Diaphorina pfanderae Aléné and Burckhardt sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Psyllidae) and its association with ants on Ozoroa pulcherrima (Anacardiaceae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Diaphorina (Psyllidae: Diaphorininae) is a large Old World genus with an unusually wide range of host plants. Its most prominent member is undoubtedly the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, one of the most devastating citrus pests in tropical Asia and the New World where it is adventive. Recently, the species also was discovered in Africa where it appears to be spreading quickly. Detection and correct identification is difficult due to the presence of over 50 described and many undescribed native species. Morphological differences between species are small, and there are no diagnosable species groups (with one exception: the Diaphorina amoena group). Here we define a second, putatively monophyletic species group, the Diaphorina albomaculata group, consisting of six Afrotropical species. In two of the species, it was observed that the immatures were tended by ants. One of the members of the D. albomaculata group is Diaphorina pfanderae Aléné and Burckhardt sp. nov., developing on Ozoroa pulcherrima (Anacardiaceae) in West Cameroon. Here, adults and immatures are described and diagnosed with illustrations. Diaphorina pfanderae differs from the other species of the D. albomaculata group in the fore wing pattern and details of the male and female terminalia as well as details of the chaetotaxy in immatures. Keys are provided for the identification of the adults and last-instar immatures of the species of the D. albomaculata group. Immatures of D. pfanderae showed a preference for young leaves, a characteristic shared by other psyllids. The species has always been associated with the three ant species Camponotus congolensis, C. flavomarginatus and Crematogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The first two species often build soil shelters around the psyllid colonies situated on twigs, stems or leaves of O. pulcherrima. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4418BAB6-B6B7-459C-B75E-9CDC8971E054