Scaphoideus bifidus, Viraktamath, C. A. & Mohan, G. S., 2004

Viraktamath, C. A. & Mohan, G. S., 2004, A revision of the deltocephaline leafhopper genus Scaphoideus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 578, pp. 1-48 : 15-16

Scaphoideus bifidus sp. nov.

Figs 28–38 .

Brown with whitish band from tip of vertex to near apex of front wing. Vertex with brown spot near apex on margin before each ocellus; brown spot behind each ocellus and connected to anterior spot by a thin brown line. Face yellow­brown, darker above, with a yellow transverse band below ocelli but above antenna. Pronotum and scutellum brown on lateral margin. Front wing with brown streaked pattern following most major veins; darker at base and apex.

Vertex angularly pointed.

Male genitalia: Pygophore similar to that in kirti sp. nov. (see below) with anterior apodemes, caudal lobe bluntly rounded with two subapical tufts of long setae in addition to scattered setae. Valve semicircular. Subgenital plate triangular, longer than in kirti with a single seta on basal 0.20 in addition to a few hairlike setae. Style short, robust, preapical lobe well­developed, apophysis strongly laterally curved with an acute apex, ventral surface with pustules. Connective with arms about as long as stem; paraphyses slightly divergent, of uniform length in basal 0.80, apical 0.20 narrowed, apices acutely pointed. Aedeagus with well­developed stout dorsal apodeme bent caudally in apical half, shaft directed caudally with a pair of anteriorly directed spinelike processes at midlength, gonopore apical.

Female genitalia: Seventh sternum broadly medially produced with a shallow notch in middle.

Measurements: Male 4.00 mm long and 0.98 mm wide across eyes. Female 4.60 mm long and 1.04 mm wide across eyes.

Material examined: INDIA: Holotype ɗ, Uttar Pradesh: Dehradun, 24.iv.1975, C.A. Viraktamath ( UAS). Paratypes: 4ɗ, 11Ψ, data as holotype but 2Ψ collected on 26.iv.1975; 1ɗ, 2Ψ, West Bengal: Calcutta, 11.xi.1981; 1Ψ, 10 Km N Siliguri, 1.xi.1981 all collected by C.A. Viraktamath ( BMNH, NPC, UAS, USNM). Other material: INDIA: West Bengal: 1ɗ, 3 Ψ, 4 km N. Teesta, 28.x.1981, C.A. Viraktamath; Meghalay: 1Ψ, Nongpoh, 762 m, 4.xi.1981, S. Viraktamath; Andaman Is.: 1ɗ, Portblair, 18.vi.1986, V.V. Belavadi ( UAS).

Remarks: Externally this species resembles kirti and knappi Kitbamroong & Freytag in coloration and structure. However, the vertex is more elongate and more acutely pointed in bifidus , and the aedeagus has a pair of median anteriorly directed processes that kirti and knappi both lack.

Figures

FIGURES 28 – 45. Species of Scaphoideus. 28 – 38. S. bifidus sp. nov. 28. Head and thorax; 29, Face; 30, Head and thorax, profile; 31. Male pygophore; 32. Subgenital plate; 33. Style; 34. Connective and paraphyses; 35. Same, lateral view; 36. Aedeagus and dorsal connective; 37. Same, caudal view; 38. Female seventh sternum. 39 – 45. S. coloratus Rao. 39. Male pygophore; 40. Subgenital plate; 41, Style; 42. Connective and paraphyses, lateral view; 43. Same, dorsal view; 44. Aedeagus and dorsal connective; 45. Same, caudal view. Scale line indicates 0.1 mm.