Proekes Theron

Stiller, Michael & Webb, Michael D., 2022, Leafhoppers of the Fynbos Biome of South Africa: Colistra, Proekes, Proekoides and a new genus (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae, Bonaspeiini), Zootaxa 5199 (1), pp. 1-79 : 55-62

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5199.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:61CD7E40-DD47-4FAC-A880-42B505A84AE8
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7255495
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D987B7-FFF6-FFBA-8FB9-DE9FFA5277B9
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Proekes Theron
status

Treatment

Proekes Theron View in CoL

Figs 22–30 View FIGURE 22 View FIGURE 23 View FIGURE 24 View FIGURE 25 View FIGURE 26 View FIGURE 27 View FIGURE 28 View FIGURE 29 View FIGURE 30 , 33 View FIGURE 33

Deltocephalus cephaleus Naudé, 1926: 53 View in CoL .

Proekes cephaleus ( Naudé, 1926) View in CoL ; Theron, 1975: 190, 191, 204–205.

Type species: Deltocephalus cephaleus Naudé, 1926 View in CoL .

Revised generic diagnosis and description

Diagnosis.

1. Medium leafhopper; male and female: length from apex of crown to apex of tegmina, 3.7–4.3 mm; crown length medially 0.7–0.8 mm; crown angle 82–87°.

2. Dorsum with head in male and female with brown to light brown longitudinal line from apex of coronal suture to posterior margin of head; apex of crown with narrow, longitudinal paired light brown marking; lateral margin of crown with about three dorsally extended horizontal brown arcs on face; pronotum with single, amorphous to round marking near lateral margin ( Figs 22A–D, H, J, K, L View FIGURE 22 , 27A–C, E, G View FIGURE 27 ).

Terminalia in male.

3. Valve crescentic ( Fig. 23D View FIGURE 23 ) or narrowly rectangular ( Figs 23K View FIGURE 23 , 30C View FIGURE 30 ), length/width=0.22.

4. Pygofer deeply incised in dorsal view; pygofer lobe in lateral view acutely triangular, mediodorsal margin with straight or sublinear, edentate, acuminate process, orientation posteriad; 2–4 macrosetae, (length 40–70 µm) ( Figs 23C, J, R, S View FIGURE 23 , 30A, B View FIGURE 30 ).

5. Segment 10 large, conical or dolioform, (0.5–0.6 times as wide as width across pygofer) ( Figs 23C, J, R View FIGURE 23 , 28A View FIGURE 28 , 30A, B View FIGURE 30 ), reaching apex of pygofer lobe.

6. Connective wider than long (greatest length/greatest width=0.5–0.7), stem short, wide, arms slightly shorter to much longer than stem (length arm/length stem=0.9–2.0).

7. Aedeagus with base or subbase of anterior margin of shaft 1–2 pairs of symmetrical to asymmetrical teeth; shaft compressed or tubular; dorsal apodeme commonly reduced and preatrium short, rarely about half as long as shaft and preatrium reduced.

Terminalia in female.

8. Sternite 7 trapezoid, posterior margin sublinear ( Figs 22J View FIGURE 22 , 24A View FIGURE 24 ) or shallowly concave or medially narrowly convex ( Fig. 30I View FIGURE 30 ); greatest length/greatest width=0.47–0.57; width across apex/width across base=0.59–0.76; medial length/average lateral length=0.95–1.07.

9. Valvula 2 minutely denticulate on subapex of mediodorsal margin ( Figs 24M View FIGURE 24 , 25A, D, E View FIGURE 25 , 29H View FIGURE 29 ) and submarginal lateral pore-like structures along most of forked apex ( Figs 23N, O View FIGURE 23 , 25B, C View FIGURE 25 ).

10. Valvula 3 with unique long extension; laterally with many short macrosetae apically and subapically on lateral surface ( Figs 24P View FIGURE 24 , 29C, D View FIGURE 29 ), length 23–35 µm, thin, 2–3µm, rarely thicker, 3–4 µm; 0.48–0.53 times longer than greatest length of pygofer in lateral view ( Figs 22F–J View FIGURE 22 , 24J View FIGURE 24 ).

11. Valvifer 2 sculpture pore-like and microtrichia ( Figs 24E, F View FIGURE 24 , 29B View FIGURE 29 ).

Etymology. Pro, Latin and Greek, before, forward, in front of; - eces, -ekes, Greek, suffix meaning sharp; for the acute angle of the crown and face. Gender feminine.

Description.

Male, female and nymph.

Color. Ground color ochraceous in male ( Figs 22A, B, L View FIGURE 22 , 27A, B, E, F View FIGURE 27 ), female ( Figs 22C, D, J, K View FIGURE 22 , 27C, D, G, H View FIGURE 27 ), with light brown to brown markings. Nymph in Fig. 22E, F View FIGURE 22 , stramineous to yellow laterally, light brown medially, light ochraceous, narrow medial line. Nymph in Fig. 22M View FIGURE 22 collected with adults, but probably not an associated species.

Head. Brown arcs of clypeus extended into lateral margin of crown, light brown to brown longitudinal line over coronal suture, distad to apex of crown variable; crown with distinct, paired, parallel light brown line or weakly developed; base of head, between eye and coronal suture with short, elongate, paired brown mark ( Figs 22D, L, H View FIGURE 22 , 27C, E, G View FIGURE 27 ) or feint to absent ( Figs 22A, B View FIGURE 22 , 27A View FIGURE 27 ).

Face. Numerous horizontal brown arcs on clypeus, extending onto margin of head ( Figs 22H, I View FIGURE 22 , 27D, F, H View FIGURE 27 ).

Pronotum. Ground color ochraceous, with paired brown marking laterally and variable amorphous markings ( Figs 22A–D, J, L, H View FIGURE 22 , 27A–C, E, G View FIGURE 27 ).

Tegmina. Ochraceous, with brown veins, apical cells distally embrowned, brown irroration in some cells ( Figs 22A–D, J–L View FIGURE 22 , 27A–H View FIGURE 27 ).

Hind wing. Greyish-brown opaque or brown translucent distally, yellowish translucent basally and costal cells, veins brown.

Morphology.

Head. Wider than pronotum (male and female head width/pronotum width=1.11–1.16; crown angle in male and female 82–87°; crown length/crown length next to eye in male and female=1.65–1.77); crown length/pronotum length=1.65–1.80.

Face. Clypellus extended beyond posterior margin of gena, margin below lorum narrow, gena with notch below eye ( Fig. 22L View FIGURE 22 ).

Ocellus. Male and female ocellus diameter/interocular distance=0.34–0.46.

Pronotum. Lateral margin short, non-carinate, pronotum length/pronotum width=0.35–0.37.

Tegmina. Appendix absent. Male and female, length/width=2.34–2.61; four apical cells; 2–3 anteapical cells.

Hind wing. Reduced, elongate, shorter and narrower than tegmina, male and female, length/width=3.59–4.35.

Tegmina-hind wing relation. Ratio of length tegmina/length hind wing=1.13–1.22; width tegmina/width hind wing=1.41–2.11.

Chaetotaxy. Profemur row AV with 9–11 short, wide setae, row IC 8–10 long, fine setae, AV 1 single, AM 1 single. Spinulation of protibia 1+4, mesotibia 4+4, metafemur apex 2+2+1. Metatarsus 1 apical plantar setae include four (rarely 5) rounded platellae and one acute seta; metatarsus 2 apex with one acute, two rounded and one acute platellae.

Measurements.

Male (n=129). Apex of crown to apex of tegmina 3.75–4.31 mm; apex of crown to apex of abdomen 3.62–4.23 mm; crown length 0.74–0.83 mm; crown length next to eyes 0.43–0.48 mm; pronotum length 0.43–0.48 mm; head width 1.37–1.50 mm; pronotum width 1.20–1.34 mm; ocellus diameter 25–31 µm; interocular distance 65–80 µm; crown angle 83–87°; crown length/crown length next to eye=1.67–1.77; head width/pronotum width=1.10–1.16; ocellus diameter/interocular distance=0.34–0.44; crown length/pronotum length=1.65–1.80; pronotum length/ pronotum width=0.35–0.37; length from apex of crown to apex of tegmina/length from apex of crown to apex of abdomen=0.98–1.07.

Female (n=92). Apex of crown to apex of tegmina 3.68–4.20 mm; apex of crown to apex of abdomen 4.35–5.05 mm; crown length 0.75–0.85 mm; crown length next to eyes 0.44–0.50 mm; pronotum length 0.43–0.48 mm; head width 1.38–1.52 mm; pronotum width 1.20–1.34 mm; ocellus diameter 25–32 µm; interocular distance 62–76 µm; crown angle 82–87°; crown length/crown length next to eye=1.63–1.76; head width/pronotum width=1.12–1.16; ocellus diameter/interocular distance=0.36–0.47; crown length/pronotum length=1.68–1.48; pronotum length/ pronotum width=0.35–0.37; length from apex of crown to apex of tegmina/length from apex of crown to apex of abdomen=0.80–0.87.

Terminalia.

Male.

Segment 10. Large, slightly depressed, deeply incised into base of pygofer, narrowly conical in dorsal view, lateral margins straight, convex in P. diacaphalis ( Fig. 30B View FIGURE 30 ), 1.05–1.32 times longer than wide ( Figs 23C, J, R View FIGURE 23 , 28A View FIGURE 28 , 30A, B View FIGURE 30 ); greatest width at base/greatest width at apex=1.49–1.85; greatest width across pygofer/greatest width of segment 10=0.51–0.59. Ventrally with medial, membranous recess ( Figs 23R View FIGURE 23 , 28A View FIGURE 28 , 30A, B View FIGURE 30 ). Apex almost reaching apex of pygofer lobe.

Pygofer. In lateral view triangular, dorsal view rectangular; basal suture right-angled ( Figs 23C View FIGURE 23 , 30A View FIGURE 30 ) or short, straight ( Fig. 23R View FIGURE 23 ); anterior margin with short or elongate apodeme, rarely without apodeme. Pygofer lobe acutely triangular in lateral view, apex membranous, tumid, semicircular, subapically with median, ovoid lobe ( Fig. 23S View FIGURE 23 ), base of phragma attached medioventrally, with microtrichia and short setae; dorsomedially with straight to slightly curvate, edentate process, mediad of apical, membranous lobe ( Fig. 23J View FIGURE 23 ), protruding slightly or recessed behind apex of lobe; 2–4 short macrosetae (40–70 µm long) laterad of origin of process ( Fig. 23S View FIGURE 23 ).

Subgenital plate. Lateral margin curvate, medial margin straight to sublinear, narrowly divergent, length/ width=1.31–1.60; macrosetae variable in position and number, 19–25 ( Fig. 23D, K View FIGURE 23 ), in distal three quarters, 13–19 in distal half, or 7–9 subapically; length 100–175 µm. Style apex extend half-way to three quarters into subgenital plate. Dorsomedial ridge articulated with style.

Valve. Crescentic ( Fig. 23D View FIGURE 23 ) to narrowly rectangular ( Fig. 23K View FIGURE 23 , 30C View FIGURE 30 ); length/width=0.18–0.22.

Style. Narrow, elongate, greatest length/greatest average width=5.10–5.87, length apophysis/greatest length=0.16–0.20; apophysis with fine, ventral teeth ( Fig. 30K, L View FIGURE 30 ), preapical lobe rounded ( Figs 26E View FIGURE 26 , 30H View FIGURE 30 ) or right-angled ( Fig. 23G View FIGURE 23 ), anterior lateral lobe produced anteriad, about as wide or wider than median width of style, anterior medial lobe short Fig. 23G View FIGURE 23 in Theron (1975), Figs 26E View FIGURE 26 , 30H View FIGURE 30 .

Connective. Y-shaped, transverse, short, wide stem, commonly articulated to preatrium. Width stem/width arms=0.5–0.6; length arms/length stem=0.9–2.0; angle of arms 78–106°; greatest length/greatest width=0.5–0.7; length stem/width greatest=0.2–0.3; Fig. 23H View FIGURE 23 in Theron (1975), Figs 26F View FIGURE 26 , 28E View FIGURE 28 with differentiation of sclerotized and de-sclerotized arms. Rarely fused to atrium, arms Y-shaped ( Fig. 30E, J View FIGURE 30 ).

Aedeagus. Aedeagal shaft in lateral view, strongly to weakly compressed (medial width laterally/medial width in anterior or posterior view=0.99–2.79). Dorsal apodeme commonly reduced ( Figs 23E, L, M, O View FIGURE 23 , 26A, C View FIGURE 26 , 28B, C View FIGURE 28 ), with membranous lobes ( Fig. 28B, C, G, H View FIGURE 28 ) or 0.21–0.42 times as long as greatest length of aedeagus ( Fig. 30D, E View FIGURE 30 ). Preatrium variable, short ( Figs 23E, L View FIGURE 23 , 26A, C View FIGURE 26 ) to very short ( Figs 23M View FIGURE 23 , 28B View FIGURE 28 ), 0.21–0.43 times as long as greatest width across base of aedeagus, or absent ( Fig. 30D View FIGURE 30 ). Anterior margin of shaft with variable, apical and basal teeth. Anterior apical teeth short ( Figs 23E, F, L–Q View FIGURE 23 , 26A, B View FIGURE 26 ), reduced ( Fig. 26C View FIGURE 26 ) or elongate ( Figs 28B–D, F–I View FIGURE 28 , 30D–F View FIGURE 30 ). Anterior subbasal teeth as one pair ( Figs 23E, F, L View FIGURE 23 , 28B, C, G View FIGURE 28 ), two basal, paired, symmetrical teeth ( Fig. 23M–P View FIGURE 23 ) or asymmetrical teeth ( Fig. 26A–D View FIGURE 26 ). Posterior margin of shaft with short, apical and median paired teeth ( Figs 23E, F, L–Q View FIGURE 23 , 26A–D View FIGURE 26 ), or median paired teeth long ( Figs 28G–I View FIGURE 28 , 30D–F View FIGURE 30 ). Gonopore from subapex of anterior margin to subapex of posterior margin, narrow anteriorly, wide with rounded base posteriorly ( Figs 23F, N, P, Q View FIGURE 23 , 26B, D View FIGURE 26 , 28C, D View FIGURE 28 , 30E, F View FIGURE 30 ).

Female.

Genital capsule. Ovipositor protruding beyond posterior margin ( Figs 22G View FIGURE 22 , 24J View FIGURE 24 ), length from base of pygofer to apex of V3/length of pygofer=1.47–1.53.

Sternite 7. Trapezoid; posterior margin sublinear, lateral margins straight or curvate ( Fig. 24A View FIGURE 24 ) or with slight median projection ( Fig. 30I View FIGURE 30 ); medial length/average lateral length=0.95–1.07; length/width=0.47–0.57; width across apex/width across base=0.59–0.67.

Valvula 1. Lanceolate ( Fig. 24H View FIGURE 24 ), sculpture laterally imbricate apically ( Figs 24K View FIGURE 24 , 25F View FIGURE 25 ), medially strigate marginally, imbricate basally ( Figs 24L View FIGURE 24 , 29F View FIGURE 29 ); sculpture medially finely anastomosing, striate ( Fig. 29E View FIGURE 29 ).

Valvula 2. Distal half slightly wider than base, margin edentate or minutely denticulate on subapical medial margin ( Figs 24M View FIGURE 24 , 25A, D, E View FIGURE 25 , 29H View FIGURE 29 ), marginal to submarginal pore-like structures ( Figs 24N, O View FIGURE 24 , 25B, C View FIGURE 25 ), distal third forked ( Fig. 24I View FIGURE 24 ), ratio length to join in forked apex/greatest length=0.30–0.38; sculpture laterally as in Fig. 29G View FIGURE 29 , medially as in Fig. 29H View FIGURE 29 .

Valvula 3. Elongate, length/width=6.01–7.62; apex and subapex with numerous (n=32–45) short, length 23–35 µm, thin (2–3 µm), rarely thicker (3–4 µm) setae ( Figs 24P View FIGURE 24 , 29C, D View FIGURE 29 ).

Valvifer 1. Longer than wide (length/width=1.42–1.92), variable dimensions between left and right valvifers, shape of margins variable ( Fig. 24B, C View FIGURE 24 ), fused dorsally ( Fig. 24G View FIGURE 24 ).

Valvifer 2. 2–3 times longer than wide ( Figs 24D View FIGURE 24 , 29A View FIGURE 29 ), (length/width=2.57–3.00), sculpture as in Figs 24E, F View FIGURE 24 , 25H, I View FIGURE 25 , 29B View FIGURE 29 , with triangular microtrichia and up to eight circular, pore-like structures.

Remarks. Proekes cephaleus and three new species described below are recognized as distinct by a combination of external and internal male and female features as in the diagnosis above and species diagnoses below. Proekes is generally larger than the three other genera described here, e.g., length from apex of crown to apex of tegmina 3.72–4.26 mm and in the female the prolongation of the valvula 3 well beyond the posterior margin of the pygofer lobe. Notable is the range in shape of the aedeagal shaft, that is strongly compressed, weakly compressed or tubular, and a possible association between long and short teeth on the shaft and the degree of compression of the shaft, i.e., short teeth in the compressed shaft and long teeth in the tubular shaft. Further, the relation of the reduction or extension of the dorsal apodeme and preatrium respectively, applied here, as in Colistra . The dorsal apodeme is clearly reduced and preatrium relatively elongated in P. cephaleus (Naudé) and P. hemiplatyphalis sp. n., but somewhat developed in P. tetracaphalis sp. n. and the dorsal apodeme well developed and preatrium reduced in P. diacaphalis sp. n. The symmetry and asymmetry of 1–2 pairs of teeth at the base or subbase of the anterior margin of the aedeagal shaft is somewhat comparable to the consistent, single pair in all species of Proekoides . The single male from Clanwilliam included in P. tetracaphalis sp. n. and specimens of P. cephaleus from Verlorenvlei suggest possible additional species. The orientation of the shaft at rest in the genital capsule is considered as vertical, with the apex of the shaft at rest in the membranous recess in the segment 10. Caudal examination of whole specimens occasionally corroborated this position. During maceration the shaft is dislodged and even if pushed back, seemed to lift the anal tube, or return to a more horizontal orientation. The pygofer process in Proekes is consistently edentate and sublinear in dorsal and lateral views, in Colistra it is sublinear and toothed ventrally and in Proekoides concave and toothed dorsally. The connective and style resemble that of Colistra and Proekoides . In Proekes the connective is transversely rectangular, with ratio greatest length/greatest width=0.40–0.65; Colistra = 0.50–0.65; Proekoides = 0.62–0.76; but more equilateral in Xhoreus (0.8–1.0). The subgenital plate and valve are similar to that of Colistra and Proekoides . The long extension of valvula 3 of the female ovipositor is unique in this genus and tribe. Modelled distribution of the combined records of four species in Fig. 33B View FIGURE 33 .

Key to males of Proekes species

1 Aedeagal shaft compressed (median width in lateral view/median width in dorsal or ventral view=1.73–3.28), teeth on shaft short (much shorter than width of shaft in lateral view), preatrium short (preatrium length/length across base of aedeagus=0.23– 0.45)............................................................................................... 2

1`Aedeagal shaft tubular or weakly compressed, teeth on shaft long (as long as or longer than width of shaft in lateral view), preatrium short or reduced.............................................................................. 3

2 Aedeagal shaft strongly compressed, (median width in lateral view/median width in dorsal or ventral view=2.28–3.58) ( Fig. 23E, F, L–Q View FIGURE 23 ), preatrium short (preatrium length/length across base of aedeagus=0.16–0.34) ( Fig. 23E, L, O View FIGURE 23 )............................................................................................ Proekes cephaleus (Naudé) View in CoL

2`Aedeagal shaft weakly compressed, (median width in lateral view/median width in dorsal or ventral view=1.54–2.02) ( Fig. 26A–D View FIGURE 26 ), preatrium elongate (preatrium length/length across base of aedeagus=0.40–0.44) ( Fig. 26A, C View FIGURE 26 )............................................................................................ Proekes hemiplatyphalis View in CoL sp. n.

3 Apex of shaft with two paired, tubular teeth ( Fig. 28B–D, F–L View FIGURE 28 ); subgenital plate with many macrosetae in distal half..................................................................................... Proekes tetracaphalis View in CoL sp. n.

3`Apex of shaft with one paired, depressed tooth ( Fig. 30D–F View FIGURE 30 ), subgenital plate with few macrosetae at apex ( Fig. 30C View FIGURE 30 )..................................................................................... Proekes diacaphalis View in CoL sp. n.