In March 2024, descriptions of two new insect species from the Philippines, as well as the proposal of a new genus, were published in Annales Zoologici.
New Genus – ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐
The newly named genus ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฆ๐ต๐ณ๐ช belongs to the hemipteran family Cercopidae, which includes the insects we call froghoppers or spittlebugs. ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฆ๐ต๐ณ๐ช species are similar in general shape and color to another Cercopidae genus, Jacobsoniella. Notably, though, the backs of ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฆ๐ต๐ณ๐ช insects feature โlightning boltsโ due to the white or yellowish color patterns on their thickened forewings (tegmina). Thus, the researchers decided to name the genus after Vincent Pietri, who works in the electric power industry.
๐๐๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐
Distribution/habitat: Polillo Island and Luzon Island, Philippines (Type locality: Laguna, Luzon Island)
Endemic: Yes
Distinctive traits: Smaller than a pencil’s eraser, ๐. ๐ค๐ข๐ฉ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฆ is approximately 5 mm long (including its tegmina) and 2 mm wide. It is similar in appearance to the other newly described ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฆ๐ต๐ณ๐ช species, ๐. ๐บ๐ข๐ฑ๐ข๐ฆ. However, ๐. ๐ค๐ข๐ฉ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฆ sports a yellowish-white scutellum (the triangular shield on its back) with an almond-shaped black spot in the middle.
Conservation status: Unspecified
Described by: Elorde Crispolon Jr. and Adeline Soulier-Perkins
Etymology: The species was named after the first authorโs former mentor, Dr. Purificacion O. Cahatian, who inspired him to become an insect taxonomist.
๐๐๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐๐
Distribution/habitat: Luzon Island and Mindanao Island, Philippines (Type locality: Mt. Apo, Mindanao Island)
Endemic: Yes
Distinctive traits: ๐. ๐บ๐ข๐ฑ๐ข๐ฆ is approximately the same size as ๐. ๐ค๐ข๐ฉ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฆ. The scutellum of ๐. ๐บ๐ข๐ฑ๐ข๐ฆ is black with three small, whitish spots.
Conservation status: Unspecified
Described by: Elorde Crispolon Jr. and Maxime Le Cesne
Etymology: The species was named after the authorsโ hemipterist colleague Prof. Sheryl A. Yap, who was also one of the first authorโs mentors.
Significance
Prior to the discovery and description of these species, the Philippines had 19 known genera of Cercopidae, with 70 species and nine subspecies; 87% of these are endemic. This recently published research โ which describes another new genus (๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ข) and two new species under it (๐. ๐จ๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ช๐ข๐ช and ๐. ๐ฎ๐ข๐ข๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ช) โ encourages further study and exploration of the Philippinesโ biodiverse islands.โMF
Reference:
Elorde Crispolon Jr.,ย Maxime Le Cesne,ย andย Adeline Soulier-Perkinsย “Description of Two New Philippine Genera Close toย Jacobsoniellaย Melichar (Hemiptera: Cercopidae),”ย Annales Zoologiciย 74(1), 17-42, (30 March 2024).ย https://doi.org/10.3161/00034541ANZ2024.74.1.002
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
