Afrokana Heller

Wang, Yang, Dietrich, Christopher H. & Zhang, Yalin, 2017, Review of two genera of Nirvanini leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae) from Africa, Zootaxa 4231 (3), pp. 431-441 : 437

Afrokana Heller

( Figs 27–41 )

Type species: Afrokana knorri Heller, 1972

Diagnosis. This genus is similar to Afronirvana in size, coloration, wing venation and male genitalia but differs as follows: body relatively short and broad, frontoclypeus less tumid, face without median depression, crown with apical margin more strongly angulate with disk flat or concave and with transverse preapical carina and distinct median longitudinal carina.

Description. Medium-sized leafhoppers (5.0–6.5 mm long) with dorsal coloration yellow to pale ochraceous, a black midline of variable breadth from apex of crown to tip of scutellum, forewing also with several irregular markings. Head ( Figs 27, 28 ) triangularly produced in dorsal view, slightly longer than length of pronotum and distance between eyes. Crown ( Figs 27, 28 ) flat or concave with transverse preapical carina and distinct median longitudinal carina, entire anterior and lateral margins separated from face by distinct carina extended from apex to dorsal end of lateral frontal suture; surface rugulose with fine irregular striations sublaterally converging towards apex; ocelli well developed. Face ( Figs 28, 29 ) convex, frontoclypeus in profile oblique, ca. 45o from horizontal, surface shagreen, with median longitudinal carina on dorsal half and dorsolateral oblique rugae developed; antenna longer than combined length of crown and pronotum; antennal ledge well developed; lateral frontal suture extended nearly to ocellus; anteclypeus convex, apex rounded, extended to margin of gena; lorum small, narrow, well-separated from lateral margin of gena; gena with lateral margin evenly rounded below eye, almost completely concealing proepisternum. Pronotum ( Figs 27 , 36 ) slightly wider than head, anterior margin roundly produced, posterior margin slightly concave; lateral margin less than half as long as eye, carinate, carina even with posterior corner of eye. Exposed part of mesonotum and scutellum ( Figs 27 , 36 ) together shorter than pronotum, scutellar suture distinct, reaching lateral margin. Forewing with venation obscure in basal two-thirds; with four apical cells; appendix very narrow. Hindwing with four apical cells, R2+3 with basal section between wing margin and R stem absent. Front femur with setae AM1 and AV1 enlarged; intercalary row with ca. 9 setae; row AV with one enlarged basal seta and ca. 10 shorter setae more distad; PV setae absent. Front tibia slender, cylindrical, with two dorsoapical setae, row AV with ca. 8 enlarged setae and ca. 8 short setae. Hind femur macrosetal formula 2+1+1; tibia with ca. 10, 16, 30, and 13 setae in rows AD, PD, PV, and AV, respectively; tarsus elongate, tarsomere I with pair of dorsoapical setae and two longitudinal rows of plantar setae, pecten of tarsomeres I and II each with 4 tapered setae and 2 platellae.

Male abdomen with 1S apodemes well developed ( Fig. 31 ). Pygofer ( Fig. 30 ) short and well sclerotized, lateral lobe broadly rounded, with sclerotized ventral process and several posterodorsal macrosetae. Anal tube ( Fig. 30 ) large, tapering apicad, ventral margins with pair of large triangular basolateral expansions ventrally. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 35 ) weakly subsegmented at base, with longitudinal row of ventral macrosetae and numerous long hairlike setae. Style ( Fig. 32 ) with apodeme and apophysis colinear and subequal in length; lateral lobe moderately developed, apex footlike and expanded laterally. Connective ( Fig. 32 ) trident-shaped, stem longer than arms. Aedeagus ( Figs 33, 34 ) without preatrium and dorsal apodeme, shaft almost straight, with unpaired basal projection posteriorly and paired distal processes, gonopore subapical on ventral surface.

Female with sternite VII produced medially ( Fig. 39 ); first valvula in lateral view ( Figs 38, 41 ) slender and evenly curved in the middle, distal half nearly straight, width same through most of length, apical fifth tapered, with dorsal sculpturing oblique imbricate on distal third, ventral preapical sculpturing irregularly denticulate; second valvula ( Figs 37, 40 ) curved, with toothed weakly distal blade ca. 1/3 total length, slightly broadened, with smaller teeth between larger ones.

Distribution. Africa ( Cameroon; Nigeria).

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 35. Afrokana transmaculata, ♂: 27. Habitus, dorsal view; 28. Habitus, lateral view; 29. Face; 30. Genital capsule, lateral view; 31. Base of abdomen, ventral view; 32. connective and style, ventral view; 33. Aedeagus, ventral view; 34. Aedeagus, lateral view; 35. Subgenital plate, ventral view.

FIGURES 36 – 41. Afrokana transmaculata, ♀: 36. Habitus, dorsal view; 37. Second valvula; 38. First valvula; 39. sternite VII; 40. Apex of second valvula; 41. Apex of first valvula.