Pythamus Melichar, 1903

Viraktamath, C. A. & Webb, M. D., 2007, Review of the leafhopper genus Pythamus Melichar (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae) in the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 1546 (1), pp. 51-61 : 52-53

Key to species of Pythamus Melichar of the Indian subcontinent

1. Aedeagus without lateral processes but with lateral ridge (Figs 8,9); apex of shaft attenuated (female not known) ( Sri Lanka) .................................................................................................... P. dealbatus Melichar

- Aedeagus with lateral short or long processes; apex of shaft not attenuated (south India)......................... 2

2. Male pygophore with S-shaped ventral process ( Figs 19 , 24 ); aedeagus with basal processes ( Figs 21, 22 , 25, 26 ); vertex with yellow spot on medial keel extending posteriorly to form an arrow ( Figs 11, 12 , 17 , 23 ); pronotum without a complete median longitudinal carina; female with hind margin of seventh sternite either with a prominent median lobe ( Fig. 40 ) or medially bilobed ( Fig. 41 )........................................ 3

- Male pygophore with straight ventral process ( Fig. 28 ); aedeagus with subapical processes ( Figs 31, 32 ); vertex with round yellow spot on median keel not extended posterad ( Fig. 10 ); pronotum with median longitudinal carina; female with hind margin of seventh sternum having small convex median lobe ( Fig.33 ) ........................................................................................................................ P. biramosus sp. nov.

3. Aedeagal shaft with processes longer than maximum width of shaft in lateral view ( Fig. 21 ); female with hind margin of seventh sternite having a median lobe ( Fig. 40 ) ................................. P. bispinosus sp. nov.

- Aedeagal shaft with processes short, about half as long as maximum width of shaft in lateral aspect ( Fig. 25 ); female with hind margin of seventh sternite medially bilobed ( Fig. 41 ) ............. P. montanus sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 17–22. Pythamus bispinosus sp. nov. 17. Head and thorax, profile; 18. Male subgenital plate; 19. Male pygophore, lateral view; 20. Connective and style, dorsal view; 21. Aedeagus, lateral view; 22. Same, caudal view.

FIGURES 23–32. Species of Pythamus. 23–26. P. montanus sp. nov.: 23. Head and thorax, profile; 24. Male pygophore, lateral view; 25. Aedeagus, lateral view; 26. Same, caudal view; 27–32. P. biramosus sp. nov. 27. Head and thorax, profile; 28. Male pygophore, lateral view; 29. Male style, lateral view; 30. Connective; 31. Aedeagus, lateral view; 32. same, caudal view.

FIGURES 10–16. Species of Pythamus. heads (10–12) and forewings (13–16). 10, 13. Pythamus biramosus sp. nov.; 11, 14. P. bispinosus sp. nov.; 12, 15. P. montanus sp. nov.; 16. P. dealbatus Melichar.

FIGURES 33–42. Pythamus species. 33–39. Female P. biramosus sp. nov.: 33. Seventh sternite; 34. First gonapophysis; 35, 36, 37. Magnified view of first gonapophysis at a, b and c on fig. 34; 38, 39. Second gonapophysis. 40. Female seventh sternite of P. bispinosus; 41. Female seventh sternite of P. montanus; 42. Left fore femur of male P. montanus, anterior view.