Myerslopia tearohai, Szwedo, 2004

Szwedo, Jacek, 2004, A new genus and six new species of ground-dwelling leafhoppers from Chile and New Zealand (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Myerslopiidae), Zootaxa 424 (1), pp. 1-20 : 17-19

Myerslopia tearohai sp. n.

( Figs. 30–33 )

DIAGNOSIS: In general appearance similar to M. magna scabrata , but smaller and with different composition of protuberances, only three conical projections on discal area of tegmen (seven protuberances in M. magna scabrata ), and lack of upper pair of protuberances of frontoclypeus, protuberances on each side against posterior margin midway between midline and eye indistinct (protuberances large in M. magna scabrata ). Anterior margin of head distinctly sinuate, projected in median portion (less sinuate in M. magna scabrata ).

DESCRIPTION: Total length 4.14 mm (female). General coloration tawny with big, slightly diffused ivory marking at base of tegmen between claval suture and costal margin, reaching near costal margin almost to half of tegmen length; another small ivory marking near costal border slightly beyond half of tegmen length. Claval area with dark orange basal portion. Face dark brown with only slightly lighter median area. Body covered with setiferous bullae.

Head distinctly narrower than pronotum with paranotal lobes. Anterior margin of head distinctly sinuate, projected in median portion, with distinct anterolateral lobes. Vertex trilobate, with median length about 0.6 times width between compound eyes. Triradial impression in anterior portion distinct, median ridge distinct, reaching middle of vertex length, posterolateral tubercles distinct ( Fig. 30 ).

Frontoclypeus ( Fig. 31 ) about as wide as high in mid line, with lower pair of protuberances indistinct and upper pair missing, median portion of frontoclypeus concave. Anteclypeus swollen, about 2 / 3 of frontoclypeus height, with distinct median prominence.

Pronotum narrow, collar­like, with paranotal lobes distinct, subquadrangular, anterior margin almost straight, posterior margin almost straight, only with shallow incision between median ridges, median ridges distinct, straight, widely separated, slightly exceeding posterior margin of pronotum, postocular protuberances distinct; mesonotum wide at base, shorter than pronotum in mid line, scutellum with distinct median convexity.

Tegmina ( Fig. 32 ) about 2.76 mm long, 1.57 mm wide, irregularly oval with tapered apex, coriaceous, punctate, each puncture with setiferous bulla. Costal margin ridge­like, thickened in basal portion, forming two distinct ridges, external and internal slightly bent under tegmen, slightly sinuate in apical portion. Base of common vein R+M without any protuberance, vein R with one distinct conical tubercle at half of tegmen length; vein M with two distinct, conical tubercles, first just before half of tegmen length, the second at ¾ of tegmen length. Vein Cu with big, elongate, triangular tumosity in median 1 / 3 of tegmen length. Claval suture in form of long ridge, reaching 1 / 3 of tegmen length from base, slightly more eminent at base and distinctly more eminent in posterior portion. Claval vein almost invisible, merely elevated from claval disc.

Hind wings absent.

Fore legs covered with setae, tibia with row AV with three longer, stiff setae in half length. Mid legs slightly longer, tibia covered with setae; hind legs more slender, femur with single apical seta, hind tibia about 1.37 mm long, rows PD and AD with four stout macrosetae, row AV with four stout macrosetae in distal half, row PV with two stout macrosetae in apical part, apex with double, transverse pecten on ventral surface, with proximal row of 7 spurs of spiniform plate and seta and distal row of 7 spurs of base and seta. Tarsomeres with numerous irregularly arranged setae, basitarsomere merely longer than combined length of mid and apical tarsomeres, external plantar margin with row of 7 thicker setae, a few similar setae also on plantar surface, mid tarsomere slightly shorter than apical tarsomere, both covered with setae, claws distinct, arolium bilobate.

Female sternite 8 th large, 1. 54 mm wide, 0.56 mm long in mid line, deeply cleft in mid line, not covering base of ovipositor; laterally of median cleft pair of fissures not reaching caudal margin. Female pygofer 0.84 mm long, covered with setiferous bulla, setae hooked, lateral lobe of pygofer with small projection caudad. Ovipositor 1.33 mm long. Genital vestibulum in female with pair of elongate, elongately trapezoid sclerotizations ( Fig. 33 ).

Male unknown.

ETYMOLOGY: From type locality— Mount Te Aroha .

MATERIAL STUDIED: Holotype, female; MHNG; Labelled: [ NEW ZEALAND: N Is, BP / Mt Te Aroha, 800 m / 27.II.1992 / silver beech forest / D. Burckhardt #70]; red label [HOLOTYPE]; [ Myerslopia / tearohai Szw. ♀ / det. J. Szwedo; 2002].

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Two nymphs, same data and locality, probably the same species.

Figures

FIGURES 30–34. Fig. 30. Myerslopia tearohai sp. nov. anterior part of body in dorsal view (scale bar 1 mm); Fig. 31. Myerslopia tearohai sp. nov. anterior part of body in right lateral view (scale bar 1 mm); Fig. 32. Myerslopia tearohai sp. nov. right tegmen (scale bar 1 mm); Fig. 33. Myerslopia tearohai sp. nov. sclerotization of female genital vestibulum; Fig. 34. Pemmation parvus (Evans, 1947) sclerotization of female genital vestibulum.