Sikhamani delicatula Viraktamath & Webb

Dai, Wu, Zhang, Yalin, Viraktamath, C. A. & Webb, M. D., 2006, Two new Asian Scaphytopiini leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with description of a new genus, Zootaxa 1309, pp. 37-44 : 43

Sikhamani delicatula Viraktamath & Webb sp. nov.

Figs 10–23 .

Ochraceous with pale brown and dark brown markings ( Figs. 10–13 ).

Male genitalia: Pygophore lobe with slightly oblique caudal margin, caudodorsal angle rounded, with setae restricted to caudodorsal area, and mesal sclerotized process having a basal stem with anterior and mesal projections distally. Style with broad anterior part, apophysis either bent distally (specimens from Nepal) or prolonged to an acute apex (specimen from Tonkin). Connective arms of the Y either close together or slightly separated, paraphysis variable in curvature and length. Preatrium and dorsal apodeme of aedeagus well­developed, variable in thickness and length, platelike, ventrolateral processes to shaft variable in curvature and width, laterocaudal angle produced into a hornlike process; aedeagal shaft slender, curved caudodorsally, its basal 0.25–0.5 flanked by ventrolateral plate­like processes.

Measurements: Male 5.00 mm long, 1.72 mm wide across eyes, 1.82 mm wide across hind margin of head and 2.00 mm wide across hind margin of pronotum.

Material examined: Holotype ɗ, NEPAL: Pokhara, 910 m, 18–27.ix. [19]65, L.W. Quate, Malaise Trap ( BPBM). Paratypes: 11 ɗ, data as for holotype (9 ɗ in BPBM, 2 ɗ in UAS, 2 ɗ in BMNH). Other material: LAOS: 1 ɗ, Vientiane Prov. Ban van Eue, 31.i.1967, Native Collector, Bishop Museum ( BPBM). TONKIN: 1 ɗ, Patham, at light, 4.xii. [19]29, R. Wheeler ( IRSNB). CHINA: 3 ɗ, Yunnan, Menglun, 19.v.1991 and 6.vi.1991, Wang Yinglun and Tian Rungang ( NWAFU).

Remarks. Externally S. delicatula resembles Thryaksha recurvatus Viraktamath & Anantha Murthy , but differs in the pronotal coloration and in the structure of male genitalia. Although there is considerable variation in the male genitalia among the specimens examined, all are identical externally and are considered to belong to the same species.

Figures

FIGURES 10 – 23. Sikhamani delicatula Viraktamath & Webb sp. nov. (10 – 12, holotype; 13 – 23, paratypes). 10, 11, head and thorax, dorsal and lateral view respectively; 12, face; 13, fore wing (Nepal); 14, male genital capsule, lateral view (Nepal); 15, subgenital plate, ventral view (Nepal); 16 – 18, style (Laos, Tonkin and Nepal respectively); 19 – 23, aedeagus, lateral view (Tonkin), lateral and ventral view respectively (Laos), lateral and dorsal view respectively (Nepal).