Proekes diacaphalis, Stiller & Webb, 2022

Stiller, Michael & Webb, Michael D., 2022, Leafhoppers of the Fynbos Biome of South Africa: Colistra, Proekes, Proekoides and a new genus (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae, Bonaspeiini), Zootaxa 5199 (1), pp. 1-79 : 71-73

Proekes diacaphalis sp. n.

( Figs 27E–H , 30A–L )

Material examined.

Type locality. Holotype male, South Africa, Western Cape province, Groot winterhoek Nature Reserve , Porterville, -32.997, 19.059, 8 Feb. 2022, M. Stiller; sweeping Anthospermum spathulatum Rubiaceae , CCDL28613 , SANC.

Type specimen. Holotype male, glued to triangle card, pinned, with genitalia in a separate microvial. Original label: “ R.S. A. Groot- / winterhoek / Nature Reserve / -32.997 / 19.059 8.ii. / 2022 M. Stiller” “sweep / Anthospermum spathulatum Rubiaceae ” “ SANC Pretoria Dbase# CCDL 28613”.

Paratypes. 20♂♂, 21♀♀, 1 nymph

South Africa, Western Cape province.

9♂♂, 12♀♀, ibid holotype; CCDL 28613; SANC.

10♂♂, 8♀♀; Grootwinterhoek Nature Reserve, Porterville; -32.997, 19.059; 8 Feb. 2022; M.Stiller leg.; sweeping Erica or Salaxis spp Ericaceae ; CCDL 28622; SANC.

1♂, ibid holotype; sweeping Erica inflata ; CCDL 28623; SANC.

Diagnosis. Crown angle in male 87–91°, female 85–91°. Length from apex of crown to apex of abdomen in male 3.66–3.88 mm, female 3.61–3.85 mm. Subgenital plate with 7–9 macrosetae apically ( Fig. 30C ). Aedeagus with shaft in lateral view sublinear, slightly compressed, cross section ovate; shaft at apex with paired, basally depressed, right-angled to shaft, elongate tooth, apical third acuminate, angled ventrolaterad; shaft medially with tubular, paired, elongate tooth, slightly shorter than apical tooth; dorsal apodeme 0.34–0.48 times as long as shaft, transverse, laterally with desclerotized lobes; preatrium reduced ( Fig. 30D–F ). Connective fused to atrium ( Fig. 30J ).

Etymology. Named in Greek for the apex or head, cephalis, of the aedeagus with two, di, teeth, acaina, contracted to di-aca-phalis. Gender feminine.

Description.

Male and female.

Morphology.

Head. Male head width/pronotum width=1.11–1.15, female head width/pronotum width=1.11–1.17; crown angle in male 87–91°, female 85–91°; crown length/crown length next to eye in male=1.63–1.71, female=1.60–1.73.

Ocellus. Male ocellus diameter 26–30 µm; interocular distance 64–77 µm, female ocellus diameter 24–35 µm; interocular distance 61–72 µm; ocellus diameter/interocular distance in male=0.35–0.45, female=0.34–0.36.

Tegmina. Male length/width=2.53–2.64, female length/width=2.46–2.75.

Hind wing. Male length/width=3.33–3.67, female length/width=3.43–3.81.

Tegmina-hind wing relation. Male ratio of length tegmina/length hind wing=1.10–1.19; width tegmina/width hind wing =1.46–1.68. Female ratio of length tegmina/length hind wing=1.15–1.19; width tegmina/width hind wing=1.44–1.86.

Male.

Measurements.

Male (n=19). Apex of crown to apex of tegmina 3.65–3.87 mm; apex of crown to apex of abdomen 3.48–3.88 mm; crown length 0.71–0.74 mm; crown length next to eyes 0.42–0.45 mm; pronotum length 0.42–0.45 mm; head width 1.36–1.45 mm; pronotum width 1.20–1.29 mm; ocellus diameter 26–30 µm; interocular distance 62–76 µm; crown angle 86–91°; crown length/crown length next to eye=1.63–1.71; head width/pronotum width=1.11–1.15; ocellus diameter/interocular distance=0.36–0.46; crown length/pronotum length=1.59–1.73; pronotum length/ pronotum width=0.34–0.36; length from apex of crown to apex of tegmina/length from apex of crown to apex of abdomen=0.98–1.06.

Female (n=20). Apex of crown to apex of tegmina 3.60–3.85 mm; apex of crown to apex of abdomen 4.30–4.74 mm; crown length 0.71–0.77 mm; crown length next to eyes 0.43–0.46 mm; pronotum length 0.42–0.45 mm; head width 1.37–1.46 mm; pronotum width 1.20–1.28 mm; ocellus diameter 24–35 µm; interocular distance 61–72 µm; crown angle 84–90°; crown length/crown length next to eye=1.60–1.73; head width/pronotum width=1.11–1.17; ocellus diameter/interocular distance=0.37–0.52; crown length/pronotum length=1.62–1.78; pronotum length/ pronotum width=0.34–0.36; length from apex of crown to apex of tegmina/length from apex of crown to apex of abdomen=0.79–0.86.

Terminalia.

Male.

Segment 10. Dolioform (lateral margins convex), greatest width/least width=1.81–1.97, greatest length/greatest width=0.98–1.06; greatest width segment 10/width across pygofer at point greatest width of segment 10=0.52–0.60 ( Fig. 30B ).

Pygofer lobe. 2–4 macrosetae (39–67 µm long) ( Fig. 30A ).

Subgenital plate. Length/width=1.43–1.64; 7–9 macrosetae in distal quarter, length 97–155 µm, few short setae at apex ( Fig. 30C ).

Style. Greatest length/average width=4.83–6.27, length apophysis/greatest length=0.18–0.22 ( Fig. 30H ), apophysis with fine ventral teeth ( Fig. 30K, L ).

Connective. Fused to atrium. Width arm/width stem=1.33–2.09; length arms/length stem=1.66–2.93; angle of arms 53–88°; greatest width/greatest length=1.54–2.37; length stem/width greatest=0.12–0.23 ( Fig. 30J ).

Aedeagus. Aedeagal shaft in lateral view sublinear, slightly compressed (medial width/medial width in dorsal or ventral view=1.83–2.50) ( Fig. 30D ), ovate cross-section. Shaft in anterior view, with apex of shaft laterally with right-angled, elongate, curvate, apical paired tooth, base depressed, apical half tubular, acuminate, apex orientation anterolaterad ( Fig. 30E ); shaft medially with elongate tubular, curvate paired tooth, orientation laterad ( Fig. 30F ). Dorsal apodeme elongate (0.34–0.38 times as long as greatest length of aedeagus in lateral view), in dorsal view transverse, narrow, desclerotized anteriorly. Preatrium reduced. Gonopore ovoid, with variable tooth-like protrusions ( Fig. 30G ).

Female.

Sternite 7. Posterior margin slightly convex medially. Length/width=0.43–0.48; width across apex/width across base=0.60–0.71; medial length/average lateral length=1.03–1.14) ( Fig. 30I ).

Valvula 2. Length to confluence of paired apex/length greatest=0.31–0.36.

Valvula 3. Extended beyond posterior margin of pygofer 1.55–1.58 times longer than greatest length of pygofer in lateral view; 9–16 macrosetae at apex and subapex, length 21–38 µm.

Valvifer 1. Longer than wide (length/width=1.43–1.69), variable dorsal margin, narrowly rounded, rectangular anteriorly or dorsal and ventral margins sublinear.

Valvifer 2. Uniformly curved anteroventral margin and straight posterodorsal margin (length/width=2.69–3.11), sculpture submarginal with few microtrichia and circular pore-like structures.

Remarks. The male has a tubular aedeagal shaft with paired, apical, elongated, depressed teeth and medially with tubular, curvate teeth, with laterad orientation, and the only species with the dorsal apodeme about half as long as shaft, without basal teeth on the shaft. The subgenital plate has few macrosetae at apex, and the only feature reliable for determination in whole specimens. The paired medial teeth resemble that of P. tetracaphalis sp. n. in the single specimen from Clanwilliam. Female terminalia with sternite 7 with posterior margin sinuous with short rounded medial lobe appears more pronounced than in other species of Proekes . This species appears to be associated with Anthospermum , with a few records on Erica . The former plant was distinctly taller than surrounding vegetation, but not as abundant at the time of collection, and more difficult to sample due to its flexible stems and tightly arranged leaves.

Figures

FIGURE 27. Proekes species habitus images, dorsally and laterally. A–D, P. tetracaphalis sp. n. A, male, dorsally, dark. B, male, dorsally, light. C, female, dorsally. D, female, laterally. E–H, P. diacaphalis sp. n. E, male, dorsally. F, male, laterally. G, female, dorsally. H, female, laterally.

FIGURE 30. Proekes diacaphalis sp. n., line drawings, male and female. A, pygofer, laterally. B, pygofer, dorsally. C, subgenital plate. D, aedeagus, laterally. E, aedeagus, anteriorly.F, aedeagus, posteriorly. G, aedeagus, gonopore, caudally. H, style dorsally. I, sternite 7. J, connective. K, style apophysis, ventrally. L, style apophysis, laterally.