Keralus, 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 : 58-59

Genus Keralus gen. nov.

Type species: Idioscopus webbi Viraktamath , here designated.

Diagnosis. Externally resembling species of Amritodus and Idioscopus . It differs from Anmritodus in having a short preatrium well developed dorsal apodeme and subapical processes on aedeagal shaft and from Idioscopus in not having apical long processes on aedeagal shaft and ventral surface of style apophysis smooth and with a subapical short process.

Description. Ochraceous to brownish ochraceous with dark brown to black markings as in Amritodus . Crown anterior and posterior margins more or less parallel sided, surface transversely rugose, 4.0–4.8× as wide between eyes as medially long, Face dorsad of ocelli rugose. Ocelli closer to adjacent eye than to each other. Frontolateral sutures reaching ocelli. Clypellus wider at apex than at base. Lora raised above general surface and not reaching lower margins of genae. Male antenna with or without subapical dark coloured disc. Labium slender in both sexes, slightly exceeding metacoxae. Pronotum shagreen, posterior margin very slightly concave in middle, 2.2–2,4× as wide as long medially, longer than crown. Mesonoutm about as long as of slightly shorter than combined length of crown and pronotum, but longer than pronotum, mesoscutellum rough sculptured. Meta femur distal macrosetae 2+1. Meta tibial chaetotaxy in row AD 6, PD 20–22, Av 6. Metabasitarsomere with 3 plateallae on distal transverse row flanked by one seta on either side ( Fig. 30H ). Male with well-developed basal abdominal tergal and sternal apodemes. Female sternite VII wider than long, slightly narrowed posteriorly with median concavity on posterior margin.

Male genitalia. Pygofer height more than its width, with basal fracture, anterior marginal dorsal apodeme well-developed, ventral process thin, spine-like bent dorsally in distal 0.33 and apex not attaining the dorsal margin. Subgenital plate with basal segment, rest of it of uniform width, with marginal long thin hair-like setae, about as long as pygofer. Style with anterior part small about 0.25 as long as apophysis, latter with dorsal marginal thin short hair, apical 0.25 part narrowed dorsally curved, ventral surface smooth, with a short process at distal 0.33 length on ventral surface ( Fig. 30J ). Connective more or less T-shaped with stem well developed. Aedeagus V-shaped, with short poorly developed preatrium, dorsal apodeme well-developed, shaft slightly compressed, distal 0.2 portion abruptly narrowed and curved dorsally, with subapical pair of processes. Gonopore subapical on ventral surface.

Female genitalia. Sternite VII about 2.3×as wide at base as long medially, posteriorly broadly convex with median concavity ( Fig. 61O ). Valvula I slightly curved, apex pointed, with sculptured area occupying distal 0.6 length, strigae oblique, with dorsal marginal reticulation, sculptured area occupying dorsal 0.5 width of valvula ( Figs 68E,F ). Valvula II straight narrowed distally, toothed area occupying distal 0.4 length, teeth widely spaced and prominent, angular ( Figs 68 GH).

Etymology. The name of the genus is derived from the Indian state, Kerala where the type species was collected; gender masculine.

Remarks. The male genitalia with the style having a ventral short process appears to be quite unique. The genus contains only the type species at present.

Figures

FIGURES 30A–M. Keralus webbi (Viraktamath) comb. nov., holotype male: A–B, habitus, dorsal and lateral views; C, face; D, label data; E–G, female, lateral, dorsal views and face; H, metabasitarsomere, ventral view; I, male genital capsule, lateral view; J, style, lateral view; K, styles, connective and aedeagus, ventral view; L, aedeagus, lateral view; M, style, connective and aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURES 61A–R. Idiocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female sternite VII: A, Idiocerus cedarae; B, Metidioceus deodarae; C, M. gnezdilovai; D, Idiocerus sharmai; E, Idioscopus bimaculatus; F, I. clypealis. G, I. confuscous; H, I. irenae; I, I. nagpurensis; J, I. nitidulus; K, I. pretiosus; L, I. shillongensis; M, I. virescens; N, Jogocerus freytagi; O, Keralus webbi; P, Matangia capriliana; Q, M. inidca; R, M. thapai.

FIGURES 68A–P. Idiocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female valvula I, magnified view and valvula II, magnified view:A–D, Jogocerus freytagi; E–H, Keralus webbi; I–L, Matangia capriliana; M–P, M. indica.