Pulchrijassus, 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 : 68-70

Pulchrijassus gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AA66B90F-54BF-4F17-ABC6-655742CDC17A

Figs 3 J–Q, 14, 18D–R

Type species

Pulchrijassus anjozorobensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis

This genus may be distinguished by the following combination of features: body medium-sized; dorsum heavily marked with symmetrical black, brown or red stripes or other maculae; vertex strongly overlapping anterolateral margin of eye, crown irregularly rugose; forewing usually with supernumerary crossveins between R and M; hindwing veins R4+5 and M1+2 completely confluent apically; hind femur macrosetal formula 2+ 2+1; style without denticule; aedeagus without processes, shaft simple, recurved.

Etymology

The genus name, a masculine noun, combines the Latin prefix ʻ pulchri -ʼ (ʻbeautifulʼ) with the common suffix for genera of Iassinae , ʻ- jassus ʼ.

Description

HABITUS. Medium-sized to large platyjassines (6.4–11.0 mm). Color variable, dorsum usually strikingly marked with alternating pale and dark longitudinal stripes.

HEAD. Crown flattened, subequal to or slightly shorter than pronotum, with numerous irregular transverse striations, becoming less prominent posteriorly, anterior margin strongly produced, spatulate, forming hood 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 absent, apparently coinciding with anterior margin of head; lateral frontal suture extended anterad beyond antennal pit, but not reaching head 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 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 elongate, slender. Hindwing veins R4+5 and M1+2 completely confluent distally. Front femur row IC with setae in single row;AV with single 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, tibial row AD with one or more smaller setae between successive macrosetae; tarsomere I with two plantar rows, pecten with 3 platellae.

ABDOMEN. Male pregenital sternite distinctly longer than sternite VII, posterior margin truncate. Pygofer base band-like, dorsally with median posterior projection; lobe fused to base, membranous cleft absent, with numerous macrosetae in distal half, apex narrowly rounded, processes and spines absent, ventral margin without distinct group of fine setae. Subgenital plate relatively broad and strongly depressed, with median longitudinal row of macrosetae, dorsolateral margin with few sparse, short setae. Style apophysis slender, acuminate, without conspicuous denticuli. Aedeagus without processes, shaft simple, stout, recurved, apex rounded in lateral view. Female abdominal sternite VII with posterior margin weakly trilobed. Second valvulae broadened beyond basal third, then tapered to apex, dorsal margin serrate, with numerous distinct teeth in distal half.

Remarks

This genus closely resembles Plexijassus gen. nov. overall, but differs in having the dorsal coloration consisting of symmetrical black, brown or red markings and in lacking long supernumerary costal crossveins.

Key to species of Pulchrijassus gen. nov.

1. Eyes completely bordered with black or brown pigment on crown and pronotum in dorsal view ( Fig. 3J )..............................................................................................................................................2

– Eyes not bordered with black pigment in dorsal view...............................................................6

2. Black pigment bordering eyes consisting of stripes with medial margins straight, forming continuous, slightly divergent lines along crown and pronotum ( Fig. 3P ) .......................................... ...................................................................................... Pulchrijassus talatakelyensis gen. et sp. nov.

– Black pigment bordering eyes consisting of curved stripes or crown entirely black ( Fig. 3J )...3

3. Crown black, with medial pale area, if present, indistinct ( Fig. 3O ) ................................................... ............................................................................................... Pulchrijassus sindhuae gen. et sp. nov.

– Crown with large pale area medially ( Fig. 3 J–K).........................................................................4

4. Median longitudinal dark stripe on pronotum not expanded posteriorly ( Fig. 3J ) ............................ ................................................................................... Pulchrijassus anjozorobensis gen. et sp. nov.

– Median longitudinal dark stripe on pronotum abruptly expanded posteriorly ( Fig. 3K )........5

5. Dorsum yellow with dark brown markings ( Fig. 3K ) ....... Pulchrijassus eunsunae gen. et sp. nov.

– Dorsum ivory with pale brown markings ( Fig. 3Q ) ... Pulchrijassus toamasinensis gen. et sp. nov.

6. Dorsum almost entirely bright red, pronotum without longitudinal stripes ( Fig. 3M ) ...................... .................................................................................................. Pulchrijassus roseus gen. et sp. nov.

– Dorsum with longidudinal stripes ( Fig. 3L, N )..............................................................................7

7. Dorsum mostly pale stramineous, pronotum with two pairs of narrow brown longitudinal stripes ( Fig. 3L ) ............................................................................ Pulchrijassus pallescens gen. et sp. nov.

– Dorsum ochraceous, with reddish stripes ( Fig. 3N ) .... Pulchrijassus rubrilineatus gen. et sp. nov.

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.