Libengaia (Libengaia) immaculata, Viraktamath & Webb & Yeshwanth, 2024

Viraktamath, C. A., Webb, M. D. & Yeshwanth, H. M., 2024, Opsiini leafhopper genus Libengaia Linnavuori (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) in Africa and India with description of one new subgenus and six new species, Zootaxa 5507 (1), pp. 104-122 : 110

Libengaia (Libengaia) immaculata sp. nov.

Figs 1D , JK, 3A–E.

Diagnosis. Ochraceous with crown, mesonotum pale red, hyaline forewings and spiculose apical regions of ventral processes of aedeagus distinguish this species form other congeners

Description. Male 4.4 mm long. Ochraceous. Crown pale red, this marking extending on to face laterally occupying entire area between inner margin of eyes and lateral frontal sutures dorsad of antennal pits ( Figs 1 DK). Mesonotum pale red with basal triangles pale brown. Forewing hyaline with apices of R 1 and R 2+3 narrowly pale fuscous.

Male genitalia. Pygofer about 1.4× as long as height at base in lateral view, dorsal margin straight, posteroventral angle rounded, posterodorsal angle conically rounded and posterior margin almost straight; macrosetae scattered in distal half. Style with poorly developed preapical lobe, apophysis curved laterally with transverse rugae and apex rounded. Connective with stem twice as long as arms, apex widened. Aedeagus in lateral view U-shaped, each shaft with lamellate lateral ledges, each shaft in dorsal view slender and slightly sinuate; ventral process longer than shaft, forks of the process spiculose; preatrium with process arising at base of shafts, semi-erect, about as long as preatrium and forked near apex.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂, CAMEROON: Mkoemvon , vii.1979, D. Jackson, B.M. 1980-34 ( BMNH) . Paratype 1♂, same data as holotype except vii–viii.1979 ( BMNH) .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the total absence of dark brown spots on the head and pronotum.

Remarks. This species differs from all other congeners in having the apical branches of the ventral processes spiculose.

Figures

FIGURE 1 A–P. Species of Libengaia (Libengaia), habitus dorsal (A–F), face (G–N) and ant. A, G, L. (L.) brevistylus sp. nov. male; BC, HI, L. (L.) deemingi sp. nov.: male (BH), female (CI); D, JK, L. (L.) immaculata male; E, L, M, L. (L.) longistylus sp. nov.; F, N, L. (L.) trifida sp. nov., holotype male, face; OP, ant, Crematogaster sp. dorsal and lateral view.