Balocha astuta (Melichar)

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 : 12-18

Balocha astuta (Melichar)

Figs 1A–H , 2A–M , 3A–L , 4A–E , 5A–L , 59A , 60G , 63A–D .

Idiocerus astutus Melichar 1903: 150 .

Balocha astuta (Melichar) : Maldonado-Capriles1964: figs 1–2; Viraktamath 1976: 24, figs 32–38.

Balocha anufrievi Rao & Ramakrishnan 1979a: 344 , figs 13–23. Syn. nov.

Balocha bifurcata Kamswara Rao, Ramakrishanan & Ghai 1979: 295 , figs 1–12. Syn. nov.

Balocha maldonadoi Kamswara Rao & Ramakrishan 1979:342 , figs 1–12. Syn. nov.

Diagnosis. Uniformly green with lateral margins of eye with one black spot, and third apical cell with dark brown to black round spot, preserved specimens pale green with reddish tinge or reddish orange. Posterior process ( Fig. 4 Aa) about 0.62–0.67× as long as anterior lobe ( Fig. 4 Ab) in lateral view, anterior process slightly curved. Female sternite VII about twice as broad as long medially with posterior margins convex ( Fig. 60G ).

Female genitalia. Valvula I slightly curved dorsally, distal 0.33 strongly tapered acutely pointed apex, sculpture strigate, occupying slightly more than distal half, strigae oblique ( Figs 63 AB). Valvula II stout, straight, toothed area slightly raised, occupying slightly more than half distal length, teeth about twice as broad as their height ( Figs 63 CD).

Material examined. INDIA: Karnataka: 1 ♀, Arasikere, 4.viii. 1977, C.A. Viraktamath; Mudigere, 3 ♀, 5–6. ii.2003, M.K. Sindhu; Bangalore, 1 ♂, 12.v.2011, ex Syzygium cumini, Yeshwanth ; 1 ♀, 31.v.2012, at light, Sudha, R.; 1 ♀, 22.v.2012, Sudha R.; 1 ♀, 18 km N. Karwar, 17.xii.1983, S. Viraktamath; 1 ♀, Kemmannagundi, 11.iv. 1975, C.A. Viraktamath; 1 ♀, 18 km N. Mudigere, 7.iv.1980, C.A. Viraktamath; 1 ♂, GVK, Bangalore, 9.iv. 2011, Yeshwanth; 1 ♀, Jog Falls , 18.xi.1976, C.A. Viraktamath. INDIA: Punjab: Ludhiana , 1♂, 2 ♀, 6.iii.1985, A.S. Sohi; 3 ♀, 30.iv.1985, J.S. Mann; 5 ♂, 1 ♀, PAU, Ludhiana, 1.iv.1985, A.S. Sohi; 1 ♀, Pinoure gardens, A.S. Sohi; 1♂, 2 ♀, Pinjour, 29.xi.1975, A.S. Sohi. INDIA: 1 ♀, Chandigarh, 16.v. 1986, M. Shenhmar. INDIA: Tripura: Agartala : 1 ♀, 2.ii.2010, C.A. Viraktamath. INDIA: Gujarat: 1 ♀, Pavagarh , 22.i.1981, S. Viraktamath; 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Junagadh, 28.i.1981, C.A. Viraktamath; 1 ♂, Sasan Gir, 31.i.1981, C.A. Viraktamath. INDIA: Delhi: 3 ♂, 6 ♀, New Delhi, JNU Campus , 8.vii. 1992, ex Syzygium cumini, C.A. Viraktamath (UASB) .

Remarks. The aedeagus of B. anufrievi , B. bifurcata and B. maldonadoi are very similar to that in B. astuta in proportions of the anterior and posterior lobes, anterior and posterior processes and hence the synonymy. The illustration of the aedeagus of B. bifurcata provided by Kamswara Rao et al. (1979: fig. 6) is erroneous; the aedeagus is placed on a permanent slide, oriented ventrally and pressed by a cover slip thus appearing different. This species breeds on Syzygium cumini (L.) ( Myrtaceae ). The posterior margin of the aedeagal shaft in specimens from Pinjore and New Delhi (from JNU campus) and also the holotype of B. anufrievi have one (( Fig. 4B , New Delhi specimens) or two ( Fig. 2K ) short conical projections.

Figures

FIGURES 1A–H. Balocha astuta (Melichar), Bengaluru population. A, habitus, dorsal view; B, habitus, lateral view; C, face; D, metabasitarsomere, ventral view; E, male genital capsule, lateral view; F, style, lateral view; G, aedeagus lateral view, H, aedeagal shaft posterior view.

FIGURES 2A–M. Balocha astuta (Melichar): Types of species of Balocha described by Kameswara Rao et al. A–D, F, I–K, B. anufrievi Kameswara Rao & Ramakrishnan:A, male genital capsule, lateral view, paratype; B, anal collar process, posterior view, holotype; c, subgenital plate, lateral view, paratype; D, style, lateral view, paratype; F, forewing, paratype; I, style and aedeagus, holotype; J–K, connective and aedeagus, ventral view (J) and aedeagus, lateral view, paratype. B. bifurcata Kameswara Rao, Ramakrishnan & Ghai: G, forewing, paratype; L, aedeagus and connective, dorsal view, holotype. B. maldonadoi Kameswara Rao & Ramakrishnan, holotype: E, style, lateral view; H, forewing; M, aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURES 3A–L. Balocha astuta (Melichar) males from different places:A–C, Bengaluru:A, male genital capsule; B, pygofer, posterior view; C, style and aedeagus, lateral view. D–F, New Delhi, JNU campus: D, male genital capsule; E, pygofer, posterior view; F, style and aedeagus, lateral view. G–H, Junagadh: G, male genital capsule, H, style and aedeagus, lateral view. I–J, New Delhi, IARI campus: I, male genital capsule; J, aedeagus, style, and subgenital plates, lateral view. K–L, Punjab: K, male genital capsule; L, style and aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURES 4A–J. Balocha astuta (Melichar) aedeagi of males from different places in India (A–E) and lectotype male, Balocha tricolor Distant (F–J). A, Bengaluru (a—anterior lobe; b—posterior process); B, New Delhi, JNU; C, Gujarat; D, Ludhiana; E, Pinjore. B. tricolor lectotype: F–G, habitus, dorsal and lateral views; H, ventral view of male abdomen showing damaged male genitalia; I, face; J, label data.

FIGURES 5A–L. Balocha astuta (Melichar), holotype male from Sri Lanka:A–B, habitus, dorsal and lateral views; C, face; D, label data, E, pygofer, lateral view; F, pygofer, posteroventral view; G, subgenital plates, ventral view, H, styles and connective, dorsal view; I, style, lateral view; J–K, aedeagus, dorsal and ventral views; L, 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 63A–P. Balocerini and Idiocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female valvula I, magnified view and valvula II, magnified view: A–D, Balocha astuta; E–H, B. fuscolinea; I–L, Amritodus atkinsoni; M–P, A. brevis.

FIGURES59A–L. Idiocerini andMegipocerini of the Indiansubcontinent,forewings:A,Balocha astuta; B,Amritodusatkinsoni; C, Bellacerus bellus; D, Busoniomimus manjunathi; E, B. mudigerensis; F, Idiocerus cedarae; G, Idioscopus bimaculatus; H, Idioscopus nitidulus; I, Jogina robustipennis; J, Jogocerus freytagi; K, Keralus webbi; L, Matangia capriliana.