Nesocerus littoralis, 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 : 526-527

NESOCERUS LITTORALIS SP. NOV.

( FIGS 3O, P , 7P–V )

Diagnosis: This species has the following unique combination of characters: pygofer without elongate process; style slender with pointed sinuate apex; aedeagus with gonotheca membrane projected and clothed with microtrichia and shaft with laterally directed apical processes bearing microtrichia.

Description: Length of male, 4.4–4.6 mm.

Coloration: Crown with three light brown to black markings, central one usually V-shaped extending to face reaching antennal ledge. Antennae with scape and flagellum yellow. Pedicel light brown or black. Frontoclypeus with median black longitudinal stripe, lateral longitudinal stripe along muscle impression. Gena usually without any marking, in some specimens with dull yellow marking below eye margin. Clypellus usually black with central elongate yellow spot. Pronotum with median short black stripe, usually lateral six spots, two near lateral margin, median four spots, in some connected forming stripe. Mesonotum with bright orange basal triangle with black border, median black lines extending beyond scutellar suture. Forewing with claval vein white with alternate brown coloration. Legs yellow with pale brown lines along dorsal and ventral margins. Fore- and hind femur with black stripe along dorsal margin.

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 13–14, nine, and 11 macrosetae, respectively.

Male genitalia: Pygofer broad, with short posterodorsal projection; posterolateral margin with short setae. Subgenital plate in lateral view depressed basally, broadened near apex; in ventral view lateral margin moderately convex towards base, evenly narrowed toward apex, with row of macrosetae scattered along apical half. Style in lateral view with narrow apodeme; apophysis uniformly wide throughout its length, curved dorsad beyond middle, apex pointed. Connective in dorsal view semicircular, fused to preatrium of aedeagus. Aedeagus in lateral view with atrium narrow and elongate; socle poorly developed; shaft in lateral view broad, nearly straight, gradually tapered towards apex; apex in posterior view with pair of laterally directed terminal processes bearing microtrichia scattered along dorsal surface; gonopore situated apically on posterior surface, with gonopore membrane projected, extending to base of shaft, with microtrichia.

Material examined: Holotype male, MADAGASCAR: Province d’Antsiranana , Sakalava Beach, dwarf littoral forest, 10 m, 12°15′46″S, 49°23′51″E, 16.– 31.v.2001, M. Irwin, R. Harin’Hala, malaise trap, across sandy trail, MA-01-04B-10 ( CAS) . Paratypes: one male, MADAGASCAR: Province Mahajanga, Parc National Tsingy de Bemaraha, 3.4 km 93° east of Bekopaka , Tombeau Vazimba , 50 m, 19°8′31″S, 44°49′41″E, 6.–10.xi.2001, Fisher, Griswold et al., malaise trap, in tropical dry forest, BLF4233 ( INHS) ; two males, MADAGASCAR: Province Mahajanga, Parc National de Namoroka, 16.9 km 317° north-west of Vilanandro , 100 m, 16°24′24″S, 45°18′36″E, 12.– 16.xi.2002, Fisher, Griswold et al., yellow pan trap, in tropical dry forest, BLF6586 ( CAS, INHS) .

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the littoral habitat of the type locality.

Figures

Figure 3. Nesocerus spp. nov., dorsal habitus and face of holotype male. A, B, Nesocerus trilineatus.; C, D, Nesocerus ranomafanaensis; E, F, Nesocerus angulatus; G, H, Nesocerus orbiculatus; I, J, Nesocerus affinis; K, L, Nesocerus sclerophyllus; M, N, Nesocerus bifurcatus; O, P, Nesocerus littoralis; Q, R, Nesocerus fasika; S, T, Nesocerus tulearensis.

Figure 7. Nesocerus spp. nov. Male pygofer in lateral view (A, H, P), male subgenital plate in ventral (B, J, Q) and lateral views (C, K, R), aedeagus in lateral (D, L, S) and caudal views (E, M, T), style in lateral view (F, N, U), style and connective in dorsal view (G, O, V), apex of male pygofer in caudal view (I). A–G, Nesocerus orbiculatus; H–O, Nesocerus bifurcatus; P–V, Nesocerus littoralis.