A new species of ant-attended Balcanocerus from Bulgaria (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Eurymelinae)
Gjonov Ilia
Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 64(1): 141-151, 2024
Published online: 18th August 2024
Views: 291
Abstract: A new ant-attended species, Balcanocerus agapetomyrmices sp. nov. (Hemiptera:
Cicadellidae: Eurymelinae), is described from Bulgaria. The only known host
plant is Pyrus amygdaliformis Villars, 1807 (Rosaceae). Both the adults and the
nymphs often form small aggregations of 4–6 individuals that are frequently
visited by Lasius bombycina Seifert & Galkowski, 2016 (Hymenoptera:
Formicidae) that feed on the excreted honeydew. The new species is close to B.
balcanicus (Horváth, 1903), but differs in colouration, and male and female
genitalia. A short overview of all Balcanocerus species with comments on their
distribution and host plants and a key to the European species are provided.
Key words: Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadomorpha, Membracoidea, Cicadellidae, Idiocerini, ant-attendance, distribution, host plant, identification key, leafhopper, taxonomy, trophobiosis, Bulgaria, Palaearctic Region