Petalojassus, 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 : 18-19

Petalojassus gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:55AF7FD6-B01E-4D09-B630-6F76B21C1D52

Figs 1E , 4 Q–T, 16J–L

Type species

Petalojassus ochrescens sp. nov.

Etymology

The genus name, a masculine noun, combines ʻ petalo -ʼ (ʻflatʼ) with ʻ- jassus ʼ, a common suffix for generic names in this subfamily, and refers to the strongly flattened anterior margin of the head.

Diagnosis

This genus may be distinguished by the following combination of features: body medium-sized; dorsum ochraceous with opaque transcommissural marking on forewing; vertex strongly overlapping anterolateral margin of eye, crown texture uniformly shagreen; hindwing veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent preapically but separate near apex; hind femur macrosetal formula 2+2 +1; style with denticuli; aedeagus with pair of processes arising from atrium.

Description

HABITUS. Medium-sized platyjassines (6.9–8.3 mm). Dorsum ochraceous with symmetrical pattern of opaque pigmentation on forewings.

HEAD. Crown flattened, uniformly shagreen, anterior margin strongly produced, spatulate, forming shelf over dorsal part of face, strongly overlapping eye margin; ocelli anteromesad of eyes, relatively distant from eyes and from anterior margin of crown. Frontoclypeus moderately convex, punctate medially, without median dorsal depression; antennal ledge represented by curved carina below crown margin; lateral frontal suture obsolete above antennal pit; ena narrow and emarginate below eye, proepisternum largely exposed; orum small, flat; anteclypeus slightly convex, lateral margins slightly divergent distally; rostrum slender, not surpassing front trochanters.

THORAX. Pronotum slightly declivous, in profile continuing contour of crown, much wider than head, lateral margins strongly divergent posterad, transverse striations distinct. Forewing with numerous supernumerary crossveins in distal half between R, M and Cu, appendix broad and extended to wing apex, inner apical cell relatively short, very slender. Hindwing veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent preapically but divergent distally. Front femur row IC with setae in irregular row; AV with irregular 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, tibial row AD without smaller setae between successive macrosetae; tarsomere I with two plantar rows, PV row setae stout, with crenulate bases.

ABDOMEN. Male pregenital sternite distinctly longer than sternite VII, posterior margin truncate. Pygofer base band-like, dorsally with median posterior projection; lobe separated from base by membranous cleft, with numerous macrosetae in distal half, apex broadly rounded, processes and spines absent, ventral margin without distinct group of fine setae. Subgenital plate relatively broad and strongly depressed, without macrosetae, dorsolateral margin with long, fine setae. Style apophysis slender, acuminate, without preapical projection, denticulate ventrally. Connective Y-shaped, stem longer than arms, anterior margin concave. Aedeagus with shaft simple, curved dorsad, asymmetrical basal processes present, arising from enlarged atrium. Female abdominal sternite VII trilobed posteriorly. First valvulae with dorsal sculpturing strigate. Second valvulae slightly broadened medially, with slight angulate dorsal peak, without distinct teeth distally, dorsal margin weakly crenulate preapically.

Remarks

This genus resembles Platyjassus overall and in the form of the male genitalia, but differs in its more elongate body, reticulate forewing with a distinctive transcommissural marking and in having two processes instead of one arising from the aedeagal atrium.

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.