Goniagnathus (Tropicognathus) nepalicus, Viraktamath & Gnaneswaran, 2009

Viraktamath, C. A. & Gnaneswaran, R., 2009, Three new species of Goniagnathus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from the Indian subcontinent with description of a new subgenus, Zootaxa 2224 (1), pp. 51-59 : 57

Goniagnathus (Tropicognathus) nepalicus sp. nov.

Figs 3, 4 , 14–18 .

Pale brown with reddish brown and brown markings. Crown with transverse stripe between ocelli, region between eye and ocellus with two thin short transverse stripes, dark brown. Anterior margin of head creamy white. Face with brown and reddish brown transverse stripes on frontoclypeus, brown spots on thorax, scutellum and forewings variable in number and richness. Fore-legs pale brown with reduced brown markings.

Head slightly longer medially than next to eyes.

Male genitalia: Pygophore twice as long laterally as maximum height, with well developed cephalic apodeme, anterior margin strongly oblique, so that articulation with sternum caudally displaced almost to mid-length of pygophore; dorsal appendage about 0.33 as long as length of pygophore, confined to dorsal margin, caudal lobe conical. Fused subgenital plate broader at base, narrowed caudally, with almost straight caudal margin. Style with apophysis rounded. Aedeagus with shaft straight in basal 0.33, then arcuate, with rather hook-like, short, flange on either side apically, with a pair of lateral appendages not reaching apex of shaft, slightly laterally curved and broad at midlength and tapered distally, gonopore subapical, elongate.

Female: Seventh sternite broader than median length, caudo-lateral angles rounded, hind margin with lateral area concavely excavated and median lobe medially emarginated.

Measurements: Male 5.9 mm long, 2.2 mm wide across eyes; female 6.2 mm long, 2.3–2.5 mm wide across eyes.

Material examined: Holotype male, NEPAL: Kathmandu (Tokha-Sundarijal), 1.xi–4.xi.1978, V.K. Thapa ( UASB) . Paratypes: 1 male, 2 females data as for holotype ( BMNH, IARI, UASB) .

Remarks: G. nepalicus resembles G. punctifer in having extensive reddish brown markings and in the shape of the apex of subgenital plate. However, the new species differs from G. punctifer in having a rounded apex of the apophysis of the style, peculiar pygophore lobe and shape of the aedeagus.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Habitus and face of species of Goniagnathus (Tropicognathus). 1&2. G. (T.) anufrievi sp. nov.; 3&4. G. (T.) nepalicus sp. nov.; 5&6. G. (T.) zeylanicus sp. nov.

FIGURES 14–18. Goniagnathus (Tropicognathus) nepalicus sp. nov. 14. Pygophore lobe, lateral view; 15. Fused subgenital plate and style, dorsal view; 16. Aedeagus, lateral view; 17. Aedeagus, caudal view; 18. Female seventh sternite.