Ikelibeloha, Zahniser & Nielson, 2012

Zahniser, J. N. & Nielson, M. W., 2012, An extraordinary new genus and three new species of Acostemmini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from Madagascar with comments on the morphology and classification of the tribe, Zootaxa 3209 (1), pp. 28-52 : 33-35

Ikelibeloha gen.n.

( Figs. 1–13 )

Type species: Ikelibeloha cristata sp.n.

Description. Head. Head (Figs. 1,2,7) distinctly narrower than pronotum; anteriorly-posteriorly compressed. Crown extremely short; median length less than length next to eyes; delimited anteriorly by a single distinct transverse carina turning ventrad laterally and not reaching eyes; yellowish with darker spots medially on each side and next to eyes; surface irregular; texture finely shagreen in darker areas, glabrous or coarsely striate in lighter pigmented areas. Ocelli ( Fig. 7 ) distant from eyes, closer to each other than to eyes; bases stalked, arising from deep circular pits. Face ( Fig. 7 ) below anterior carina finely shagreen with shallow oblique furrows; texture laterad of ocelli glabrous to rugose with coarse oblique furrows. Frontoclypeus ( Fig. 7 ) long, narrow; with median pit between ocelli; with short, curved lateral carinae next to antennae meeting lateral frontal suture and antennal ledge; texture shagreen or glabrous to rugose. Lateral frontal suture distinctly sulcate below antenna; weakly carinate above antenna; sharply angled at meeting point with antennal ledge; extending or nearly extending to ocellus. Antennal ledges sharply carinate. Antennal bases stalked; antennae long, about 2x width of head. Clypellar suture obscure. Clypellus narrow at base, abruptly expanded apically; apex slightly notched. Lora somewhat tumid, elevated above genae; lateral margins deeply sulcate. Genae broad; margin obtusely angulate, not emarginate below eyes; with deep oblique and swirling furrows; with fine erect seta somewhat distant from laterofrontal suture.

Thorax. Pronotum (Figs. 1,2) very large, produced into angulate crest dorsally; texture punctate; with median longitudinal keel. Mesonotum (Figs. 1,2) large, bulbous; deep reddish-brown. Mesoscutellum (Figs. 1,2) produced, with median longitudinal carina on posterior half.

Wings. Forewing ( Fig. 2 ) squarish apically; appendix extending around apex; bases of C, claval suture, A1, and A2 thick, with punctate indentations; r-m crossvein obliquely meeting R before separation of R veins; R1 , R2 +3, and R4 +5 diverging from nearly same point; base of outer anteapical cell sharply angled; with or without extra costal vein; inner anteapical cell closed (m-cu crossvein present), somewhat expanded apically; with A1-A2 crossvein. Hindwing venation of normal deltocephaline type (e.g. Plate 39, Fig. 9a of Fieberiella florii in Oman [1949]); with 4 apical cells; with perpendicular r4+5 - m1+2 crossvein; with oblique m3+4 - cuA crossvein .

Legs. Profemur row AV with only scattered fine hairlike setae; intercalary row with one row of long fine setae; row AM with AM1 present near midheight of femur and with or without additional fine setae proximally. Protibia somewhat flattened dorsally; without large macrosetae. Mesotrochanter with scattered fine setae. Mesofemur row AV without distinct setae. Metafemur apical macrosetae 2+1+1+1 (females) or 2+1+1 (male); sometimes with few smaller scattered setae. Metatibia somewhat expanded proximally; dorsal surface flat, without setae between rows; row PD setae not alternating much in length, entire row situated on distinctly raised ledge; row AD with macrosetae intercalated with smaller setae; row AV setae extending from apex to base ~3/4 length of tibia; apical pecten setae relatively small, tapered, of even length. Metatarsomere plantar surface with setae indistinct; apex with 4–5 platellae, outermost seta platellate.

Female. Pygofer subquadrate; without macrosetae ( Fig. 10 ). First valvifer rhomboidal in shape ( Fig. 10 ). First valvula not strongly convex ( Fig. 10 ); dorsal sculpturing pattern strigate, reaching dorsal margin ( Fig. 11 ). Second valvula broadening subbasally, broad throughout length ( Fig. 12 ); dorsal teeth obtusely triangular, not serrated, present on over 2/3 of length; in profile, teeth from left and right valvulae alternating ( Fig. 13 ). Third valvula with several small setae ventrally near apex.

Male. Pygofer posterior margin incised dorsally to about midlength; apex with group of short stout setae; without basolateral membranous cleft (Figs. 3,8). Valve large; lateral margin long, articulating with pygofer; produced, pointed apically; surface with distinctive microtrichia ( Fig. 9 ). Subgenital plates more or less triangular; ~2x longer than wide; without macrosetae; surface with distinctive microtrichia ( Fig. 9 ). Connective with long stem; anterior arms widely divergent; with ventrally directed anteromedial lobe ( Fig. 4 ). Style linear, anteromedial lobe not pronounced; apophysis with well developed preapical lobe separated from distal hook by weakly sclerotized area; distal hook strongly curved, cheliform, forming narrow angle with preapical lobe ( Fig. 4 ). Aedeagus short, stout; with one shaft and gonopore (Figs. 5,6). Segment X short; with darkly sclerotized band dorsally and laterally 4–5x wider than long; remaining parts lightly sclerotized (Figs. 3,8).

Distribution. Madagascar, Province d’Antsiranana

Remarks. The specimen illustrated in Fig. 7 has the frontoclypeus texture glabrous to rugose, while the other 3 specimens have the frontoclypeus mostly shagreen.

Etymology. The genus is named for the Malagasy word meaning “little big headed one”. The gender is feminine.

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Ikelibeloha cristata gen.n., sp.n. 1–2: female paratype; 3–9: male holotype. 1. dorsal habitus; 2. lateral habitus; 3. pygofer, laterally; 4. connective and style, ventrally; 5. aedeagus, caudally; 6. aedeagus, laterally; 7. face; 8. pygofer, dorsally; 9. valve and subgenital plates, ventrally.

FIGURES 10–13. Ikelibeloha cristata gen.n., sp.n. 10. pygofer and 1st valvulae; 11. detail of 1st valvula dorsal sculpturing; 12. second valvulae; 13. detail of second valvulae teeth.