Aethodelphax prairianus, Bartlett, Charles R., 2011

Bartlett, Charles R., 2011, Aethodelphax prairianus gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) and seven congeneric species from North American Delphacodes, Zootaxa 2837, pp. 48-66 : 52

Aethodelphax prairianus sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Type locality. Peoria Co., nr. Mossville, Illinois.

Description. Color. Males mostly stramineus; females entirely stramineus, sometimes with small dark spots on sides of pregenital tergites; males, when stramineus, darker on thoracic pleural regions, with orangish abdomen; usually brown overlaid with darker stripes on sides of pregenital tergites, pygofer paler except for dark brown parameres, diaphragm, and processes of segment 10; sometimes male abdomen tan with brown pleural regions, abdomen, and pygofer.

Structure. Length male brachypter (n=9) 2.37±0.19, width (n=5) 0.73±0.02, female brachypter (n=5) 2.64±0.02, width 0.74±0.02. Head just narrower than prothorax, ratio vertex L:W (n=10) 1.05±0.06. Calcar bearing 18–24 small black teeth. Genitalia with pygofer opening as wide as long ( Fig. 1 D), lateral margins carinate; diaphragm well developed, armature conspicuous, wider than long, strongly projecting dorsocaudad. Parameres ( Fig. 1 E) pediform with outer angle short and acute, inner angle longer and; basal angle well developed, dorsocaudally projecting into sharp tapered projections. Aedeagus ( Figs. 1 F, G) laterally flattened, broadest basally, with strong concavity about midlength, narrowed to rounded apex beyond concavity; bearing 3 subapical ventral teeth, 2 large + 1 small dorsal teeth just dorsad of concavity, and 4 strong dorsal teeth proximad of concavity; gonopore subapical on ventral margin, just right of center. Aedeagal suspensorium strong, encircling aedeagus, sclerotized and straplike between aedeagus and segment 10, strongly recurved at midlength ( Fig. 1 H). Segment 10 elongate, bearing pair of short, acuminate processes on ventrocaudal margin, about as long as wide at base.

Remarks. The form of the aedeagus, with the strong median concavity ( Fig. 1 F), is unique among the species in the genus. The very strong dorsocaudally projecting diaphragm armature, and the sclerotized, straplike base of the suspensorium ( Fig. 1 H) are unusual features among the North American Delphacini .

Reported hosts. The only lengthy series was collected by sweeping “ Andropogon [in] NW corner” of an IL prairie remnant (HH Ross, field notes under GL 867). The 79 specimens were taken in association with five nymphs, one male and six females including one macropter of Muirodelphax parvula . A second shorter series (16 specimens) were swept from Andropogon in SD. Three individuals were vacuum sampled from Indian grass ( Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash) in Wisconsin. All other specimens of A. prairianus have been swept or vacuum sampled from unspecified native prairie vegetation.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from ‘prairie’ (from French ‘ praerie’ derived from Latin ‘ pratum ’ (=meadow) + ‘- aria’), truncated and combined an arbitrary suffix ‘- anus’ for euphony.

Distribution. Canada: Manitoba; USA: IL, MI, NE, SD, WI.

Material observed. Holotype: “ USA ILLINOIS: Peoria / Co., 2.2km NW of / Mossville, N40.82027 / W89.59518; 30.vii.2007 / A. M. Wallner Vacuum” (1m, USNM). Paratypes: Illinois: same data as holotype (11m, 9f [3 macropters], UDCC; 2m, 2f, INHS); 2.2km NW of Mossville, Robinson Park south, 40.82027N, 89.59518W, 30 Jul 2007, A. M. Wallner, vacuum (2m, UDCC [part of type series although with different labels]); [Cass Co.,] Chandlerville, 20–VII –[20]04, Hill Prairie, Sweep, N38°28’58”, W088°35’54” (1m, UDCC); [Marion Co., nr Kinmundy], 12 mile Prairie, 15–VIII –[20]04, Mesic Prairie, N38°47’53” W088°49’34”, vacuum (2m, UDCC).

Other material observed: CANADA: Manitoba: Winnipeg, 28 Aug. 1985, K.G.A. Hamilton (1m, CNCI); USA: Illinois: Champaign Co., Brownfield Woods, 1 Aug. 1959, Ross & Ross, GL 867 (54m, 25f [1 macropter], CNCI); Urbana, 9 Aug. 1959, J. Kingsolver, GL 381 (4m, 2f, CNCI); Michigan: Branch Co., Bronson, 7 Aug. 2004, K.G.A. Hamilton (1m, 2f, CNCI); Nebraska: Buffalo Co., Ruge Prairie T8N R14W Sec.8, 40o46’N 98 o29’W, 5 June 2000, K. Nemec (1m, CNCI); Hall Co., Ruge Prairie T8N R11W Sec.1, 18 July 2000, K. Nemec (9m, 3f, CNCI); South Dakota: Roberts Co., Sica Hollow St. Pk., 17 km NW Sisseton, 17 June 1990, K.G.A. Hamilton, on bluestem (4m, 12f, CNCI); Wisconsin: Columbia Co., Redderman-Young Pr[airie] T11N R10E Sec.31 SW, 10 Aug. 1998, DNR study 0 53, D-Vac in Indian grass [on] dry-mesic hill prairie (1m, 2f, CNCI); Dane Co., Wright Oak Savannah T8N R7E Sec.1 SW4, 25 Aug. 1998, DNR study 0 53, sweep net in dry/dry-mesic prairie (1m [macropters, CNCI]); Grant Co., Eagle Valley Preserve, Cottonwood Prairie T4N R6W Sec.27 W2, 12 Aug. 1998, DNR study 0 53, D-Vac in very large dry/dry-mesic bluff prairie (1m, CNCI); Lafayette Co., Argyle, 30 July 1997, K.G.A Hamilton (2m, 3f, CNCI); Pepin Co., 7 km SSE Durand, 2 Aug. 1997, K.G.A. Hamilton (1m, CNCI); Sauk Co., Cassel Bluff Pres[erve] T9N R5E Sec.36 NW4, 11 Aug. 1998, DNR study 0 53, big/little bluestem, dropseed [in] dry-mesic prairie (2m macropters, CNCI).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Aethodelphax prairianus sp. nov. (paratype, Peoria co., IL., scale = 0.5 mm (A – C), 0.2 mm (D, H )). A. dorsal view; B. frons; C. lateral view; D. pygofer, caudal view; E. left paramere, widest view; F. aedeagus, left lateral view, distal apex at top; G. aedeagus, ventral view, apex at top; H. pygofer, lateral view.