Hecalus snipus, Naveed & Zhang, 2018

Naveed, Hassan & Zhang, Yalin, 2018, Review of the grass feeding leafhopper genus Hecalus Stål (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with description of four new species from Pakistan, Zootaxa 4415 (3), pp. 580-590 : 586

Hecalus snipus sp. nov.

( Fig. 4A–G ; Plate IIA–C)

Length. Male: 5.9–6.3mm; female: 8mm.

Colouration and Morphology: Stramineous. Crown and face without submarginal fuscous lines (Plate IIA). Crown subangularly produced; broadly triangular with dorsal marginal ridge. Genae strongly sinuate below eyes. Ocelli on margin next to eyes. Pronotum as wide as head, laterally carinate (Plate IIA).

Genitalia: Pygofer lobe subacute apically, heavily setose in posterior half; much straighter at dorsal margin ( Fig. 4A ). Valve broadly triangular ( Fig. 4D ). Connective “Y”-shaped with short stem ( Fig. 4C ). Subgenital plates elongate, broader at base, tapering apically with 8–9 submarginal setae ( Fig. 4D ). Style with pointed apophysis; preapical lobe moderately developed ( Fig. 4B ). Aedeagus with finger-like dorsal apodeme ( Fig. 4F ). Aedeagal shaft nearly straight; with serrations above median length and before apex, with pair of lacerated, subequal apical processes ( Fig. 4E ); slightly constricted laterally above median length ( Fig. 4F ). Gonopore subapical.

Type material: Holotype: ♂, Pakistan, Punjab Prov., Jhang City , 13 June 2016, Coll. Hassan Naveed . Paratypes: 1♂, 3♀, same data as holotype .

Remarks: This new species resembles H. thailandensis Morrison, 1973 by its genitalia but differs in having the following characters: subequal and truncate aedeagal processes with no subapical spine; aedeagal shaft slightly constricted laterally just above median length; one aedeagal process smooth and the other one serrated dorsally; pygofer lobe subacute apically; subgenital plate with spine starts from basal region.

Etymology: The term “ snipus ” refers to the non-pointed aedeagal processes.

Figures

FIGURE4. Hecalus snipussp. nov. A.PygoPhore, lateral view; B. style, dorsal view; C.connective, dorsal view; D.valve and subgenital Plate, dorsal view; E. aedeagus, dorsal view; F. aedeagus lateral view; G. female seventh sternite, ventral view.