Afronirvana Evans

Wang, Yang, Dietrich, Christopher H. & Zhang, Yalin, 2017, Review of two genera of Nirvanini leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae) from Africa, Zootaxa 4231 (3), pp. 431-441 : 432-433

Afronirvana Evans

( Figs 1–26 )

Type species: Afronirvana abrupta Evans, 1955

Diagnosis. This genus differs from all other known genera of Nirvanini in the crown convex and approximately as long as pronotum and distance between eyes, face strongly convex but with median depression, dorsum with median longitudinal dark marking extended from head to forewing apex, and aedeagus straight (not arched) in lateral view with distal extension curved posterobasad and appressed against shaft.

Description. Medium-sized leafhoppers (5.2–6.4 mm long) with dorsal coloration yellow to pale orange, marked with distinct dark longitudinal pattern from head to end of forewing. Head ( Figs 1 , 11 , 17 ) triangularly produced in dorsal view, as long as pronotum and distance between eyes. Crown ( Figs 1 , 11 , 17 ) convex, entire anterior and lateral margins separated from face by distinct carina extended from apex to dorsal end of lateral frontal suture; surface longitudinally rugulose medially with fine irregular striations sublaterally converging towards apex; coronal suture complete but only weakly carinate; ocelli well developed. Face ( Figs 2–3 , 18–19 ) strongly convex with median depression, frontoclypeus in profile oblique, ca. 30o from horizontal, surface shagreen, with strong median longitudinal carina on dorsal half and dorsolateral oblique rugae developed; antenna as long as combined length of crown and pronotum; antennal ledge well developed; lateral frontal suture extended to lateral margin of crown; anteclypeus convex, apex rounded, extended to margin of gena; lorum small, narrow, well-separated from lateral margin of gena; gena with lateral margin evenly rounded below eye, almost completely concealing proepisternum. Pronotum ( Figs 1 , 11 , 17 ) slightly wider than head, anterior margin roundly produced, posterior margin slightly concave; lateral margin less than half as long as eye, carinate, carina even with posterior corner of eye. Exposed part of mesonotum and scutellum ( Figs 1 , 11 , 17 ) together shorter than pronotum, scutellar suture distinct, reaching lateral margin. Forewing with venation obscure in basal two-thirds; with four apical cells; appendix very narrow. Hindwing with four apical cells, R2+3 with basal section between wing margin and R stem absent. Front femur with setae AM1 and AV1 enlarged; intercalary row with ca. 8 setae; row AV with ca. 8 short setae at distal half; PV setae absent. Front tibia slender, cylindrical, with two dorsoapical setae, row AV with ca. 8 enlarged setae and ca. 8 short setae. Hind femur macrosetal formula 2+1+1; tibia with ca. 12, 22, 30, and 13 setae in rows AD, PD, PV, and AV, respectively; tarsus elongate, tarsomere I with pair of dorsoapical setae and two longitudinal rows of plantar setae, pecten of tarsomeres I and II each with 3 tapered setae and 2 platellae.

Male abdomen with 1S apodemes well developed ( Fig. 22 ). Pygofer ( Figs 4 , 20 ) short and well sclerotized, lateral lobe broadly rounded, with sclerotized ventral process and several posterodorsal macrosetae. Anal tube ( Figs 10 , 21 ) large, tapering distad, with pair of large triangular basolateral expansions ventrally. Subgenital plate ( Figs 9 , 26 ) weakly subsegmented near base, with longitudinal row of ventral macrosetae and numerous long hairlike setae. Style ( Figs 6 , 23 ) with apodeme and apophysis colinear and subequal in length; lateral lobe weak with numerous conspicuous setae, apex footlike and expanded laterally. Connective ( Figs 6 , 23 ) Y-shaped with median anterior process, stem longer than arms. Aedeagus ( Figs 7, 8 , 24, 25 ) without preatrium and dorsal apodeme, shaft almost straight, with short unpaired spikelike ventral basal process posteriorly and paired distal processes, gonopore subapical on ventral surface.

Female with sternite VII produced medially ( Fig. 14 ); first valvula in lateral view ( Figs 13, 16 ) slender and evenly curved in basal half, distal half nearly straight, width same through most of length, apical fifth tapered, with dorsal sculpturing oblique imbricate on distal half, ventral preapical sculpturing irregularly denticulate; second valvula ( Figs 12, 15 ) curved, with toothed distal blade less than half total length, slightly broadened, with smaller teeth between larger ones.

Distribution. Africa ( Cameroon; Nigeria; Democratic Republic of Congo).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 10. Afronirvana leptoclada, ♂: 1. Habitus, dorsal view; 2. Habitus, lateral view; 3. Face; 4. Genital capsule, lateral view; 5. Genital capsule, dorsal view; 6. connective and style, ventral view; 7. Aedeagus, ventral view; 8. Aedeagus, lateral view; 9. Subgenital plate, ventral view; 10 Anal tube, lateral view.

FIGURES 11 – 16. Afronirvana leptoclada, ♀: 11. Habitus, dorsal view; 12. Second valvula; 13. First valvula; 14. sternite VII; 15. Apex of second valvula; 16. Apex of first valvula.

FIGURES 17 – 26. Afronirvana africana, ♂: 17. Habitus, dorsal view; 18. Habitus, lateral view; 19. Face; 20. Pygofer side, lateral view; 21. Genital capsule, lateral view; 22. Base of abdomen, ventral view; 23. connective and style, ventral view; 24. Aedeagus, ventral view; 25. Aedeagus, lateral view; 26. Subgenital plate, ventral view.