Gessius verticalis Distant

Viraktamath, C. A., 2006, Revision of the leafhopper tribe Krisnini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Iassinae) of the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 1338, pp. 1-32 : 5-8

Gessius verticalis Distant

Figs 1–19

Gessius verticalis Distant 1908: 302 , Fig. 192. Type Ψ, Burma: Ruby mines [BMNH, examined].

Coloration dark green in life, preserved specimens blackish green to reddish brown. Dark green specimens with paler spots at apex of each claval vein. Forewing with brownish suffusion on clavus continued to apex.

Veins margined by circular pits, those bordering claval veins more dense. Male eighth sternite large, hind margin medially slightly convex, devoid of setae.

Male genitalia: Pygophore lobe with membranous unpigmented area in form of vertical band at point of connection to anal segment, covered with stout setae; ventral process more or less S-shaped, its apex sinuately curved, with narrow pointed apex, its ventral margin with one or two denticles subapically. Subgenital plate elongate, outer margin bearing hairlike setae, mesal margin with 4–5 stouter spines, these extending obliquely subapically. Aedeagus with short dorsal apodeme, long and well developed preatrium, shaft rather trowellike, shaft in lateral view of uniform width but pointed apically, its surface transversely irregularly crenulate, gonopore subapical

Female genitalia: Hind margin of seventh sternite broadly excavated in middle, lateral angels rounded, setae on lateral aspect of sternite. Second pair of gonapophysis with smaller denticles between basal, middle and apical teeth.

Measurements: Male 9.0 mm long, 2.3 mm wide across eyes and 2.65 mm wide across hind margin of pronotum. Female 10.6–11.3 mm long, 2.6–2.8 mm wide across eyes and 3.1–3.2 mm wide across hind margin of pronotum.

Material examined: Myanmar: Type Ψ, “ Type, H.T.” (red bordered circular label) “ Gessius verticalis Dist. , type ” “Ruby mines, Doherty” (both handwritten labels), “Distant Coll. 1911-383”( BMNH). Other material: 2 Ψ data as in type ( IRSNB). Nepal: 1 ď, E. Nepal: Arun Valley, 15.vi.1954, 7000 ft (2123 m), L. Swan ( BMNH). India: 2 Ψ, Sikkim: Gangtok, 6.vi.2005, C.A. Viraktamath ( UAS); West Bengal: 1 specimen (abdomen missing) Kurseong, 5000 ft (1517 m), 7.ix.1909, N. Annandale ( ZSI).

Remarks: The two females from Sikkim are very dark green in life and were collected on a shrub bordering a narrow stream of water on a steep slope. The females from Ruby mines including the type are reddish brown; the male is more ochraceous brown. Two males of an undescribed species of Gessius from Formosa ( Taiwan) were also examined. Darker spots described by Distant (1908) on the scutellum were not found in the type specimen examined.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 11. Female Gessius verticalis Distant, topotype: 1. Head & thorax; 2 Face; 3. Head & thorax profile; 4. Forewing; 5. Hind wing; 6. Ovipositor; 7. Female seventh sternite; 8. First pair of gonapophysis; 9. Second pair of gonapophysis; 10 – 11. Sculpturing at apex and at base of second pair of gonapophysis.

FIGURES 12 – 19. Male Gessius verticalis Distant from Nepal. 12. Basal abdominal apodemes; 13. Eighth sternite; 14. Subgenital plate; 15. Ventral pygophore process; 16. Connective; 17. Apophysis of style and its serrated margin; 18. Aedeagus, lateral view; 19. Same, caudal view.