First record of Heteropsylla tenuata from Argentina (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), and additional notes on other psyllid species

The Psyllidae family is the most diverse within Psylloidea, with more than 1,300 species worldwide. Some psyllid species are important pests mainly of fruit trees, forest and ornamental plants. Despite being an economically relevant group, there are few studies on its biology, geographic distribution, natural enemies or host plant associations for many Argentinean psyllid species. This work records one species from Argentina for the first time, extends the distribution of another two psyllid species and provides information on host plants.

. About 40 Old World species of Cacopsylla are associated with pear trees, many considered pests, such as Cacopsylla bidens (Ŝulc), which was introduced in South America (Valle et al., 2017). Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is the vector of bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter spp. which cause the Huanglongbing disease (HLB) considered to be the most destructive citrus disease in the world (SINAVIMO, 2021).
Despite being a relevant group for agriculture and forestry (Queiroz et al., 2017), there are few studies on biology, geographic distribution, natural enemies or host plant associations for many Argentinean psyllid species. According to Burckhardt (2008), the knowledge on psyllids is fragmentary in Argentina. This work records one species from Argentina for the first time, extends the distribution of another two psyllid species and provides additional information on host plants.
The studied material was collected from the province of Entre Ríos, Argentina. Specimens were collected by using an insect aspirator and were preserved in 70% ethanol. Once in the laboratory, part of the material was critical point dried and point mounted. Some specimens, or parts, such as forewings, head and terminalia were slide-mounted following Queiroz et al. (2017) and labelled for taxonomic study. Specimens were identified following the keys and descriptions by Burckhardt (1987), Muddiman et al. (1992), Hodkinson & Muddiman (1993), Santana et al. (2006), Burckhardt (2008), Rung et al. (2009) and Queiroz et al. (2010). Images were taken with a Leica DFC 295 camera attached to a Leica S8APO stereoscopic microscope and to a Biotraza XSZ146AT microscope. All examined specimens were deposited in the collection of the División Entomología of the Museo de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The plant names and distributions follow the Catálogo de plantas vasculares (IBODA, 2021).
Remarks. Heteropsylla tenuata can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the genae produced into moderately long processes; forewings not maculated, with pterostigma petiolate; male proctiger cylindrical and expanded basally; parameres bifid with the inner lobe long tapering towards apex and the outer lobe long and narrow; female proctiger with dorsomedial bulge and setae not arranged in transverse row  (Muddiman et al., 1992). The host-plant record E. contortisiliquum is dubious according to Muddiman et al. (1992); however, specimens were found in this plant species confirming the record of the host plant.
Additional Additional notes notes on on two two species species of of the the Subfamily Subfamily Platycor Platycoryphinae yphinae  (Ouvrard, 2021) Remarks. According to Burckhardt (1987) and Queiroz et al. (2010), this species is easily recognized by the features in forewings and male terminalia, among others.
Among the economically important hemipterans in Argentina, psyllids gain relevance because many of their species behave as pests of fruit, forest and ornamental plants, and knowledge of the Argentinean species is fragmentary and scarce (Burckhardt, 2008;SINAVIMO, 2021). The three species studied in this work were collected from host plants belonging to the group of legumes or Fabaceae, which are affected to a greater or lesser extent. The economic and social importance of legumes lies in that they are used as food, forage, forestry, medicine, and ornaments, among other uses (Cantero et al., 2019). Therefore, it is necessary to carry out more exhaustive studies of these and other species of psyllids, in order to know the diversity of species present in Argentina, the host plants that they can affect, their biology, and natural enemies.
Currently, with the results of this work, 17 genera and 57 species of the family Psyllidae are recorded from Argentina.