Idioscopus nagpurensis (Pruthi)

VIRAKTAMATH, C. A. & YESHWANTH, H. M., 2024, Arboreal eurymeline leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Eurymelinae) of the Indian subcontinent with description of new genera and eight new species, Zootaxa 5462 (1), pp. 1-125 : 48

Idioscopus nagpurensis (Pruthi)

Figs. 23A–L , 61I , 66M–P , 73A .

Idiocerus nagpurensis Pruthi 1930: 17 .

Idioscopus nagpurensis (Pruthi) ; Viraktamath 1989: 432; Hongsaprug 1992: 111, figs 5, pl.3, g–j.

Diagnosis. Very similar to I. clypealis but differs in having one pair of black round spots on fore margin of head in both sexes, male clypellus largely unmarked or showing as in the case of female a range of dark brown to black patch occupying as little as 0.1 to 0.8 portion of clypellus ( Figs 23E–I ). Aedeagal shaft processes short not reaching beyond 0.6 length of shaft.

Description. Female. Sternite VII about 2.25× as wide as long medially, posterior margin slightly convex ( Fig. 61I ). Valvula I with strigate sculpturing occupying about 0.4 distal length, strigae curved and vertical ( Figs 66 MN). Valvula II very similar to that in I. clypealis and without teeth ( Figs 66 OP).

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂, INDIA: Maharashtra: Nagpur, C.P., 12–15.iv.1915, Fletcher Coll., 558/H7 ( ZSI). Several male and female specimens collected from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra.

Remarks. Pruthi (1930) described this species based on a single male specimen (misidentified as female by Pruthi 1930) collected from Nagpur in the genus Idiocerus , he also designated it as the holotype. Though the species has not been formally transferred to the genus Idioscopus , in literature, Viraktamath (1989) and Hongsaprug (1992), have used this combination. This species is widely distributed in India (Viraktamath 1989, Sohi & Sohi 1990), Pakistan ( Khatri & Webb 2014) and Thailand (Viraktamath 1989, Hongsaprug 1992). It breeds exclusively on mango inflorescence and is considered an important pest of mango tree (Viraktamath 1989).

Figures

FIGURES 23A–L. Idioscopus nagpurensis (Pruthi): A–B, male, habitus, dorsal and lateral views; C–D female habitus, dorsal and lateral views; E–I, faces, variation in color, females (E, I), males (F–H); J, male genital capsule, lateral view; K, style, lateral view; L, connective and aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURES 61A–R. Idiocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female sternite VII: A, Idiocerus cedarae; B, Metidioceus deodarae; C, M. gnezdilovai; D, Idiocerus sharmai; E, Idioscopus bimaculatus; F, I. clypealis. G, I. confuscous; H, I. irenae; I, I. nagpurensis; J, I. nitidulus; K, I. pretiosus; L, I. shillongensis; M, I. virescens; N, Jogocerus freytagi; O, Keralus webbi; P, Matangia capriliana; Q, M. inidca; R, M. thapai.

FIGURES 66A–P. Idiocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female valvula I, magnified view and valvula II, magnified view:A–D, Idioscopus clypealis; E–H, I. confuscous; I–L, I. irenae; M–P, I. nagpurensis.

FIGURES 73A–E. Idiocerini and Megipocerini of the Indian subcontinent in their natural habitats: A, adult Idioscopus nagpurensis congregation on under surface of mango leaf; B, Amritodus quinquepunctatus on bark of mango tree; C, Idioscopus nitidulus nymphs feeding on mango fruit; D, I. nitidulus adult on mango leaves; E, Busonia manipurensis sp. nov. adults and nymphs attended by ants.