Ulavius poornachandrai, VIRAKTAMATH & YESHWANTH, 2024

VIRAKTAMATH, C. A. & YESHWANTH, H. M., 2024, Arboreal eurymeline leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Eurymelinae) of the Indian subcontinent with description of new genera and eight new species, Zootaxa 5462 (1), pp. 1-125 : 90-93

Ulavius poornachandrai sp. nov.

Figs 49A–J , 62I , 72A–D .

Diagnosis. Brownish ochraceous with brown to dark brown markings on head and pronotum, fore margin of head with two black round spots, clypellus dark brown, mesonotum with basal triangles and lateral marginal semicircular spot, black; forewing venation dark brown, clavus with dirty white patches. Male genitalia resembles that of U. jayashriae but differs in having much stouter aedeagus, preatrium disposed at an acute angle with respect to smoothly anteriorly curved shaft, apical attenuated process on shaft whip-like and almost half as long as shaft, dorsal apodeme well-developed. Ovipositor long, exceeding folded forewings at repose.

Description. Brownish ochraceous. One round spot on fore margin of head on either side of median line closer to adjacent eye than to each other, black. Face and crown with brown to dark brown patches, antennal cavities, clypellus dark brown, area surrounding black spot on fore margin ochraceous. Pronotum marked with patches of brown to dark brown. Mesonotum with basal triangles and lateral marginal semicircular spot, black, longitudinal pale brown stripe on either side of median line extending on to mesonotum pale brown, one round spot between them on either side of median line in front of scutoscutellar suture dark brown. Venation dark brown and prominent, corium in basal and distal region with dirty white patch, short longitudinal stripe along claval commissure enclosing apices of claval veins, dark brown. Mesothoracic pleurites dark brown with ochraceous margins. Metathoracic and abdominal sternites brownish with paler margin, setae on legs ochraceous.

Crown 4.5–4.8× as wide between eyes as long medially. Pronotum about 3× as long as crown, 2.2–.3 × (in male) and 2.6–2.8× (in female) as wide as long medially. Mesonotum longer than combined length of crown and pronotum. Ovipositor long exceeding folded forewings at repose. Female sternite VII 2× as wide as medially long, posterior margin convex ( Fig. 62I ).

Male genitalia. Pygofer long, anal collar process elongate, not exceeding posterodorsal margin, almost straight. Style apex hooked. Aedeagus with preatrium large stout, disposed at an acute angle with reference to shaft, dorsal apodeme well-developed, almost in line with preatrium, shaft stout, curved anteriorly, with whip-like apical attenuated process almost half as long as shaft.

Female genitalia. Valvula I thin and long, almost straight and needle-like, strigae on sculptured area vertical, fine ( Figs 72 AB). Valvula II slightly sinate, thin and long except in proximal 0.25, of uniform width and apex blunt, teeth not very distinct, effaced and widely spaced ( Figs 72 CD).

Measurements. Male 5.0– 5.3mm long, 1.8–2.0 mm wide across eyes. Female 5.3–5.6 mm long, 2.0– 2.1 mm wide across eyes.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂, INDIA: Karnataka: Coorg: Makuta , 909m, 12004 ’39” N 75043 ’33” E, April 2005, Vateria indica canopy collection, Y.B. Srinivasa ( UASB). PARATYPES, 2♂, INDIA: Karnataka: Makuta, May 2004, Vateria indica canopy, Y.B. Srinivasa; 2 ♂, 5 ♀, same data except April 2005, 1 ♀, INDIA: Karnataka: Makuta, nr Virajpet, 21, vi.2003, ex Vateria indica , Y. B. Srinivasa ( BMNH, UASB, NBAIR).

Etymology. This species is named after Dr. B. Poornachandra, a well-known Vitreo-Retina Surgeon, working in Narayana Netralaya, Bengaluru.

Remarks. This species along with U. radhamaniae and U. spectabilis (see below) was collected during canopy sampling of the Depterocarpaceae tree, Vateria indica L. ( Srinivasa et al. 2004). However, it is not clear whether these species breed on that tree.

Figures

FIGURES 49A–J. Ulavius poornachandrai sp. nov., holotype male:A–B, habitus, dorsal and lateral views; C, face; D–E, male genital capsule, lateral views; F, style apex different views; G, style, connective and aedeagus ventral view; H, aedeagus, ventral view; I, style, connective and aedeagus, lateral view; J, aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURES 62A–L. Idiocerini and Megipocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female sternite VII: A, Periacerus bidentatus; B, P. lalithae; C, Tasnimocerus clypeatus D, Ulavius anasuyae; E, U. decoratus; F, U. dworakowskae; G, U. jayashriae; H, U. parvathiae; I, U. poornachandrai; J, U. spectabilis; K, Busonia distanti; L, B. manipurensis.

FIGURES 72A–P. Idiocerini and Megipocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female valvula I, magnified view and valvula II, magnified view: A–D, U. poornachandrai; E–H, Ulavius spectabilis, I–L, Busonia distanti; M–P, B. manipurensis.