Flavorubivolatus, Stiller, 2021

Stiller, Michael, 2021, New macropterous leafhopper genera and species within the tribe Bonaspeiini from the Fynbos biome of South Africa (Insecta, Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadellidae), African Invertebrates 62 (1), pp. 1-45 : 1

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/afrinvertebr.62.54721
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BF44E5BA-47C5-4562-BC40-8CF482B6BBA7
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/266CA90E-1824-418C-9505-042F9A8559B2
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:266CA90E-1824-418C-9505-042F9A8559B2
treatment provided by	African Invertebrates by Pensoft
scientific name	Flavorubivolatus
status	gen. nov.

Treatment

Flavorubivolatus gen. nov. Figures 10 View Figure 10 , 11 View Figure 11 , 12 View Figure 12 , 13 View Figure 13 , 14 View Figure 14 , 15 View Figure 15 , 16 View Figure 16 , 17 View Figure 17

Type-species.

Flavorubivolatus glabriverpus sp. nov., by present designation.

Diagnosis.

Macropterous, with tegmina longer than abdomen, hind wing with well-developed jugal lobe (Fig. 15P View Figure 15 ), 2.6-3.8 mm from apex of crown to apex of tegmina. Color yellow to stramineous (Fig. 10A, E View Figure 10 ) or reddish orange (Figs 10F-I View Figure 10 , 11A-D View Figure 11 ) head, pronotum and scutellum, tegmina light brown, translucent, costal cells opaque, pale yellow (Fig. 10E, F View Figure 10 ) or whitish (Fig. 11D View Figure 11 ). Aedeagus with shaft narrow tubular (Fig. 15A, C View Figure 15 ) or compressed (Figs 16A-D View Figure 16 , 17B-D View Figure 17 ), either immaculate, curvate, convex, orientation posteroventrad (Fig. 15E View Figure 15 ), or with shaft with paired long (Fig. 16A-D View Figure 16 ) or short basal acuminate process (Fig. 17C, D View Figure 17 ). Subgenital plate triangular, apex narrowly rounded (Fig. 15O View Figure 15 ), broadly round (Fig. 16J View Figure 16 ) or truncated (Fig. 17H View Figure 17 ); apex extended beyond margin of pygofer lobe (Figs 15K View Figure 15 , 16L View Figure 16 , 17G View Figure 17 ). Pygofer lobe at apex with short (Fig. 15N View Figure 15 ) or long acuminate sublinear process, oriented posteromediad (Fig. 16H, I, K, N View Figure 16 ) or apically denticulate and oriented mediad (Fig. 17G, J, K, L View Figure 17 ).

Male and female.

Color. Yellow to stramineous (Fig. 10A, E View Figure 10 ) or reddish orange head, pronotum and scutellum (Figs 10F-I View Figure 10 , 11A-D View Figure 11 ), tegmina light brown, translucent, costal cells opaque, pale yellow (Fig. 10A, E View Figure 10 ) or whitish (Fig. 10F, H View Figure 10 ).

Measurements.

All specimens of all species. Length from apex of crown to apex of tegmina 2.58-3.78 mm. Crown median length 0.44-0.54 mm. Crown length next to eye 0.31-0.36 mm. Pronotum length 0.35-0.39 mm. Head width across eyes 0.89-1.12 mm. Pronotum width 0.88-0.97 mm. Ocellus diameter 25.9-35.3 µm; interocular distance 40.3-54.1 µm. Males and females with similar dimensions. Crown angle by trigonometry 85.1-92.8°.

Wings.

Tegmina with four apical cells, outer and central anteapical cells (inner anteapical cell and inner discal cells merged) (Fig. 15Q View Figure 15 ). Hind wing with vannal lobe large, greatest length 0.4 times greatest width of hind wing), four apical cells (Fig. 15P View Figure 15 ).

Profemur.

Anteromedial margin with basal 7-9 AV setae short, spine-like; intercalary setae (n=8-10) disjunct without AV1 differentiation, subapical AM1 longer and thicker than any setae in IC.

Metatibia.

Hind knee setal formula 2+2+1; apical pair sub equal, shorter than long median seta, median setae with one very long and the other very narrow and about half as long; basal seta longer than median and apical setae.

Metatarsi.

Metatarsus 1 apex with five rounded platellae or four rounded and one acute platellum; metatarsus 2 apex with two lateral acute and two medial rounded platellae.

Abdominal apodemes.

Anterior abdominal apodeme with desclerotized, rounded or angulate lobes, expanded anteriad and posteriad, not wider than width of apodeme, lobes contiguous in males, separate in females.

Male.

Genitalia. Anal tube. Rectangular (Fig. 15J View Figure 15 ) or conical (Figs 16H View Figure 16 , 17J View Figure 17 ), 1.1-1.4 times longer than wide.

Pygofer.

In lateral view about as long as wide (Figs 15J, K View Figure 15 , 16H, L View Figure 16 ), or longer than wide (Fig. 17G, J View Figure 17 ), anal tube incised either superficial (Fig. 15J, K View Figure 15 ), or about half way (Fig. 16H, L View Figure 16 ), or about three quarters into pygofer (Fig. 17G, J View Figure 17 ), anterior basal fold straight to sublinear at about 45°; anterior apodemes narrow.

Pygofer lobe.

Pygofer lobe contiguous with pygofer, apex broadly rounded, with desclerotized rounded lobe (Fig. 15J, K, L, N View Figure 15 ) or more narrowly rounded with wider membranous lobe (Figs 16I View Figure 16 , 17G View Figure 17 ) at apex. Pygofer process either short, acute, curvate (Fig. 15L, N View Figure 15 ), or sinuous (Fig. 16K, N View Figure 16 ) or elongate and straight with denticulate apex (Fig. 17J, K, L View Figure 17 ). Macrosetae elongate, narrow, near dorsoposterior apex of pygofer, 10-20, longest macrosetum about as long as width across subapex (Fig. 15K View Figure 15 ) or midsection pygofer lobe (Figs 16L View Figure 16 , 17G View Figure 17 ).

Subgenital plate.

Lateral margin sinuous, medial margin straight; either acutely triangular, apex narrowly rounded (Fig. 15O View Figure 15 ), or right-angled elongate triangular with broadly rounded apex (Fig. 16J View Figure 16 ), or right-angled triangular with truncated apex (Fig. 17H View Figure 17 ); 1.6-2.2 times longer than width at confluence of valve and subgenital plates. Macrosetae 1-3 irregular rows, marginal to submarginal, across most of lateral margin, 7-15 macrosetae, variable in number between left and right subgenital plate. Apex extended beyond posterior margin of pygofer, orientation medioposteriad (Figs 15K View Figure 15 , 16L View Figure 16 ) or curvate dorsoposteriad (Fig. 17G View Figure 17 ).

Valve.

Broader than long, obtusely triangular (Figs 15O View Figure 15 , 16J View Figure 16 , 17H View Figure 17 ).

Aedeagus.

Shaft longer than dorsal apodeme and preatrium (when present), either tubular, concavely curvate, glabrous (Fig. 15A, C, E View Figure 15 ); or compressed and straight to sublinear in (Fig. 16A-D View Figure 16 ), with long, basal to subbasal paired, straight process, process about half as long as shaft; or compressed and straight (Fig. 17B-D View Figure 17 ) with very short paired, acuminate process basally, length of process less than diameter of shaft. Dorsal apodeme and preatrium short, shorter than shaft (about 1/5 length of shaft). Gonopore incised longitudinally into apex, symmetrical (Fig. 15B, D, F View Figure 15 ); or oblique from subapex dorsally to less than half of ventral margin (Fig. 16A-D View Figure 16 ); or approximately half of ventral margin (Fig. 17B, C, D View Figure 17 )

Style.

Relatively short (ratio of length to width, 1.9-2.4); anterior lateral arm either wide and apex rounded, in line with mid-section, or acuminate and obtusely angled to mid-section; anterior medial arm short; apophysis half as wide as width across preapical lobe; apophysis either scalpriform in lateral view (Fig. 15I View Figure 15 ), or digitate, curved lateroposteriad (Fig. 16E View Figure 16 ) or acuminate, angled lateroposteriad (Fig. 17F View Figure 17 ), apophysis 0.3-0.4 times as long as greatest length of style; situated basally in subgenital plate (Figs 15O View Figure 15 , 16J View Figure 16 , 17H View Figure 17 ).

Connective.

Stem and arms short, of similar proportions, greatest length 0.9-1.1 times greatest width; stem 0.5-0.7 times as wide as width across arms; arms widely separated, parallel to subparallel, U-shaped with stem; stem 0.8-1.1 times longer than length of arms (Figs 15G View Figure 15 , 16F, G View Figure 16 , 17E View Figure 17 ).

Female.

Genital capsule. Sternite 7. Slightly shorter (median length) than greatest width (0.7-0.8 times longer than wide), with lateral margin convergent, posterior margin variable, with very shallow V-shaped notch or without notch (Figs 15M View Figure 15 , 16M View Figure 16 ).

Valvifer 1.

Slightly longer than wide, dorsal and ventral margins broadly rounded, anterior margin truncated and posterior margin acute (Fig. 12A, J View Figure 12 ), or rectangular (Fig. 13C, F View Figure 13 ) or elongated and pointed anterior and posterior margins (Fig. 14A, C, E View Figure 14 ). In dorsal view valvifers fused membranously at apex, dorsal margin right-angled mediad.

Valvula 1.

Lanceolate, curvate (Figs 12A View Figure 12 , 13H View Figure 13 ). Sculpture submarginal along dorsal margin, attaining about half-length, reticulate, maculose (Fig. 13I, J, K View Figure 13 ) (as categorized by Zahniser and Dietrich 2008).

Valvifer 2.

Elongate, with group of sensory setae, margin attached to valvula 3 rounded or rectangular (Figs 12C, I View Figure 12 , 13D, G View Figure 13 , 14D View Figure 14 )

Valvula 2.

About apical half serrate (Figs 12B, G View Figure 12 , 13D, L View Figure 13 , 14D View Figure 14 ), with trough and crest with fine teeth (Figs 12D, E, H, K View Figure 12 , 14B View Figure 14 ); midsection with sclerotized dorsal margin.

Valvula 3.

Single row of submarginal macrosetae (Figs 12C, F View Figure 12 , 13A, B, E View Figure 13 , 14F View Figure 14 ).

Etymology.

Named the yellow-red hopper, in Latin, yellow, flavus, red, ruber, nouns in apposition and flying, volatus. Gender Masculine.

Discussion.

The three species in this genus are recognized by their color and configuration of the aedeagus. Flavorubivolatus glabriverpus sp. nov. is yellowish (Fig. 10A, E View Figure 10 ) with a concavely curved aedeagal shaft without spines (Fig. 15A, C, E View Figure 15 ), and F. tensiverpus sp. nov. and F. curtiverpus sp. nov. are more reddish (Figs 10F-I View Figure 10 , 11A-D View Figure 11 , respectively) with the former with a straight shaft and spines about half as long as the shaft (Fig. 16A-D View Figure 16 ) and F. curtiverpus sp. nov. with the spines short, shorter than the diameter of the shaft (Fig. 17C, D View Figure 17 ). Low numbers of specimens of F. tensiverpus sp. nov. as well as lack of females of F. curtiverpus sp. nov. and their overlapping localities and collection dates with specimens of F. glabriverpus sp. nov. has detracted from the robust species hypothesis. However, no parasites or parasitoids were found in any of the examined specimens, although the sex-altering effect of Wolbachia ( Negri et al. 2009; Saridaki and Bourtzis 2010) was considered, but the males of these species do not appear to be feminized. No parts were considered deformed or intermediate, or teneral. None of the specimens of the Flavorubivolatus gen. nov. collected by the author were on Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis , the only known associated plant of Renosteria .

This new genus resembles Renosteria in macroptery, similar triangular crown (i.e., species of Renosteria 71.9-78.7°, species of Flavorubivolatus gen. nov. 85.1-92.8°), and the corresponding longitudinal, rectangular sternite 7. It differs from Renosteria in color (species of Renosteria are yellow-green (Fig. 13G-I View Figure 13 ) or brown ( R. overbergia and R. cangica similar, as in Fig. 11F View Figure 11 ), compared to yellow or reddish in Flavorubivolatus ) and in its slightly larger length from apex of vertex to apex of tegmina, i.e. 3.5-4.2 mm in Renosteria , compared to 2.6-3.8 mm in Flavorubivolatus . It also differs in the following aspects of the male genitalia.

The male pygofer lobe in Renosteria is obtusely or acutely triangular or rounded, with the process origin dorsomedial or subapical or apical, straight or sublinear, orientation ventrad or posteroventrad. In contrast the pygofer lobe in Flavorubivolatus gen. nov. is broadly rounded, with the process origin apical, curvate or straight, orientation ventrad or mediad.

The aedeagus in Renosteria is convexly curvate ( R. cangica , R. goudinica , R. overbergia , R. spadix , R. waverena ), concavely curvate ( R. montagua , R. piquetia ), or sinuous ( R. albanensis , R. hantamensis , R. hoekoensis , R. karosella ) or straight ( R. ceresensis ); aedeagal process about as long as shaft, or half as long as shaft ( R. goudinica ), origin usually on atrium or preatrium, rarely on the shaft ( R. overbergia , R. piquetia ). The aedeagus in Flavorubivolatus is convexly curvate without process ( F. glabriverpus sp. nov.) or straight to sublinear with straight process half as long as shaft ( F. tensiverpus sp. nov.) or very short ( F. curtiverpus sp. nov.) with origin subbasally on shaft.

The connective in Renosteria with ratio of greatest length to greatest width 1.09-1.31. In Flavorubivolatus gen. nov. the ratio of greatest length to greatest width similar, 0.95-1.22 in F. glabriverpus sp. nov., or slightly shorter, 0.82-1.00 in F. tensiverpus sp. nov., 0.93-1.04 in F. curtiverpus sp. nov. Other ratios such as width stem/width arm, length stem/length arm and length stem/width arm correspond.

The subgenital plate in Renosteria requires re-examination, but corresponds in arrangement of macrosetae, with length to width ratio 1.5-1.9 times longer than wide. In Flavorubivolatus gen. nov. it is 1.6-1.9 times longer than wide.

The style in Renosteria requires re-examination, with the anterior lateral lobe acutely angled to the sagittal plane through the apophysis and mid-section, and in Flavorubivolatus gen. nov. it is approximately in line with the sagittal line.