Hecullus balli (Beamer)

Zahniser, James N., 2021, Revision of the New World leafhopper tribe Faltalini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) and the evolution of brachyptery, Zootaxa 4954 (1), pp. 1-160 : 72-73

Hecullus balli (Beamer)

( Figs. 43 , 47 )

Hecalus balli Beamer, 1937:12 [original description, morphology]

Hecullus balli : Oman, 1949: 31 [listed, classification]; Hamilton, 2000: 434–436 [morphology, misidentification]; Zahniser, 2007 [online catalogue]

Diagnosis. H. balli can be distinguished from the other species in the genus by its size (male 5.0– 5.5 mm, female 8.5–9.5 mm), female head length 2x or more interocular width, female face without distinct broad brown bands or other distinct brown markings, males with forewings pale and without distinct shading along veins, male head and pronotum without distinct striping, aedeagus in lateral view with apex rounded, and ventral processes of aedeagus projecting caudad from ventral side of aedeagal base.

Material examined. 10♂, 8♀, 1n: AZ: Cochise , 24-VIII-1935, R.H. Beamer [ USNM] . 1♂, 1♀, same data [ INHS] . 3♂: AZ: Wilcox , 19-VIII-1934 [ USNM] . 15♂, 25♀, 13n: ZA: Wilcox , 6-IX-1936, E.D. Ball [ USNM] . 10♂: AZ: Benson , 10-IX-1935, E.D. Ball [ USNM] ; 1♂: AZ: Patagonia , 7-VIII-1929, E.D. Ball [ USNM] .

Distribution. H. balli is known from the United States in a limited area of southeastern Arizona.

Remarks. Illustrations stated to be of H. balli by Hamilton (2000; Figs. 7 , 14 ) appear to be of H. bracteatus . The illustrations given here are the first for this species.

Figures

FIGUIRE 7. Acrolithus brevis. (A–I) standard views; A1 & B1, female; A2 & B2, male; A3, nymph.

FIGUIRE 14. Aequcephalus laplata n. sp., SEM images. (Q) head, pronotum, scutellum, bases of wings (left forewing removed). (R) detail of crown. (S) first metatarsomeres (scale = 0.15 mm). (T) first metatarsomeres, detail (scale = 0.10 mm).

FIGUIRE 43. Hecullus balli. (A–B, D–E, H–J) standard views; A1 & B1, female; A2 & B2, male; H shown with connective apex. (Q) valve, subgenital plates, connective, styles, and aedeagus, ventral view.

FIGUIRE 47. Distribution of Hecullus balli and H. bracteatus.