Opsius richteri Dlabola, 1960

El-Sonbati, Saad A., Wilson, Michael R. & Dhafer, Hathal M. Al, 2020, The Tamarix feeding Leafhopper genus Opsius Fieber, 1866 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae, Opsiini) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 67 (1), pp. 1-12 : 1

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/dez.67.46662
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DEEE35C5-0597-4778-840E-D3D9DA1F996E
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/8226A63F-3716-55C3-A73F-D07128912567
treatment provided by	Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift by Pensoft
scientific name	Opsius richteri Dlabola
status

Treatment

Opsius richteri Dlabola Figs 5-8 View Figures 1–22 , 26-28 View Figures 23–37 , 41-43 View Figures 38–52 , 58-62 View Figures 53–74

Opsius richteri Dlabola 1960b: 15

Description.

In addition to generic characters, with the following characteristics.

Male genitalia. Pygofer slightly angled posteriorly (Fig. 58 View Figures 53–74 ); subgenital plates with rounded apex (Fig. 41 View Figures 38–52 ); connective linear, contiguous (Fig. 43 View Figures 38–52 ); apodemes narrow, extend to mid-length or the end of first abdomen segments, apodeme width three times as distance between each apodeme, posterior margin angled externally and tapered internally (Fig. 59 View Figures 53–74 ); aedeagus with only dorsal process, both distinctively curved or bent inward at base, aedeagal shafts with diverging branches, ratio of distance between two shafts at mid-length to tip length 5/11, bent inward at base, shorter than basal process, two times as wide as basal process, basal process extending close to shaft branches, distinctively curved to form distinctive inward pointed tips; phallobase not inflated (Figs 26 View Figures 23–37 , 27 View Figures 23–37 ).

Female genitalia. Female 7th sternite three times as broad at base as long medially, posterior margin concave, slightly produced with V-shaped notch in middle, posterolateral angles acutely rounded (Fig. 60 View Figures 53–74 ); first valvula slightly convex; second valvula slender throughout their length with rather small and serrate teeth on dorsal surface (Figs 61 View Figures 53–74 , 62 View Figures 53–74 ).

Measurement.

♂ 2.8 mm; ♀, 3.2 mm; pygofer, 0.39 mm; valve, 0.25 mm; subgenital plate, 0.46 mm; style, 0.32 mm; connective, 0.39 mm; apodemes, 0.22 mm; aedeagus to process, 0.16 mm; aedeagus to shaft, 0.16 mm; distance at top of aedeagal shafts, 0.17 mm; distance at mid-length of aedeagal shafts, 0.08 mm; female 7th sternite, 0.61 mm.

Specimens examined.

74♀ 57♂, KSA: Asir , Wadi Qounonah: 19°24.67'N, 041°36.39'E, 348 m, Light trap, 11.III.2012 GoogleMaps , El-Sonbati, S., Al Dhafer, H., Fadl , H., Abdel-Dayem, M., El- Torky, A. & Al Ansi, A .; 1♀ 1♂, same but Al Mandaq , Wadi Tourabah: 20°14.37'N, 041°15.23'E, 1757 m, 9.III.2012 GoogleMaps ; 7♀ 2♂, same but Thalooth Al Mandhar , Wadi Baqrah: 18°47.98'N, 042°01.38'E, 425 m, 4.VI.2014 GoogleMaps , El-Sonbati, S.; 1♀, same but Al Dhafer H. & Fadl H.; 17♀ 3♂, KSA: Jazan , Baish, Wadi Baish: 17°22.46'N, 042°32.24'E, LT, 30.I.015, Mashry, H. & Iftekhar, R GoogleMaps .; 1♂, same but Abo Arish Road , Al Ariydah: 17°02.39'N, 042°58.47'E, sweep net, 12.II.2010 GoogleMaps , Al Dhafer , H. & A. El-Gharbawy ; 7♂, same but Wadi Jizan : 17°01.28'N, 042°59.19'E, 158 m, Vacuum, 16.III.2014 GoogleMaps , El-Sonbati, S.; 1♂, same but Al-Dayer : 17°20.39'N, 043°07.86'E, Vacuum, 1.V.2014 GoogleMaps , Al Dhafer , H. & El-Sonbati, S .; 3♂, KSA: Bahah , Shada, Wadi Neera: 19°44.87'N, 041°20.01'E, 471 m, vacuum, 10.XII.2014 GoogleMaps , Al Dhafer, H., Fadl, H., Abdel-Dayem, S. & El Torky, A.; 2♀, Oman: Samad Ashan Arrwdha : 22°53.33'N, 058°13.83'E, 20-30.X.2017 GoogleMaps , A. Al-Jahdami.

Distribution.

Iran ( Dlabola 1960b); Oman, Saudi Arabia (present study) (Figs 75 View Figures 75–79 , 76 View Figures 75–79 ).

Ecology and biology. The abundance of this species varied phenologically between areas of the southwestern region of KSA. Peak abundance in Asir Province occurred in March, whereas in Jazan Province, the peak abundance occurred in January. Most specimens were collected by using light traps, but numerous specimens were also collected in Jazan Province from Tamarix spp. with a sweep net and by a portable vacuuming device. Opsius richteri comprised approximately 36% of the total number of specimens of this genus examined from KSA. This species was especially abundant at Wadi Qounonah, Asir Province, KSA (Figs 77-79 View Figures 75–79 ).

Diagnosis. The aedeagus of O. richteri is similar to O. scutellaris with the aedeagal shaft branches diverging but can be distinguished by produced crown, aedeagal shafts and dorsal process distinctively curved or bent inward at base, and shaft branches two times as wide as basal process.