Gannia viraktamathi, Zahniser & Dietrich, 2013

Zahniser, James N. & Dietrich, Chris H., 2013, A review of the tribes of Deltocephalinae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 45, pp. 1-211 : 189-190

Gannia viraktamathi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:76324C0E-0625-483B-ACC6-AABCF336CE49

Fig. 52 A-B, D-K

Diagnosis

G. viraktamathi can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the unique shapes of the aedeagus, ventral processes of the aedeagus, the pygofer, and male segment X.

Etymology

This species is named in honor of Dr. C.A. Viraktamath, a leading expert on Oriental Cicadellidae .

Type material

Holotype

♂, ZAMBIA, ~ 12km SSE of Kitwe, Greystone Farm , 12°55’03.8” S – 028°15’52.6” E, 1247 m, 11 Nov. 2007, Hg-vapor light, ZA-09, J.N. Zahniser, coll. INHS.

Paratypes

1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as holotype, coll. INHS.

Description

SIZE. ♂ 6.5-7.0 mm, ♀ 8.2 mm.

COLOR. General color rusty brown to ochraceous with extensive dark brown mottled markings.

BODY. Head wider than pronotum. Crown broad, more than 2 x width of eye; not produced; barely longer medially than next to eye; texture glabrous with slight longitudinal or radial striations; sharply angled to face. Anterior margin of head with 3 distinct parallel carinae between eyes; with a fourth less distinct carina below distinct carinae. Ocelli large; close to eyes; less than 1 diameter width from adjacent eye. Face broad. Frontoclypeus light tannish in color, with dark brown or black beneath anterior carinae; widening dorsally; depressed below anterior margin of head; texture shagreen. Clypellus widening apically. Lorum large. Gena wide; with fine erect seta distant from laterofrontal suture. Antennal sockets near middle of eyes. Antennal ledges not carinate; apparent as small bulges. Antennae shorter than width of head. Forewing veins with short fine hairs. Forewing with crossvein between A1 and claval suture; with A1-A2 crossvein. Profemur tannish in color, with dark brown or black ventrally near apex and along intercalary row and spots of coloration dorsally near apex on anterior side; row AM with AM1 and with a smaller seta more proximally near base of intercalary row; intercalary row with ~8-10 fine setae; row AV with ~6-9 relatively long thick setae. Protibia dorsal macrosetae 4+4. Mesofemur row AV with ~8 short stout setae; row PV with distinct somewhat longer setae; anterior side with extra setae near apex. Mesotibia dorsal setae 4(or 5)+5. Metafemur apical setae 2+2+1. Metatarsomere I apex with 6 platellae; PV seta platellate.

MALE. Pygofer not strongly incised dorsally; short; rounded; ventroapically with small lobate extension; without macrosetae; with numerous short setae ventrally. Valve large; triangular. Subgenital plates somewhat long; triangular; lateral margin convex; with numerous macrosetae scattered near lateral margin. Connective short; U -shaped; without stem; with posterior angles sharp; articulating with ventral aedeagal processes at meeting point of two processes. Style elongate; narrow; preapical lobe squarish; apophysis digitate, slightly bent, with rough stippled texture medially. Aedeagus with socle expanded; anteroventral corners extended ventrally and articulating with ventral processes; base of aedeagus squarish with posteroventral corner sharp, with dorsal margin notched; shaft curved; gonopore subapical on ventral side. Ventral processes of aedeagus extending from anteroventral lobes of socle of aedeagus, meeting ventrally, then separating and continuing as long skinny sinuous processes to near top of aedeagus. Segment X very large; distinctly protruding from pygofer; sclerotized for long length laterally and as broad transverse band dorsally; ventroapically with several short, sharp teeth.

FEMALE. Sternite VII slightly excavated, posterior margin broadly parenthesis-shaped. First valvifers fused anterodorsally. First valvula convex; dorsal sculpturing strigate, reaching dorsal margin. Second valvula broad, tapering apically; with small irregular teeth on apical 1/3; with blunt dorsal median tooth. Third valvulae pigmented ventrally; with numerous short setae ventrally in one row and with other scattered setae.

Figures

Fig. 52. Selenocephalini (Selenocephalina). A–B, D–K. Gannia viraktamathi sp. nov. C. Selenocephalus planus (Turton, 1802). A–I. Standard views (see Material & Methods). G. Connective and style shown with aedeagus and processes of aedeagus. H–I. Aedeagus shown with processes of aedeagus. J. Broad view of style. K. ♀ sternite VII.