Amritodus quinquepunctatus (Melichar) VIRAKTAMATH & YESHWANTH, 2024

VIRAKTAMATH, C. A. & YESHWANTH, H. M., 2024, Arboreal eurymeline leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Eurymelinae) of the Indian subcontinent with description of new genera and eight new species, Zootaxa 5462 (1), pp. 1-125 : 27

Amritodus quinquepunctatus (Melichar) comb. nov., stat. nov.

Figs 11A–H , 12A–J , 60K , 64A–D , 73B .

Idiocerus quinquepunctatus Melichar 1903: 146 .

Amritodus brevistylus Viraktamath 1976: 234–235 , figs 1–5. Viraktamath 1997: 115, figs 15–21, 27; Xue & Zhang 2020: 1447–1448, figs 5A–N, 14A–G. Syn. nov.

Diagnosis. Very similar to A. atknsoni in coloration, but male style apex not curved, dorsal surface with short thin numerous setae. Aedeagus with shaft about as long as preatrium, with pair of short spine-like basal processes on ventral surface. Female sternite VII 3× as wide as long medially, lateral margins narrowed posteriorly, posterior margin between lobes concave with median concave exaction ( Fig. 60K ).

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♀, SRI LANKA: Ceylon, Peradeniya, Jan 1902, leg. Dr Uzel, Dr. Melichar, 5punctatus, det. Melichar, Idiocerus quinquepunctatus Melichar 1903 , L. Melichar det. ( MMB). INDIA: several male and female specimens from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu ( UASB).

Remarks. Melichar (1903) described Idiocerus quinquepunctatus based on a single female specimen (holotype, Fig.12A–F ) with collection data “Peradeniya, im Jänner 1902 von Dr. Uzel”. Distant (1908) synonymized this species with Idiocerus atkinsoni Lethierry. However , examination of the female sternite VII of the holotype suggests that it is a senior synonym of Amritodus brevistylus Viraktamath. Gnaneswaran et al. (2007) studied several males and females of A. brevistylus from different parts of Sri Lanka including Peradeniya, suggesting that the species concerned is A. quinquepunctatus . The distribution pattern of A. brevistylus , a species found only in southern parts of peninsular India and continuing in Sri Lanka suggests that the species concerned is A. quinquepunctatus , and hence the synonymy. Viraktamath (1976, 1997) adequately described and illustrated the species and Xue et al. (2020) diagnosed and illustrated the male and female genitalia under the name A. brevistylus . It differs from the other three species of Anritodus in having a pair of short spine-like processes on ventral surface of aedeagal shaft at base ( Fig. 11H ). This species occurs in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. It has the same habit as A. atkinsoni and breeds on young leaves and inflorescence of mango. During off-season, the adults are found resting on trunks of mango ( Fig. 73B ) and neighbouring trees.

Figures

FIGURES 11A–H. Amritodus quinquepunctatus (Melichar). Paratype male, A. brevistylus Viraktamath, a junior synonym of A. quinquepunctatus (Melichar):A–B, dorsal and lateral views; C, face; D, label data; F, male genital capsule; E, metabasitarsomere, ventral view; G, styles, connective ad aedeagus, dorsal view; H, aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURES 12A–K. Amritodus quinquepunctatus (Melichar). A–F, holotype female: A–B, habitus, dorsal and lateral views; C, face, D, pregenital sternites and ovipositor; E, forewing venation; F, label data. G–K, paratype female A. brevistylus Viraktamath, a junior synonym of A. quinquepunctatus: G–H, habitus, dorsal and lateral views; I, face; J, forewing venation; K, pregenital sternites and ovipositor of topotype female.

FIGURES 60A–O. Idiocerini and Megipocerini of the Indian subcontinent, forewings (A–F) and female sternite VII (G– O). A, Matangia indica; B, Metidiocerus deodarae; C, Periacerus lalithae; D, Ulavius anasuyae; E, Busonia distanti; F, B. manipurensis; G, Balocha astuta; H, B. fuscolinea; I, Amritodus atkinsoni; J, A. brevis; K, A. quinquepunctatus; L, A. saeedi; M, Bellacerus bellus; N, Busoniomimus manjunathi; O, B. mudigerensis.

FIGURES 64A–P. Idiocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female valvula I, magnified view and valvula II, magnified view:A–D, Amritodus quinquepunctatus; E–H, A. saeedi; I–L, Bellacerus bellus; M–P, Busoniomimus manjunathi.

FIGURES 73A–E. Idiocerini and Megipocerini of the Indian subcontinent in their natural habitats: A, adult Idioscopus nagpurensis congregation on under surface of mango leaf; B, Amritodus quinquepunctatus on bark of mango tree; C, Idioscopus nitidulus nymphs feeding on mango fruit; D, I. nitidulus adult on mango leaves; E, Busonia manipurensis sp. nov. adults and nymphs attended by ants.