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Photo#734188
Psylloidea, dorsal - Bactericera antennata

Psylloidea, dorsal - Bactericera antennata
Bluffton, Winneshiek County, Iowa, USA
September 5, 2012
Size: 2+ mm
Incidental in sweep net on prairie remnant

Images of this individual: tag all
Psylloidea, dorsal - Bactericera antennata Psylloidea, head & thorax - Bactericera antennata Psylloidea, ventral - Bactericera antennata

Moved
Moved from Triozidae.

Appears to be Bactericera antennata
Formerly of the genus Rhinopsylla, a group so distinct it was once thought to be distinct from the Triozids. The key feature here is the unique head shape which is emarginate anteriorly; also note the antennae (which are very long compared to other Triozids), the slightly enlarged fore femurs and the slightly swollen genae ventrally. Colorwise this is a sexually dimorphic species: males are black with green abdomen; females, like yours, are reddish. The tibia and tarsi are white; the first 2 antennae segments red, segments 3-5 white, and remaining segments black; light markings on head and thorax, with a white dorsal stripe on abdomen. The species has been recorded from Mexico north into the midwestern USA where it's associated with Polygonum.

Relevant publications reviewed:
Crawford 1911. American Psyllidae III (Triozinae)
Crawford 1914. A monograph of the jumping plant-lice or Psyllidae of the new world
Caldwell 1941. A preliminary survey of Mexican Psyllidae (Homoptera).
Tuthill 1942. Notes on North American Rhinopsylla with description of new species (Psyllidae: Homoptera).
Tuthill 1944. Descriptions of some new North American Psyllidae with notes on others.
Tuthill 1950. Contributions to the knowledge of the Psyllidae of Mexico (Part II)

For ease of comparison, I've uploaded an illustration of the head and a description of the species here.

In reviewing the other "Rhinopsylla", it would appear that most of the related species are restricted to Florida and surrounding southeast states; while some are similar, those seem to differ from your psyllid in several important ways.

Great find! It's another new one for bugguide.

 
Thank you. Thank you.
I'm so glad you've taken up the not-so-charismatic mini-fauna.

Moved

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