Akemetopon inornatum, Weglarz, Kathryn M. & Bartlett, Charles R., 2011

Weglarz, Kathryn M. & Bartlett, Charles R., 2011, Akemetopon, a new genus containing three new species of planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Delphacidae), Zootaxa 3007, pp. 50-60 : 53-54

Akemetopon inornatum sp. n.

( Figs 1 , 4 A)

Type locality. USA: Arizona, SW of Elgin, Audubon Research Ranch.

Diagnosis. Shining deep brown with a paler head. Fastigium angulate, appearing pointed in lateral view; frons with median carina conspicuous. Forewings without apical white band.

Description. COLOR: Body mostly dark shiny brown, nearly black ( Fig. 1 A). Head and pronotum between lateral carinae distinctly paler (light brown). Head with carinae (including subantennal carinae and antennal sclerite) paler than intercarinal regions. Posterior compartments of vertex paler than anterior compartments. Antennae dark brown proximally, shading distally paler to yellow. Mesonotum slightly paler between lateral carinae. Legs becoming paler distally to light brown tarsi. Pygofer dark brown with paler margins.

STRUCTURE: Body. Body length (in mm) male (3) 1.93±0.04 (n=3); female (Ƥ) 2.67±0.14 (n=5); width 3 0.77±0.03 (n=4); Ƥ 0.87±0.04 (n=5). Head: Vertex length 3 0.25±0.01 (n=4); Ƥ 0.28±0.01 (n=5); vertex width 3 0.29±0.01 (n=4); Ƥ 0.33±0.02 (n=5); frons length 3 0.46±0.01 (n=4); Ƥ 0.53±0.02 (n=5); frons width 3 0.35±0.01 (n=4); Ƥ 0.38±0.02 (n=5). Head narrower than pronotum. Vertex approximately quadrate, wider than long (L:W ratio 0.86:1), in dorsal view apically rounded; carinae distinct, median carina of vertex weaker; submedian carinae converging anteriorly, meeting at or just past fastigium. In lateral view ( Fig. 1 B), head acutely pointed, fastigium sharp, carinate; projecting in front of eye about 1/4th eye length. Carinae of frons distinct ( Fig. 1 C), lateral carinae bowed outward, converging both ventrally and dorsally; frons widest near ventral margin of eye. Clypeus with carinae evident.

Thorax. Carinae of pronotum weak, lateral carinae obscurely reaching hind margin. Mesonotum with median carina weak, lateral carinae obsolete. Tegmina of brachypter diagonally truncate to rounded apices, leaving midventral notch between tegmina apices; tegmina short, leaving about 5 terga exposed from above; venation greatly obscure and reticulate. Calcar approximately 1/2 length of basitarsus, narrow, tectiform, bearing 14–15 small teeth, the ultimate tooth largest.

Abdomen. Midventrally carinate, tapering caudad to truncate apex.

Genitalia. Pygofer ( Figs 1 D–F) in lateral view nearly twice as long ventrally as dorsad, ventral margin sinuate. In caudal view, slightly taller than wide, globular; margins of opening weakly carinate. Ventral margin of opening bearing a distinct, caudally projecting tooth; tooth in ventral view very slightly expanded at apex and bearing fine lateral serrulations. Diaphragm strong, armature u-shaped, flanking aedeagus in repose, caudally projected in lateral view, armature finely punctuate, serrulate on dorsal margin. Parameres simple, forceps-like, flattened, widest in apical forth, basal angle weak; basally diverging then converging, narrowed distally to avicephaliform apices, elongate inner angles mildly sinuate. Aedeagus round in cross-section with subapical dorsal gonopore; sharply curved ventrally, widest near base, gradually tapering for most of length, abruptly tapering subapically at gonopore to acuminate point; laterally bearing 12 teeth uniformly spaced, mirrored along both sides ( Fig. 4 A). Segment 10 longer than tall, armed with 2 widely separated, short, strongly hooked projections on caudolateral margin. Segment 11 short, mostly withdrawn into segment 10.

Recorded hosts. Muhlenbergia rigens (Benth.) Hitchc. (deergrass; Poaceae : Chloridoideae : Eragrostideae ).

Distribution. USA: AZ.

COI barcode. Molecular material not available.

Etymology. The specific name is the Latin word ‘ inornatus’, meaning unadorned; in reference to the absence of a white stripe at the end of the tegmina. The specific name was emended with an ‘ -um ’ to make it neuter in gen- der.

Remarks. This species is distinguished from the other Akemetopon species by the absence of a pale stripe on the apex of the brachypterous forewings, the angular fastigium, and the distinct median carina of the frons.

This species was originally collected in 1932 by R. H. Beamer, but only 10 specimens are available so far.

Material examined. Holotype 3 (brachypterous) [ CMSU], “AZ: Santa Cruz Co. / Audubon Research Ranch / SW of Elgin / 12 May 2004 / ex crown of / Muhlenbergia rigens // [red paper] HOLOTYPE / Akemetopon inornatum / Weglarz & Bartlett”.

Paratypes: ARIZONA: Santa Cruz Co., Audubon Research Ranch, Kyle Canyon 13 May 2004 (13, CMSU); Audubon Research Ranch, SW of Elgin, 12 May 2004 (23, 1Ƥ, CMSU); Sunnyside Canyon, Huachuca Mts., VII– 9 –[19]40, DE Hardy (1Ƥ, UDCC); St [Santa], Rita Mts, 8–8–[19]35, ED Ball (1Ƥ, USNM); Sycamore Cyn., T.23S. R.11E Sec., 14 4100’ elev., sweep 7– 8 /IX–[19]87, TD Miller (1Ƥ, WFBM); [Pima Co.,] Baboquivari Mt, AZ 7–19–[19]32, RH Beamer (13, 1Ƥ, SEMC).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Features of Akemetopon inornatum sp. n. (paratype, scale = 0.2 mm). A. Dorsal habitus; B. Lateral habitus; C. Frons; D. Male pygofer, lateral view; E. Male pygofer, caudal view; F. Male pygofer, ventral view.

FIGURE 4. The aedeagus of Akemetopon species. A. A. inornatum sp. n.; B. A. politum sp. n.; C. A. ainigma sp. n.