Opsius heydeni (Lethierry)

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/DA1596A7-11D2-5B66-8ECB-52325C534EB4
treatment provided by	Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift by Pensoft
scientific name	Opsius heydeni (Lethierry)
status

Treatment

Opsius heydeni (Lethierry) Figs 1-4 View Figures 1–22 , 23-25 View Figures 23–37 , 38-40 View Figures 38–52 , 53-57 View Figures 53–74

Opsius heydeni Lethierry and Puton 1876: 51

Athysanus heideni de Bergevin 1931: 429

Euscelis heydeni Lindberg 1936: 2

Opsius lethierryi Wagner 1942: 121

Description.

In addition to generic characters, with the following characteristics.

Male genitalia. Subgenital plates with rounded apex (Fig. 38 View Figures 38–52 ); connective linear, contiguous (Fig. 40 View Figures 38–52 ); apodemes broad, extending to mid-length or the end of second abdomen segments, apodeme width 1.5 times the distance between each apodeme, posterior margin angled externally and tapered internally (Fig. 54 View Figures 53–74 ); aedeagus with only dorsal process, both slightly curved inward preapically but not bent, aedeagal shafts with diverging branches, ratio of distance between two shafts at mid-length to tip length 5/9, straight, shorter than basal process, as wide as basal process, basal process extending close to shafts branches, pointed; phallobase not inflated (Figs 23 View Figures 23–37 , 24 View Figures 23–37 ).

Female genitalia. Female 7th sternite 2.5 times as broad at base as long medially, posterior margin concave, acutely sinuous with V-shaped notch in middle, posterolateral angles rounded (Fig. 55 View Figures 53–74 ); first valvula slightly convex; second valvula gradually tapered apically with rather small and serrate teeth on dorsal surface (Figs 56 View Figures 53–74 , 57 View Figures 53–74 ).

Measurement.

♂ 3.6 mm; ♀, 4 mm; pygofer, 0.70 mm; valve, 0.26 mm; subgenital plate, 0.55 mm; style, 0.33 mm; connective, 0.39 mm; apodemes, 0.33 mm; aedeagus to process, 0.51 mm; aedeagus to shaft, 0.48 mm; distance at top of aedeagal shafts, 0.14 mm; distance at mid-length of aedeagal shafts, 0.08 mm; female 7th sternite, 0.47 mm.

Specimens examined.

21♀ 19♂, KSA: Asir: Wadi Qounonah : 19°24.67'N, 041°36.39'E, 348 m, Light trap, 11.III.2012, El-Sonbati, S. & Al Dhafer, H GoogleMaps .; 1♂, same but Wadi Yabah : 19°20.52'N, 041°55.73'E, 411 m, 12.III.2012, Abdel-Dayem, M. & El Torky, A GoogleMaps .; 1♀, same but Wadi Targ : 19°37.38'N, 042°18.02'E, 1317 m, 14.III.2012, Fadl H., Setyaningrum H GoogleMaps .; 2♀ 1♂, same but Wadi Baqrah : 18°47.48'N, 041°56.31'E, 331 m, 4.VI.2014, El-Sonbati, S GoogleMaps .; 2♀ 1♂, same but Khamis Mushayt, Wadi Bisha : 18°20.02'N, 042°42.22'E, 1990m, Sweep net, 27.IV.2011, Sharaf, M., Al Ansi, A. & Setyaningrum, H GoogleMaps .; 1♀ 1♂, KSA: Bahah, Shada, Wadi Neera : 19°44.87'N, 041°20.01'E, 471 m, Vacuum, 10.XII.2014, Al Dhafer, H., Fadl, H., Abdel-Dayem, S. & El Torky, A GoogleMaps .; 1♀, KSA, Riyadh, Al Ammariyah : 24°40.00'N, 043°40.00'E, Beating, 22.II.2012, Drayhim, Y., Al Dhafer, H., El-Gharbawy, A. & El-Sonbati, S GoogleMaps .

Distribution.

Azores, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Canary Islands, Egypt, European Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Morocco, Sardinia, Sweden, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan ( Metcalf 1967); Saudi Arabia (present study) (Figs 75 View Figures 75–79 , 76 View Figures 75–79 ).

Ecology and biology.

This species is widespread and common in southwestern KSA and is often associated with the wadies of Asir Province, a habitat that has one of the most diverse floras of the region. In five of these Asir wadies and also in Baha Province, KSA, O. heydeni became common in March, particularly in Wadi Qounonah. Although Opsius is host-specific on Tamarix spp., this species was collected from other plants at these sites including Acacia spp. ( Fabaceae) (Figs 77-79 View Figures 75–79 ).

Diagnosis.

Opsius heydeni is similar to O. wilsoni sp. nov. but males of the species can be distinguished easily by the aedeagus and dorsal process slightly curved inward preapically, aedeagal shafts with diverging branches and straight, shorter than basal process, as wide as the basal process, ratio of distance between two shafts at mid-length to tip length 5/9; and the basal process extending close to shafts branches.