Krisna megha, Viraktamath, C. A., 2006

Viraktamath, C. A., 2006, Revision of the leafhopper tribe Krisnini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Iassinae) of the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 1338, pp. 1-32 : 20

Krisna megha sp. nov.

Figs 23, 27 , 33 , 65–71

Pale green, anterior margin of head pale reddish brown, spot at base of forewing appendix piceous. Fore tibiae, tarsi pale reddish brown.

Slender species. Head slightly longer medially than next to eyes, fore margin reflexed with 3 continuous carinae above ocelli, 8–9 carinae below ocelli on face on ocellocular area. Upper part of frontoclypeus depressed with lateral several incomplete and dorsal 6–7 complete striae, rest of frontoclypeus rough textured. Clypeus with median ridge in basal half. Pronotum more than 5 times as long as head, slightly wider than long, scutellum longer than pronotum. Claval area coarsely pitted along margin and veins with 1 or 2 rows in the claval cell area, corium pitted along veins. Costal area more heavily pitted in basal half.

Abdominal segments without prominent apodemes. Male eighth sternite about as long as broad with rounded outer distal angles, hind margin straight, with setae confined to median area, lateral area with hairlike setae.

Male genitalia: Pygophore with ventral process fusiform near apex, surface adorned with sevaral spicules in apical half but spicules not extend beyond basal half of fusiform apical region. Subgenital plate with rounded inner angle. Style curved near distal end and of type 1. Connective and style of typical type. Aedeagus stout with corrugated ventral lower margin distal half of shaft tapered both in lateral and caudal aspects.

Female genitalia: Seventh sternite rather rectangular, hind margin medially slightly produced, bisinuate with median shallow concavity. Second pair of gonapophysis with several smaller teeth between distal two teeth, also beyond distal prominent tooth, ventral margin with subapical notch.

Measurements: Male 8.67 (8.50–9.00) mm long, 2.15 (2.10 – 2.20) mm wide across eyes, 2.46 (2.40–2.60) mm wide across hind margin of pronotum. Female 9.80 (9.50–10.10) mm long, 2.40 (2.40–2.50) mm wide across eyes, 2.75 (2.70–2.80) mm wide across hind margin of pronotum.

Material examined: Holotype ď, India: Meghalaya: Cherrapunji, 1299m, 5.xi.1981, C.A. Viraktamath ( UAS). Paratypes: 2 ď, 2 Ψ, data as for holotype; 3 ď, 1 Ψ, data as for holotype but collected by S. Viraktamath; 1 ď, 1Ψ India: Assam: Shillong, x.1981 C. A. Viraktamath; 1 ď, India: Meghalaya: Mawsmi Cave, 1200 m, 25.ii.1991, I. Dworakowska ( BMNH, IARI, UAS, USNM).

Remarks: The male from Mawsmi Cave is a teneral specimen with a red transverse band, interrupted in the middle, on the fore margin of the head. This species is peculiar in having a spiculate ventral process of the pygophore a character it shares with K. burmanica . It differs from K. burmanica in the shape of the aedeagus. It is also the most slender species of Krisna on the subcontinent.

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 31. Species of Krisna. 20 – 26. Head and thorax, profile: 20. K. magna Baker, from Malaysia; 21. K. strigicollis (Spinola); 22. K. bakeri sp. nov.; 23. K. megha sp. nov. 24. K. raja sp. nov.; 25. K. varia sp. nov.; 26. K. walayari sp. nov.; 27 – 31. Female seventh sterna: 27. K. megha; 28. K. kirbyi (Kirkaldy); 29. K. strigicollis; 30. K. bakeri; 31. K. varia.

FIGURES 32 – 40. Female second pair of gonapophysis of species of Krisna: 32. K. bakeri; 33. K. megha; 34. K. strigicollis; 35. K. varia. 36 – 40. Male abdominal apodemes of Krisna bakeri sp. nov. 36 – 37. Second and third sternal apodemes; 38 – 40. Second to fourth tergal apodemes.

FIGURES 65 – 71. Male Krisna megha sp. nov. 65. Eighth sternite; 66. Ventral pygophore processes; 67. Apex of apophysis of style (type 1); 68. Aedeagus, lateral view; 69 – 71. Aedeagus, caudal view at arrow 1, 2, 3, respectively of fig. 68.