Macrosteles parafalcatus, Naveed & Zhang, 2018

Naveed, Hassan & Zhang, Yalin, 2018, Review of the leafhopper tribe Macrostelini Kirkaldy (Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) in Pakistan with description of a new species, Zootaxa 4462 (2), pp. 257-273 : 266

Macrosteles parafalcatus sp. nov.

Figs. 5A–J , 6A–C

Coloration and morphology. Ground colour yellow ( Fig. 5A ). Crown with pair of dark spots at posterior margin, pair of dark transverse streaks present at the anterior margin interrupted medially but forming transverse dark band between eyes and ocelli ( Fig. 5A, D ). Forewing with yellowish brown tint ( Fig. 5C ).

Male abdomen. Male 2nd acrotergite with trunk V-shaped, anterior processes broad; neck slender, longer than half of trunk width. 2nd tergal apodeme developed, reaching margin of tergite posteriorly. 1 st sternal apodeme with posterior lobes rounded, almost as long as basal width. 2nd sternal apodeme developed with posterior lobes about 1.5X as long as basal width, extending beyond sternum margin.

Male genitalia. Pygofer lobe broad, with comb-like tubercle at caudo-ventral margin ( Fig. 5E ). Valve triangular ( Fig. 6A ). Connective Y-shaped, with stem almost equal to arms in length ( Fig. 6A ). Style apophysis truncate, preapical lobe moderately developed ( Fig. 6A ). Aedeagal shaft slender, smooth, with apical appendages moderately long, evenly curved dorsally, sickle-shaped in lateral view, in posterior view forming narrow V-shaped apex ( Fig. 6B–C ).

Type material. Holotype: ♂, Pakistan: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Kaghan Valley , 2500m, August 2016, coll. Hassan Naveed . Paratypes: 3♂♂, 5♀♀, same data as holotype .

Remarks. This species is similar to M. falcatus Zhang & Lu , but can be distinguished by the aedeagal shaft, which is shorter and smooth laterally, 2nd acrotergite with neck longer, lateral processes long and anterior processes well-separated from each other compared to M. falcatus .

Etymology. ‘Para’ means similar. Since this species is similar to M. falcatus it was named parafalcatus .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Macrosteles parafalcatus sp. nov. A. habitus, dOrsal view; B. face; C. habitus, lateral view; D. habitus, anteriOr view; E. pygOfer, lateral view; F. pygOfer, ventral view; G. male 2nd abdOminal tergites, dOrsal view; H. male 2nd abdOminal sternal apOdemes, dOrsal view; I–J. male 1st abdOminal sternal apOdeme, dOrsO-anteriOr and anteriOr view.

FIGURE 6. Macrosteles parafalcatus sp. nov. A. valve, subgenital plate, style and cOnnective, dOrsal view; B. aedeagus, ventral view; C. aedeagus, lateral view; Macrosteles indrinus (Pruthi) D. pygOfer, lateral view; E. pygOfer, caudal view; F. valve, subgenital plate, style and cOnnective, dOrsal view; G. aedeagus, lateral view; H. aedeagus, dOrsal view; I. abdOminal apOdemes (ReprOduced frOm Khatri & Webb, 2010).