Goniagnathus centralis (Evans) Evans, 2008

Fletcher, Murray J. & Zahniser, James N., 2008, The first record of Goniagnathini from Australia with description of four new species of Goniagnathus Fieber (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae), Zootaxa 1692, pp. 43-54 : 48

Goniagnathus centralis (Evans) , new combination

( Figures 5–6, 11–12 , 19–25 )

Deltocephalus centralis Evans 1966: 242

Arawa centralis (Evans) , Fletcher 2004: 53

Holotype: female, Standley Chasm, McDonnell Ranges, NT, vi.1939, A. Musgrave (AM: K68459 ).

Other material examined: Northern Territory: 1 specimen (lacking abdomen) mounted with holotype (AM); 2 females (mounted together) same data as holotype but 28.vi.1939 (AM); New South Wales: 1 female, Lower Portland, 2.x.1939, A. Musgrave. ex J.W. Evans collection, donated 1991 (AM); Victoria: 1 male Tatura, 23.xi.1987, J.A. Osmelak, ex tomatoes ( ASCU); 1 female, Tatura, 29.xii.1982, J.A. Osmelak ( ASCU)

Colour: Face and crown of head testaceous with mid brown or pinkish brown speckling. Pronotum with dark brown speckling arranged to form four to five vague longitudinal stripes. Tegmen pale translucent brown with alternating dark and pale spotting along the longitudinal veins.

Morphology: Macropterous. Length: males (N=1) 3.9 mm, females (N=5) 4.19 mm (range 3.8–4.5 mm).

Male genitalia: Pygofer ( Figure 19 ) with prominent triangular tooth dorsally on posterior margin above rounded posterior lobe. Group of three macrosetae in centre of posterior lobe, cluster of short, stubby macrosetae on posteroventral corner and fine setae over apical and ventral areas. Subgenital plates ( Figure 20 ) broadly rounded posteriorly. Parameres ( Figure 21 ) with apical section serrulate, roundly emarginate apically with outer lobe longer and narrower than rounded inner lobe; basal section broadly quadrate. Aedeagus evenly curved, tapered base to apex in lateral view ( Figure 22 ) with preapical gonopore surmounted by pair of finely acuminate terminal processes bearing line of strong serrations on anterior margin ( Figures 23, 24 ).

Female: Pregenital sternite ( Figure 25 ) with posterior margin roundly emarginate to median, short, apically emarginate prominence.

Notes: Fletcher (2004) transferred this species into the genus Arawa Knight (Tribe Athysanini ) on the basis of its short broad appearance and vertex rounding into the face. However, the structure of the male genitalia, particularly the fused subgenital plates, connective fused with base of aedeagus and the apparently disarticulated paramere indicates that it should be placed in Goniagnathus . The determination that the single male specimen in the list above represents Evans’ species, which was described entirely from females, was based on the size and colour of the specimens in comparison with other species as well as on the fact that the female from Tatura matches the holotype female in the shape of the pregenital sternite. Examination of a male from the type locality would provide additional evidence that the male from Tatura is indeed G. centralis . This species has a prominent dorsal tooth on the apical margin of the male pygofer, a feature also found in G. pectinatus .

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 12. facial view of head: 7. G. osmelaki, 8. G. venenensis, 9. G. crocodontis, 10. G. pectinatus, 11. G. centralis male, 12. G. centralis, NT female.

FIGURES 19 – 28. G. centralis male genitalia: 19. pygofer, lateral view, 20. subgenital plates, 21. right paramere, ventral view, 22. aedeagus lateral view, 23. apex of aedeagus, lateral view, 24. apex of aedeagus, posterodorsal view, 25. female pregenital sternite, 26. WA specimen, subgenital plates, 27. WA specimen, apex of aedeagus, lateral view, 28. WA specimen, apex of aedeagus, posterodorsal view.