Pratura ceylona, Zahniser, James N., 2008

Zahniser, James N., 2008, Seven new species and new distributions of Old World Chiasmini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae), with a redescription, key to genera, and species checklist for the tribe, Zootaxa 1808, pp. 1-32 : 7

Pratura ceylona sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–8 )

Length of female 4.3–4.4 mm. General color greenish-yellow. Crown flat, slightly upturned anteriorly. Anterior margin of head angulate to face, irregularly striate. Ocelli small, on anterior margin of head, 3– 4 x their own diameter from eye. Frontoclypeus long and narrow, shagreen. Clypellus parallel-sided. Eyes relatively large. Pronotum without lateral carina. Forewings brachypterous or subbrachypterous, reaching caudal margin of abdominal segment V, with veins obscure. Thoracic and abdominal tergites III and IV dark brown, remaining tergites greenish yellow. Female abdominal sternites dark brown to fuscous. Hind femur formula 2+1+1 or 2+1+0.

Male. Pygofer long, lateral cleft not membranous, caudal margin at a 45º angle, with ~10 macrosetae near caudal margin. Valve triangular, rounded at apex. Subgenital plate as long as pygofer, rounded at apex, with a sublateral row of macrosetae plus additional scattered lateral macrosetae. Connective long and gracile; anterior arms arched and touching anteriorly, less than half length of stem. Style anterior median lobe strongly sinuate; preapical lobe distinct, digitate; apophysis very long, recurved and pointed at apex, with a spiraling row of very small teeth beginning with most prominent tooth located lateroventrally near base of apophysis. Aedeagus with broad basal segment articulating with recurved shaft, gonopore subapical and on anterior or dorsal side. Segment X completely membranous.

Female. Ovipositor extending far beyond pygofer. Sternite VII with a deep V-shaped medial notch. Pygofer with few ventral macrosetae. Gonoplac without macrosetae. First and second valvulae similar to P. graminea . First vavlula long and slender, dorsal sculpturing maculose and submarginal. Second valvula long and slender, slightly concave ventrally near apex, with obliquely triangular serrated teeth on apical 1/3 to 1/4.

Material examined. For all specimens, there are two common labels beneath the primary locality and habitat labels. The first identifies the collecting expedition and collectors: Lund University / Ceylon Expedition 1962 / Brinck-Anderson- / Cederholm. The second identifies the museum holding: Purchased by / AMNH from / R. Linnavuori. Male holotype: Ceylon, S. Prov. / Malala Oya / 5 mls NE Hambantota / 22.III.62.Loc.170. Next label: On thorny bush. Male paratype: Ceylon, E. Prov. / Nilaveli / 8mls NNW Trincomalee / 10.II.62.Loc.61. Next label: Swept on salt- / meadow. Female paratype: Ceylon, N.Prov. / Nay Aru at Pallamadu / 10 mls E Mannar / 15.II.62.Loc.86. Next label: Marshy land. Female paratype: Ceylon, E.Prov. / Nilaveli / 8 mls NNW Trincomalee / 10.II.62.Loc.61. Next label: Swept on salt- / meadow. Holotype and paratypes deposited at AMNH.

Diagnosis. Can be distinguished from P. s p i c a by the shorter head and from P. graminea by the more strongly angled pygofer caudal margin, the shorter anterior arms of the connective, the longer subgenital plates, the less prominent and more basally and laterally located basal tooth of the style apophysis, and the shape of the female sternite VII.

Etymology. The species name is a noun in apposition.

Discussion. The finding of a species of Pratura from Sri Lanka and the synonymy of Doraturella reveals that this genus is much more widespread than its previous known distribution, South Africa. It now includes Mali in northwestern Africa and the Indian subcontinent. This distribution is similar to that of Leofa , as described below.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Pratura ceylona sp. nov. 1: dorsal habitus, female; 2: lateral habitus, female; 3: connective and styles, ventrally; 4: detail of style apophysis; 5: female sternite VII; 6: valve and subgenital plate, ventrally; 7: pygofer, laterally; 8: aedeagus, laterally.