Hemisphaerius annamiticus, Constant & Pham, 2025

Constant, Jérôme & Pham, Hong Thai, 2025, Issid planthoppers from Bach Ma and Phong Dien in Central Vietnam: (II) Tribe Hemisphaeriini (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 994 (1), pp. 1-76 : 23-33

Hemisphaerius annamiticus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B3E132F9-F659-48B3-AE0A-1C643BCBD013

Figs 2–4 , 5A , 12–17

Diagnosis

Hemisphaerius annamiticus sp. nov. varies in body colour, with tegmina varying from pale greenish testaceous or pinkish orange and postclaval margin narrowly reddish, to black with a reddish brown band along postclaval margin, often more or less dark reddish brown with black dot at ⅔ of length, testaceous band along basal half of postclaval margin and often a more or less developed testaceous marking on distal portion, all often with a black dot in middle at ⅔ of length ( Figs 12–14 , 16 ). However, the species can be recognized by:

(1) the shape of the pygofer in lateral view, with posterior margin forming an oblique slope in dorsal ⅓ ending in a strong rounded lobe at about midheight, then sinuate in ventral ⅓ in lateral view ( Fig. 15A );

(2) the shape of the anal tube, subtriangular with apical margin concave in dorsal view, and with posterolateral angles projecting lateroventrad at obtuse angle in lateral view (An – Fig. 15A–D );

(3) the lateral aspect of the aedeagus, strongly posterodorsally curved at an obtuse angle ( Fig. 15H–I );

(4) the asymmetrical lateral lobes of the periandrium longitudinally twisted, laminate with outer margin sinuate and with numerous small teeth (ll – Fig. 15G, M, R );

(5) the ventral lobe of the periandrium apically lanceolate (vl – Fig. 15M, R ).

Differential diagnosis

The closest species is H. bresseeli Constant & Pham, 2024 from North Vietnam and southern China (including Hainan Island), which shares the asymmetrical aedeagus with teeth along the external margin of the lateral lobes of the periandrium ( Constant & Pham 2024a). However, H. annamiticus sp. nov. differs by having the upper ⅓ portion of the posterior margin of the pygofer in lateral view forming an oblique slope ( Fig. 15A ), while it is rounded in H. bresseeli ( Constant & Pham 2024a: fig. 8a), by the anal tube having the posterior margin concave in dorsal view ( Fig. 15D ) and with the posterolateral angles projecting posteroventrad at an obuse angle in lateral view ( Fig. 15A ), while in H. bresseeli the posterior margin is straight to slightly convex in dorsal view ( Constant & Pham 2024a: fig. 8d) and the posterolateral angles are curved ventrad at a right angle in lateral view ( Constant & Pham 2024a: fig. 8a), by the shape of the aedeagus being curved, reflexed dorsad at an obtuse angle at midlength in lateral view ( Fig. 15H–I ), while it is curved at a right angle in H. bresseeli ( Constant & Pham 2024a: fig. 8e–f), and by having the longitudinally twisted lateral lobes of the periandrium with outer margin sinuate in distal portion ( Fig. 15G, M, R ), while in H. bresseeli they are not distinctly twisted and the outer margin is rounded in the distal portion ( Constant & Pham 2024a: fig. 8e–g, k).

Additionally, in H. bresseeli colour sexual dimorphism seems to occur, with the males being red ( Constant & Pham 2024a: figs 5, 7a–c) and the females green ( Constant & Pham 2024a: figs 6, 7e –g), while in H. annamiticus the colour variation seems to be similar in both sexes, the species is generally darker, and no green specimen has been observed so far ( Fig. 16 ).

Etymology

The species epithet refers to the Annamite Mountains, where the new species was collected at several locations.

Material examined

Holotype VIETNAM • ♂ (dissected); Central Vietnam, [Thua Thien-Hue Province], Bach Ma National Park ; 16°12′ N, 107°52′ E; day collection; 12–17 Jul. 2011; J. Constant and J. Bresseel leg.; I.G.: 31.933; VNMN.

Paratypes VIETNAM • 4 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; RBINS • 1 ♂; [Thua Thien-Hue Province], Bach Ma National Park , summit; 16°12′ N, 107°52′ E; 15–16 Jul. 2011; [1400 m a.s.l.]; daytime collection; J. Constant and J. Bresseel leg.; I.G.: 31.933; RBINS • 1 ♂; [Thua Thien-Hue Province], Bach Ma National Park ; 600 m a.s.l.; 8 May 2003; V.T. Hoang leg.; VNMN • 1 ♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park , pheasant trail; 16°12′ N, 107°52′ E; 10–16 Apr. 2017; [500–600 m a.s.l.]; J. Constant and J. Bresseel leg.; I.G.: 33.447; RBINS • 4 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park , pheasant trail; 16°13′38″ N, 107°51′20″ E; 500–600 m a.s.l.; 10–20 May 2023; J. Constant and L. Semeraro leg.; I.G.: 34.640; RBINS • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; VNMN • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park ; 16°11′44″ N, 107°50′44″ E; 1200–1300 m a.s.l.; 22 May 2023; roadside; J. Constant and L. Semeraro leg.; I.G.: 34.640; RBINS • 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park , summit; 16°11′18″ N, 107°50′56″ E; 1300–1400 m a.s.l.; 11–21 May 2023; J. Constant and L. Semeraro leg.; I.G.: 34.640; RBINS • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; VNMN • 3 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park , low altitude; 16°13′14″ N, 107°53′10″ E; 100–200 m a.s.l.; 17 May 2023; J. Constant and L. Semeraro leg.; I.G.: 34.640; RBINS • 2 ♀♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park, near ranger station ; 16°08′37″ N, 107°49′36″ E; 300–600 m a.s.l.; 18 May 2023; J. Constant and L. Semeraro leg.; I.G.: 34.640; RBINS • 2 ♀♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park, Yes Hue Eco ; 16°13′05″ N, 107°43′27″ E; 200–300 m a.s.l.; 17 May 2023; J. Constant and L. Semeraro leg.; I.G.: 34.640; RBINS • 1 ♂; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park , pheasant trail; [16°13′38″ N, 107°51′20″ E]; 6 Mar. 2023; by net; V.T. Trung leg.; VNMN • 2 ♀♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park, Yes Hue Eco ; 16°13′05″ N, 107°43′27″ E; 152 m a.s.l.; 1 Jun. 2023; N.T.T. Hoai leg.; VNMN • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park ; 16.193° N, 107.853° E; 1250 m a.s.l.; 28 May–1 Jun. 2017; L. Bartolozzi, E. Orbach, V. Sbordoni, S. Bambi and A. Bandinelli leg.; numero Mag. 3089; MZUF • 1 ♀; same collection data as preceding; at light; MZUF • 1 ♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, A Luoi, A Roang ; [16°07′04″ N, 107°24′19″ E]; 700 m a.s.l.; 20 Jul. 2004; H.T. Pham leg.; Ho.0134; VNMN • 1 ♂; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, A Luoi, A Roang ; 700 m a.s.l.; 21 Jul. 2004; H.T. Pham leg.; Ho.0137; VNMN • 1 ♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, A Luoi, A Roang ; 700 m a.s.l.; 22 Jul. 2004; H.T. Pham leg.; Ho.0138; VNMN • 1 ♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, A Luoi, A Roang ; 700 m a.s.l.; 25 Jul. 2004; H.T. Pham leg.; Ho.0143; VNMN • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park , pheasant trail; 16°13’38″ N, 107°51’20″ E; 350–600 m a.s.l.; 18 Oct. 2024; J. Constant, L. Semeraro, Hoai T.T. Nguyen leg.; I.G.: 34.893; RBINS • 1 ♂; Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, Bach Ma National Park, road to Bach Ma Peak ; 16°11′45.73″ N, 107°51′46.34″ E; 1325 m a.s.l.; 14 Sep. 2024; [by] net; Hoai T.T. Nguyen leg.; VNMN • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Da Nang Province, Ba Na-Nui Chua Nature Reserve ; 16°00′ N, 108°01′ E; 16–19 Jul. 2017; GTI Project; J. Constant and J. Bresseel leg.; I.G.: 33.498; RBINS • 1 ♂; Kon Tum Province, Kon Plong, Mang Kanh ; 14°39′43″ N, 108°15′45″ E; 16–20 Aug. 2019; GTI Project; J. Constant and J. Bresseel leg.; I.G.: 34.048; RBINS • 1 ♂; Quang Tri Province, Da Krong Nature Reserve ; 16°37′ N, 106°47′ E; 5–10 Jul. 2011; J. Constant and J. Bresseel leg.; I.G.: 31.933; RBINS • 1 ♂; Quang Tri Province; Huong Hoa, Huong Phung, Deo Sa Mu ; [16°48′00″ N, 106°35′10″ E]; 900–1000 m a.s.l.; 4 Jun. 2006; H.T. Pham leg.; VNMN • 1 ♂; Ha Tinh Province, Vu Quang National Park, near Khe Chè station ; 18°22′38″ N, 105°18′41″ E; 13–15 Jul. 2023; V.T. Trung and N.T.T. Hoai leg.; VNMN • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; J. Constant, J. Bresseel and L. Semeraro leg.; I.G.: 34.661; RBINS .

Description

Note: The bright colour of the live specimens ( Fig. 16 ) tends to fade in collection specimens with the turquoise colour of the markings on the thorax and head turning to yellow and the rest of the body tending to become more yellowish as well ( Figs 12–14 ).

MEASUREMENTS AND RATIOS. LT: ♂ (n = 5): 4.3 mm (4.1–4.5), ♀ (n = 5): 4.7 mm (4.5–4.9); LT/BB = 1.39; LTg/BTg = 1.39; LW/BW = 2.57; BV/LV = 2.18; LF/BF = 1.00.

HEAD ( Figs 12A–C, E–F , 13A–E , 14 ). Vertex strongly broader than long in midline, orange to bright red, flat with median shallow groove and margins not carinate; anterior margin weakly curved, posterior one concave and lateral ones oblique, converging cephalad. Side of head yellowish orange to bright red, paler under antennae. Frons convex, slightly elongate and weakly rugulose, widest under antennae, yellowish orange to bright red with turquoise marking at dorsolateral angles; no carina. Clypeus black, often with narrow basal transverse band coloured as frons under frontoclypeal suture, convex, smooth. Labium yellow brown with last segment longer than broad, about as long as penultimate one. Antennae yellow-brown; scape short, ring-shaped; pedicel bulbous.

THORAX ( Figs 12A, E–F , 13A, C–E , 14A, C–E , 16 ). Pronotum orange to bright red with 2 subtriangular turquoise markings on disc; very short, about ⅓ length of mesonotum in midline, extremely narrow behind eyes, smooth, without median carina, with fine carinae along anterior and posterior margins; disc with small, impressed point on each side of median red line; paranotal lobes orange to red, paler at ventral inner angle, without black marking. Mesonotum bright red with median turquoise line not reaching anterior margin and triangular turquoise marking on lateral angles; rather short, weakly rugulose with fine transverse carina along anterior margin but without longitudinal carinae. Tegulae coloured as tegmina, orange to red or dark brown.

TEGMINA ( Figs 12A, C , 13A, C , 14A, C , 16 ). Colour variable, from pale greenish testaceous or pinkish orange with a black dot in middle at ⅔ of length and postclaval margin narrowly reddish, to black with a reddish brown band along postclaval margin, often more or less dark reddish brown with black dot at ⅔ of length, testaceous band along basal half of postclaval margin, and often a more or less developed testaceous marking in distal portion; strongly convex, rugulose; nearly 1.2 times as long as broad when taken together in dorsal view; costal margin broadly rounded, apical margin rounded; venation obsolete.

HIND WINGS ( Figs 12D , 13F ). Brown with basal portion suffused with red and cells of distal half irregularly darker; strongly reduced, curved and widening from base to ⅘ of length. Veins indistinct on basal ⅓, reticulate on remaining portion.

LEGS ( Figs 12A–C, E , 13A–E , 14A–E ). Elongate and moderately slender, yellowish brown; all tarsi with black-brown onychium; pro- and mesofemora slightly wider than corresponding tibiae; metacoxae, metatrochanters and basal ¾ of metafemora dark brown; apex of metatibial spines and metatarsal spines black-brown. Metatibiae with 2 lateral spines on apical ⅓ and 6 apical spines. Metatarsi short with first segment about as long as combined length of remaining segments. Metatibiotarsal formula: (2) 6/ 8–9 /2.

ABDOMEN. Brown with middle and posterior areas darker, sometimes black.

MALE TERMINALIA ( Fig. 15 ). Pygofer (Py – Fig. 15A–F ) about 2.5 times as high as long at midheight in lateral view, with posterior margin forming oblique slope in dorsal ⅓ ending in a strong rounded lobe at about midheight, then sinuate in ventral ⅓ in lateral view; oval in caudal view. Gonostyli (G – Fig. 15A– F ) convex, sub-semicircular in lateral view with dorsal margin weakly rounded and ventroapical margin strongly rounded, with an emargination at base of capitulum; capitulum (ca) with short and wide neck in lateral view, projecting dorsomesad, with dorsal tooth directed anteromesad and lateral slightly laminate tooth curved lateroventrad. Anal tube (An – Fig. 15A–D ) dorsoventrally flattened, subtriangular, slightly longer in midline than wide and with anal opening at about basal ⅓; small pointed process directed ventrad on ventral side, before half length; lateral margins weakly sinuate, more or less evenly diverging, and posterior margin distinctly concave in dorsal view; dorsal margin straight with apicodorsal angle obtuse, and ventral margin sinuate ventrad in lateral view; apical angles strongly projecting lateroventrad; apical margin roundly curved in caudal view, with outer margins weakly diverging ventrad. Aedeagus ( Fig. 15G–R ) asymmetrical, strongly curved, slightly twisted, reflexed dorsad at obtuse angle at midlength in lateral view. Ventral lobe of periandrium (vl) laminate, moderately lanceolate apically and shorter than lateral lobes ( Fig. 15G, J, M, R ). Lateral lobes of periandrium (ll) laminate and longitudinally twisted, with outer lateral margin sinuate and bearing regular small teeth in distal portion, a slightly larger one at apical angle; inner margin smooth; right lobe moderately more developed than left one in laterocaudal view (perpendicular to plane of lobes – Fig. 15R ). Connective (co – Fig. 15H–Q ) strongly developed, corpus connective long and regularly curved in lateral view, tectiductus (te) strongly developed, curved, conical with wide anterior foramen and with crista visible as a weak carina.

Biology

Hemisphaerius annamiticus sp. nov. was collected in March to September at altitudes between 100 and 1400 m a.s.l. in moist evergreen tropical forest. The specimens were sitting on lower vegetation and bushes on small branches, and more often on leaves, and seemed to prefer smooth leaves. In Bach Ma National Park it was found at the following collecting site/habitats ( Fig. 2A ): “Yes Hue Eco” ( Fig. 2A (1), B), “pheasant trail” ( Figs 2A (2), 3A), “low altitude” ( Figs 2A (3), 3B), “roadside” ( Figs 2A (4), 4A), “summit” ( Figs 2A (5), 4B) and “ranger station” ( Figs 2A (6), 5A), and in Phong Dien District ( Fig. 5B ).

Distribution

Vietnam: provinces of Thừa Thiên-Huế (Bach Ma National Park, Phong Dien District, A Roang), Da Nang (Ba Na-Nui Chua Nature Reserve), Kon Tum (Mang Kanh), Ha Tinh (Vu Quang National Park) and Quang Tri (Da Krong National Park; Deo Sa Mu) ( Fig. 17 ).

Figures

Fig. 2. Bach Ma National Park, habitats. A. Detailed map of the sampling areas (1 = ‘Yes Hue Eco’; 2 = ‘pheasant trail’; 3 = ‘low altitude’; 4 = ‘roadside’; 5 = ‘summit’; 6 = ‘near ranger station’. B. Typical habitat at ‘Yes Hue Eco’ sampling area, 17 May 2023.

Fig. 3. Bach Ma National Park, habitats. A. Typical habitat at ‘pheasant trail’ sampling area, 20 May 2023. B. Typical habitat at ‘low altitude’ sampling area, 15 May 2023.

Fig. 4. Bach Ma National Park, habitats. A. Typical habitat at ‘roadside’ sampling area, 21 May 2023. B. Typical habitat at ‘summit’ sampling area, 11 May 2023.

Fig. 5. Bach Ma National Park and Phong Dien District, habitats. A. Typical habitat at ‘ranger station’ sampling area, 18 May 2023. B. Typical habitat at Phong Dien sampling area, 23 May 2023.

Fig. 12. Hemisphaerius annamiticus sp. nov., dissected holotype, ♂ (VNMN). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Habitus, lateral view. D. Right hind wing. E. Habitus, perpendicular view of frons. F. Habitus, anterolateral view.

Fig. 13. Hemisphaerius annamiticus sp. nov., dissected paratype, ♂ from Da Krong, Quang Tri Province (RBINS). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Habitus, lateral view. D. Habitus, perpendicular view of frons. E. Habitus, anterolateral view. F. Right hind wing.

Fig. 14. Hemisphaerius annamiticus sp. nov., dissected paratype, ♂ from Mang Kanh, Kon Tum Province (RBINS). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Habitus, lateral view. D. Habitus, perpendicular view of frons. E. Habitus, anterolateral view.

Fig. 15. Hemisphaerius annamiticus sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (VNMN), terminalia. A–F. Pygofer, anal tube and gonostyli. A. Left lateral view. B. Posterolateral view. C. Caudal view. D. Dorsal view. E. Ventral view. F. Posterodorsal view. G–R. Aedeagus.G. Caudal view. H. Left lateral view. I. Right lateral view. J. Posteroventral view. K. Left laterodorsal view. L. Right laterodorsal view. M. Left posterolateral view. N. Left lateroventral view. O. Right lateroventral view. P. Dorsal view. Q. Ventral view. R. Right posterolateral view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.

Fig. 16. Hemisphaerius annamiticus sp. nov., live specimens in Bach Ma National Park. A–D. Pheasant trail. A–B. 12 May 2023. C–D. 20 May 2023. E–G. Low altitude location, 15 May 2023. H. Near ranger station, 18 May 2023.

Fig. 17. Hemisphaerius annamiticus sp. nov., distribution map.