Nesocerus ranomafanaensis, 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 : 504-507

NESOCERUS RANOMAFANAENSIS SP. NOV.

( FIGS 3C, D , 6I–O )

Diagnosis: This species is closely similar in habitus and male genitalia to N. affinis , but can be distinguished by the presence of a pair of long lateral processes on the aedeagal shaft and the presence of crossvein r-m 1 on the forewing.

Description: Length of male, 4.4–4.6 mm; female, 5 mm.

Coloration: Crown with three to four black markings extending to face reaching antennal ledge, median spots usually closer, forming v-shaped marking extending laterad to ocellus. Antennae with scape and pedicel light brown, flagellum dull yellow. Frontoclypeus with median broad black T-shaped stripe; clypeogenal and laterofrontal sutures bordered with black marking. Gena unmarked. Clypellus completely black or with central small yellow spot. Pronotum with black median markings arranged transversely along anterior region, a few irregular black markings close to posterior margin. Mesonotum with basal black triangle bordered by light brown line, not extending beyond scutellar suture. Forewing mostly hyaline. Legs yellow, fore and hind femur with pale brown lines along anterior and posterior margins.

Structure: Clypellus with sides concave, apex as wide as base; in profile flat. Rostrum extending beyond mid coxae. Forewing with r-m1 crossvein present. Metatibial setal rows PD, AD, and AV with 13–14, nine, and 11 macrosetae, respectively.

Male genitalia: Pygofer, style, and connective as in N. trilineatus . Subgenital plate in lateral view depressed basally, broadened near apex and short fine setae almost equal to length of macrosetae restricted to dorsum of apex; in ventral view lateral margin strongly convex towards base, evenly narrowed toward apex, with biseriate submarginal macrosetae extending along distal two thirds. Aedeagus in lateral view with atrium broad; socle well developed; shaft in lateral view directed dorsally, broad, nearly straight and uniform in width, apex in posterior view acuminate, with pair of long ventrolaterally directed subapical processes extending to about midlength of shaft, apex of processes gradually curved laterad; gonopore subapical on posterior surface of shaft basad of processes.

Material examined: Holotype male, MADAGASCAR: Province Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana, Belle Vue at Talatakely , 1020 m, 21°15′59″S, 47°25′26″E, 12.–19.ii.2002, R. Harin’Hala, malaise, secondary forest, MA-02-09C-16 ( CAS) . Paratypes: four males, MADAGASCAR: Province Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana, Belle Vue at Talatakely , 1020 m, 21°15′59″S, 47°25′26″E, 14.–23.iv.2002, R . Harin’Hala , malaise, secondary forest, MA-02-09C-25 ( CAS, INHS) ; two males, one female, MADAGASCAR: Province Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana, Vohiparara at broken bridge, 1110 m, 21°13′34″S, 47°22′11″E, 28.xi.–6.xii.2001, R . Harin’Hala , malaise trap in high altitude rainforest, MA-02-09A-05 ( CAS, INHS) ; one male, MADAGASCAR: Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana, 2.3 km north of village Vohiparara , 1100 m, 21°13′26″S, 47°22′51″E, 18.iv.1998, C. E. Griswold, D. H. Kavanaugh, N. D. Penny, M. J. Raherilalao, J. S. Ranorianarisoa, Jere Schweikért. & D. Ubick, CASENT 303332 ( CAS) ; one male, MADAGASCAR: Province Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana , radio tower at forest edge, 1130 m, 22°15′3″S, 47°24′25″E, 21.–28.i.2002, M. Irwin, R . Harin’Hala , malaise, mixed tropical forest, MA-02-09B-13 ( INHS) .

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the type locality ‘Ranomafana’.

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.