Aphrophora itiliensis Tishechkin, 2023

Tishechkin, D. Yu., 2023, Review of the Aphrophora salicina (Goeze, 1778) (Homoptera: Cercopoidea: Aphrophoridae) species group of Russia and adjacent territories with description of a new species, Russian Entomological Journal 32 (3), pp. 253-260 : 260

Aphrophora itiliensis Tishechkin , sp.n.

Figs. 14–16 , 29–32 , 42, 45, 51, 63–69

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Holotype, male, Russia, Transvolga part of Saratov Oblast, environs of Dyakovka village, from Salix cinerea , 12.VII.2004, D. Tishechkin, calling signals recorded at 26–29 oC; paratypes: same locality, date, host, and collector, 3 ♂♂, calling signals recorded at 26–29 oC; same locality, host, and collector, 10.VII.2004, 1 ♂; same locality and collector, from S. vinogradovii , 13.VII.2004, 1 ♂; Russia, northern part of Volgograd Oblast, Kamyshin Region , environs of Shcherbatovka village , Shcherbakovsky National Park , from S. cinerea , 11.VII.2005, D. Tishechkin, 1 ♀; same locality, host, and collector, 12.VII.2005, 3 ♂♂, calling signals recorded at 22–23 oC; same locality, host, and collector, 13.VII.2005, 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀.

MALE CALLING SIGNALS. Calling signal is a phrase lasting for about 1–4 s ( Figs 14–16 ). Usually, the male produces several phrases separated by gaps averaging from 2–3 up to 10 s. The phrase is a succession of syllables; each syllable consists of one shorter higher-amplitude pulse followed by longer lower-amplitude one ( Figs 29–31 ). Syllable repetition frequency averages 19–20 syllables/s at 26–29 °C and 16 syllables/s at 22–23 °C. As a rule, at the end of the phrase there are 2–4 syllables of another shape, following each other with longer intervals.

DESCRIPTION. Similar to A. salicina and A. willemsi but coloration grayish, almost without yellowish tinge even at the base of the costal margin of the forewings (Fig. 42).

The hairs on the forewings only slightly exceed the diameter of punctures (Fig. 45). The end of the ovipositor does not extend or only slightly extends beyond the end of the anal tube (Fig. 51). Pygofer appendages elongated, of almost equal width throughout all their length, with widely rounded apices (Figs 63–65). Styles and penis of the same shape as in other species of the A. salicina group (Figs 66–69).

Body length (including tegmina): ♂, 8.5–9.4 mm; ♀, 9.7– 10.2 mm.

DIAGNOSIS. Distinctly differs from other species of the A. salicina group by another male calling signal pattern and longer pygofer appendages without expansion near the middle and with widely rounded apices (widened near the middle, with narrow tips in other members of this group).

DISTRIBUTION. The Lower Volga region , Saratov and Volgograd Oblasts. Despite repeated searches, was not found in the Moscow Oblast. On the other hand, further findings in the southern regions of European Russia seems to be quite probable .

HOST PLANTS. Was found mainly on S. cinerea , both on single-growing bushes and in mixed thickets of several willow species; only once single male was collected from S. vinogradovii .

ETYMOLOGY. The name of the new species derives from the name Itil, the ancient name of the Volga River in the Turkic languages. It is given because this species was collected in the Lower Volga region.

Thus, in Russia and adjacent territories, the A. salicina group includes three taxa. Distinct differences in the calling signal temporal patterns and the fact that in some localities these taxa are sympatric and can even live on the same plant, convincingly indicate that they are good biological species. Distinguishing between these species by coloration is very difficult. A. salicina and A. willemsi differ from each other in the length of the ovipositor and the length of the hairs on the forewings; A. itiliensis sp.n. differs from these species in the shape of the pygofer processes.

Acknowledgements. I am most grateful to Akynaly Dubanaev (Sary-Chelek Biosphere Nature Reserve, Kyrgyzstan), Asek Abdykulov (Kara-Balty, Kyrgyzstan), and Asel Lee (Kara-Oy, Kazakhstan) for invaluable help and hospitality during my visits to Central Asia and to Dr. Kirill Kolesnichenko and Dr. Anastasia Antonovskaya (Department of Entomology, Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University) for the help and support during the fieldwork in the Russian Far East. The reported study was carried out as a part of the Scientific Project of the State Order of the Government of Russian Federation to Lomonosov Moscow State University No. 121032300063-3.

Figures

Figs 1–16. Aphrophora spp., male calling signal oscillograms. 1–11 ― A. salicina; 12–13 ― A. willemsi; 14–16 ― A. itiliensis sp.n. Faster oscillograms of the parts of signals indicated as “17–31” are given under the same numbers, signal recording localities are given under the oscillograms. Scale mark at the bottom is the same for all oscillograms. Рис. 1–16. Aphrophora spp., осциллограммы приЗывных сигналов самцов. 1–11 ― A. salicina; 12–13 ― A. willemsi; 14–16 ― A.itiliensis sp.n. Фрагменты сигналов, помеченные цифрами “17–31”, представлены при большей скорости раЗвёртки на осциллограммах под соответствуюЩими номерами, места сбора насекомых длЯ Записи сигналов укаЗаны под осциллограммами. Отметка времени вниЗу обЩаЯ длЯ всех осциллограмм.

Figs 17–31. Aphrophora spp., male calling signal oscillograms. 17–26 ― A. salicina; 27–28 ― A. willemsi; 29–31 ― A. itiliensis sp.n. Signal recording localities are given under the oscillograms. Scale mark at the bottom is the same for all oscillograms. Рис. 17–31. Aphrophora spp., осциллограммы приЗывных сигналов самцов. 17–26 ― A. salicina; 27–28 ― A. willemsi; 29–31 ― A. itiliensis sp.n. Места сбора насекомых длЯ Записи сигналов укаЗаны под осциллограммами. Отметка времени вниЗу обЩаЯ длЯ всех осциллограмм.

Fig. 32. Map of froghopper signal recording localities. Рис. 32. Точки сбора насекомых длЯ Записи сигналов.