Amphicercidus japonicus

Amphicercidus japonicus (Hori, 1927) Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14 A – C; Table 2 Anuraphis japonicus Hori, 1927: 193. Amphicercidus forsythiae Zhang, Zhong & Zhang, 1992: 196, syn. nov. Amphicercidus sinilonicericola Zhang, 1980: 53, syn. nov. Types examined. Holotype and paratypes of Amphicercidus forsythiae Zhang, Zhong & Zhang, 1992: two apterous females and two alate viviparous females, China: Yunnan (Lijiang City), 24.V.1980, No. 7150-1-1, on Lonicera, coll. T. S. Zhong and L. Y. Wang. Holotype and paratypes of Amphicercidus sinilonicericola Zhang, 1980: two apterous females and three alate viviparous females, China: Yunnan (Kunming City), 24.II.1960, No. 4108, on Lonicera, coll. Y. F. Han. Parts Amphicercidus japonicus (Amphicercidus forsythiae Zhang, Zhong & Zhang, 1992), syn. nov. Amphicercidus japonicus (Amphicercidus sinilonicericola Zhang, 1980), syn. nov. Amphicercidus pulverulens, Amphicercidus tuberculatus Additional material examined. Other specimens of Amphicercidus japonicus (Hori, 1927): two apterous females, • China: Beijing (Baihua Mountain; alt. 1077 m), 3.VII.2018, No. 44055-1-1, on Lonicera, coll. H. Long; one apterous female (COI: PQ 611221), • China: Beijing (Baihua Mountain), 3.VII.2018, No. 44055-1-1, on Lonicera, coll. H. Long; two apterous females, • China: Beijing (Baihua Mountain; alt. 731 m), 19.V.2019, No. 45445-1-1, on Lonicera, coll. H. Long; one apterous females (PQ 611222), • China: Beijing (Baihua Mountain), 19.V.2019, No. 45445-1-1, on Lonicera, coll. H. Long; one alate viviparous female, • China: Beijing (Baihua Mountain: alt. 731 m), 19.V.2019, No. 45446-1-1, on Lonicera, coll. H. Long; one apterous female, • China: Yunnan (Lijiang City; alt. 2416.78 m), 26.V.2021, No. 50282-1-1. on Lonicera, coll. T. Y. Liu and S. Xu; one apterous female (COI: PQ 611224), • China: Yunnan (Lijiang City), 26.V.2021, No. 50282-1-1. on Lonicera, coll. T. Y. Liu and S. Xu; one alate viviparous female and two apterous females, • China: Beijing (alt. 43.67 m), 11.V.2021, No. 48119-1-1, on Lonicera, coll. Y. Xu; one apterous female (COI: PQ 611223), • China: Beijing, 11.V.2021, No. 48119-1-1, on Lonicera, coll. Y. Xu; one apterous female, • China: Xizang (Motuo county; 1757.5 m), 25.VI.2022, No. 51330-1-1, on Lonicera, coll. Z. X. Li; one nymph, • China: Sichuan (Aba City; alt. 3259.5 m); 22.VI.2021, No. 51598-1-1, on Lonicera, coll. T. Y. Liu and S. Xu. Diagnosis. Dorsal tubercles small and round, irregularly distributed on abdominal tergites II – V; antennal segment III with 3–39 secondary rhinaria in apterae and with more than 90 secondary rhinaria in alatae; processus terminalis 1.60–2.80 × as long as the base of this segment (Figs 1 – 3). Comment. The validity of Amphicercidus forsythiae Zhang, Zhong & Zhang, 1992 and A. sinilonicericola Zhang, 1980 has been in doubt (Blackman and Eastop 2024). In the original descriptions, the primary differences between A. japonicus, A. forsythiae, and A. sinilonicericola are the number of secondary sensoria (Fig. 3), the length of setae on antennal segment III, the number of accessory hairs on the ultimate rostral segment, and the ratio of siphunculi length to head width across the eyes (Zhang et Zhong 1980; Zhang et al. 1992). However, after examining approximately twenty specimens collected in China, the number of accessory hairs on the ultimate rostral segment are 6–8, siphunculi are longer than head width, and other characteristics are overlapped. Therefore, the evidence is insufficient to support the validity of Amphicercidus forsythiae and A. sinilonicericola. Amphicercidus forsythiae (Figs 4, 5) was distinguished from A. japonicus by the mesosternal furca with a long stem, antennal segment III with 4–6 circular secondary rhinaria in apterae and the longest setae on antennal segment III 0.79 × of the basal width (Zhang et al. 1992). After examining the holotype and paratypes of A. forsythiae, these features are also present in A. japonicus and its morphological characteristics are extremely similar to those of A. japonicus. The only differences are following: A. forsythiae has slightly protuberant antennal tubercles (Fig. 5 A) and siphunculi 1.04–1.20 × of antennal segment III, while A. japonicus has undeveloped antennal tubercles and siphunculi 0.73–0.98 × of antennal segment III. However, when the specimens are well-prepared, A. japonicus also has slightly protuberant antennal tubercles (Fig. 1 A). The quantitative characteristics are a not sufficient to support the validity of A. forsythiae. Therefore, Amphicercidus forsythiae Zhang, Zhong & Zhang, 1992 is regarded as the junior synonym of Amphicercidus japonicus (Hori, 1927). Amphicercidus sinilonicericola (Fig. 6) was distinguished from A. japonicus by dorsal seta of head 0.93 × basal width of antennal segment III, antennal segment III with 113–163 circular secondary rhinaria in alate, ultimate rostral segment with four secondary setae, mesosternal furca with a long stem, and siphunculi longer than head width across the eyes (Zhang et Zhong 1980; Blackman and Eastop 2024). After examining the holotype and paratypes of A. sinilonicericola Zhang, 1980 (Fig. 6), its morphological characteristics are extremely similar to those of A. japonicus, with differences only in the following characteristics: ultimate rostral segment wide wedge-shaped, 1.57–1.66 × its basal width in alatae (in A. japonicus: ultimate rostral segment wedge-shaped, 2.45–3.00 × its basal width in alatae); antennal segment III with 120–123 secondary rhinaria in alatae (Fig. 6 B) (in A. japonicus: antennal segment III with 101–103 secondary rhinaria (Fig. 2 C) in alatae). Considering that these quantitative characters can be affected by the specimen preparation process, it is impossible to accurately classify them as two species based on these characters. So, Amphicercidus sinilonicericola Zhang, 1980 is regarded as a junior synonym of Amphicercidus japonicus (Hori, 1927). Biology. The species feed on the shoots and leaves of Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae) (Hori 1927; Zhang and Zhong 1980; Zhang et al. 1992; Blackman and Eastop 2024). Distribution. China (Beijing, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan); Japan; Korea; India; Russia.