A New Trioza Species (Hemiptera: Triozidae) from Japan Associated with Urtica (Urticaceae)

A nettle-feeding psyllid of the genus Trioza (Hemiptera: Triozidae) was discovered in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Although the European species Trioza urticae has been reported from Japan in several databases and publications, these records are based on erroneous literature citations rather than examined specimens. Adult and immature materials collected from Urtica platyphylla were examined morphologically and analysed using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA barcoding. The Japanese species is closely related to Palaearctic T. urticae and Nearctic T. albifrons but is consistently distinguishable by several adult and immature morphological characters. In addition, COI sequences show large interspecific divergence (≥12%) among the three species, supporting its distinct taxonomic status. The Japanese species is therefore described as Trioza miyatakei sp. nov., and Japan is formally excluded from the distribution range of T. urticae. These results indicate that records of T. urticae in East Asia surrounding Japan require re-examination using both morphology and DNA barcoding. A diagnostic key to all known Urtica-feeding species of Trioza worldwide is provided. Furthermore, the Chinese species Triozopsis huai Li, 2011 is transferred to Trioza as Trioza huai (Li, 2011) comb. nov.