Nesophrosyne kanawao

Bennett, Gordon M & O’Grady, Patrick M, 2011, Review of the native Hawaiian leafhopper genus Nesophrosyne (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with description of eight new species associated with Broussaisia arguta (Hydrangeaceae), Zootaxa 2805, pp. 1-25 : 14-15

kanawao species group

( Figs. 7 , 8 a–g & 9a–g)

Diagnosis. Dark species with conspicuous, pale coloration on clavus. Aedeagus with arms short, rising just above central apodeme in ventral view; gonopore apical; apical processes short and straight, extending 1/10 the length of the aedeagal arm. Connective distinct with anterior arms large, thickening at mid-length, appearing as 90o angles along lateral edges. Endemic to Maui and Hawai’i Island.

Description. Dorsum: Dark species with conspicuous pale coloration on clavus ( Fig. 7 ). Mesonotum dark. Scutellum pale. Forewing veins obfuscate; costal cells hyaline, divided by dark pigmentation along R1; outer anteapical cell present, small and triangular. Clavus with extensive pale coloration, variable between species.

Venter: Clypeus with well formed grill mark on anterior half, posterior half forming dark basal triangle from which grill emerges; clypellus and lorum dark; gena dark with outer margins pale. Central abdominal segments dark with pale band expanding in anterior segments.

Genitalia: Aedeagus with relatively short arms rising just above central apodeme in ventral view; gonopore apical; apical processes short, extending anterolaterally 1/10 length of aedeagal arm ( Figs. 8 & 9 f,c,g); apical processes absent in N. kaupoi . Connective distinct with flat posterior edge, wider than waist; anterior arms thickening at mid-length, forming nearly 90o angles along lateral edges; anterior ends curving slightly, hooked laterad ( Figs. 8 & 9 d).

Distribution. USA: Hawaiian Islands, Hawai’i Island and Maui, 910–2080m, wet forest ( Fig. 3 ). Etymology. The kanawao species group is named after the Hawaiian word for Broussaisia arguta for the association of its constituent species with this plant species.

Discussion. The kanawao species group is a monophyletic assemblage of species associated with Broussaisia arguta on Maui and Hawai’i Island ( Fig. 3 ). We describe five species, further subdividing them into two species subgroups: broussaisiai species subgroup (endemic to Maui) and aakokohaikea species subgroup (endemic to Hawai’i Island). These delineations conform to species’ morphological similarities, islands of endemicity, and monophyly ( Fig. 3 ). Phylogenetically, the species subgroups are sister (COII % divergence avg. = 11.52%; Table 1), showing retention of the B. arguta host plant association through colonization of a novel island. Polarity of this biogeographic pattern requires more sampling to resolve.

Internal genitalia in the broussaisiai and aakokohaikea species subgroups show similarity in the placement and length of the apical processes, and the unique shape of the connective. External morphology easily distinguishes the subgroups (e.g., aakokohaikea species subgroup comprises darker species). Within subgroups, species are difficult to identify without knowledge of collection locality and subtle morphological differences, as there can be considerable overlap in external color patterning.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Partitioned Maximum Likelihood phylogeny of Nesophrosyne (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) species reconstructed in RAxML-VI-HPC v 7.2.5 under a GTR + I + Γ likelihood model with 100 bootstrap partitions. Gene partitions are according to the mitochondrial genome (COII, 16 s) and nuclear genome (H 3, Wingless). Subsections A & B highlight species relationships of newly described species occurring on the host plant Broussaisia arguta. A) Silhouette of full Maximum Likelihood phylogeny results. B) Nesophrosyne heopoko’s associated with other species on Kaua’i. C) Relationships of the species within the kanawao species group on Maui and Hawai’i. The numbers above branches are bootstrap support values.

FIGURE 7. Dorsal habitus of the species comprising the kanawao species group: A. N. broussaisiai, B. N. ogradyi, C. N. kaupoi, D. N. kanawao, and E. N. aakokohaikea.

FIGURE 8. Nesophrosyne ogradyi endemȋc tο Μauȋ ̓ Ha 1 eaka 1 ā wȋndward face ∶ a · dοrsum ﹔ b · ma 1 e pygοfer ﹔ c · aedeagus ventral view; d. connective; e. style; f. aedeagus posterior view; and, g. aedeagus lateral view.

FIGURE 9. Nesophrosyne aakokohaikea endemic to Hawai’i Island, Mauna Loa South Slope: a. dorsum; b. male pygofer; c. aedeagus ventral view; d. connective; e. style; f. aedeagus posterior view; and, g. aedeagus lateral view.