Afrovarta angelae, Zahniser, James N., 2013

Zahniser, James N., 2013, A new genus and species of Vartini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from Africa, Zootaxa 3750 (3), pp. 295-300 : 299-300

Afrovarta angelae sp.nov.

Figs 1–15 .

General color tawny to ochraceous, with whitish, yellowish, and brown markings. Crown with 4 irregularly shaped whitish or yellowish marks anteriorly, anterior pair of marks each forming T-shape with stem extending laterally to ocellus, the lateral pair continuing next to eyes on crown; with 4 faint oblong whitish or yellowish marks posteriorly; with dark brown coloration anteriorly and next to eyes; coronal suture embrowned. Pronotum and genae with spongiform type whitish markings. Mesonotum with whitish or yellowish and brown markings. Forewing transparent; with brown pigmentation at apex; apices of R veins strongly pigmented with brown; A2 vein darkly pigmented at apex. Setal bases on legs darkly pigmented.

Male pygofer macrosetae arranged in two small patches, the smaller patch situated posteriad of membranous cleft, the larger patch situated posterodorsally just posteriad of midlength; apical lobe slightly upturned, membranous dorsally. Style preapical lobe short, squarish; apophysis with sharp preapical point (not apparent in figure); apophysis texture rugose. Aedeagus ventral process nearly parallel to shaft or somewhat divergent; tapering to sharp apex or slightly flared subapically; longer than shaft. Female sternite VII broadly rounded posterolaterally; posterior margin undulate laterally, with blunt median tooth; without distinct markings or coloration.

Material examined. Holotype male (INHS): CAMEROON, Southwest, nr Korup National Park, at bridge, N 5º03’02.1” E 8º56’41.0”, 15–30 Mar 2009, JR Cryan & GJ Svenson, #8. One paratype female (INHS): CAMEROON, Southwest, Korup National Park, N 4º57’20.8” E 8º49’36.8”, 15–30 Mar 2009, JR Cryan & GJ Svenson, #6. One paratype male (INHS): GABON, Prov. Ogooué-Maritime Réserve des Monts Doudou, 25.2 km NW Doussalia, S 2º13.63’ E 10º23.67’, 600m, 14 Mar 2000, S. van Noort, sweep, GA00-S93, lowland rainforest undergrowth, low canopy in forest. One male paratype: GHANA, Western Region, Ankasa Resource Reserve, Nkwanta Camp, N 5º16’54.2” W 2º38’27.1”, 7–9 June 2005, ~350’ elev., JR Cryan & JM Urban. One male and one female paratype (BMNH): CAMEROON, Nkoemvon, July 1979, D Jackson, B.M. 1980-34. One male and one female paratype (BMNH): same data, B.M. 1980-74. One additional female from Cameroon is stored in ethanol at INHS.

Remarks. The variation observed in the aedeagus is interpreted at this time to represent intraspecific variation. The male from Gabon resembles the holotype from Cameroon (Korup National Park, near the western border with Nigeria) ( Figs 7–12 , 14), and the male from Ghana resembles the other two males from Cameroon (Nkoemvon, near the southern border with Equatorial Guinea), one of which is illustrated in Fig. 13. Thus there is geographic overlap of the two forms. The variation appears to be fairly slight and is possibly due to the difference in overall size of the specimens. Smaller specimens resemble the holotype form. More specimens may reveal further intergradation.

Etymology. This species is named in memory of the author’s sister, Angela L. Zahniser, who, among her many accomplishments, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the village of Agbenoxoe in Ghana, West Africa.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Female specimen from Cameroon: 1, dorsal habitus; 2, lateral habitus; 3, face; 4, sternite VII; 5, first valvula; 5 a & 5 b, detail of dorsal sculpturing of 1 st valvula; 6, second valvula; 6 a, detail of dorsal teeth of second valvula.

FIGURES 7 – 12, 14. Male specimen from Gabon. 7, pygofer, laterally; 8, pygofer, dorsally; 9, subgenital plates and valve, ventrally; 10, aedeagus, caudal view, ventral process not shown; 11, connective and style, ventrally; 12, aedeagus, laterally; 14, 1 st and 2 nd sternal apodemes, ventrally; Fig 13: male specimen from Cameroon (Nkoemvon). 13, aedeagus, laterally.