Scaphoideus elegantulus Melichar

Viraktamath, C. A. & Mohan, G. S., 2004, A revision of the deltocephaline leafhopper genus Scaphoideus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 578, pp. 1-48 : 17-20

Scaphoideus elegantulus Melichar

Figs 54–63 .

Scaphoideus elegantulus Melichar, 1903: 198 ; Distant, 1908b: 375 –376. HOLOTYPE ɗ, SRI LANKA [MMB, not examined].

Scaphoideus brachycephalus Distant 1918: 66 . HOLOTYPE (sex? abdomen missing), INDIA [BMNH, examined]. Syn. nov.

Scaphoideus nutans Distant 1918: 65 . LECTOTYPE Ψ, INDIA [BMNH, examined]. Syn nov.

Scaphoideus pallifrons Distant 1918: 66 –67. LECTOTYPE Ψ, INDIA [BMNH, examined]. Syn. nov.

Sri Lankan population: Vertex greyish white, two small transverse black spots at apex and two larger testaceous spots on disk between eyes. Pronotum greyish white, a large testaceous or some times three small testaceous spots at anterior margin and two transverse testaceous spots on disk, one or two black spots in front of each of the latter. Scutellum greyish white with a large testaceous spot at each basal angle and a more indistinct spot near anterior margin two small black spots on apical area. Face with two anterior piceous lines, followed by four discal spots and two spots on each posterior lateral margin piceous. Clypellus, genae spotted with piceous. Front wings pale flavescent spotted with greyish white and black.

Vertex obtusely rounded, much shorter than width between eyes, outer anteapical cell spindle­shaped, half as long as inner anteapical cell, the latter constricted in middle.

Indian population: Ochraceous. Vertex with a transverse testaceous fascia between eyes and two small testaceous spots on anterior margin divide by a central longitudinal line of same colour. Face with lateral margins broadly testaceous. Pronotum with three spots near anterior margin and a broad basal fascia centrally broken, brown. Scutellum with basal triangles dark brown. Front wing greyish white, veins mottled with fuscous brown, inner claval margin area with numerous transverse lines (very variable and may be absent in paler specimens) and about apical half of costal area similarly marked.

Vertex obtusely rounded, much shorter than width between eyes.

Male genitalia: Pygophore caudally rounded, ventral margin expanded with a spine like process of variable length. Valve triangular with obtuse anterior angle. Subgenital plate triangular, apically cleft deeply, outer lobe longer than inner, four stout setae in addition to hairlike setae. Style broad at base with well­developed preapical lobe, apophysis slender, longer than half length, caudally attenuated with serrated ventral margin and with a prominent median tooth. Connective Y­shaped, stem stout, longer than arms, paraphyses wide apart basally, in apical 0.20 triangularly widened, then gradually narrowed to an acute apex; in a few specimens, paraphyses with obtusely rounded apices. Aedeagus short, V­shaped, dorsal apodeme strongly developed, as long as shaft; shaft stout at base, narrowed distally with two lateral lamellate processes, gonopore subapical.

Female genitalia: Hind margin of seventh sternum broadly produced medially.

Measurements: Male 4.30 mm long, 1.11 mm wide across eyes. Female 4.60 mm long, 1.18 mm wide across eyes.

Material examined: SRI LANKA: 5ɗ, Hanbantuta, 25.xi.1907, T. B. Fletcher; 1ɗ, Maskeliya, 8.iii.1909, T. B. Fletcher, 1Ψ, Peradeniya, 3.x.1913 ( BMNH); 1ɗ, 4Ψ, Hunuwilagama, near Wilpatta, 200ft (61m), Black light, 28.x–3.xi.1976; 1Ψ, Deniyaya, 1000ft (303 m), 9.x.1976 collected by G.F. Havel, R.E. Dietz IV, S. Karunaratne, D.W. Balasooriya ( USNM). INDIA: Lectotype Ψ, “ Type, H.T.” (on a circular disc with red margin) “ Scaphoideus nutans Dist. type ” (hand written label), “Kodaikanal S. India, T.V. Campbell” (printed label) “C24” “K.K. 4.16” “S.S. India, E.A. Butler, 1915­60 ” here designated. INDIA: Holotype Ψ “ Type, H.T. (red margined circular disc)” “Kodaikanal, S. India, T.V. Campbell” “629” “ Scapoideus brachycephalus Dist. Type ” “S. India, E.A. Butler 1915­ 60 ” ( BMNH). Lectotype (sex? Abdomen missing) “ Type, H.T. (red margined circular disc)” “Kodaikanal, S. India, Campbell” “904” “K.K. 514, 904 (on reverse of the first label)” “ Scapoideus pallifrons Dist. Type ” “S. India, E.A. Butler 1915­60 ” here designated ( BMNH). Tamil Nadu: 2ɗ, 3Ψ, Kodaikanal, T.V. Campbell ( BMNH); 1ɗ, 1Ψ, Oothu, 36 Km W Kodaikanal, A.R.V. Kumar; Kerala: 3ɗ, 3Ψ, Munnar, 22–23.iii.1977, C.A. Viraktamath ( UAS).

Remarks: S. elegantulus shows considerable colour variation and hence four names have been applied to this species. Even the margin of the aedeagal shaft's lateral rim varies from smooth to finely serrated. The apices of the paraphyses may be acutely pointed or bluntly pointed. In one specimen the ventral pygophore process is slightly longer. The species appears related to S. jogensis sp. nov. (see below), but differs in the shape of the aedeagus and paraphyses. The type of brachycephalus is considered a holotype as a single carded specimen is noted in its original description.

Figures

FIGURES 46 – 63. Species of Scaphoideus 46. S. consanguineus Distant, female seventh sternum of holotype female. 47 – 53. S. decoratus Rao and Emiliyamma: 47. Male pygophore; 48. subgenital plate; 49. Style; 50. Connective and paraphyses; 51. Same, lateral view; 52. Aedeagus and dorsal connective, lateral view; 53. Same, caudal view. 54 – 63. S. elegantulus Distant: 54. Head and thorax; 55. Same of darker form (S. nutans Distant); 56. Subgenital plate; 57. Style; 58. Apophysis of style; 59. Connective and paraphyses; 60. Same lateral view; 61. Apex of paraphyses; 62. Aedeagus, lateral and caudal view; 63. Male pygophore. Scale line indicates 0.1 mm.