Taurotettix (Callistrophia) elegans elegans ( Melichar, 1900 )

Tishechkin, Dmitri Yu., 2021, Review of the genus Taurotettix Haupt, 1929 (Homoptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Cicadulini): morphology, acoustic signals, and geographical variability, Zootaxa 5082 (2), pp. 191-199 : 197

Taurotettix (Callistrophia) elegans elegans ( Melichar, 1900)

Figs. 2, 8–11 , 28–33 , 49–53, 63–69

Thamnotettix nigrovittatus Matsumura, 1915 (synonymy by Anufriev & Emelyanov, 1968)

Description. Bright yellowish green. Forewings with dark brown longitudinal stripes widening distally ( Figs. 8– 11 ).

Aedeagus C-shaped laterally, more strongly curved than in T. (C.) modesta , with lobe-like widened apex ( Figs. 28, 30, 32 ). Style with expanded rounded apophysis ( Figs. 29, 31, 33 ).

Body length (including tegmina): ♂, 5.3–5.8 mm; ♀, 6.1–6.3 mm.

Hosts. Collected from undetermined species of Poaceae ; both in the steppe and in the forest zones, usually in meadows on riverbanks.

Calling signal. Signals of males from the following localities were investigated.

1. Transbaikalia, Southern Buryatia, saline meadow on the bank of Temnik River , 4 km North of Selenduma Town, 13. VII. 2007, signals of one male recorded at 23–24 oC .

2. The Russian Far East, Primorsky Krai, Pogranichny Region, environs of Barabash-Levada Village , meadow on the bank of Komissarovka River , 19. VII. 2002, signals of two males recorded at 26–27 oC .

Calling signal has a duration from 5–6 up to 25–30 s and is a succession of syllables with rather variable temporal pattern ( Figs. 49–53 ). Typically, a syllable consists of a high-amplitude pulse followed by low-amplitude oscillations and a high-amplitude end part with an abrupt trailing edge ( Figs. 63–65 ). Occasionally, a high-amplitude initial pulse and low-amplitude oscillations are almost entirely absent ( Fig. 66 ). Also, sometimes some syllables have elongated initial parts ( Figs. 67–68 ) or additional high-amplitude pulses in the middle part ( Fig. 69 ). Repetition period of typical (not elongated) syllables averages 470–600 ms in our recordings.

Distribution. Widespread throughout Southern Siberia from Altai Mts. to Eastern Transbaikalia, in the Russian Far East, Mongolia, Northern China, Korea, and Japan. Records from localities west of Altai Mts. need verification.

Remarks. The species was described from Northern Mongolia ( Melichar, 1900). Based on illustrations provided by Emeljanov (1964), records of this species and subspecies from the southeastern part of European Russia correspond to C. modesta (see above).

Figures

FIGURES 1–15. Taurotettix spp., subgenital plates (1–2) and lateral view (3–15). 1, 3―T. (T.) beckeri, 4–7―T. (C.) modesta, 2, 8–11―T. (C.) elegans elegans, 12–15―T. (C.) elegans subornata. 3–8, 10–12, 14–15―males, 9, 13―females. Localities are given under the figures for taxa distributed in multiple regions.

FIGURES 16–39. Taurotettix spp., male genitalia. 16–17―T. (T.) beckeri, 18–27―T. (C.) modesta, 28–33―T. (C.) elegans elegans, 34–39―T. (C.) elegans subornata. 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38―penis, lateral view, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39―style, dorsal view. Localities are given under the figures for taxa distributed in multiple regions.

FIGURES 40–53. Taurotettix spp., male calling signal oscillograms, general view at low speed. 40–42―T. (T.) beckeri, 43– 48―T. (C.) modesta, 49–53―T. (C.) elegans elegans. Faster oscillograms of the parts of signals indicated as “54–69” are given under the same numbers. Scale mark at the bottom is the same for all oscillograms.

FIGURES 54–69. Taurotettix spp., male calling signal oscillograms, parts of signals at high speed. 54–57―T. (T.) beckeri, 58–62―T. (C.) modesta, 63–69―T. (C.) elegans elegans. Scale mark at the bottom is the same for all oscillograms.