Opsius scutellaris (Lethierry)

El-Sonbati, Saad A., Wilson, Michael R. & Dhafer, Hathal M. Al, 2020, The Tamarix feeding Leafhopper genus Opsius Fieber, 1866 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae, Opsiini) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 67 (1), pp. 1-12 : 1

Opsius scutellaris (Lethierry) Figs 9-12 , 29-31 , 44-46 , 63 , 64

Athysanus scutellaris Lethierry 1874: 449

Opsius scutellaris Lethierry 1874: 449; Lindberg 1954: 227

Description.

In addition to generic characters, with the following characteristics.

Male genitalia. Pygofer slightly angled mid-posteriorly (Fig. 63 ); subgenital plate with gradually tapered apex (Fig. 44 ); connective Y-shaped (Fig. 46 ); apodemes narrow, extending to end of second abdominal segments, apodeme width three times as distance between each apodeme, posterior margin angled externally and tapered internally (Fig. 64 ); aedeagus with only a dorsal process, both distinctively curved inward at mid-length, aedeagal shafts with diverging branches, ratio of distance between two shafts at mid-length to tip length 5/11, curved inward at mid-length, longer that basal process, three times as wide as basal process, forming a hump or lamellate, basal process extending close to shaft branches, pointed; phallobase not inflated (Figs 29 , 30 ).

Measurement.

♂ 2.8 mm; pygofer, 0.41 mm; valve, 0.26 mm; subgenital plate, 0.39 mm; style, 0.42 mm; connective, 0.43 mm; apodemes, 0.45 mm; aedeagus to process, 0.17 mm; aedeagus to shaft, 0.10 mm; distance at top of aedeagal shafts, 0.17 mm; distance at mid-length of aedeagal shafts, 0.08 mm.

Specimens examined.

2♂, KSA: Abha Province , Sad Abha: 18°19.32'N, 042°31.00'E, vacuum, 23.III.2014, El-Sonbati, S. A .

Distribution.

Algeria, Canary Islands, China, Libya ( Metcalf 1967); Saudi Arabia (present study) (Figs 75 , 76 ).

Ecology and biology.

Two males of O. scutellaris were collected at Sad Abha (dam of Abha) from weedy plants surrounding a large pool in Abha Al Jadidah Park located in the central part of the city. This species is considered uncommon, with only two specimens collected during extensive sampling not only in southwestern region of KSA but also in Abha Al Jadidah Park (Figs 77-79 ).

Diagnosis.

Males of O. scutellaris can be distinguished from all members of the genus by subgenital apex with a lobe-like process; aedeagal shafts three times as wide as basal process, forming a hump or lamellate.

Figures

Figures 1 - 22. Habitus of Opsius spp. 1 - 4. O. heydeni (Lethierry), ♂, 1. dorsal view; 2. lateral view; 3. dorsal view of head and thorax; 4. face; 5 - 8. O. richteri Dlabola, ♂, 5. dorsal view; 6. lateral view; 7. dorsal view of head and thorax; 8. face; 9 - 12. O. scutellaris (Lethierry), ♂, 9. dorsal view; 10. lateral view; 11. dorsal view of head and thorax; 12. face; 13 - 18. O. versicolor (Distant), ♂, 13. dorsal view; 14. lateral view; 15. dorsal view of head and thorax; 16. face; 17. ♀, dorsal view; 18. ♀, dorsal view of head and thorax; 19 - 22. O. wilsoni sp. nov., ♂, 19. dorsal view; 20. lateral view; 21. dorsal view of head and thorax; 22. face.

Figures 23 - 37. Male genital structures of Opsius spp. 23 - 25. O. heydeni (Lethierry). 23. Aedeagus dorsal view; 24. Lateral view; 25. Style; 26 - 28. O. richteri Dlabola. 26. Aedeagus dorsal view, 27. Lateral view; 28. Style; 29 - 31. O. scutellaris (Lethierry). 29. Aedeagus dorsal view, 30. Lateral view; 31. Style; 32 - 34. O. versicolor (Distant). 32. Aedeagus dorsal view, 33. Lateral view; 34. Style; 35 - 37. O. wilsoni sp. nov. 35. Aedeagus dorsal view, 36. Lateral view; 37. Style.

Figures 38 - 52. Male genital structures of Opsius spp. 38 - 40. O. heydeni (Lethierry). 38. Subgenital plate, 39. Valve; 40. Connective; 41 - 43. O. richteri Dlabola. 41. Subgenital plate, 42. Valve; 43. Connective; 44 - 46. O. scutellaris (Lethierry). 44. Subgenital plate, 45. Valve; 46. Connective; 47 - 49. O. versicolor (Distant). 47. Subgenital plate. 48. Valve; 49. Connective; 50 - 52. O. wilsoni sp. nov. 50. Subgenital plate, 51. Valve; 52. Connective.

Figures 53 - 74. Male / Female genital structures of Opsius spp. 53 - 57. O. heydeni (Lethierry). 53. ♂, Pygofer, 54. ♂, Apodeme; 55. ♀, 7 th sternite; 56 - 57. ♀, Ovipositor. 58 - 62. O. richteri Dlabola. 58. ♂, Pygofer, 59. ♂, Apodeme; 60. ♀, 7 th sternite; 61, 62. ♀, Ovipositor. 63, 64. O. scutellaris (Lethierry). 63. ♂, Pygofer, 64. ♂, Apodeme; 65 - 69. O. versicolor (Distant). 65. ♂, Pygofer, 66. ♂, Apodeme; 67. ♀, 7 th sternite; 68, 69. ♀, Ovipositor. 70 - 74. O. wilsoni sp. nov. 70. ♂, Pygofer, 71. ♂, Apodeme; 72. ♀, 7 th sternite; 73, 74. ♀, Ovipositor.

Figures 75 - 79. 75, 76. Distribution of Opsius spp. 75. World distribution (point indicates presence in the country). 76. Local distribution; 77 - 79. Habitats of Opsius spp. 77. Locality: Muzahimiyah, Al Khararah: 24 ° 24.35 ' N, 46 ° 14.67 ' E; 78. Locality: Abha, Sad Abha: 18 ° 19.32 ' N, 42 ° 31.00 ' E; 79. Type locality: Jazan, Wadi Jazan: 17 ° 01.275 ' N, 42 ° 59.187 ' E.