Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1993, Page 97

CAPSOPSYLLA PULCHRA - NEW TO THE FAROEISLANDS
101
to have confirmed that it was indeed Ca-
copsylla pulchra (Zett.). The male is readi-
ly identified by the shape of the parameres
(Fig. 2), the female proctiger is compara-
tively long and the dorsal outline slightly
concave (Fig. 3).
All psyllids live on plant sap and are
“phloem feeders”, like leafhoppers and
aphids, which are also their nearest rela-
tives. During their feeding, some psyllid
nymphs may cause considerable damage to
their hostplants since their salivary injec-
tions may produce serious galling and mal-
formations. Certain species are vectors of
bacterial or viral diseases. Cacopsylla pul-
chra, however, lives on various willows
(Salix) - in particular S. caprea and S. pur-
purea, but has also been found on S. pen-
tandra, all of which have been introduced
to gardens in Tórshavn and elsewhere. The
psyllid has also been found on Salix vimi-
nalis, myrsinifolia and repens, but these
willows are not, as far as we know, planted
on the Faroe Islands (Højgaard et al.,
1989). We looked for psyllids on every wil-
low tree or bush, that we met on the islands,
but apart from this single case in vain. Ca-
copsylla pulchra has a single generation
per year - it hibemates in the adult stage on
evergreens (fir) - a fact that might possibly
reduce its distribution on the Faroe Islands.
Psyllids jump well (hence the name
“Jumping plantlice”) but are weak fliers.
They are spread either passively with the
wind or as eggs in plant material. Cacop-
sylla pulchra is distributed from North-
westem Europe across Russia to Japan
(Klimaszewski, 1973). It has also been
found in Britain and Norway which are the
most likely countries of origin in case of an
airbome introduction (Bengtson, 1982).
The specimens of Cacopsylla pulchra
(Zett.) are kept at the Museum of Natural
History in Tórshavn.
Acknowledgement
For support and help we are indebted to Curator Dr. phil.
Jóhannes Jóhansen and Dorete Bloch from the Museum
of Natural History in Tórshavn, also thanks to Allinge-
Gudhjem Municipality for giving us leave of absence
and to the Carlsberg Foundation for providing a stere-
omicroscope to Lars Trolle for many years. A thank you
to Marianna Debes Dahl for translation of the abstract to
Faroese.
References
Bengtson, S.A. 1982. Lavere dyr pá land og i ferskvand.
Danmarks Natur 12: 123-141.
Dobreanu, E. and Monolache, C. 1962. Homoptera
Psylloidea. Fauna Repub.pop.rom. Insecta 8: 3.
Henriksen. K.L. 1929. Hemiptera (excl. Aphidae). Zool.
ofthe Faroes II(II) 44: 1-9.
Hodkinson, I.D. and White, I.M. 1979. Homoptera Psyl-
loidea. Handbk.Ident.Br.Insects II, part 5 (a).
Højgaard, A., Jóhansen, J. and Ødum, S. 1989. Træ-
planting í Føroyum í eina øld. (A Century of tree-
planting in the Faroe Islands).
Klimaszewski, S.M. 1973. The jumping plantlice or
psyllids (Homoptera, Psyllidea) of the Palearctic.
An annotated check-list. Annls. Zool. Warsz.: 155-
286.
Ossiannilsson, F. 1992. The Psyllidea (Homoptera) of
Fennoscandia and Denmark. Fauna ent.Scand. 26.
Lars Trolle
Saltunavej 12
DK-3751 Østermarie
Bornholm. Denmark
Per Ketil
Holkavej 2C
DK-3740 Gudhjem
Bomholm, Denmark