Bellacerus, 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 : 27-30

Genus Bellacerus gen. nov.

Type species. Idioscopus bellus Viraktamath , here designated.

Diagnosis. Externally similar to Idioscopus , but the male genitalia are different. Pygofer without ventral process, anal collar process well-developed, posteriorly strongly bifurcate, aedeagus with well-developed stalk-like atrium, shaft elongate, without paired processes but with an unpaired angular projection on dorsal margin apically, dorsal apodeme well-developed.

Description. Crown longer medially than next to eyes, produced beyond anterior margins of eye, about 3.3–3.5x as wide between eyes as medially long, transversely striated. Face about as long as broad including eyes, area dorsad of ocelli striated, rest shagreen. Clypellus widened apically, Labium extending slightly beyond metacoxae. Lora not raised, lateral margin of gena below eyes straight. Pronotum shagreen, 2.2–2.5× as wide as long, about 1.8× as long as crown. Mesonotum about as long as combined length of crown and pronotum. Forewing with claval veins pitted, with two subapical cells, inner subapical cell open. Meta tibia with row AD 5–6, row PD 5–6, row AV 15–16 setae, metabasitarsomere plantar surface with very few minute scattered setae, distal transverse row with two platellae flanked on either side by one stout seta ( Fig. 13E ). Female sternite VII medially produced posteriorly ( Fig. 60M ).

Male genitalia. Pygofer with ventral margin more or less straight, without ventral process. Anal collar with well-developed bifurcate process. Style with ventral margin serrated in distal half, with row of long setae on dorsal margin in apical 1/6, apophysis tapered distally but not hooked. Connective broadly Y-shaped, with median anterior lobe. Aedeagus with well-developed stalk-like atrium, dorsal apodeme well-developed almost half as long as shaft, aedeagal shaft slightly narrowed and curved without paired processes but with unpaired dorsal angular process subapically on dorsal surface, gonopore apical.

Female genitalia. Valvula I straight, widest at basal 0.33, then narrowed distally ( Figs 64 IJ). Valvula II more or less straight, distal half occupied by widely spaced teeth and valvula slightly curved ventrally ( Figs 64 KL).

Etymology. The genus name is derived from combination of the type species name “bellus ” (beautiful) and “cerus” usual ending for most of the idiocerine leafhoppers, gender masculine.

Remarks. Externally the species of the genus resemble species of Idioscopus , but are more slender and colourful. This genus lacks paired processes near the apex of aedeagal shaft and also pygofer ventral process present in Idioscopus . The latter genus also lacks the ventral projection of the atrium present in the new genus.

Figures

FIGURES 13A–H. Bellacerus bellus (Viraktamath) comb. nov., holotype male:A–B, habitus, dorsal and lateral views; C, face; D, label data; E, metabasitarsomere, ventral view; F, male genital capsule, lateral view; G, styles, connective and aedeagus, dorsal view; H, aedeagus, lateral view.

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.