Nandigallia nandiensis, C.A.Viraktamath, 2011

C. A. Viraktamath, 2011, Revision of the Oriental and Australian Agalliini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Megophthalminae) 2844, Zootaxa 2844, pp. 1-118 : 97-99

Nandigallia nandiensis sp. nov.

Figs 31, 80–83, 482–495, 572, 573, 586, 587, 601, 602.

Macropterous form ( Figs 573, 587, 602) (color). Ochraceous. Two oval spots on vertex, central stripe extending on to face and laterally divergent below ocelli, dark brown to black. Inner marginal band to eye, median stripe on frontoclypeus, clypellus, dark brown; frontal sulci antennal cavities, submarginal spots on frontoclypeus, black. Ocelli surrounded by red. Pronotum with two irregular spots anteriorly, two transverse lines caudolateral to them black; median stripe, two large lateral spots coalescing on posterior half of pronotum leaving two discal pale triangular areas, dark brown. A triangle in each basal angle of scutellum, pair of rounded central spots, black; posterior half of scutellum either with median brownish stripe with pale lateral margins or entirely paler. Forewings except clavus hyaline with brown veins; two inner apical cells often brownish; basal half of claval suture including outer claval vein white, margined irregularly with brown or black. Thoracic pleura black. In some males tip of male subgenital plates balck. Hind marign of female seventh sternite brownish in middle.

Morphology. Vertex distinctly longer in middle than next to eyes, more than 3.75 times wider than long. Frontoclypeus evenly rounded in profile, clypellus slightly broader at base. Forewings and hind wings well developed ( Fig. 486). Sternal apodemes at base of abdomen well developed.

Brachypterous form ( Figs 572, 586, 601) (color). Ochraceous, with more pronounced variable black markings but basic pattern as in Figs 484, 485. Face either entirely black or ochraceous with median inverted Y-shaped stripe (stem of Y lacking in a few specimens), submarginal dashes on frontoclypeus, antennal sockets, black. Forewings hyaline with claval and inner longitudinal veins brownish, in some specimens entire clavus, radius and cubitus blackish with claval suture and outer margin of wing broadly hyaline. Abdominal segments darker than in macropterous form. Apex of male subgenital plates black. Lateral margin of terga of female black.

Morphology. Vertex longer than in macropterous form, almost as long as inter-ocular distance; about 3 times as wide as long. Pronotum flat slightly more than twice as long as wide, anterior margin not as convex as in macropterous form. Forewing venation variable ( Fig. 487). Hind wings reduced to short lobes.

Male genitalia. Caudal lobe of pygofer rounded. Subgenital plates partly fused basally. Styles with laminate inner arm having two outer (on either side), one median tooth. Connective broad at base, bilobed apically. Aedeagus with basal 0.66 compressed, apical 0.33 laterally flattened with apical lateral projections and one denticle on each lateral margin about midlength placed asymmetrically, preatrium and dorsal apodeme well developed, gonopore apical. Apical 0.33 of anal collar bent at right angles.

Female genitalia. Hind margin of seventh sternite deeply concave with median pointed carina; eighth sternite visible.

Nymph. Ochraceous, one pair of black spots on vertex, face with submarginal freckles to frontoclypeus, area above antennal base and sutures of face brown. One pair of median longitudinal stripes running all along body on either side of pale median line, two lateral stripes on thorax and abdomen, chocolate brown. Wing pads with chocolate brown lines. Legs ochraceous with black claws. Vertex produced in front of eyes, ocellar cavities visible in dorsal aspect. Eyes projecting out, pronotum short, broad, with transverse median impressed line. Abdominal terga with median longitudinal ridge. Head, pronotum, wing pads and abdomen covered with long setae.

Measurements. Brachypterous form: male 2.5–2.8 mm long, 1.15–1.20 mm wide across eyes. Female 2.7 mm long, 1.25–1.30 mm wide across hind margin of eyes. Macropterous form: male 3.0 mm long, 1.20–1.25 mm wide across eyes. Female 3.2 mm long, 1.25–1.30 mm wide across eyes.

Material examined. INDIA: Karnataka: HOLOTYPE ♂, Nandi Hills , 1425 m, 19.xii.1974, ex Achyranthes aspera Linn. C.A. Viraktamath ( UASB) . PRATYPES: 14 ♂, 6 ♀, same data as holotype except 30.xi.1974 (2 ♂, 2 ♀), 18.xii. 1974 (5 ♂, 2 ♀), 27.vii.1975 (7 ♂, 2 ♀) ( BMNH, NMNH, ZSI, UASB, NPC) . Additional material: numerous male and females collected during 1974 ( UASB), nymphs same data as holotype except collected by S. Viraktamath ( UASB) .

Remarks. This species occurs in two forms. The macropterous form (November–December) is more robust, larger and darker and has fully developed hind wings. The brachypterous form (July collections) has lobe-like short hind wings, incapable of flight. The species breeds on Achyranthes aspera L. ( Amaranthaceae ) on Nandi Hills.

N. nandiensis resembles N. matai from which it differs in the structure of the male genitalia especially in the structure of the anal collar process and aedeagus. The illustration of Agallia campbelli Distant by Distant (1916: 230, Fig. 168) refers to the macropterous female of this species.