Nesocerus affinis, Krishnankutty & Dietrich, 2011

Krishnankutty, Sindhu M. & Dietrich, Christopher H., 2011, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of an endemic leafhopper genus Nesocerus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Idiocerinae) from Madagascar, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 162 (3), pp. 499-543 : 507

NESOCERUS AFFINIS SP. NOV. ( FIGS 3I, J , 6P, Q )

Diagnosis: This species is closely similar to N. ranomafanaensis , but can be distinguished by the reduced or absent apical processes of the aedeagal shaft and the absence of forewing crossvein r-m 1.

Description: Length of male, 4.6–4.8 mm; female, 5 mm.

External characters and coloration as in N. ranomafanaensis .

Male genitalia closely resembling those of N. ranomafanaensis , but aedeagal shaft with processes absent or reduced to tiny lobes.

Material examined: Holotype male, MADAGASCAR: Province d’Antananarivo, 3 km 41° north-east of Andranomay , 11.5 km, 1300 m, 18°28′24″S, 47°57′36″E, 5.–13.xii.2000, Fisher, Griswold et al., BLF2375, CASENT5502778 ( CAS) . Paratypes: two males ( CASENT5501890 , CASENT5502683 ) , one female ( CASENT5501002 ) , same data as holotype ( CAS, INHS) ; one male, MADAGASCAR: Province d’Antsiranana , Parc National Montagne d’Ambre, 12.2 km 211° south-south-west of Joffreville, 1300 m, 21°35′47″S, 49°9′34″E, 2.–7.ii.2001, Fisher, Griswold et al., BLF2853 ( INHS) .

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the Latin affinis meaning similar, referring to similarity with N. ranomafanaensis .

Figures

Figure 3. Nesocerus spp. nov., dorsal habitus and face of holotype male. A, B, Nesocerus trilineatus.; C, D, Nesocerus ranomafanaensis; E, F, Nesocerus angulatus; G, H, Nesocerus orbiculatus; I, J, Nesocerus affinis; K, L, Nesocerus sclerophyllus; M, N, Nesocerus bifurcatus; O, P, Nesocerus littoralis; Q, R, Nesocerus fasika; S, T, Nesocerus tulearensis.

Figure 6. Nesocerus spp. nov. Male pygofer in lateral view (A, I, R), male subgenital plate in ventral (B, J, T) and lateral views (C, K, U), aedeagus in lateral (D, L, P, V, Z) and caudal views (E, M, Q, W, A1), style in lateral view (F, N, X), style and connective in dorsal view (G, O, Y), apex of male pygofer in caudal view (H, S). A–H, Nesocerus trilineatus; I–O, Nesocerus ranomafanaensis; P–Q, Nesocerus affinis; R–Y, Nesocerus angulatus; Z–A1, Nesocerus sclerophyllus.