Tambila variabilis (Distant)

Shobharani, M., C. A. Viraktamath & Webb, M. D., 2018, Revision of the penthimiine leafhopper genus Tambila Distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) of the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 4514 (4), pp. 501-515 : 505-506

Tambila variabilis (Distant)

Figs 21–22 , 80–90 .

Penthimia variabilis Distant1918: 18 . Tambila variabilis (Distant) , Shobharani, Viraktamath & Webb 2018.

Dark yellowish brown to pale yellowish brown, irregularly mottled, suffused with black. Pronotum brownish yellow with median pale yellow irregular band. Scutellum dull brownish yellow, with dark spot near each basal angle, two small dark spots on apical area. Face pale yellow, basal half mottled with black. Forewing pale brown, mottled with black.

Male genitalia. Pygofer lobes rounded posteriorly with stout setae ventrally. Xth segment weakly produced anteriorly ( Fig. 81 ) Subgenital plate obtusely produced on lateral margin near base with apex rounded, two rows of stout setae on lateral margin. Style with well developed preapical lobe, apophysis long curved laterally with median protuberance laterally. Connective short, with arms as long as stem. Aedeagus simple, dorsal apodeme well developed, preatrium reduced, shaft curved posterodorsally with large gonopore on ventral margin.

Female genitalia. Seventh sternite longer medially than sixth, lateral angles of posterior margin rounded, medially produced without median concavity, area adjacent to median projection shallowly concave, median projection longer than lateral rounded angles.

Measurements. Male 4.6–4.7 mm long, 1.7 mm wide across head, 1.9 mm wide across pronotum.

Material examined. INDIA: Kodaikanal: 21 specimens (♂ and ♀), various months and years 1914–1918 on reverse of specimen mount (e.g., ‘5.17’), T.V. Campbell, BM 1928 478 ( BMNH) ; 2♂ Pulney Hills, 3000 to 6000 feet, May, 1917, T. V. Campbell, Penthimia variabilis (Distant) [Distant determination label] ( TNAU) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Shambaganur, 1695 m, 10 o 14’58.5’ N, 77 o 31’13.9’E, 22.V.2012, Prathapan, K.D.; 1♂, 1 ♀, Kukkal Shola, 1833 m, 10o17’9.1’N, 77o21’39.1”E, 24.v.2012, Prathapan, K.D. ( UASB) .

Remarks. This species was described from an unknown number of specimens of both sexes (syntypic) with the following data: ‘South India; Kodaikanal (T.V. Campbell)’. No specimen of this species, bearing Distant’s usual type label, has been found in the BMNH. Although there are several topotypic specimens collected by T.V. Campbell in the BMNH (see above) they have a modern label and are not considered types (see Material and methods). However, two specimens (labeled Pulney Hills, Kodaikanal) found in TNAU agree with the description and do have Distant’s determination label. The basal lobe of the aedeagal shaft, present in both T. gravelyi and T. greeni , is absent in this species.

Figures

FIGURES 12–22. Species of Tambila dorsal view. 12–20, T. majuscula. 12–13: holotype male (12) and topotype female (13); 14, T. gravelyi, lectotype male dorsal view; 15–20, colour variation in T. majuscula: specimens from Dharmasthala female (15), Meppadi male (16), Jog Falls (18), Thekkady male (18), Bangalore male (19–20) dorsal and lateral view respectively; 21–22, T. variabilis, male and female habitus, respectively.

FIGURES 80–90. Tambila variabilis abdominal terminalia: 80–81, male anal segments, dorsal and lateral views, respectively; 82, subgenital plate ventral view; 83, styles and connective, dorsal view; 84, style, dorsal view; 85, pygofer, lateral view; 86, connective, dorsal view; 87–88, aedeagus, lateral view; 89, aedeagus, ventral view; 90, female sternite VII, ventral view. Topotypic male (80–89) and female (90).