Plerujassus, 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 : 54-56

Plerujassus gen. nov.

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Figs 3 A–B, 12A–F, 19

Type species

Platyjassus appendiculatus Evans, 1959 .

Etymology

The genus name, a masculine noun, combines the Latin ʻ plerus ʼ (ʻmanyʼ or ʻmostʼ) with ʻ- jassus ʼ, a common suffix used for genera of Iassinae , and refers to the densely reticulate forewing venation.

Diagnosis

This genus may be distinguished by the following combination of features: body robust; dorsum stramineous to brown, without distinct spots or stripes; vertex slightly overlapping anterolateral margin of eye, crown transversely striate anteriorly and with anterior margin upturned; frontoclypeus transversely rugose/striate; forewing densely reticulate; hindwing veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent preapically but separate near apex; hind femur macrosetal formula 2+2 +1+1 +1; style serrate ventrally; aedeagus with pair of distally directed lateral preapical spines.

Description

HABITUS. Large platyjassines (8.9–10.5 mm). Color stramineous to dark brown.

HEAD. Crown depressed, with numerous irregular transverse striations well delimited throughout length, anterior margin weakly produced, slightly upturned, subparallel to posterior margin, well delimited but only slightly produced over dorsal part of face, vertex only slightly overlapping eye margin; ocelli anteromesad of eyes, relatively large and close to eyes. Frontoclypeus moderately convex, transversely rugose, 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 slightly exposed; lorum small, flat; anteclypeus weakly convex, lateral margins slightly divergent distally; rostrum slender, extended to middle coxae.

THORAX. Pronotum strongly declivous, in profile continuing contour of crown, much wider than head, lateral margins strongly divergent posterad, transversely striate. Forewing venation densely reticulate throughout, appendix broad and extended to wing apex, inner apical cell divided into many small cells. Hindwing veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent preapically but separate near apex. Front femur row IC with setae in irregular row; AV irregular row of stout setae in basal half, dorsal surface of tibia rounded, PD and AD macrosetae only partially differentiated. Hind femur macrosetal formula 2 +2+1 +1+1, tibial rows PD, AD and AV with ~29, 12 and 24 macrosetae, respectively, AD and PD 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 extended entire length. Style apophysis slender throughout length, basal half serrate ventrally, with serrations formed by row of oblique transverse ventral ridges, apex tapered to acute point. Connective with stem much longer than arms, arms connected ventrally by scoop-like extension. Aedeagus with atrium shield-like; shaft long, recurved dorsad, with pair of lateral flanges bearing lateral band of minute, stout setae; apex with pair of lateral spines directed distad; gonopore apical. Female unknown.

Remarks

This genus is erected to include P. appendiculatus , described in Platyjassus by Evans (1959) and an additional new species. It differs from Platyjassus in having transverse striations anteriorly on the crown and forewing venation densely reticulate.

Key to species of Plerujassus gen. nov. (males)

1. Color mostly dark brown ( Fig. 3B ); male style apophysis distinctly broadened apically ( Fig. 12E ) ............................................................................................ Plerujassus brunnescens gen. et sp. nov.

– Color stramineous, without darker markings ( Fig. 3A ); male style apophysis not distinctly broadened apically ( Fig. 12B ) ........................................................... Plerujassus appendiculatus ( Evans, 1959)

Figures

Fig. 3. Platyjassini, dorsal and lateral habitus of males. A. Plerujassus appendiculatus (Evans, 1959). B. Plerujassus brunnescens sp. nov. C. Plexijassus caliginosus sp. nov. D. Pseudocurtara minima sp. nov. E. Pseudocurtara nigripicta sp. nov. F. Pseudocurtara quadrata sp. nov. G. Pseudocyrta hyalina sp. nov. H. Pseudomarganana olivacea sp. nov. I. Pseudomarganana rosea sp. nov. J. Pulchrijassus anjozorobensis sp. nov. K. Pulchrijassus eunsunae sp. nov. L. Pulchrijassus pallescens sp. nov. M. Pulchrijassus roseus sp. nov. N. Pulchrijassus rubrilineatus sp. nov. O. Pulchrijassus sindhuae sp. nov. P. Pulchrijassus talatakelyensis sp. nov. Q. Pulchrijassus toamasinensis sp. nov. R. Punctijassus circularis sp. nov. S. Punctijassus compressus sp. nov. T. Punctijassus ivohibensis sp. nov. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 12. Plerujassus gen. nov., Plexijassus gen. nov. and Pseudocurtara gen. nov. – A–C. Plerujassus appendiculatus (Evans, 1959). A. Genital capsule, lateral view. B. Genitalia, lateral view. C. Same, ventral view. – D–F. Plerujassus brunnescens sp. nov. D. Genital capsule, lateral view. E. Genitalia, lateral view. F. Same, ventral view. – G–I. Plexijassus caliginosus sp. nov. G. Genital capsule, lateral view. H. Genitalia, lateral view. I. Same, ventral view. – J–M. Pseudocurtara minima sp. nov. J. Genital capsule, lateral view. K. Genitalia, lateral view. L. Same, ventral view. M. Aedeagus, posterior view. – N–Q. Pseudocurtara nigripicta sp. nov. N. Genital capsule, lateral view. O. Genitalia, lateral view. P. Same, ventral view. Q. Aedeagus, posterior view. Photos not to scale.