Nesocerus unimaculatus, Krishnankutty & Dietrich, 2011

Krishnankutty, Sindhu M. & Dietrich, Christopher H., 2011, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of an endemic leafhopper genus Nesocerus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Idiocerinae) from Madagascar, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 162 (3), pp. 499-543 : 530-531

NESOCERUS UNIMACULATUS SP. NOV.

( FIGS 4G, H , 9O–U )

Diagnosis: This species is similar to N. nanus in having a pair of median black markings on the crown, a single median black spot on the pronotum, and lateral longitudinal black stripes on the scutum, but can be separated using the following combination of characters: pygofer posterodorsal process forked in posterior view; style short with gradually tapered acute apex; and aedeagus with two pairs of ventrolaterally directed processes; one pair arising apically on posterior surface, other pair arising subapically on anterior surface of shaft and crossing midline.

Description: Length of male, 4.3 mm.

Coloration: Crown with pair of median black markings extending to face. Antennae with scape and flagellum pale yellow, pedicel light brown. Frontoclypeus with median black stripe. Clypeogenal and laterofrontal suture bordered by black markings. Gena with black marking near eye. Clypellus completely black. Lorum with black border near apex. Pronotum with central, large, almost circular black spot. Mesonotum with basal black triangle extending to scutellum. Forewing with claval vein white. Legs mostly pale yellow, hind femur with light brown patch along dorsal surface.

Structure: Clypellus with sides concave, apex wider than base, in profile flat. Rostrum extending beyond mid coxae. Forewing with r-m1 crossvein present. Metatibial setal rows PD, AD, and AV with 14, nine, and eight macrosetae, respectively.

Male genitalia: Pygofer broad with short falcate posterodorsal process; posterolateral margin with long setae. Subgenital plate in lateral view broadened near base, then abruptly narrowed near rounded apex, with long fine setae confined to lateral margin and dorsum of apex; in ventral view lateral margin strongly convex near base, evenly narrowed toward apex, with both outer and mesal rows of macrosetae. Style in lateral view with broad apodeme; apophysis gradually tapered beyond middle, apex acuminate and curved dorsad. Connective in dorsal view semicircular, fused to preatrium of aedeagus. Aedeagus in lateral view with atrium narrow; socle well developed; shaft in lateral view broad, uniform in width throughout its length, slightly curved anterad, narrowed near apex; apex in posterior view narrow, rounded, with pair of long, ventrolaterally directed sinuate processes extending almost to midlength of shaft and pair of long, ventrally directed processes arising subapically on anterior surface of shaft, crossing midline, then curved laterad; gonopore subapical on posterior surface of shaft.

Material examined: Holotype male, MADAGASCAR: Province Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana , radio tower at forest edge, 1130 m, 22°15′3″S, 47°24′25″E, 16.–23.iv.2002, M. Irwin, R. Harin’Hala, malaise, mixed tropical forest, MA-02-09B-25 ( CAS).

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the presence of a single spot on the pronotum.

Figures

Figure 4. Nesocerus spp. nov., dorsal habitus and face of holotype male. A, B, Nesocerus recurvus.; C, D, Nesocerus dorsalis; E, F, Nesocerus dentatus; G, H, Nesocerus unimaculatus; I, J, Nesocerus nigrum; K, L, Nesocerus tristriatus; M, N, Nesocerus brevipinguis; O, P, Nesocerus nanus; Q, R, Nesocerus mananarensis; S, T, Nesocerus quinquespinosus.

Figure 9. Nesocerus spp. nov. Male pygofer in lateral view (A, H, O), male subgenital plate in ventral (B, I, P) and lateral views (C, J, Q), aedeagus in lateral (D, K, R) and caudal views (E, L, S), style in lateral view (F, M, T), style and connective in dorsal view (G, N, U). A–G, Nesocerus dorsalis; H–N, Nesocerus dentatus; O–U, Nesocerus unimaculatus.