Alocoelidia Evans, 1954 a: 109

Zahniser, J. N. & Nielson, M. W., 2012, An extraordinary new genus and three new species of Acostemmini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from Madagascar with comments on the morphology and classification of the tribe, Zootaxa 3209 (1), pp. 28-52 : 36-37

Alocoelidia Evans, 1954 a: 109 new placement

Type species: Alocoelidia fulva Evans

Description. Length 5.5 to 6.0mm.

Head. Head narrower than pronotum; genae visible in dorsal view behind eyes; anterior margin with distinct carina between ocelli (Figs. 14,22,32). Ocelli close to eyes, on anterior margin of head (Figs 24,26). Eyes wider than crown (Figs. 14,22,32). Crown narrow; uniform in length; with arched transverse ridge on anterior half; texture striate to rugose posterad of ridge, glabrous anterad (Figs. 14,22,32). Frontoclypeus with median longitudinal ridge or carina not extending entire length; texture shagreen, striate anterodorsally and anterolaterally suggestive of epistomal suture separating differently textured areas; laterofrontal sutures extending beyond ocelli onto crown ( Fig. 26 ). Clypellar suture distinct, straight ( Fig. 26 ). Clypellus strongly expanding apically; apex notched; extending past normal curve of gena ( Fig. 26 ). Lora small, yet wider than clypellus near base; distant from genal margin ( Fig. 26 ). Genae broad; barely sinuate below eye; visible behind eye in dorsal view; texture glabrous to striate or rugose; with fine erect seta laterad of laterofrontal suture ( Fig. 26 ). Antennal ledges distinctly carinate ( Fig. 26 ). Antennal bases near posteroventral corners of eyes ( Fig. 26 ). Antennae about as long as width of head.

Thorax. Pronotum produced anteriorly; texture strongly transversely striate (Figs. 14,22,32). Mesonotum large; texture glabrous to shagreen (Figs. 14,22,32).

Wings. Forewing with 3 closed anteapical cells; r-m crossvein meeting Rs distad of R1 branch; with crossvein between A1 and claval suture; with crossvein between A1 and A2; appendix reduced or absent; wings tectiform; apices not overlapping (Figs. 15,23,33). Hindwing venation of normal deltocephaline type; with 4 apical cells; with perpendicular r4+5 - m1+2 crossvein; with perpendicular m3+4 - cuA crossvein .

Legs. Protrochanter with stout apical seta. Profemur row AV with short, stout setae relatively widely separated extending from base ~3/4 length of femur or more; AV1 seta long, distinct from rest of AV and intercalary row; intercalary row with ~6–9 longer relatively thick setae in one row widely spaced; row AM with AM1 seta at midheight of femur and with or without additional proximal macrosetae. Protibia rounded dorsally; macrosetae 1+4. Mesofemur row AV with numerous short stout setae. Mesotibia dorsal macrosetae 4+3. Metafemur apical setae 2+2+1 with penultimate pair close-set; dorsal seta of penultimate pair smaller than ventral seta. Metatibia row PD with macrosetae nearly equal in length, not alternating; row AD macrosetae interspersed with smaller stout setae; apical pecten setae not alternating greatly in length. Metatarsomere I plantar surface with several hair-like setae, without distinct stout setae. Metatarsomere I apical pecten with 4–5 long platellate setae.

Female. Known only from A. fulva . See description below.

Male. Pygofer posterior margin incised dorsally nearly to midlength or not strongly incised; without macrosetae; shape variable; longer than height; with or without lobes or processes; without basolateral membranous cleft (Figs. 16,19,29,38,39). Valve lateral margin long, as long as or longer than half width; with broad articulation with pygofer or partly fused to pygofer; completely or partially fused to subgenital plates (Figs. 17,30,40). Subgenital plates without or with few macrosetae; fused to each other basally (Figs. 17,30,40). Connective cross-shaped; anterior lateral arms strongly divergent; stem long; articulating with aedeagus (Figs. 18,27,37). Style basal part robust, long, linear, not broadly bilobed; base of apophysis acutely angled with basal part of style; apophysis membranously separated from basal part of style; apophysis apex sharp (Figs. 18,27,37). Base of aedeagus large; pair of gonopore-bearing shafts arising posteroventrally or posteriorly (Figs. 20,21,25,28,34,35). Aedeagus with or without accessory spines or processes. Segment X strongly sclerotized dorsally and laterally (Figs. 16,19,29,38,39).

Remarks. Evans (1954: 108) assigned the genus to Coelidiinae in his treatment of the Cicadellidae of Madagascar, adding a key to five genera with descriptions and illustrations. Metcalf (1964: 82) placed the genus in Coelidiinae , tribe Coelidiini . In a revision of Coelidiinae ( Nielson, 1975) the genus was given unassigned status because the type specimen (female) could not be located. It was recently found in the MNHN, Paris.

Alocoelidia was previously known only from one female of the type species. The male of A. fulva Evans is described here along with two additional new species, each known only from one male specimen. Remarkably, species of Alocoelidia have a bifurcate aedeagus with two shafts and gonopores. This occurs rarely in other Deltocephalinae ( Opsiini , some Mukariini , some Scaphytopiini ). This character helps to distinguish it from the externally similar Caelidioides and Iturnoria .

Figures

FIGURES 22–31. Alocoelidia maurae sp.n., male holotype. 22. dorsal habitus; 23. lateral habitus; 24. detail of head, laterally; 25. aedeagus, laterally; 26. face; 27. connective and style, ventrally; 28. aedeagus, caudally; 29. pygofer, laterally; 30. valve, ventrally; 31. subgenital plates, ventrally.