Taxonomy of Two Psyllid Species of Cacopsylla genus (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) Associated with Prunus africana (Rosaceae) from Cameroon

Abstract

Psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) are sap-sucking insects inducing serious damages to their host plants. Among the plants attacked by the psyllids in Cameroon, there is Prunus africana (Rosaceae), an important medicinal plant which is associated with two non-described psyllid species belonging to Cacopsylla genus. The two species induce necrosis of the leaves and stunt the growth of shoots of the host plant principally when it is in nursery. The aim of this survey is to describe and identify the two species of psyllids associated to P. africana. The specimens were captured with a sweep net of 0.5 mm mesh size and mouth aspirator. The fifth instar immatures and adults were described from the illustrated diagrams made with the aid of microscope as well as the morphological comparison with previously described species. The morphological examination shows that the two species share the nymph circumanal shape, but the abdomen distal margin bears different types of setae. In adult, the two species also share the head, forewing, and distal portion of aedeagus shape. They differ morphologically from the structure of paramere and female genitalia. When the two species of Cacopsylla described in this survey are compared to other species described elsewhere, they are morphologically different, notably the structure of paramere and female genitalia, the host plant species are also different. Then they are new species named Cacopsylla bamendae sp. nov. and C. messii sp. nov.