Thought to Be Extinct, but Still Alive Today: The Miocene Genus <i>Primascena</i> Klimaszewsi, 1997 (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) in the Light of Two Extant Species from Brazil

Abstract

Fossils can document the morphological diversification through time and date lineages, providing relevant characters are preserved. Primascena Klimaszewsi, 1997 was erected for P. subita Klimaszewsi, 1997 on the basis of a single, partly damaged male from Dominican amber. Originally assigned to Rhinocolidae: Paurocephalinae, the genus was subsequently transferred to Psyllidae: Aphalaroidinae. Recently, two undescribed species resembling the fossil species were discovered in Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul), allowing a detailed morphological study of adults and immatures. Based on the morphological study, a revised diagnosis of the genus is provided, including the previously unknown female and fifth instar immatures. Primascena subita is redescribed and P. empsycha n. spec. and P. ruprechtiae n. spec. are formally described and illustrated. An identification key is provided for the species of Primascena. A cladistic morphological analysis supports the placement of the two new species in Primascena, and of this genus in the Aphalaroidinae. It is sister to all but Aphalaroida, though with little support. The two Brazilian species develop on Ruprechtia spp. (Polygonaceae: Eriogonoideae), an unusual psyllid host. Immatures of P. ruprechtiae are free-living on the lower leaf face and do not induce galls.

Keywords

• Sternorrhyncha
• fossils
• taxonomy
• neotropical
• Polygonaceae
• <i>Ruprechtia</i>