Periacerus lalithae (Viraktamath)

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 : 77

Periacerus lalithae (Viraktamath)

Figs 40A–K , 60C , 62B , 70A–D .

Idioscopus lalithae Viraktamath 1976 b: 177–179, figs 22–32.

Periacerus lalithae (Viraktamath) : Viraktamath & Parvathi 2002:489, figs 1–7.

Diagnosis. Face and lateral margins of crown ochraceous to greenish ochracdeous. Mesonotum with basal triangles dark brown to black and one spot on either side of median line anterad of scutoscutellar suture, dark brown. Male pygofer anal collar distal process entire. Aedeagus with shaft apex hooked with sharply pointed apex.

Description. Female. Sternite VII narrowed beyond basal 0.33, and posteriorly produced, with posterior margin medially shallowly concave ( Fig. 62B ). Valvula I straight, broadest at midlength, with sculptured area occupying 0.7 distal length, srigae very fine, oblique, dorsl margin slightly convex and narrowed distally ( Figs 70A,B ). Valvula II straight, toothed area abruptly expanded at basal 0.3 length and then narrowed, teeth close together in basal region and distally slightly widely spaced ( Figs 70 CD).

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂, INDIA: Kerala: Thekkady , 26.iii.1977, C.A. Viraktamath ( UASB). Paratype 1♀, same data but collected by S. Viraktamath ( UASB).

Remarks. Viraktamath (1979b) adequately described and figured this species under the genus Idioscopus . It differs from P. bidentatus in lacking the lateral subapical tooth on aedeagal shaft.

Figures

FIGURES 40A–K. Periacerus lalithae (Viraktamath): holotype male: A–B, habitus, dorsal and lateral views; C, face; D, label data; E–F, female paratype, habitus, dorsal and lateral view; G, metabasitarsomere, dorsal view; H, male genital capsule, lateral view; I, styles, connective and aedeagus, dorsal view; J, style, dorsal view; K, aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURES 60A–O. Idiocerini and Megipocerini of the Indian subcontinent, forewings (A–F) and female sternite VII (G– O). A, Matangia indica; B, Metidiocerus deodarae; C, Periacerus lalithae; D, Ulavius anasuyae; E, Busonia distanti; F, B. manipurensis; G, Balocha astuta; H, B. fuscolinea; I, Amritodus atkinsoni; J, A. brevis; K, A. quinquepunctatus; L, A. saeedi; M, Bellacerus bellus; N, Busoniomimus manjunathi; O, B. mudigerensis.

FIGURES 62A–L. Idiocerini and Megipocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female sternite VII: A, Periacerus bidentatus; B, P. lalithae; C, Tasnimocerus clypeatus D, Ulavius anasuyae; E, U. decoratus; F, U. dworakowskae; G, U. jayashriae; H, U. parvathiae; I, U. poornachandrai; J, U. spectabilis; K, Busonia distanti; L, B. manipurensis.

FIGURES 70A–P. Idiocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female valvula I, magnified view and valvula II, magnified view:A–D, Periacerus lalithae; E–H, Tasnimocerus clypeatus; I–L, Ulavius anasuyae; M–P, U. decoratus.