Elginus falcatus, Stiller, M., 2009

Stiller, M., 2009, Revision of Elginus Theron (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with the description of two new genera and comments on the grassland leafhopper fauna in South Africa, Zootaxa 2135 (1), pp. 1-56 : 15-16

Elginus falcatus sp.n.

( Figs 21 , 61 , 88 , 115 , 140 , 165 , 190 , 216 , 243 , 263 )

Diagnosis. Aedeagal shaft with sickle-shaped apex.

Etymology. Latin, for the sickle-shaped apex of the aedeagal shaft.

Colour. Male. As in Fig. 21 .

Dimensions. Male (n = 48). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.0– 3. 6 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.9–3.2 mm; vertex medially 0.5 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.3–0.4 mm; pronotum medially 0.3–0.4 mm; scutellum medially 0.3–0.4 mm. Maximum widths: head 1.0– 1.1 mm; pronotum 0.81–0.9 mm; scutellum 0.4–0.5 mm. Ocellus: diameter 25–33 µm; ocellocular distance 46–60 µm.

Abdominal apodemes. Male. Fig. 263 .

Genital capsule. Male. Aedeagal shaft short, 1.9 times as long as dorsal apodeme; in lateral view sickleshaped; in dorsal view apex deflected laterally; shaft basally with long, wire-like, dorsally curved spine; gonopore lateral ( Figs 61 , 88 ). Connective as in Fig. 115 . Plate apex truncate; medial angle obtuse (120°); setation variable (3–7 macrosetae), sometimes 1–2 basal setae offset medially ( Fig. 140 ). Pygofer lobe broadly rounded ( Figs 165 , 190 ). Style apophysis curved, tapering; almost reaching apex of plate; apophysis 0.8 times as long as median arm ( Fig. 216 ).

Dimensions. Female (n = 44). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.1–3.5 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 3.2–3.6 mm; vertex medially 0.5–0.6 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.3–0.4 mm; pronotum medially 0.3–0.4 mm; scutellum medially 0.3–0.4 mm. Maximum widths: head 1.0– 1.1 mm; pronotum 0.8–0.9 mm; scutellum 0.5 mm. Ocellus: diameter 27–30 µm; ocellocular distance 50–61 µm.

Genital capsule. Female. Sternite VII variable, notch wide, V-shaped or rounded, with 1–2 pairs tubular sclerotized pillars dorsally or with 2 round sclerotized areas laterally. Figure 243 illustrates sternite VII and partially dislodged, sclerotized dorsal sternite VIII. Third valvula with two long setae (27.5 µm, 28.8 µm in length). Second valvula with denticulation weakly developed, rounded, teeth separated by wide, shallow depression.

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, North-West. Middelwater Farm, Magaliesberg , 25°41ʹS 28°00ʹE, 18.iv.2003, M. Stiller, DVac grass ( SANC) . Paratypes (61♂, 57♀, 8 nymphs). Eastern Cape . 1♀, 1 nymph, Lundin’s Neck road near Moshesh’s Ford, 30°47ʹS 27°46ʹE, 29.iv.2000, M. Stiller sweeping grass; Free State . 2♂, Golden Gate, 28°31ʹS 28°37ʹE, 6.i.1971, R. Kluge; 3♂, 1♀, Vrede, 27°30ʹS 29°06ʹE, 22.i.1975; 3♀, Ficksburg, 28°53ʹS 27°53ʹE, 19.xii.1978; 2♂, 2♀, Ficksburg, 28°53ʹS 27°53ʹE, 30.i.1981; 1♂, Fouriesburg, 28°37ʹS 28°13ʹE, 30.i.1981; 4♂, 3 nymphs, Golden Gate, 28°31ʹS 28°37ʹE, 20.xii.1982; 4♂, 6♀, Clarens, 28°31ʹS 28°25ʹE, 26.i.1991; all J.G. Theron; 1♀, Abdullam Farm near Clarens, 28°32ʹS 28°28ʹE, 18.i.1994, V.M. Uys; 1♂, 2♀, Buckland Downs Farm Harrismith, 27°58ʹS 29°07ʹE, 15.iv.1998, M. Stiller sweeping grass. Gauteng . 1♀, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve , 26°31ʹS 28°14ʹE, 23.i.1975 , J.G. Theron; 2♂, 3♀, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve , 26°31ʹS 28°14ʹE, 21.ii.1995 , DVac meadow.

KwaZulu-Natal. 2♂, 2♀, 3 nymphs, Highmoor Forestry Station, 29°20ʹS 29°36ʹE, 2233 m, 19.iv.2002, DVac grass & forbs in fire break, common grass species: Koeleria capensis , Microchloa caffra , Tristachya leucothrix (Poaceae) , Aristea sp. (Iridaceae) ; 1♂, 2♀, 2 nymphs, Highmoor Forestry Station, 29°19ʹS 29°37ʹE, 2200 m, 18.iv.2002, DVac grass & forbs in 2-year burn cycle; 2♂, 3♀, 2 nymphs, Swaiman’s Hut, 29°12ʹS 28°46ʹE, 2016 m, 22.iv.2002, all M. Stiller, E. Breytenbach, DVac pure stand Eragrostis racemosa (Poaceae) on rocky outcrop; 5♂, 4♀, Breakfast Stream, 29°03ʹS 29°23ʹE, 1965 m, 9.i.2007, sweeping short grass and forbs; 1♂, sandstone hills in valley near Fika Patso Dam, 28°41ʹS 28°41ʹE, 2000 m, 8.iv.2007, sweeping grass and forbs; 3♂, 2♀, Little Switzerland Hotel NE ridge, 28°34ʹS 29°03ʹE, 1650 m, 8.v.2007, sweeping Aristida monticola (Poaceae) growing amongst tree and shrubs. North-West. 6♂, 4♀, Rustenburg Nature Reserve, 25°40ʹS 27°12ʹE, 11.xi.2000, sweeping grass; 7♂, 4♀, ibid. holotype; all M. Stiller ( AMNH, BMNH, SANC).

Remarks. In most specimens examined, the wire-like spine was absent, probably lost during copulation. The dorsally curved aedeagal apex is similar to that of E. dexteruncus and the wire-like basal process resembles that of E. cultellus . About half of the examined specimens had the shaft curved in the opposite direction. A parasitized specimen had additional spines on the aedeagal shaft and fewer teeth on the style apophysis.

Figures

FIGURES 17–24. Elginus species, habitus views. Fig. 17, E. extrinsecus, male; Fig. 18, E. extrinsecus, female; Fig. 19, E. extrinsecus, nymph; Fig. 20, E. extrinsecus, female sternite VII; Fig. 21, E. falcatus, male; Fig. 22, E. furcillatus, male; Fig. 23, E. furcillatus, female; Fig. 24, E. furcillatus, nymph.

FIGURES 51–77. Elginus species, male, aedeagus, dorsal or ventral view. Fig. 51, E. acutus, ventral view; Fig. 52, E. bispinus, dorsal view; Fig. 53, E. cavatus, dorsal view; Fig. 54, E. contradens, dorsal view; Fig. 55, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus, dorsal view; Fig. 56, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus, dorsal view; Fig. 57, E. denticulatus, dorsal view; Fig. 58, E. dexteruncus, dorsal view; Fig. 59, E. eccentricus, dorsal view; Fig. 60, E. extrinsecus, ventral view; Fig. 61, E. falcatus, dorsal view; Fig. 62, E. furcillatus, dorsal view; Fig. 63, E. latus, dorsal view; Fig. 64, E. levilobus, ventral view; Fig. 65, E. malotiensis, dorsal view; Fig. 66, E. matarei, ventral view; Fig. 67, E. minutulus, dorsal view; Fig. 68, E. oriens, dorsal view; Fig. 69, E. recavus, dorsal view; Fig. 70, E. saltus (Naudé), dorsal view; Fig. 71, E. semialatus, with paired process, ventral view; Fig. 72, E. semialatus, single process, ventral view; Fig. 73, E. theroni, dorsal view; Fig. 74, E. tortuosus, dorsal view; Fig. 75, E. tubulus, dorsal view; Fig. 76, E. unispinus, ventral view; Fig. 77, E. vulgaris, dorsal view.

FIGURES 78–104. Elginus species, male, aedeagus, lateral view. Fig. 78, E. acutus; Fig. 79, E. bispinus; Fig. 80, E. cavatus; Fig. 81, E. contradens; Fig. 82, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 83, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 84, E. denticulatus; Fig. 85, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 86, E. eccentricus; Fig. 87, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 88, E. falcatus; Fig. 89, E. furcillatus; Fig. 90, E. latus; Fig. 91, E. levilobus; Fig. 92, E. malotiensis; Fig. 93, E. matarei; Fig. 94, E. minutulus; Fig. 95, E. oriens; Fig. 96, E. recavus; Fig. 97, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 98, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 99, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 100, E. theroni; Fig. 101, E. tortuosus; Fig. 102, E. tubulus; Fig. 103, E. unispinus; Fig. 104, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 105–130. Elginus species, male, connective, Fig. 105, E. acutus; Fig. 106, E. bispinus; Fig. 107, E. cavatus; Fig. 108, E. contradens; Fig. 109, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 110, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 111, E. denticulatus; Fig. 112, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 113, E. eccentricus; Fig. 114, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 115, E. falcatus; Fig. 116, E. furcillatus; Fig. 117, E. latus; Fig. 118, E. levilobus; Fig. 119, E. malotiensis; Fig. 120, E. matarei; Fig. 121, E. minutulus; Fig. 122, E. oriens; Fig. 123, E. recavus; Fig. 124, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 125, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 126, E. theroni; Fig. 127, E. tortuosus; Fig. 128, E. tubulus; Fig. 129, E. unispinus; Fig. 130, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 131–156. Elginus species, male, plate, Fig. 131, E. acutus; Fig. 132, E. bispinus; Fig. 133, E. cavatus; Fig. 134, E. contradens; Fig. 135, E. cultellus; Fig. 136, E. denticulatus; Fig. 137, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 138, E. eccentricus; Fig. 139, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 140, E. falcatus; Fig. 141, E. furcillatus; Fig. 142, E. latus; Fig. 143, E. levilobus; Fig. 144, E. malotiensis; Fig. 145, E. matarei; Fig. 146, E. minutulus; Fig. 147, E. oriens; Fig. 148, E. recavus; Fig. 149, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 150, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 151, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 152, E. theroni; Fig. 153, E. tortuosus; Fig. 154, E. tubulus; Fig. 155, E. unispinus; Fig. 156, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 157–179. Elginus species, male, pygofer, dorsal view. Fig. 157, E. acutus; Fig. 158, E. cavatus; Fig. 159, E. contradens; Fig. 160, E. cultellus; Fig. 161, E. denticulatus; Fig. 162, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 163, E. eccentricus; Fig. 164, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 165, E. falcatus; Fig. 166, E. furcillatus; Fig. 167, E. latus; Fig. 168, E. levilobus; Fig. 169, malotiensis; Fig. 170, E. matarei; Fig. 171, E. minutulus; Fig. 172, E. oriens; Fig. 173, E. recavus; Fig. 174, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 175, E. theroni; Fig. 176, E. tortuosus; Fig. 177, E. tubulus; Fig. 178, E. unispinus; Fig. 179, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 180–205. Elginus species, male, pygofer, lateral view. Fig. 180, E. acutus; Fig. 181, E. bispinus; Fig. 182, E. cavatus; Fig. 183, E. contradens; Fig. 184, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 185, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 186, E. denticulatus; Fig. 187, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 188, E. eccentricus; Fig. 189, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 190, E. falcatus; Fig. 191, E. furcillatus; Fig. 192, E. latus; Fig. 193, E. levilobus; Fig. 194, E. malotiensis; Fig. 195, E. matarei; Fig. 196, E. minutulus; Fig. 197, E. oriens; Fig. 198, E. recavus; Fig. 199, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 200, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 201, E. theroni; Fig. 202, E. tortuosus; Fig. 203, E. tubulus; Fig. 204, E. unispinus; Fig. 205, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 206–232. Elginus species, male, style, Fig. 206, E. acutus; Fig. 207, E. bispinus; Fig. 208, E. cavatus; Fig. 209, E. contradens; Fig. 210, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 211, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 212, E. denticulatus; Fig. 213, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 214, E. eccentricus; Fig. 215, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 216, E. falcatus; Fig. 217, E. furcillatus; Fig. 218, E. latus; Fig. 219, E. levilobus; Fig. 220, E. malotiensis; Fig. 221, E. matarei; Fig. 222, E. minutulus; Fig. 223, E. oriens; Fig. 224, E. recavus; Fig. 225, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 226, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 227, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 228, E. theroni; Fig. 229, E. tortuosus; Fig. 230, E. tubulus; Fig. 231, E. unispinus; Fig. 232, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 233–258. Elginus species, female, sternite VII. Fig. 233, E. bispinus; Fig. 234, E. cavatus; Fig. 235, E. contradens; Fig. 236, E. cultellus, associated males with curved aedeagus; Fig. 237, E. cultellus, associated males with straight aedeagus; Fig. 238, E. denticulatus; Fig. 239, E. dexteruncus variant; Fig. 240, E. dexteruncus variant; Fig. 241, E eccentricus; Fig. 242, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 243, E. falcatus; Fig. 244, E. furcillatus; Fig. 245, E. levilobus; Fig. 246, E. malotiensis; Fig. 247, E. matarei; Fig. 248, E. minutulus; Fig. 249, E. oriens; Fig. 250, E. oriens; Fig. 251, E. recavus; Fig. 252, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 253, E. semialatus; Fig. 254, E. theroni; Fig. 255, E. tortuosus; Fig. 256, E. tubulus; Fig. 257, E. unispinus; Fig. 258, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 259–273. Elginus species, male, abdominal apodemes, Fig. 259, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 260, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 261, E. denticulatus; Fig. 262, E. eccentricus; Fig. 263, E. falcatus; Fig. 264, E. furcillatus; Fig. 265, E. malotiensis; Fig. 266, E. matarei; Fig. 267, E. minutulus; Fig. 268, E. oriens; Fig. 269, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 270, E. theroni; Fig. 271, E. tortuosus; Fig. 272, E. tubulus; Fig. 273, E. vulgaris.