Anaceratagallia (Anaceratagallia) fragariae Mityaev, 1971

Tishechkin, Dmitri Yu., 2020, Review of the leafhopper genus Anaceratagallia Zachvatkin, 1946 (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Megophthalminae: Agalliini) from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia, Zootaxa 4821 (2), pp. 250-276 : 270

10. Anaceratagallia (Anaceratagallia) fragariae Mityaev, 1971

Figs. 194–198 , 214–227

Description. In shape of male genitalia similar to A. (A.) ribauti , but penis stem somewhat wider, usually expanded basally, sometimes with small preapical tooth on dorsal margin ( Figs. 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226 ). Male anal collar appendage with bifurcate tip ( Figs. 217, 219, 221, 223, 227 ), occasionally, with one denticle reduced ( Fig. 225 ); different variations can be found in males from the same sample.

Biology. In Moscow Oblast was collected on dry meadow with sparse xerophytic vegetation; in the laboratory, one male lived for several days and produced signals on Rumex acetosella . In Southern Kazakhstan it was abundant on polydominant meadows in the foothills of Zailiysky Alatau Mtn. Range. In southeastern Kazakhstan it was found on a rather mesophytic meadow on the riverbank.

Calling signal. Signals of males from the following localities were investigated.

1. Moscow Oblast, Voskresensk Region, dry meadow with xerophytic vegetation on the Western edge of Beloozerskiy Town , on Rumex acetosella , 1. VII. 2018, signals of one male recorded at 27 oC .

2. Southeastern Kazakhstan near the Eastern Balkhash Lake , meadow on the bank of the Lepsy River ca. 1 km upstream from the Lepsy Town, 27. VI. 2019, signals of one male recorded at 33 oC .

Calling signal is a complex phrase lasting for 10–20 s ( Figs. 194–198 ). It begins with a succession of pulses or syllables variable both in shape and repetition period. Immediately afterward is a short (ca. 1.5–3 s) succession of more uniform syllables following each other at a rate of about 13–16/s in our recordings. After a pause lasting from 1.5–2 up to 5–10 s one more such succession follows. Signals of males from Moscow Oblast ( Figs. 194–195, 197 ) and Kazakhstan ( Figs. 196, 198 ) have no significant differences.

Distribution. Ukraine (Poltava, Donetsk), Central and Southern European Russia, South Urals (Bashkiria), Kazakhstan, China (Xinjiang).

Remarks. A. (A.) fragariae and A. (A.) ribauti are very similar in morphological traits and in ecological preferences. Moreover, in European Russia they are sympatric, although they were never found in the same biotope. Still, distinct differences in calling signal patterns indicate that these are different biological species.

Viraktamath et al. (2012) recorded A. (A.) ribauti from China, but judging the drawings in their article (reproduced as Figs. 214–215 ) this record refers to A. (A.) fragariae .

Figures

FIGURES 189–203. Anaceratagallia (Anaceratagallia) spp., calling signal oscillograms. 189–190―A. (A.) harrarensis, 191– 193―A. (A.) ribauti, 194–198―A. (A.) fragariae, 199–203―A. (A.) aciculata. Faster oscillograms of the parts of signals indicated as “190”, “192–193”, “197–198”, “200”, and “202–203” are given under the same numbers. 194–195, 197―male from Moscow Oblast, locality No. 1 in the list in calling signal description, 196, 198―male from Kazakhstan, ibid., locality No. 2, 199–200, 202―male from Astrakhan Oblast, ibid., locality No. 1, 201, 203―male from Saratov Oblast, ibid., locality No. 2.

FIGURES 204–227. Male genitalia. 204–213―Anaceratagallia (Anaceratagallia) ribauti, 214–227―A. (A.) fragariae. 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226―penis, lateral view, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227―male anal collar appendage. 212–213―after Vilbaste (1974), 214–215―after Viraktamath et al. (2012).