Aquaelicium Distant, 1917

Löcker, Holger, Löcker, Birgit & Holzinger, Werner E., 2009, Revision of the Derbidae of Seychelles Islands (Insecta: Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha), Zootaxa 2221, pp. 1-26 : 3-4

Genus Aquaelicium Distant, 1917

Diagnosis. Combination of the following characters: Antennae large (in males much larger than in females). Subantennal process absent. Head rounded in profile. Frons linear (lateral carinae contiguous to near apex). Lateral pronotal carinae and ventral lateral margins of pronotum not foliately raised. Forewing with Cu forked basad of level of apex of clavus; M forked level with or distad of apex of clavus. This genus is very similar to Equirria , but differs in the width of the frons and characters of the forewing. In Aquaelicium the lateral carinae of frons are nearly touching each other whereas in Equirria the lateral carinae are well seperated, but the frons is still narrow. A prominent ridge of setiferous tubercles is present on the claval veins of the forewing of Aquaelicium but absent in Equirria . On the forewing of Equirria M forks distinctly basad of the level of apex of clavus, whereas in Aquaelicium M forks level with or distad of the apex of clavus.

Morphology. Head: Vertex with shallowly v-shaped basal emargination. Median carina present on vertex, absent of frons. Lateral carinae of vertex and frons smooth, without granules. Frons extremely narrow, lateral carinae parallel. Frontoclypeal suture straight. Postclypeus with weakly developed, incomplete lateral carinae, without median carina. Anteclypeus lacking carinae. Rostrum surpassing hind coxae. Head without subantennal processes. Apex of head rounded in lateral view. Second antennal segment in males very large, flattened, paddle-shaped, more than twice as long as wide, in females smaller, bulbous.

Thorax: Hind margin of pronotum obtusely angled; lateral pronotal carinae and ventral lateral margins of pronotum not foliately raised. Mesonotum moderately convex, in lateral view moderately raised above the vertex. Mesonotum with three, weakly to moderately developed, longitudinal carinae, usually median carina more prominent. Forewing with closed clavus; claval veins with a prominent ridge of setiferous tubercles; Cu forked basad of level of apex of clavus; M forked level with or distad of apex of clavus; veins of forewing often sanguineous. Hindwing more than half as long as forewing. Resting position with wings folded above abdomen. Hind leg: tibia without lateral spines; tibia with 6 apical teeth in an uninterrupted row; 1st and 2nd tarsomere with 5 apical teeth and no platellae.

Male genitalia: Anal tube very short, anal style with small nodules as in Figs 11 E–F, 13 D–E; ventromedian process of pygofer very small, arched; genital styles laterally with a c-shaped process attached as in Figs 11 H, 13G.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Aquaelicium typicum: A, B, C aedeagus, (A) left lateral (B) ventral (C) right lateral; D, E, F anal tube; G, H genital style, (G) ventral (H) left lateral; I genital capsule.