Tambocerus daii, Viraktamath, 2012

Viraktamath, C. A., 2012, Seven new species of the leafhopper genus Tambocerus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 3385 (1), pp. 43-61 : 49-54

Tambocerus daii sp. nov.

Figs 5, 6 , 40–46 .

Carvaka thoracica Distant : Pruthi, 1934b: 81–82, pl. VI, 6, 6a; text fig 100 (misidentification)

Ochraceous with oblique transverse spot on either side of median line on outer margin, laterally connected with transverse spot along median impressed line discontinuous medially, one round spot on either side of median line on posterior margin of vertex, dark brown. Pronotum and forewing richly speckled with prominent dark brown spots, forewing venation, one spot at end of claval veins and veins reaching costal margin, dark brown. Scutellum with basal triangles fuscous, three spots on posterior half of scutum on either side of median line, dark brown, lateral and posterior margin of scutellum pale yellow. Fore femora, basal half of fore tibiae, middle and hind femora, apical 0.33 of hind tibiae spots at bases of setae on hind tibiae, dark brown, apices of tarsi dark brown.

Head about as wide as pronotum. Vertex 2.6–2.9 times as wide between eyes as median length. Fore tibia with dorsal setal formula 2+8 (some individuals with 2+6 or 2+9 setae).

Male genitalia. Pygofer more or less quadrangular, with dorsal and posterior marginal thickening, dorsoposterior region with numerous macrosetae. Subgenital plate with apical extension and submarginal macrosetae in addition to hair-like marginal setae. Style with large apical lobe, slender slightly curved apophysis. Aedeagus broad at base, shaft dorsally abruptly upturned at midlength almost at right angle, lateral marginal serrations sparse but prominent.

Female genitalia. Seventh sternite 2.1 times as wide as median length, posterior margin broadly produced but short, with sinuate posterior margin ( Fig. 46 ).

Measurements. Male 6.90 mm long, 1.79 mm wide across eyes. Female 7.05–7.40 mm long, 1.86–1.89 mm wide across eyes.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂, INDIA: Kerala: 12 Km N. Munnar, 2000m, 23.iii.1977, C.A.Viraktamath ( UASB) . PARATYPES, 4 ♀, INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Ootacamund , 2350 m, 4.vi.1977, S. Viraktamath Coll. ( UASB, NPC) . Other material: INDIA: Tamil Nadu: 1♂, K.K. [Kodaikanal], 6900–7200 ft, Carvaka thoracica Distant , det H.S. Pruthi, 4060/H7 ( ZSI) .

Remarks. T. daii sp. nov. is the most darkly pigmented species of Tambocerus known from the Indian subcontinent, it also has distinct marginal dark brown spots in the distal half of the forewing costal margin. It resembles T. disparatus (Distant) in the shape of the aedeagal shaft in the posterior view, but differs from the latter in having more quadrate pygofer lobe and the apophysis of style more slender and elongate, and the aedeagal shaft is curved at midlength almost at right angle a character it shares with the Chinese T. elongatus Shen. The subgenital plate of T. daii is more or less triangular and that of T. elongatus is concavely excavated on lateral margin near apex. Pruthi (1934b) misidentified this species as Carvaka thoracica Distant.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Dr W. Dai, China in recognition of his work on Cicadellidae .

Figures

FIGURES 1–12. Dorsal and lateral views of species of Tambocerus. 1&2. T. acutus sp. nov.; 3&4. T. cholas sp. nov.; 5&6. T. daii sp. nov.; 7&8. T. furcostylus sp. nov.; 9&10. T. viraktamathi Rao; 11&12. T.zahniseri sp. nov.

FIGURES 40–46. Tambocerus daii sp. nov.: 40. Male pygofer, lateral view; 41. Valve and subgenital plate, ventral view; 42. Connective, dorsal view; 43. Style, dorsal view; 44. Aedeagus, lateral view; 45. Aedeagus, posterior view; 46. Female seventh sternite, ventral view.