Cixius (Acanthocixius) bifidispinus, Picciau, Luca, Hoch, Hannelore, Asche, Manfred, Tedeschi, Rosemarie & Alma, Alberto, 2016

Picciau, Luca, Hoch, Hannelore, Asche, Manfred, Tedeschi, Rosemarie & Alma, Alberto, 2016, The genus Cixius Latreille, 1804 (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Cixiidae) in Lebanon with the description of two new species, Zootaxa 4093 (1), pp. 85-102 : 87-91

Cixius (Acanthocixius) bifidispinus , sp. nov.

( Figs 2–12)

Type material. Holotype, 1♂, Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), Malaise trap 1.IV.2010 – 15.IV. 2010, 165m a.s.l., C. Mahfoud leg. (R14_229) DISAFA–Entomology.

Paratypes, ♂♂: 12, Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), Malaise trap 1.IV.2010 – 15.IV.2010, 15.IV.2010 – 3.V.2010, 14.X.2010 – 1.XI.2010, 1.XI.2010 – 18.XI.2010, 18.XI.2010 – 8.XII.2010, 29.IV.2011 – 16.V.2011, 16.XI.2011 – 30.XI. 2011, 165m a.s.l., C. Mahfoud leg.; 2, Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), Malaise trap 15.V.2012 – 1.VI.2012, 15.X.2012 – 30.X. 2012, 165m a.s.l., S. Kahlil leg.; 2, Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), 1.IV.2010, 19.V. 2010, 165m a.s.l., C. Mahfoud leg.; 2, Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), 8.V. 2012, 165m a.s.l., on Smilax aspera, L. Picciau leg.; 1, Lebanon, Wadi Khansa (Marjeyoun), 30.III. 2010, 500m a.s.l., L. Picciau leg.; 1, Lebanon, Ehden, Juillet 2000, (Forèt) alt. 1500m, pièges gluant, H. Abdul-Nour leg.

♀♀: 1, Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), Malaise trap 15.X.2012 – 30.X. 2012, 165m a.s.l., S. Kahlil leg.; 1, Lebanon, Kfarkila, Marjeyoun, Glue trap 14.IX.2012 – 1.X. 2012, 165m a.s.l., S. Kahlil leg. DISAFA–Entomology. 1♂, Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), Malaise trap 16.XI.2011 – 30.XI. 2011, 165m a.s.l., C. Mahfoud leg.; 1♀ Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), Malaise trap 16.V.2011 – 30.V. 2011, 165m a.s.l., C. Mahfoud leg. MFN Berlin.

DNA voucher specimens: 1♀, Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), Malaise trap 15.X.2012 – 30.X. 2012, 165m a.s.l., S. Kahlil leg. (R14_31); only DNA and male genitalia; 5, Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), Malaise trap 29.IV.2011 – 16.V. 2011, 165m a.s.l., C. Mahfoud leg. (R12_40, R12_41, R12_42, R12_44, R12_45) DISAFA– Entomology.

Additional material (only DNA samples): 3♂♂, Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), Malaise trap 1.IV.2010 – 14.IV. 2010, 165m a.s.l., C. Mahfoud leg. (R0_224, R0_225, R0_226); 2♀♀, Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), Malaise trap 14.X.2010 – 1.XI. 2010, 165m a.s.l., C. Mahfoud leg. (R11_29, R11_30); 1♀ Lebanon, Feghal, Jbeil (Byblos), Malaise trap 16.V.2010 – 30.V. 2010, 165m a.s.l., C. Mahfoud leg., (R12_47) DISAFA–Entomology.

3–5. Cixius bifidispinus sp. nov. 3-head and pronotum, dorsal view; 4-head, frontal view; 5-head, lateral view.

Description. Moderately large cixiid (Fig 1). Head (Figs 3–5). Vertex short, about 1.6 times wide as its length in the middle, distinctly separated from frons by two strongly ridged transverse carinae. Frons rather flat and widest at the antennae level, about 1.4 times wider than medially high, lateral and median carina ridged. Clypeus longer than frons, with weakly carinated lateral margins continuing those ones of frons without interruption, strongly marked, raised median carina of postclypeus and proximal part of anteclypeus. Compound eyes and three ocelli present and well developed. Thorax. Pronotum short, medially about 0.7 times the length of the vertex, almost smooth, posterior margin rather right-angled. Mesonotum nearly planate, hollowed towards the posterior tip, clearly tricarinate, in midline about 8.7 times the length of pronotum. Tegulae well developed. Tegmina long, profusely exceeding the tip of abdomen, wings well developed.

Measurements. Males. Body length: 5.87–7.17mm; maximum body width 1.51–1.82mm; length of vertex: 0.21–0.27mm; width of vertex: 0.39–0.52mm; width of head: 1.01–1.24mm; length of pronotum: 0.10–0.15mm; width of pronotum: 1.29–1.59mm; length of mesonotum: 1.25–1.65mm; width of mesonotum: 1.25–1.47mm; length of fore wings: 5.14–6.16mm; width of fore wings: 1.71–2.19mm; vertex ratio (length/width) range: 0.41– 0.69; pronotum ratio range: 0.07–0.10; mesonotum ratio range: 1.00–1.12; fore wing ratio range: 2.82–3.15. Females. Body length 6.73–7.28mm; maximum body width: 1.66–1.82mm; length of vertex: 0.23–0.27mm; width of vertex: 0.43–0.48mm; width of head: 1.12–1.26mm; length of pronotum: 0.11–0.13mm; width of pronotum: 1.39–1.64mm; length of mesonotum: 1.35–1.61mm; width of mesonotum: 1.33–1.55mm; length of fore wings: 5.77–6.29mm; width of fore wings: 1.92–2.10mm; vertex ratio (length/width) range: 0.47–0.60; pronotum ratio range: 0.08–0.09; mesonotum ratio range: 0.98–1.09; fore wing ratio range: 2.99–3.05.

Colouration. Forebody reddish, head mainly pale brownish, vertex with two whitish spots, pronotum pale yellow, mesonotum reddish-brown with the two external areas darker. Abdomen black and pale yellow intersegmental membranes. Tegmina transparent with distinct dark transverse marking running from Sc to claval suture at R-M bifurcation vein level and a shorter one on stigma. Three elongated markings along the commissural border. Veins whitish.

Male genitalia ( Figs 6–12 ). Genital segment about 1.45 times higher than wide. Anal segment about 2.8 times longer than wide, distal portion slightly bent ventrally, laterodistal margins slightly asymmetric. Parameres moderately long, narrow in basal half, then gradually expanding. Aedeagus basal part (shaft) slightly compressed, slender; ventrally near base two minute, rigid spines directed proximally, right margin forming almost at distal half a rounded projection directed laterally; dorsal side of basal part subapically forming a weak concave depression. Shaft apically with three movable spinose processes: left lateral one moderately curved directed basally; right lateral one slightly sinuate, in repose directed basally; ventral one bi-forked, left tine shorter, right tine almost twice as long as the left one. Distal part of aedeagus (velum) apically curved, in repose reflected basally with the tip fitting the hollow at dorsal base of shaft.

Female genitalia. VII sternite crescent-shaped, with caudal margin straight, tergite IX truncate, broadly ovoid, slightly concave, wax plate distinct, medially not divided; ovipositor sword-like, caudally distinctly surpassing tip of anal segment, gently curved caudodorsally; anal segment elongate, dorsoventrally compressed, in caudal aspect subtriangular; gonoplacs (lateral gonapohyses IX) laterally with rather elongate, sturdy bristles.

Diagnosis. Habitus resembling other congeners, but displaying a unique configuration of the male genitalia: aedeagus with ventral movable spinose process distinctly bifurcate.

Etymology. The specific name derives from the bifurcation of the ventral movable spinose process of the aedeagus.

Distribution and ecology. Cixius bifidispinus sp. nov. is known from two different districts: Jbeil situated in the north of Lebanon at about 165m a.s.l and Marjayoun located in the south of Lebanon, close to Israel boundaries, at about 600m a.s.l. All the specimens were collected by traps or an hand-held mechanical aspirator in two orchards, almond trees in the North and nectarine trees in the South, were many different weed species were present, in particular the perennial Smilax aspera L. The adult hand-collected specimens were found only on this creeping plant.

Figures

FIGURES 6 – 8. Cixius bifidispinus sp. nov. 6 - male genitalia (without pygofer), left lateral view; 7 - aedeagus, ventral view; 8 - aedeagus, right lateral view.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Cixius bifidispinus sp. nov. 9 - anal tube, dorsal view; 10 - anal tube, caudal view; 11 - pygofer, ventral view; 12 - pygofer, left lateral view.