Sophonia chandrai, Meshram, Naresh M. & Ramamurthy, V. V., 2013

Meshram, Naresh M. & Ramamurthy, V. V., 2013, Description of a new evacanthine leafhopper species Sophonia chandrai sp. nov., with new record of Chudania axona (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from India, Zootaxa 3717 (2), pp. 224-230 : 225-227

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3717.2.6

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:03F0A485-84DC-400C-B2CB-A6C6FFFF95A7

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6158452

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E787F5-B128-6370-FF14-06E5C898FDA3

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Sophonia chandrai
status

sp. nov.

Sophonia chandrai View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–13 View FIGURE 1 – 13 )

Yellow. Forewing hyaline, yellowish, with pale brown stripe along anal margin rarely reaching apex of clavus, claval apex brown; second apical cell with black spot.

Head angularly produced. Anterior margin of pronotum not extending beyond eyes. Anteclypeus not exceeding facial margin ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 1 – 13 ). Frontoclypeus broad with distinct transverse ridges and face with distinct median carina. Frontal suture extending onto vertex, terminating laterad of ocelli ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 1 – 13 ). Ocelli near lateral margins of crown, distance between eye and ocellus 3X diameter of ocellus. Crown broadly concave and with irregular sculpturing anteriorly. Antennae situated somewhat at level with upper margin of eye in facial view. Scutellum 1.5 X as long as pronotum, transverse depression distinct and nearly reaching lateral margin. Pronotum 0.35X longer than broad and 0.64X longer than crown ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 1 – 13 ). Forewing without appendix ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 1 – 13 ).

Male genitalia. Pygofer triangular, slightly pointed at apex, with several macrosetae at posterior margin, ventral process long, thin with pointed apex ( Fig. 12 View FIGURE 1 – 13 ). Subgenital plate broader at base than at apex, with median row of stout macrosetae ( Fig. 8 View FIGURE 1 – 13 ). Style preapical lobe robust, apophysis slender, apex with short, beaklike extension ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 1 – 13 ). Connective Y-shaped with stem 3X as long as arms, apex expanded ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 1 – 13 ). Aedeagus robust, membranous. Dorsal apodeme robust with one pair of long, recurved apical process about as long as dorsal apodeme in lateral view; two pairs of lateral shorter, spinelike processes, one basolaterally and one near apex; aedeagal shaft curved ventrally in proximal 0.33, posteriorly in middle 0.33 and dorsally in distal 0.33 region; apex flared and rounded ( Figs. 9&10 View FIGURE 1 – 13 ).

Female genitalia. Hind margin of seventh sternite almost straight, with median bilobed short extension ( Fig. 13 View FIGURE 1 – 13 ), ovipositor extending well beyond pygofer.

Measurements. Male 4.8 mm long, 1.1 mm wide across eyes, 0.83 mm wide across hind margin of pronotum. Female 5.5 mm long, 1.33 mm wide across eyes, 1.2 mm wide across hind margin of pronotum

Type material. Holotype ♂, INDIA: Manipur: Tupul (25°6'29"N 92°21'42"E, 1379 M), 07.vii.2012, Mercury vapour lamp, Roni, K. Paratypes 3♂ & 4♀, same data as Holotype (NPC).

Etymology. The species is named after Dr. C A. Viraktamath in recognition of his invaluable contributions to the taxonomy of leafhoppers.

Remarks. Sophonia chandrai sp. nov. resembles S. complicata Viraktamath & Wesley , but can be distinguished by the shape of the aedeagus (features of S. complicata in parentheses): Pygofer ventral process long, thin with pointed apex without spinelike branch at base (slender process arises, directed caudally, upcurved at right angles at midlength, apex slightly hooked, bearing spinelike branch at base). Dorsal apodeme of aedeagus robust with one pair of long, recurved, apical process about as long as dorsal apodeme in lateral view; two pairs of lateral shorter, spinelike processes, one basolaterally and one near apex (two arms of dorsal apodemes well separated, wing like, completely covering entire length of shaft laterally, each arm with dorsomedian, caudal, and caudoventral, long processes).

Sophonia complicata Viraktamath & Wesley

Sophonia complicata Viraktamath & Wesley 1988: 210 , Figs. 208–220

Material examined. Paratype ♂ & 1 ♀, INDIA: Mizorum: Aizawl, 18.xi.1981, C. S. Wesley Coll. (NPC).

In the key to the species of Sophonia by Viraktamath and Wesley (1988), the new species runs to Sophonia complicata Viraktamath & Wesley , but the male genitalia characters do not agree. Couplet 10 can be modified as follows to include the new species

10. Vertex with median, broad, orange stripe continued on pronotum, anteriorly narrowed; posterior half on pronotum broadned and blackish, scutellum blackish (Viraktamath & Wesley 1988: Figs 154–155); pygofer process short, blade-like, and pointed at apex Viraktamath & Wesley 1988: Fig.159); aedeagus shaft tubular with apical, ventrally directed, platelike process (Viraktamath & Wesley 1988: Figs 162–163)...................................................... illuminata (Distant)

- Vertex, pronotum, and scutellum whitish yellow; pygofer process long, slender and elbowed ( Fig. 12 View FIGURE 1 – 13 ); aedegus not as above.................................................................................................... 11

11. Two arms of dorsal apodeme well separated, winglike, completely covering entire length of shaft laterally Viraktamath & Wesley 1988: Figs 218–220)).................................................... complicata Viraktamath & Wesley

- Dorsal apodeme robust with one pair of long, recurved, apical process about as long as dorsal apodeme in lateral view; two pairs of lateral shorter, spinelike processes, one basolaterally and one near apex ( Fig. 9&10 View FIGURE 1 – 13 )............. chandrai sp. nov.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hemiptera

Family

Cicadellidae

Genus

Sophonia

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