Moriphila furva gen. and sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Homotomidae), a new jumping plant-louse from Korea associated with Morus australis (Moraceae)

Abstract

Moriphila furva Burckhardt & Cho, gen. and sp. nov., is described from the mountain region in north eastern South Korea. Adults were collected on Morus australis which is a likely host. We provide morphological evidence that the new monotypic genus constitutes the probable sister group of the afrotropical Phytolyma whose species develop on Milicia and Morus (Moraceae). Differences between the two genera are detailed and the phylogenetic relationships to other members of Homotomidae: Macrohomotominae, to which the new genus belongs, are discussed. The host relationships of Psylloidea associated with Moraceae are reviewed. The latter constitutes the fifth most important host taxon of Psylloidea even though it is only a moderately large family of angiosperms in terms of constituent species. Moraceae have been colonised by psyllids at least five times independently. Following new combinations are proposed: Homotoma brevis (Li, 1993), comb. nov. and Homotoma microphyllae (Li & Yang, 1991), comb. nov. (both from Caenohomotoma Yang & Li, 1981).

Higher‐level molecular phylogeny of jumping plant lice (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea)

“…Celtisaspis shares with both Carsidaridae and Homotomidae the basal position of the ventral sense organs on the metafemur but, on the other hand, it lacks other diagnostic features of Homotomidae and Carsidaridae, such as horn‐like processes or tubercles on the metapostnotum (G. Cho, personal observation; Hollis & Broomfield, ; Burckhardt et al ., ). Regarding the Homotomidae, our phylogenetic analysis unexpectedly recovers the recently described monotypic genus Moriphila within the genus Homotoma rather than in Macrohomotominae where it was placed based on morphology (Burckhardt et al ., ). More detailed studies are needed to solve the phylogenetic relationships among Carsidaridae, Homotomidae and Pachypsyllinae.…”

“…All Pachypsyllinae are associated with the plant genus Celtis (Rosales: Cannabaceae; Ouvrard, ). Also, the host plants of Homotomidae are within Rosales: all homotomids develop on Moraceae (Burckhardt et al ., ), whereas Carsidaridae are probably restricted to Malvales (Hollis, ; Ouvrard et al ., ), but the polarity of this character is unclear. Celtisaspis shares with both Carsidaridae and Homotomidae the basal position of the ventral sense organs on the metafemur but, on the other hand, it lacks other diagnostic features of Homotomidae and Carsidaridae, such as horn‐like processes or tubercles on the metapostnotum (G. Cho, personal observation; Hollis & Broomfield, ; Burckhardt et al ., ).…”

“…Also, the host plants of Homotomidae are within Rosales: all homotomids develop on Moraceae (Burckhardt et al ., ), whereas Carsidaridae are probably restricted to Malvales (Hollis, ; Ouvrard et al ., ), but the polarity of this character is unclear. Celtisaspis shares with both Carsidaridae and Homotomidae the basal position of the ventral sense organs on the metafemur but, on the other hand, it lacks other diagnostic features of Homotomidae and Carsidaridae, such as horn‐like processes or tubercles on the metapostnotum (G. Cho, personal observation; Hollis & Broomfield, ; Burckhardt et al ., ). Regarding the Homotomidae, our phylogenetic analysis unexpectedly recovers the recently described monotypic genus Moriphila within the genus Homotoma rather than in Macrohomotominae where it was placed based on morphology (Burckhardt et al ., ).…”

Psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) associated with Ficus vallis-choudae (Moraceae) in southern Cameroon: taxonomy and biology

“…species of Homotoma Guérin-Méneville, 1844 (Homotomidae) and Pauropsylla Rübsaamen, 1899 (Triozidae). Homotoma comprises 33 species worldwide (2 in the Palaearctic Region, 4 in the Afrotropical Region, 23 in the Oriental Region and 4 in the Australo-Oriental Region), all associated with Ficus species (Burckhardt et al, 2018). The tropical and subtropical Pauropsylla comprises 26 Old World species associated with Ficus (Burckhardt et al, 2018) and two undescribed species in the New World (Brown & Hodkinson, 1988).…”

“…Homotoma comprises 33 species worldwide (2 in the Palaearctic Region, 4 in the Afrotropical Region, 23 in the Oriental Region and 4 in the Australo-Oriental Region), all associated with Ficus species (Burckhardt et al, 2018). The tropical and subtropical Pauropsylla comprises 26 Old World species associated with Ficus (Burckhardt et al, 2018) and two undescribed species in the New World (Brown & Hodkinson, 1988). Apart from their original descriptions based upon limited material (Hollis, 1984;Hollis & Broomfi eld, 1989), little is known about the Afrotropical species of both genera, such as host range, immature morphology or ecology.…”