Vartalapa robusta, Viraktamath, C. A., 2004

Viraktamath, C. A., 2004, A revision of the Varta­Stymphalus generic complex of the leafhopper tribe Scaphytopiini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from the Old World, Zootaxa 713, pp. 1-47 : 20

Vartalapa robusta sp. nov.

Figs 39 , 109.113.

Predominantly bluish green with orange stripes. Vertex paler with grayish hue, two spots on margin, one near apex and another anterior to ocelli black, a spot behind anterior black spot and stripe on inner margin of eye orange. Face paler with dorsal depressions fuscous, lateral margins of fronto­clypeus, basal 0.25 of clypeus, a large spot beneath outer margin of eyes dorsally margined by dark brown, a spot beneath inner lower angle of eye and another adjacent to lorum across gena orange. Anterior margin of pronotum pale, four longitudinal stripes, two on either side of median line, but not reaching anterior margin orange. Pro­pleura beneath lateral carina with black stripe, scutellum lemon yellow, front wing bluish green with longitudinal orange stripes as shown in Fig. 39 , apical cells transparent fuscous brown except basal half of outer apical cell, a dark fuscous fascia on outer apical vein. Ventral area ochraceous. Legs spotted with black especially apical areas of femora and bases of spines on tibiae.

Male genitalia: Pygophore with dorsal and anterior margin making almost a right angle, caudal lobe membranous with marginal and submarginal stout setae and caudo­ventral angle produced into a scletorized process, a membranous elongate lobe arising on pygophore at the place where tenth segment articulates. Valve triangular with rounded caudal angle. Subgenital plates separate, leaflike with scattered macrosetae, outer margin with a slight concavity. Style with a slender apophysis, outer apical margin produced into a beaklike process, rugulose more so along inner margin, subapical lobe well­developed. Aedeagus membranous with ventral sclerotized area, apex not flared, oppressed to a pair of smooth ventral processes extending beyond apex of aedeagus, apices of process distally divergent.

Female genitalia: Seventh sternum produced into a narrow, bilobed medial structure. Bases of eighth sternites exposed as lateral bulbous structures.

Measurements: Male 6.8 mm long, 1.4 mm wide across posterior margin of head, 1.6 mm wide across hind margin of pronotum. Female 7.2 mm long, 1.5 mm wide across hind margin of head, 1.65 mm wide across hind margin of pronotum.

Material examined: LAOS: holotype ɗ, Sayaboury Prov. Sayaboury, 2.iii.1966, Malaise trap, native collector, Bishop Mus. ( BPBM). Paratypes: 1 Ψ data as in holotype ( BMNH); THAILAND: 1 Ψ, Banna, 5–10.v.1958, T.C.Maa, Light trap, Bishop ( BPBM).

Remarks: V. robusta is closely related to V. malayana sp. nov. but differs in the structure of male genital characters as discussed under that species.

Figures

FIGURES 32 – 40. Red or orange stripes on front wings of Varta­Stymphalus complex. 32. Stymphalus rubrolineatus (Stål); 33. Varta rubrofasciata Distant; 34. Varta rubrostriata (Horváth); 35. Varta longula sp. nov., from Australia; 36. Same from New Guinea; 37. Varta rubrovittata; 38. Varta bifida sp. nov.; 39. Vartalapa robusta sp. nov.; 40. Vartalapa malayana.