Mollitrichosiphum is mainly distributed throughout Southeast Asia (Table S1). The subgenus Mollitrichosiphum is restricted to Nepal, northeastern India (Sikkim) and the southern edge of the QTP, which is characterized by a notably complex mountainous topography. Most species of the subgenus Metatrichosiphon are primarily distributed in the eastern region of Southeast Asia. Twelve known species in China can be assigned to three distribution patterns: widespread throughout southern China (Mollitrichosiphum (Mollitrichosiphum) tenuicorpus), the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains (Mollitrichosiphum (Metatrichosiphon) montanum and Mollitrichosiphum (Metatrichosiphon) nandi) and southeast of China (Mollitrichosiphum (Metatrichosiphon) rhusae, Mollitrichosiphum (Metatrichosiphon) luchuanum, Mollitrichosiphum (Metatrichosiphon) nigrofasciatum, Mollitrichosiphum (Metatrichosiphon) nigrum and Mollitrichosiphum sp.). These patterns provide the opportunity to determine the relative effects of geographical isolation caused by both the uplift of the QTP and the separation of the islands on the differentiation of these species.
In view of the present findings on its host association and gall inducing nature as well as several other characters, the new species is placed in the genus Neothelexes. Further surveying and research on its biology, for example the rearing of additional adults (especially alatae) from additional galls, will be necessary to elucidate the appropriate taxonomic placement of the new species.
Median Xl Ultimative Character 1
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