Melanasterasinica He & Burckhardt, sp. nov., a new psylloid species (Hemiptera, Psylloidea, Liviidae) from China developing on Grewia sp. (Malvaceae)

Zhixin He ¹, Daniel Burckhardt ², Xinyu Luo ¹

⁰Department of Entomology & MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China China Agricultural University Beijing China.

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June 17, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

A new species of psylloid insect, Melanasterasinica, has been discovered in Hainan, China, feeding on Grewia plants. This finding expands the known range of the Melanastera genus to Asia.

Area Of Science

Entomology
Zoology
Biodiversity studies

Background

The genus Melanastera comprises psylloid insects, with known species primarily found in the New World.
Existing Melanastera species are typically associated with the plant families Melastomataceae and Annonaceae.
Two Old World Melanastera species are known, both developing on Grewia plants within the Malvaceae family.

Purpose Of The Study

To describe a new psylloid species, Melanasterasinica He & Burckhardt, sp. nov.
To document the first occurrence of the Melanastera genus in Asia and China.
To discuss the host plant associations and biogeographic distribution of the new species.

Main Methods

Morphological description and illustration of the new species.
Taxonomic diagnosis differentiating it from related species.
Analysis of host plant (Grewia sp.) and geographic origin (Hainan, China).

Main Results

Melanasterasinica He & Burckhardt, sp. nov. is formally described and illustrated.
This represents the first record of the Melanastera genus in Asia and China.
The new species utilizes Grewia (Malvaceae) as a host plant, a known association for Old World Melanastera.

Conclusions

The discovery of Melanasterasinica expands the known geographic and host plant range of the Melanastera genus.
This finding highlights the unique host plant associations of Old World Melanastera species compared to their New World counterparts.
Further research into psylloid diversity in Asia is warranted.

Keywords:

Jumping plant lice Liviinae Oriental Region Paurocephalini Sternorrhyncha taxonomy