Nesocerus dentatus, 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 : 529-530

NESOCERUS DENTATUS SP. NOV.

( FIGS 4E, F , 9H–N , 16G, H )

Diagnosis: This species may be identified by its unique black median stripe along the clavus of the forewing extending to the apex, and by the following combination of male genitalia characters: style with numerous dentate processes near subapex and aedeagus with laterally directed short terminal processes.

Description: Length of male, 3.9 mm; female, 4.8 mm.

Coloration: Crown with three black long markings extending to face, joining transverse black band below ocelli. Antennae with scape and flagellum light brown, pedicel black. Frontoclypeus with distinct median black stripe without any lateral black markings. Clypeogenal suture bordered by black marking. Clypellus with yellow median region bordered by black near apex and base. Pronotum with median longitudinal stripe, two lateral irregular stripes joined anteriorly. Mesonotum with basal black triangle, median black lines extending beyond scutellar suture. Forewing mostly hyaline except broad black stripe along commisural margin extending to apex.

Structure: Clypellus with sides straight, apex as wide as base, in profile convex. Rostrum extending beyond mid coxae. Forewing with r-m 1 crossvein absent. Metatibial setal rows PD, AD, and AV with 14, eight, and nine macrosetae, respectively.

Male genitalia: Pygofer broad with falcate posterodorsal process; posterolateral margin with short setae. Subgenital plates in lateral view slightly depressed basally, broadened near apex, with long fine setae along lateral margin and dorsum of apex; in ventral view strongly convex near base, evenly narrowed towards apex, with marginal and inner mesal row of macrosetae along apical half. Style in lateral view with broad apodeme; apophysis curved dorsad beyond middle, gradually tapered to acuminate apex; numerous teeth- like processes scattered near subapical region. Connective in dorsal view semicircular, fused to preatrium of aedeagus. Aedeagus in lateral view with atrium broad directed posterodorsad; socle well developed; shaft in lateral view short, broad, uniform in width along its length, curved posterad; apex in posterior view bifurcated with short terminal processes directed laterad; gonopore subapical on posterior surface of shaft.

Female genitalia: Second valvulae in lateral aspect blade-shaped, preapical portion slightly widened in dorsal margin, then narrowed to apex; apical third of dorsal margin basal teeth widely spaced and distal teeth more narrowly spaced, extending to ventral apical margin; ducts inconspicuous.

Material examined: Holotype male, MADAGASCAR: Province Fianarantsoa, Miandritsara forest, 40 km south of Ambositra , 825 m, 20°47′33″S, 47°10′32″E, 26.xii.2004 – 5.i.2005, M. Irwin, R. Harin’Hala, malaise trap, in low altitude rainforest, MA-29-05 ( CAS) . Paratypes: one male, one female, same data as holotype ( CAS, INHS) .

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the teeth-like processes on the male style.

Figures

Figure 4. Nesocerus spp. nov., dorsal habitus and face of holotype male. A, B, Nesocerus recurvus.; C, D, Nesocerus dorsalis; E, F, Nesocerus dentatus; G, H, Nesocerus unimaculatus; I, J, Nesocerus nigrum; K, L, Nesocerus tristriatus; M, N, Nesocerus brevipinguis; O, P, Nesocerus nanus; Q, R, Nesocerus mananarensis; S, T, Nesocerus quinquespinosus.

Figure 9. Nesocerus spp. nov. Male pygofer in lateral view (A, H, O), male subgenital plate in ventral (B, I, P) and lateral views (C, J, Q), aedeagus in lateral (D, K, R) and caudal views (E, L, S), style in lateral view (F, M, T), style and connective in dorsal view (G, N, U). A–G, Nesocerus dorsalis; H–N, Nesocerus dentatus; O–U, Nesocerus unimaculatus.

Figure 16. Nesocerus spp. Second valvulae of female. left - lateral view, right - detail of sculpturing. A–B, Nesocerus trilineatus; C–D, Nesocerus sclerophyllus; E–F, Nesocerus tulearensis; G–H, Nesocerus dentatus; I–J, Nesocerus quinquespinosus; K–L, Nesocerus uniprocessus.