Elginus denticulatus, Stiller, M., 2009

Stiller, M., 2009, Revision of Elginus Theron (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with the description of two new genera and comments on the grassland leafhopper fauna in South Africa, Zootaxa 2135 (1), pp. 1-56 : 11-12

Elginus denticulatus sp.n.

( Figs 9 , 57 , 84 , 111 , 136 , 161 , 186 , 212 , 238 , 261 )

Diagnosis. Plate apex rounded with dorsal tooth. Aedeagal shaft twisted with its apex curved dorsally.

Etymology. Latin, tooth, for the dorsal tooth on the apical margin of the plate.

Colour. Male. Markings on vertex absent or indistinct. Slight longitudinal stripes dorsally ( Fig. 9 ).

Dimensions. Male (n = 7). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.3–3.8 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 3.5 mm; vertex medially 0.4–0.5 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.3–0.4 mm; pronotum medially 0.4 mm; scutellum medially 0.3–0.4 mm. Maximum widths: head 1.0– 1.1 mm; pronotum 0.8–0.9 mm; scutellum 0.4–0.5 mm. Ocellus: diameter 26–32 µm; ocellocular distance 39–53 µm.

Abdominal apodemes. Male. Fig. 261 .

Genital capsule. Male. Aedeagal shaft long, 2.4 times as long as dorsal apodeme; in lateral view twisted at mid-length; in dorsal view gradually curved left or right; gonopore lateral (right side) ( Figs. 57 , 84 ). Connective as in Fig. 111 . Plate apex rounded, apex with dorsal tooth; setation variable (4–6 macrosetae), sometimes irregular row ( Fig. 136 ). Pygofer lobe broadly rounded ( Figs 161 , 186 ). Style apophysis slightly curved, almost reaching apex of plate, 0.6 times as long as median arm ( Fig. 212 ).

Dimensions. Female (n =4). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.0– 3.8 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 3.0 mm; vertex medially 0.5 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.3–0.4 mm; pronotum medially 0.4 mm; scutellum medially 0.3–0.4 mm. Maximum widths: head 0.9–1.1 mm; pronotum 0.8–0.9 mm; scutellum 0.4–0.6 mm. Ocellus: diameter 25–39 µm; ocellocular distance 41–54 µm.

Genital capsule. Female. Sternite VII usually with wide, shallow, rounded V-shaped notch ( Fig. 238 ). Third valvula with two longer setae (39.1–41.7 µm long, 6.5–7.2 µm wide at base). Second valvula with fine serration.

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal. Cathedral Peak, 28°59ʹS 29°14ʹE, 8.xi.1999, sweeping moribund grass, M. Stiller ( SANC). Paratypes (9♂, 6♀). KwaZulu-Natal. 1♂, Dundee, 28°10ʹS 30°14ʹE. 18.xii.1978. J.G. Theron; 1♂, Cathedral Peak forestry area, 28°55ʹS 29°14ʹE, 10.xi.1981, I.M. Millar; 1♀, ibid. holotype; 1♀, Royal Natal National Park, 28°40ʹS 28°56ʹE, 13.xi.1999, sweeping moribund grass; 2♂, 1♀, Mike’s Pass, 28°58ʹ 29°14ʹE, 8.xi.1999, sweeping unburned, moribund grassland; 1♂, Cathkin Peak area, 29°00ʹS 29°27ʹE, 10.xi.1997, Themeda triandra (Poaceae) ; 1♂, Champagne Castle Hotel vicinity, 29°04ʹS 29°25ʹE, 16–24.xi.2002; 2♂, Orange River Catchment, 28°53ʹ40.22ʺS 29°01ʹ08.25ʺE, 2880 m, 16.iv.2006, sweeping grass & forbs; 1♂, 3♀, Breakfast Stream, Monk’s Cowl Nature Reserve, 29°03ʹS 29°23ʹE, 9.i.2007, M. Stiller, sweeping, short grass and forbs; 1♀, Hlathikulu Neck, Monk’s Cowl Nature Reserve, 29°02ʹS 29°21ʹE, 9.i.2007, sweeping, grass and forbs; all M. Stiller ( BMNH, SANC).

Remarks. The male genitalia are almost identical to that of E. tortuosus , although their distributions differ distinctly, and the latter lacks the dorsal tooth on the plate. The sternite VII of the female of E. tortuosus is also distinct. Elginus malotiensis has a similar distribution, but lacks a tooth on the apical margin of the plate. Its style apophysis, however, projects beyond the plate and has an angulate posterior margin. Elginus oriens is the only other species with a dorsal tooth on the plate apex, but it has the style apophysis projecting beyond its short, truncate margin, and it has a different aedeagal configuration with a shorter shaft. Elginus denticulatus appears to be rare, and mainly occurs at high altitude grasslands of the Drakensberg. The record from Dundee suggests a wider distribution, where the latter is bordered by a number of savanna and grassland vegetation units ( Mucina and Rutherford, 2006). Elginus oriens probably occurs at lower altitudes in KwaZulu-Natal and further south into the Transkei of the Eastern Cape.

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. Elginus species, habitus views. Fig. 9, E. denticulatus, female; Fig. 10, E. dexteruncus, male; Fig. 11, E. dexteruncus, female; Fig. 12, E. dexteruncus, nymph; Fig. 13, E. eccentricus, male; Fig. 14, E. eccentricus, female dark; Fig. 15, E. eccentricus, female pale; Fig. 16, E. eccentricus, nymph.

FIGURES 51–77. Elginus species, male, aedeagus, dorsal or ventral view. Fig. 51, E. acutus, ventral view; Fig. 52, E. bispinus, dorsal view; Fig. 53, E. cavatus, dorsal view; Fig. 54, E. contradens, dorsal view; Fig. 55, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus, dorsal view; Fig. 56, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus, dorsal view; Fig. 57, E. denticulatus, dorsal view; Fig. 58, E. dexteruncus, dorsal view; Fig. 59, E. eccentricus, dorsal view; Fig. 60, E. extrinsecus, ventral view; Fig. 61, E. falcatus, dorsal view; Fig. 62, E. furcillatus, dorsal view; Fig. 63, E. latus, dorsal view; Fig. 64, E. levilobus, ventral view; Fig. 65, E. malotiensis, dorsal view; Fig. 66, E. matarei, ventral view; Fig. 67, E. minutulus, dorsal view; Fig. 68, E. oriens, dorsal view; Fig. 69, E. recavus, dorsal view; Fig. 70, E. saltus (Naudé), dorsal view; Fig. 71, E. semialatus, with paired process, ventral view; Fig. 72, E. semialatus, single process, ventral view; Fig. 73, E. theroni, dorsal view; Fig. 74, E. tortuosus, dorsal view; Fig. 75, E. tubulus, dorsal view; Fig. 76, E. unispinus, ventral view; Fig. 77, E. vulgaris, dorsal view.

FIGURES 78–104. Elginus species, male, aedeagus, lateral view. Fig. 78, E. acutus; Fig. 79, E. bispinus; Fig. 80, E. cavatus; Fig. 81, E. contradens; Fig. 82, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 83, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 84, E. denticulatus; Fig. 85, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 86, E. eccentricus; Fig. 87, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 88, E. falcatus; Fig. 89, E. furcillatus; Fig. 90, E. latus; Fig. 91, E. levilobus; Fig. 92, E. malotiensis; Fig. 93, E. matarei; Fig. 94, E. minutulus; Fig. 95, E. oriens; Fig. 96, E. recavus; Fig. 97, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 98, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 99, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 100, E. theroni; Fig. 101, E. tortuosus; Fig. 102, E. tubulus; Fig. 103, E. unispinus; Fig. 104, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 105–130. Elginus species, male, connective, Fig. 105, E. acutus; Fig. 106, E. bispinus; Fig. 107, E. cavatus; Fig. 108, E. contradens; Fig. 109, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 110, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 111, E. denticulatus; Fig. 112, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 113, E. eccentricus; Fig. 114, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 115, E. falcatus; Fig. 116, E. furcillatus; Fig. 117, E. latus; Fig. 118, E. levilobus; Fig. 119, E. malotiensis; Fig. 120, E. matarei; Fig. 121, E. minutulus; Fig. 122, E. oriens; Fig. 123, E. recavus; Fig. 124, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 125, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 126, E. theroni; Fig. 127, E. tortuosus; Fig. 128, E. tubulus; Fig. 129, E. unispinus; Fig. 130, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 131–156. Elginus species, male, plate, Fig. 131, E. acutus; Fig. 132, E. bispinus; Fig. 133, E. cavatus; Fig. 134, E. contradens; Fig. 135, E. cultellus; Fig. 136, E. denticulatus; Fig. 137, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 138, E. eccentricus; Fig. 139, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 140, E. falcatus; Fig. 141, E. furcillatus; Fig. 142, E. latus; Fig. 143, E. levilobus; Fig. 144, E. malotiensis; Fig. 145, E. matarei; Fig. 146, E. minutulus; Fig. 147, E. oriens; Fig. 148, E. recavus; Fig. 149, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 150, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 151, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 152, E. theroni; Fig. 153, E. tortuosus; Fig. 154, E. tubulus; Fig. 155, E. unispinus; Fig. 156, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 157–179. Elginus species, male, pygofer, dorsal view. Fig. 157, E. acutus; Fig. 158, E. cavatus; Fig. 159, E. contradens; Fig. 160, E. cultellus; Fig. 161, E. denticulatus; Fig. 162, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 163, E. eccentricus; Fig. 164, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 165, E. falcatus; Fig. 166, E. furcillatus; Fig. 167, E. latus; Fig. 168, E. levilobus; Fig. 169, malotiensis; Fig. 170, E. matarei; Fig. 171, E. minutulus; Fig. 172, E. oriens; Fig. 173, E. recavus; Fig. 174, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 175, E. theroni; Fig. 176, E. tortuosus; Fig. 177, E. tubulus; Fig. 178, E. unispinus; Fig. 179, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 180–205. Elginus species, male, pygofer, lateral view. Fig. 180, E. acutus; Fig. 181, E. bispinus; Fig. 182, E. cavatus; Fig. 183, E. contradens; Fig. 184, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 185, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 186, E. denticulatus; Fig. 187, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 188, E. eccentricus; Fig. 189, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 190, E. falcatus; Fig. 191, E. furcillatus; Fig. 192, E. latus; Fig. 193, E. levilobus; Fig. 194, E. malotiensis; Fig. 195, E. matarei; Fig. 196, E. minutulus; Fig. 197, E. oriens; Fig. 198, E. recavus; Fig. 199, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 200, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 201, E. theroni; Fig. 202, E. tortuosus; Fig. 203, E. tubulus; Fig. 204, E. unispinus; Fig. 205, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 206–232. Elginus species, male, style, Fig. 206, E. acutus; Fig. 207, E. bispinus; Fig. 208, E. cavatus; Fig. 209, E. contradens; Fig. 210, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 211, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 212, E. denticulatus; Fig. 213, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 214, E. eccentricus; Fig. 215, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 216, E. falcatus; Fig. 217, E. furcillatus; Fig. 218, E. latus; Fig. 219, E. levilobus; Fig. 220, E. malotiensis; Fig. 221, E. matarei; Fig. 222, E. minutulus; Fig. 223, E. oriens; Fig. 224, E. recavus; Fig. 225, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 226, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 227, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 228, E. theroni; Fig. 229, E. tortuosus; Fig. 230, E. tubulus; Fig. 231, E. unispinus; Fig. 232, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 233–258. Elginus species, female, sternite VII. Fig. 233, E. bispinus; Fig. 234, E. cavatus; Fig. 235, E. contradens; Fig. 236, E. cultellus, associated males with curved aedeagus; Fig. 237, E. cultellus, associated males with straight aedeagus; Fig. 238, E. denticulatus; Fig. 239, E. dexteruncus variant; Fig. 240, E. dexteruncus variant; Fig. 241, E eccentricus; Fig. 242, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 243, E. falcatus; Fig. 244, E. furcillatus; Fig. 245, E. levilobus; Fig. 246, E. malotiensis; Fig. 247, E. matarei; Fig. 248, E. minutulus; Fig. 249, E. oriens; Fig. 250, E. oriens; Fig. 251, E. recavus; Fig. 252, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 253, E. semialatus; Fig. 254, E. theroni; Fig. 255, E. tortuosus; Fig. 256, E. tubulus; Fig. 257, E. unispinus; Fig. 258, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 259–273. Elginus species, male, abdominal apodemes, Fig. 259, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 260, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 261, E. denticulatus; Fig. 262, E. eccentricus; Fig. 263, E. falcatus; Fig. 264, E. furcillatus; Fig. 265, E. malotiensis; Fig. 266, E. matarei; Fig. 267, E. minutulus; Fig. 268, E. oriens; Fig. 269, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 270, E. theroni; Fig. 271, E. tortuosus; Fig. 272, E. tubulus; Fig. 273, E. vulgaris.