Kalasha viraktamathi, Tang & Zhang, 2019

Tang, Jiu & Zhang, Yalin, 2019, Review of the leafhopper genus Kalasha Distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Hylicinae), Zootaxa 4545 (3), pp. 408-418 : 417-418

Kalasha viraktamathi sp. nov.

( Figs. 54–68 )

Length (including forewing): ♂, 10.8 mm.

External morphology. Body dark brown. Crown ( Fig. 56 ) slightly shorter than median length. Face ( Fig. 60 ) longer than width including eyes, lateral margins of gena slightly concave and apex truncate. Pronotum ( Figs. 58, 59 ) posterior margin slightly wider than anterior margin, maximum length shorter than width of anterior margin, posterior margin moderately concave. Exposed part of mesonotum and scutellum ( Figs. 58, 59 ) slightly shorter than wide, nearly flat with tubercle poorly developed. Forewing ( Fig. 54 ) with small oblique ochraceous marking in corium center. Abdomen ( Fig. 57 ) 3–5th tergites mainly light brown with many symmetric scattered small dark red patches, remaining tergites mainly dark red with many symmetric scattered small light brown patches.

Male genitalia. ( Figs. 61–65 ) Pygofer ventral process ( Fig. 68 ) with base long, about 1/4 pygofer side length, extended mesad, branches relatively robust, nearly parallel and relatively close to each other in ventral view, lateral branch above and slightly more than 2.0x central one in lateral view, approximately ten microsetae present on base of branches. Subgenital plate ( Figs. 63, 65 ) more than 1/2 as long as pygofer. Connective ( Figs. 64, 66 ) slightly longer than wide, vertical process apex only slightly surpassing anterior margin in dorsal view. Style ( Figs. 64, 66 ) about 3.0x longer than connective, apophysis disc-shaped laterally with about ten setae on ventral surface. Aedeagus ( Figs. 64, 66, 67 ) broad and depressed in middle on dorsal surface, sides strongly convex and transversely rugose on dorsal surface, shaft relatively short and broad, gonopore subapical on ventral surface, apex of shaft strongly sclerotized and darkly pigmented, contrasting with rest of shaft.

Female. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype ♂, Vietnam, Cuc Phuong N. P. 20°19’00’ N 105°36’30’’ E 19–23.vii. 2011 Malaise trap Leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, I. G.: 31.933 ( RBINS).

Etymology. This species is named for the well-known Indian homopterist Professor C. A. Viraktamath. We would like to offer heartfelt thanks and high respect to his contributions to taxonomy of leafhoppers.

Remarks. This species is similar to K. minuta and K. aequalis Shen & Zhang, 1995 , but differs from them by the shape of face and the sclerotized apex of aedeagus.

Figures

FIGURES 54–68. Kalasha viraktamathi sp. n., Holotype ♂: 54. Habitus, dorsal view; 55. Habitus, lateral view; 56. Vertex; 57. Abdomen, dorsal view; 58. Head and thorax, lateral view; 59. Thorax, dorsal view; 60. Face; 61. Genital capsule, posterior view; 62. Genital capsule, dorsal view; 63. Genital capsule, lateral view; 64. Aedeagus, connective and style, lateral view; 65. Subgenital plate, ventral view; 66. Aedeagus, connective and style, dorsal view; 67. Aedeagus, dorsal view; 68. Pygofer ventral process, ventral view.