Pallijassus, Dietrich & Magalhães & Takiya, 2020

Dietrich, Christopher H., Magalhães, Raysa Brito de & Takiya, Daniela M., 2020, Revision of the endemic Malagasy leafhopper tribe Platyjassini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Iassinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 695, pp. 1-89 : 15-16

Pallijassus gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C83C42E2-0DDF-4C51-9E7D-F2746E9980F6

Figs. 1D , 4 J–P, 16G–I, 20–21

Type species

Platyjassus stenospatulatus Evans, 1959 .

Etymology

The genus name, a masculine noun, combines the Latin prefix ʻ palli -ʼ (ʻpaleʼ) with ʻ- jassus ʼ, a common suffix for genera in this subfamily, and refers to the relatively pale overall coloration of the included species.

Diagnosis

This genus may be distinguished by the following combination of features: body robust; dorsum pale yellow, stripes or spots, if present, inconspicuous; vertex not overlapping anterolateral margin of eye, crown transversely striate anteriorly; frontoclypeus punctate; forewing venation reticulate; hindwing veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent preapically but separate near apex; hind femur macrosetal formula 2+ 2+1+ 1+1+ 1; aedeagus with shaft depressed, without distinct processes.

Descripton

HABITUS. Large platyjassines (9.2–12.3 mm). Color pale stramineous, darker markings absent or inconspicuous.

HEAD. Crown flattened, with numerous irregular transverse striations becoming less prominent posteriorly, anterior margin strongly produced, spatulate, forming hood over dorsal part of face, only slightly overlapping eye margin; ocelli anteromesad of eyes, relatively large and close to eyes. Frontoclypeus moderately convex, punctate medially, without median dorsal depression; antennal ledge oblique, strongly overlapping frontoclypeus; lateral frontal suture present above antennal ledge but not extended to crown margin; gena slightly emarginate below eye, proepisternum partially exposed; lorum small, flat; anteclypeus convex, lateral margins evenly divergent distally; rostrum slender, not surpassing front trochanters.

THORAX. Pronotum slightly declivous, in profile much wider than head, lateral margins strongly divergent posterad, texture finely punctate, transverse striations obsolete. Forewing with numerous supernumerary crossveins, appendix broad and extended to wing apex, inner apical cell elongate, slender. Hindwing veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent preapically but separate near apex. Front femur row IC with setae in single row; AV with single row of stout setae in basal half, tibia dorsal surface rounded, PD and AD macrosetae only partially differentiated. Hind femur macrosetal formula 2+ 2+1 +1+1 +1, tibial row AD with one or more smaller setae between successive macrosetae; tarsomere I with two plantar rows, pecten with 4 platellae.

ABDOMEN. Male pregenital sternite slightly longer than sternite VII, posterior margin truncate. Pygofer base band-like, dorsally with median posterior projection; lobe separated from base by membranous vertical cleft, with numerous macrosetae in distal half, apex rounded, processes and spines absent, ventral margin without distinct group of fine setae. Subgenital plate with median longitudinal row of macrosetae, dorsolateral margin with row of long fine setae distally. Style apophysis slender, acuminate, without conspicuous denticuli. Aedeagus with shaft depressed and weakly sclerotized, curved dorsad; gonopore preapical on posterior surface. Female abdominal sternite with posterior margin produced. First valvulae with dorsal sculpturing strigate. Second valvulae slender throughout length, dorsal margin with two widely spaced, prominent teeth preapically.

Remarks

This genus is erected to receive Platyjassus stenospatulatus Evans, 1959 and Platyjassus reticulatus Evans, 1959 . It differs from Platyjassus s. str. in the relatively pale overall coloration (probably light green in life), relatively narrow head lacking anterolateral extensions of the vertex overlapping the eyes, and in having the forewing venation reticulate.

Key to species of Pallijassus gen. nov.

1. Forewing with supernumerary crossveins concentrated in distal half; antennal pedicel and apex of clavus pale yellow ( Fig. 21A, C ) .............................. Pallijassus stenospatulatus ( Evans, 1959)

– Forewing with supernumerary crossveins distributed throughout; antennal pedicel and apex of clavus dark brown ( Fig. 20A, C ) ........................................... Pallijassus reticulatus ( Evans, 1959)

Figures

Fig. 1. Platyjassini, dorsal and lateral habitus of males. A. Pachyjassus alatus sp. nov. B. Pachyjassus basifurcatus sp. nov. C. Pachyjassus ranomafanensis sp. nov. D. Pallijassus stenospatulatus (Evans, 1959). E. Petalojassus ochrescens sp. nov. F. Phaiojassus acutus sp. nov. G. Phaiojassus bispinosus sp. nov. H. Phaiojassus constrictus sp. nov. I. Phaiojassus grandis sp. nov. J. Phaiojassus spatulatus sp. nov.K. Phaiojassus undulatus sp. nov. L. Phaiojassus unispinosus sp. nov. M. Pictojassus kirindiensis sp. nov. N. Pictojassus productus sp. nov. O. Pictojassus tulearensis sp. nov. P. Platyjassella ancora sp. nov. Q. Platyjassella andohahelensis sp. nov. R. Platyjassella attenuata sp. nov. S. Platyjassella cormorana sp. nov. T. Platyjassella emarginata sp. nov. U. Platyjassella immaculata sp. nov. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 4. Pachyjassus gen. nov., Pallijassus gen. nov. and Petalojassus gen. nov. – A–C. Pachyjassus alatus sp. nov. A. Genital capsule, lateral view. B. Genitalia, lateral view. C. Same, ventral view. – D–F. Pachyjassus basifurcatus sp. nov. D. Genital capsule, lateral view. E. Genitalia, lateral view. F. Same, ventral view. – G–I. Pachyjassus ranomafanensis sp. nov. G. Genital capsule, lateral view. H. Genitalia, lateral view. I. Same, ventral view. – J–M. Pallijassus reticulatus (Evans, 1959). J. Genital capsule, lateral view. K. Genitalia, lateral view. L. Same, ventral view. M. Aedeagus, posterior view. – N–P. Pallijassus stenospatulatus (Evans, 1959). N. Genital capsule, lateral view. O. Genitalia, lateral view. P. Same, ventral view. – Q–T. Petalojassus ochrescens sp. nov. Q. Genital capsule, lateral view. R. Genitalia, lateral view. S. Same, ventral view. T. Aedeagus, posterior view. Photos not to scale.

Fig. 21. Males of Platyjassus stenospatulatus Evans, 1959, type species of Pallijassus gen. nov. – A–D. Holotype (MNHN(EH) 2359). A–B. Dorsal and lateral habitus. C. Anterior view of head and thorax. D. Specimen labels. – E–I. Male paratype (MNHN(EH) 2361). E. Base of abdomen, ventral view. F. Genital capsule, lateral view. G. Same, ventral view. H. Genitalia, ventral view. I. Same, lateral view.

Fig. 20. Holotype male of Platyjassus reticulatus Evans, 1959 (MNHN(EH) 2358), now placed in Pallijassus gen. nov. A–B. Dorsal and lateral habitus. C. Anterior view of head and thorax. D. Specimen labels. E. Base of abdomen, ventral view. F. Genital capsule, lateral view. G. Same, ventral view. H. Genitalia, ventral view. I. Same, lateral view.