, W. D. 1918. The comparative morphology of the No. 2. Publ. ent. Lab. Kyushu Univ., 2: 39-52. order Strepsiptera together with records and Hirashima, Y. & T. Kifune. 1978. Strepsipterous parasites descriptions of insects. Proc. U. S. natn. Mus., 54: 391- of Homoptera injurious to the rice plant in Sarawak, 501. Borneo, with description of a new species (Notulae Poonamma, K. N. & B. Babjan. 1998. Record of Halicto­ Strepsipterologicae-III). Esakia, 11: 53-58. phagus sp. (Strepsiptera; Halictophagidae), a parasit- Kathirithamby, J., 1992. Descriptions and biological notes oid of Proutista moesta (Westwood) (Homoptera: of Halictophagidae (Strepsiptera) from Australia, with Derbidae), a vector of phytoplasma diseases of palms. a checklist of the world genera and species. Invertebr. Planter, Kuala Lumpur 74: 37-40. Taxon., 6:159-196. Rossi, P. 1793. Observations de M. Rossi sur un nouveau Kifune, T. & Y. Hirashima. 1984. Synopsis of the genus genre dTnsecte, voisin des Ichneumons. Bull. Soc. Halictophagus (Strepsiptera: Halictophagidae) of Japan, philomath. Paris, 1: 1-49. with description of a new species (Studies on the Saunders, S. S. 1872. Stylopidarum, ordinem Strepsipter- Japanese Strepsiptera VIII). Esakia, 22: 77-85. orum Kirbii constituentium, mihi tamen potius Kinzelbach, R. 1970. Loania canadensis n. gen. n. sp. und Coleopterorum Familiae, Rhipiphoridis Meloidisque die Untergliederung der Callipharixenidae (Insecta: proinquae, Monographia. Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond., Strepsiptera). Senckenberg Biol. 51(1/2): 99-107. 1872: 48pp. Kinzelbach, R. 1971. Halictophagus helleri n. sp. von Ceylon Subramaniam, T. V. 1922. Some natural enemies of mango (Insecta: Strepsiptera). Stuttgart Beitr. Naturk., 230: leaf-hoppers (Idiocerus spp.) in India. Bull. ent. Res., 8pp. 12. 465-467. Kinzelbach, R. 1978. Strepsiptera. Die Tierwelt Subramaniam, T. V. 1927. A new genus and species of the Deutschlands, 65: 1-166. Strepsiptera from south India, Indoxenos Kirby, W. 1813. Strepsiptera, a new order of insects membraciphaga, gen. and sp. nov. Trans. R. ent. Soc. proposed; and the characters of the order, with those Lond., 75: 131-134. of its genera, laid down. Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., 86- Subramaniam, T. V. 1932. On a new genus and species of 122. Strepsiptera. Rec. Indian Mus., 34: 43-46. Perkins, R. C. L., 1905. Leafhoppers and their natural Westwood, J. O. 1861. Notice on the occurrence of a enemies (Part III. Stylopidae). Bull. Hawaii. Sug. Plrs/ strepsipterous parasitic in ants discovered in Ass. Exp. Stn., No. 1: 90-111. Ceylon by Herr Nietner. Trans, ent. Soc. Lond., 5: 416- Pierce, W. D. 1908. A preliminary review of the 420. classification of the order Strepsiptera. Proc. Entomol. Yang, C.-k. 1964. Notes on the new subfamily Soc. Washington, 9: 75-85. Tridactylophaginae (Strepsiptera: Halictophagidae). Pierce, W. D. 1909. A monographic revision of the twisted Acta ent. sin., 13: 606-613.

104 J. South Asian Nat. Hist. H alictophacus PALMAE, SP. NOV.

Appendix List of Strepsiptera from India

Corioxenidae Kinzelbach, 1970 Corioxeninae Kinzelbach, 1970 Corioxenos Blair, 1936 raoi Baliga, 1967. Mysore. Host: Antestiopsis cruciata (F.)

Triozocerinae Kinzelbach, 1970 Triozocera Pierce, 1909 pugiopenis Chaudhuri & Das Gupta, 1979. West Bengal: Malda*, Gurap, W. Bengal: Burdwan. Host: unknown. (Triozocera pugiopennis)

Halictophagidae Perkins, 1905 Halictophaginae Perkins, 1905. Halictophagus Curtis, 1831. compactus (Pierce, 1914). Behar*. Host: Pyrilla aberrans Kirby, P. perpusilla Walker Pyrilloxenos compactus Pierce, 1914; Subramaniam, 1922 nec Pierce 1914. indicus Bohart, 1943. Mysore*. Host: Idiocerus niveoparsus Leth, I. atkinsoni Leth, I. clypealis Leth. membraciphaga (Subramaniam, 1927). Mysore: Sasalu*. Host: Otinotus pallescens Distant. Indoxenos membraciphaga (Subramaniam, 1927). kifunei Chaudhuri & Das Gupta, 1983. West Bengal: Taki*, Malda, Gurap, Burdwan. Host: unknown. orientalis Chaudhuri, 1979 nec Esaki & Hashimoto, 1931. (Tettigoxenos) australensis Perkins, 1905. Kathirithamby, 1992. Bangalore and all through SE Asia & Africa. Host: Cofana spectra (Distant) (Bruesia) australensis Perkins, 1905. Bruesia australensis Pierce, 1908. Pentoxocera australensis Pierce, 1911. Pentozocera australensis Pierce, 1918. Halictophagus australensis Bohart, 1943. H. spectrus Yang, 1964; Hirashima & Kifune, 1978; Kifune & Hirashima, 1984. H. helleri Kinzelbach, 1971. tenebrosus Chaudhuri, Ghosh & Das Gupta, 1983. W. Bengal: Burdwan*. Host: unknown. Tridactylophagus Subramaniam, 1932. mysorensis Subramaniam, 1932. Banglore*. Host: Tridactylus sp. maculatus Chaudhuri, Ghosh & Das Gupta, 1983. W. Bengal: Burdwan*. Host: unknown.

Myrmecolacidae Saunders, 1872 Myrmecolax Westwood, 1861. pierci (Chattopadhyay & Chaudhuri, 1980). West Bengal: Kantaticar*. Host: unknown. Caenocholax pierci Chattopadhyay & Chaudhuri, 1980. plantipes (Chaudhuri, Das Gupta & Chatterjee, in Chaudhuri, Ghosh & Das Gupta, 1983). Arunachal Pradesh*. Host: unknown. Parastylops plantipes Chaudhuri in Chaudhuri, Das Gupta & Chatterjee, 1978. Lychnocolax Bohart, 1951. similis Chaudhuri, Ghosh & Das Gupta 1983. Arunachal Pradesh: Pasighat*. Host: unknown.

Stylopidae Kirby, 1813 Paraxeninae Kinzelbach, 1971. Paraxenos Saunders, 1872. indicus (Pierce, 1911). Deesa*. Host: Tachytes xenoferus Rohwer. Tachytixenos indicus Pierce, 1911. Xeninae Saunders, 1872. Xenos Rossi, 1793. hebraei Kinzelbach, 1978. Bengal*. Host: Polistes olivaceus de Geer.

* Type locality

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