Ciminius sidanus (Ball)

Figures 10, 11, 12, 29 A, B

Cicadella sidana Ball, 1936: 21.

Ciminius sidanus DeLong and Knull, 1946 a: 17 .

Diagnosis.

Coloration pale-yellow (Figs 10 A, B, 11 A, B, 29 A), with longitudinal paler stripes on forewings and orangish marks on pronotum and mesonotum anterior thirds. Aedeagus (Fig. 11 G, H) ventral margin with slightly rugosities preapically, shaft expanded, apical portion not expanded, apex rounded. Paraphysis (Fig. 11 I, J) directed posterodorsally, rectilinear, dorsal and ventral margins subparallel.

Description.

Measurements: Total length: males (n = 3) 3.8–4.0 mm; females (n = 3) 4.6–5.0 mm. — Head and thorax: Crown (Figs 10 B, 11 A, 29 A), in dorsal view, slightly produced, anterior margin subtriangular or rounded. Median length of crown from 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of intraocular width, and from 1 / 4 to 1 / 3 of transocular width. Pronotum width approximately equal to transocular width. Ocelli located slightly posteriorly of imaginary line between anterior eyes angles. Other features as in generic description. — Coloration: Overall coloration yellow. Crown (Figs 10 B, 11 A – C, 29 A, B) with pair of small black spots at apex. Frons (Figs 10 C, 11 C, 29 B) with darker areas on muscular impressions. Pronotum (Figs 10 B, 11 A, 29 A) anterior third orangish, disc browned, posterior margin brown or yellow. Forewings (Figs 10 A, B, 11 A, B, 29 A) brown to dark-brown, with longitudinal yellow stripes on lateral margins of clavus, anterior portion of M vein, and costal margin. Legs and abdomen (Figs 10 A, B, D, 11 B, 12 A, B) without dark markings. — Male terminalia: Pygofer (Fig. 11 D), in lateral view, posterior margin broadly rounded. Subgenital plate (Fig. 11 D), in lateral view, attaining pygofer apical portion. Valve (Fig. 11 E), in ventral view, margins subparallel, lateral margins acute anteriorly. Style (Fig. 11 G), in dorsal view, with a slight dentate preapical process on outer margin. Aedeagus (Fig. 11 G, H), in lateral view, shaft expanded, ventral margin with anteriorly projected process; apical portion slightly rugulose, apex rounded. Paraphysis (Fig. 11 I), in lateral view, directed posterodorsally, rectilinear, reaching pygofer apical third; dorsal and ventral margins subparallel, apex subacute; in dorsal view (Fig. 11 J), sinuous preapically. Other features as in generic description. — Female genitalia: Sternite VII (Figs 10 D, 12 A – C), in ventral view, 1.7 × wider than long, posterior margin with a distinctly rounded median lobe. Valvula II (Fig. 12 F – H) blade with 14 continuous subtriangular serrated teeth. Other features (Fig. 12 D, E, I, J) as in generic description.

Material examined.

Holotype (Fig. 9): UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – Arizona • 1 ♀ Baboquivari; 8 Fev. 1931; Ball leg.; USNMENT 01513861; USNM

Other material. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – Arizona • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Altar Valley; 17 Oct. 1937; Oman leg.; USNM • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Baboquivari; 8 Sep. 1935; E. D. Ball leg.; USNM .

Remarks.

Ciminius sidanus presents a unique coloration in Ciminius, which is responsible for its easy recognition. Otherwise, the male genitalia assemble with C. hartii differentiating in a few features, as the presence of rugosities basally on aedeagus ventral margin and aedeagus apex expanded, while in C. sidanus the rugosities are restricted to preapical portion and the aedeagus apex is not expanded in lateral view. Although the separation of these two species is possible using the coloration and male genitalia, the similarities between them are strong, which suggest the necessity of a future molecular analysis to confirm their status as separate species.