Intertidal insects associated with halophytic Suaeda (Amaranthaceae) in Japan: a case study in Saga, northern Kyushu

Akihito Kita; Ayman Khamis Elsayed; Makoto Tokuda

doi:10.3897/BDJ.10.e79184

Intertidal insects associated with halophytic Suaeda (Amaranthaceae) in Japan: a case study in Saga, northern Kyushu

Biodivers Data J. 2022 Apr 28:10:e79184. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e79184. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Akihito Kita^{1

2}, Ayman Khamis Elsayed¹, Makoto Tokuda^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, Saga, Japan Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University Saga Japan.
² Saga Prefectural Space and Science Museum, Takeo, Japan Saga Prefectural Space and Science Museum Takeo Japan.
³ The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University Kagoshima Japan.

Abstract

In contrast to a great diversity in insects in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, few known species have adapted to inhabit marine environments. In this study, we surveyed insects associated with halophytic plants of Suaeda (Amaranthaceae) distributed in intertidal zones, in northern Kyushu, Japan. On four Japanese native species of Suaeda, we found insects belonging to five orders and 18 species. Amongst them, the genus Clanoneurum (Diptera: Ephydridae) and Coleophoradeviella (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae) were newly reported from Japan; and Orthotylus (Melanotrichus) parvulus (Hemiptera: Miridae) was newly recorded from Kyushu. The seasonal occurrence of several insects on Suaeda is reported.

Keywords: Suaeda; halophyte; insect fauna; intertidal zone.

Akihito Kita, Ayman Khamis Elsayed, Makoto Tokuda.