Paraphysifer pictipennis ( Kirschbaum, 1868 ), comb. n., 2023

Gnezdilov, Vladimir M. & Sinaiko, Guy, 2023, Revisionary notes on the genus Paraphysifer Sinaiko & Dietrich, 2020 (Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae), Zootaxa 5254 (2), pp. 295-300 : 298

Paraphysifer pictipennis ( Kirschbaum, 1868), comb. n.

( Figs. 1 , 2D )

Jassus (Deltocephalus) pictipennis Kirschbaum, 1868: 125 .

Psammotettix pictipennis: Dlabola, 1954: 210 , figs 1373–1375.

Psammotettix pictipennis: Emeljanov, 1964: 424 , figs 21, 22.

Psammotettix pictipennis: Dubovsky, 1966: 203 , fig. 69, 4–6.

Psammotettix pictipennis: Mitjaev, 1971: 175 , fig. 64, 3, 4.

Psammotettix pictipennis: Logvinenko, 1978: 805 , figs 41–45.

Paraphysifer wilsoni Sinaiko & Dietrich, 2020: 391 , figs 1–3, syn. n.

Note. The species was described from Austria ( Kirschbaum, 1868) where it is very rare now and found only in Eastern part of the country in Neusliedlersee National Park ( Holzinger & Fröhlich, 2006). Currently it is widely distributed in the Palaearctic region from Europe to northwestern China ( Nast, 1972; Mitjaev, 2002; Mitjaev & Huang, 1995) living on Aeluropus littoralis and Alopecurus sp. (Poaceae) ( Emeljanov, 1964; Mitjaev, 1971, 2002; Tishechkin, 2000). Comparisons of type specimens of P. wilsoni from Israel to specimens of P. pictipennis from various parts of its known range in the collection of the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg) indicate that these species cannot be distinguished morphologically and should be treated as synonyms. The two species share the same shape of sac-like aedeagus with equally broad dorsal and ventral lobes. They also share the presence of a fully articulated paraphysis bearing a dorsal extension which is strongly produced and elongated posteriorly, ending in a sharp tip, and the same sharply produced edge of male subgenital plates. They also display the same coloration scheme, as described and illustrated by Sinaiko & Dietrich (2020). Linnavuori (1962) included P. pictipennis in his checklist of the leafhoppers of Israel, suggesting that the type series of P. wilsoni belongs to the same population of P. pictipennis studied by Linnavuori, but we were unable to examine these specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Terms used in key for parts of the male paraphysis (in grey) and aedeagus (in brown). A: paraphysis ventral extension; B aedeagus dorsal lobe; C: aedeagus ventral lobe. After Sinaiko & Dietrich (2020).

FIGURE 2. Paraphysifer spp., male, dorsal view. A: P. narsikulovi (Dlabola, 1960), Kazakhstan (Karaganda Province, Kzyldzhar railway station); B: P. salsuginosus (Logvinenko, 1961), Russia (Krasnodar Territory, Golubitskaya village); C: P. perpictus (Logvinenko, 1978), dissected, Russia (Krasnodar Territory, Shabel’skoe village). D: P. pictipennis (Kirschbaum, 1868), Russia (Krasnodar Territory, Shabel’skoe village).