IBN AL- HAITHAM J. FO R PURE & APPL. SC I. VO L.24 (1) 2011 External Morphology of Planthopper Dictyophara iranica Germar 1833, ( Hemiptera: Dictyopharidae ) from Iraq A. J. SABER Department of Biology, Colleg of Education Ibn Al-Haitham, University of Baghdad Received in ,30,June,2010 Accepted in , 14, December ,2010 Abstract The external morphology of planthoppers belong to the genus Dictyophara Germar 1833, has been described. The study included detailed description of the external morphology of Dictyophara iranica Germar 1833. External morphological characters of the head, thorax and their appendages were used. Those characters were supported by studying the male genitalia. Key words:- Planthopper , Hemiptera , DiscriPtion Introduction The Genus Dictyophara Germar 1833, belongs to family Dictyopharidae Spinola 1839, subfamily Dictyopharinae, Spinola 1839. The subfamily Dictyopharinae comprises about 700 species belongs to 150 genera, worldwide distributed, from temperate to subtropical and tropical zones [1,2,3], it is known from many parts of the world from Asia including Russia, India and Pakistan [4] to Europe including Denmark and United Kingdom to U.S.A.[5], yet a comprehensive generic description is not available [6]. The majority of members subfamily Dictyopharinae feed on the phloem tissues of woody or herbaceous p lants; however, some feed on fungi, mosses, horsetails, or ferns [7,8]. Members of Dictyopharinae are small to medium size insects, body dorsoventrally compressed head narrower than pronotum, and is greatly produced in front of compound eyes, tegmina membranous, venation regular with a number of cross veins, costal vein with numerous cross veins, aedeagus semi sclerotized with membranous and sclerotized apical processes [9]. Materials and Methods The specimens of Dictyophara iranica were collected from the following regions: Adhamyia (April 2008), Kadhmyai (July 2008) and Mahmodyai (October 2008). Samples were collected by Light Trap, then they were fixed on a thick paper and kept in insect box. Date, place of collection were recorded. The out shape feature for the sample was written down [10]. Studies were made using a dissecting microscope (OLYMPUS JAPAN 426315)and compound microscope (OLYMPUS JAPAN 275282), using normal light. All figures have been improved with ocular micrometer [6]. The areas of collection consist of field and common gardens cultured with different types of trees, herbs, grasses and shrubs. IBN AL- HAITHAM J. FO R PURE & APPL. SC I. VO L.24 (1) 2011 Results Length from Vertex to end of abdomen in repose varying from 1.4 cm to 1.5 cm. The Head (Fig. -1-) Vertex: Yellow, extended interiorly, its length as four times as its width. Apex: Black in color, in the end of rostrum, rounded in shape. The head contains tricarinate extended to apex, one median and two lateral carina. Compound eyes bulging. Pronotum (Fig. -2-) Yellow, width longer than length, with two short lateral carina behind each eye, median carina absent. Lateral edge of sloping downwards. Anterior margin concave while posterior one convex. Mesothorax (Fig. -3-) Yellow, with disc flatted, lateral carina parallel, median carina distinct, all carina not reaching anterior margin of mesothorax. Legs Slender. Fore coxa elongate, black, femur shorter than fore tibia, which bear rows of delicate setae along inner margin, basitarsomere shorter than mid tarsomere, apical tarsomere with claws and aroliun longer than combined length of basi- and mid tarsomeres (Fig. -4-). Mid and fore legs of same length, mid tarsomere longer than basitarsomere of mid leg (Fig. - 5-). Hind leg longer than fore and mid leg, hind tibia large in size, outer margins with three lateral sp ines, seven apical teeth, equal combined length of mid and apical tarsomere, mid tarsomere as long as apical tarsomere with row of seven apical teeth, apical tarsomere with distinct tarsal claws and wide arolium (Fig. -6-). Wings Fore wing: Membranous, large, extending behind abdomen, with apex broader than the rest of wing and rounded; apical part possess reticulate venation, with transverse veins irregularly arranged in three rows; stigma covering 21 cells, basal cells narrow, stems Sc + R and M leaving basal cell at common point; branch Sc with three terminals, stem R branch with RA and RP, branch RA with five terminals, branch RP with six terminals; branch M with three terminals, stem Cu reaching outer margin with out branched, branch stem A with two terminals (Fig. -7-). Hind wing: Membranous, shorter than fore wing, with apex broader than the rest of wing, stem C extending along anterior margin of wing, stem Sc branch with three terminals, stem R branch with RA and RP, branch RA with two terminals, branch RP with three terminals, stem M forked basally of veinlets r – m, with five terminals, stems Cu A forked before outer margin of wing (Fig. -8-). Male genitalia The 9 th segment modified into a ring or cup-like structure, known male genitalia. Style: It is a pair of clasper-like structures, elongate and have two sp ines on dorsal margin (Fig. -9-). Aedeagus: Simple shape, small in size, tube-like structures (Fig. -10-). Connective: Elongate, extends to the base of aedeagus and given with aedeagus "Y-shape"(Fig. -10-). A "Y-shape" connective attaches the base of style to the base of aedeagus. Genital plate: Semi triangular, wide at base, narrowing towards apex, curved to inner margin with five teeth, three in the wide part and two in apex, this plate contain three long delicate setae in the dorsal end of its wide base (Fig. -11-). IBN AL- HAITHAM J. FO R PURE & APPL. SC I. VO L.24 (1) 2011 Reference 1. Melichar, L. (1912): Monographic der Dictyophorinen (Homoptera). – Abhandlungen der K.K. Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, 7 (1): 1 – 221. 2. Metcalf, Z.P.(1946): General Catalogue of the Hemiptera. Fascicle IV, Folgoroidea, Part 8 Dictyopharidae. 246pp; North Hampton, Massachusetts (Smith College). 3. Flow (2007): Fulgoromorpha On the Web. – http://flow.snv.jussieu.fr/ Version: 7; Last update: 12/12/07. 4. Becker, M. (1964): Tretichnye ravnokrylye Stavropol'ya. [Tertiary insects of Stavropol']. – Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR, Moscow, 104: 1 – 116 [In Russian]. 5. Emeljanov, A.F., Kuznetsova, V.G., Nokkala, C. and Nokkala, S. (2005): Phylogeny and evolution of the subfamily Orgeriinae ( Homoptera: Dictyopharidae). – Abstracts of the 12 th International Auchenorrhyncha Congress and the 5th International Workshop on Leafhoppers and planthoppers of Economic Importance. University of California, Berkeley, California, USA. 8 – 12 August. 6. Bourgoin, T. and Szwedo, J. (2008): The 'cixiid-like' fossil planthopper families. – Bulletin of Insectology, 61 (1): 107 – 108. 7. Wilson, S.W., Denno, R.F. Mitter,C. and Wilson, M.R. 1994: Evolutionary patterns of host plant use by delphacid planthoppers and their relatives (Chapter 1), pp. 7 – 113. In R.F. Denno and T.J. Perfect [eds.]. Planthoppers: Their Ecology and Management. Chapman and Hall, Inc., New York. 8. Wheeler, J. (2003): Bryophagy in the Auchenorrhyncha: seasonal history and habits of a moss specialist, Javesella opaca (Beamer) (Fulgoroidea: Delphacidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington 105: 599 – 610. 9. Jacek, S. (2008): Anew tribe of Dictyopharidae planthoppers from Eocene Baltic amber (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoroidae), with a brief review of the fossil record of the family, Palaeodiversity1:75 – 85 10. Bourgoin, T., Szwedo, J. and Lefebvre, F. (2004): About Hemiptera Phylogeny and Classification. – In: Szwedo, J. (ed.): Fossil Planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) of the World. An annotated catalogue with notes on Hemiptera classification: 11 – 36; Warsaw. IBN AL- HAITHAM J. FO R PURE & APPL. SC I. VO L.24 (1) 2011 Prothorax Fig.(2) Prothorax Fig. (1) Head Fig.(3) Pterothorax IBN AL- HAITHAM J. FO R PURE & APPL. SC I. VO L.24 (1) 2011 Fig (4) Fore leg Fig. (5) Mid leg Fig. (6) Hind leg Fig(7) Fore wing IBN AL- HAITHAM J. FO R PURE & APPL. SC I. VO L.24 (1) 2011 Fig(8) Hind wing Fig. (9) Genital Style Fig.(10) Aedeagus & Connective IBN AL- HAITHAM J. FO R PURE & APPL. SC I. VO L.24 (1) 2011 Fig. (11) Genital plate List of Glossary A Anal vein Ap Apex Ar arolium At apical tarsomere Bt basitarsomere C Costal vein CE Compound eye CL Claw C Coxa Cu Cubital vein F Front FE Femur LC Lateral carina M Medial vein MC Median carina Mt Mid tarsomere R Redial vein r – m r – m veinlets Ro Rostrum Sc Subcostal vein Sp Spine T Tibia V Vertex 2011) 1( 24مجلة ابن الهیثم للعلوم الصرفة والتطبیقیة المجلد المظھر الخارجي لقفاز النبات Dictyophara iranica Germar 1833, ( Hemiptera: Dictyopharidae ) من العراق أحمد جمیل صبر جامعة بغداد أبن الھیثم،-قسم علوم الحیاة، كلیة التربیة 2010،كانون االول ،19استلم البحث في 2011، شباط،8قبل البحث في الخالصة . Dictyophara Germar 1833جنس المتمثل بالقفاز النبات ل المظھر الخارجيوصف فـي الوصـف صـفات المظھـر عملتاسـت أذ، Dictyophara iranica Germar 1833یتضـمن البحـث وصـف النـوع الخارجي للرأس والحلقات الصدریة الثالثة ولواحقھا .صفات المظھر الخارجي باالعتماد على السوءة الذكریة عَُززت، كما )األرجل واألجنحة ( وصف،نصفیة االجنحة ،قفاز النبات -:لكلمات المفتاحیةا