Hylica Stål, 1863

Viraktamath, C. A. & Yeshwanth, H. M., 2023, Leafhopper subfamily Hylicinae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) in the Indian subcontinent with description of new species, Zootaxa 5319 (4), pp. 451-500 : 466

Genus Hylica Stål

Type species: Hylica paradoxa Stål , by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Head, pronotum and mesonotum strongly tuberculate, pronotum medially carinate, posterior half with raised pair of oblique sublateral carinae on either side of median line. Hind wing costal margin with 3–4 stout setae in proximal half ( Fig. 13K, L , 14B, C ). Mesoscutum raised with lateral carinate margins in basal half, then flattish and apex much less raised. Abdomen obovate oval, pregenital segments VII and VIII in male and VI and VII in female with lateral lamellate lobes ( Fig. 12C–E ). Meta femur distal macrosetae 2+0, metabasitarsomere plantar surface with uniform sized setae with normal alveoli, without stout macrosetae and with a few thin setae laterally, distal transverse row with 5 platellae flanked by one seta on either side ( Fig. 15D ). Male pygofer without ventral process.Aedeagus with short atrium, well-developed elongate dorsal apodeme. Female valvula II with dorsal margin expanded about midlength and narrowed distally, with marginal fine teeth ( Figs 16C, D, G, H ).

Description. Tang & Zhang (2018) have adequately redescribed the genus and hence only additional characters are mentioned here.

Forewing with claval veins fused for the most part in middle, with three subapical closed cells and 4 apical cells, median subapical cell longest. Hind wing costal margin with 3–4 stout setae in proximal half of costa. Metabasitarsomere plantar surface with uniform sized setae with normal alveoli, without stout setae and with a few thin setae laterally, distal transverse row with 5 platellae flanked by one seta on either side ( Fig. 15D ).

Remarks. Tang & Zhang (2018) revised the genus and redescribed the type species and also one new species from south India. This genus along with Assiringia , Traiguma and Wolfella is included in the tribe Hylicini . Hylica and Traiguma have tuberculate head, but in Hylica tubercles on head are very extensive and in addition, pronotum and mesonotum are also tuberculate which are absent in Traiguma . The metabasitarsomere plantar surface in Traiguma has one stout seta with prominent alveolus, in Hylica setae are of uniform size with normal alveoli in addition to lateral hair-like setae are present. Both the genera lack a male pygofer ventral process and the forewing claval veins are fused in mid region in Hylica but in Traiguma they are separate all through their length.

Figures

FIGURES 12A–L. Species of Hylicinae, male and female abdomen dorsal view. A, Hatigoria zhangi sp. nov.; B, Hemisudra indica sp. nov.; C–D, Hylica paradoxa Stål, male (C) and female (D); E, Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang, male; F, Kalasha confusa sp. nov.; G, Nacolus tuberculatus (Walker); H, Sudra manipurensis sp. nov.; I, Sudra notanda Distant, male; J, Traiguma nasuta Distant, male; K, Traiguma nielsoni Viraktamath & Webb, male; L, Traiguma verticalis Distant, male.

FIGURES 13A–L. Forewings (A, D, G, J), hind wings (B, E, H, K) and magnified view of costal margin (C, F, I, L) of Hylicinae. A–C, Balala mekongia Tang & Zhang from Thailand; D–F, Hatigoria zhangi sp. nov.; G–I, Hemisudra indica sp. nov.; J–L, Hylica paradoxa Stål.

FIGURES 14A–O. Forewings (A, D, G, J, M), hind wings (B, E, H, K, N) and magnified view of costal margin (C, F, I, L, O) of Hylicinae. A–C, Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang; D–F, Kalasha manikya sp. nov.; G–I, Nacolus tuberculatus (Walker); J–L, Sudra manipurensis sp. nov.; M–O, Traiguma verticalis Distant.

FIGURES 15A–K. Metabasitarsomere plantar surface (A–H) and female sternite VII (I–K) of Hylicinae. A, Balala mekongia Tang & Zhang; B, Hatigoria zhangi sp. nov.; C, Hemisudra indica sp. nov.; D, Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang; E, Kalasha manikya sp. nov.; F, Nacolus tuberculatus (Walker); G, Sudra manipurensis sp. nov.; H, Traiguma verticalis Distant: I, Hylica paradoxa Stål; J, Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang; K, Traiguma verticalis Distant.

FIGURES 16A–L. Valvulae I and II, lateral views of species of Hylica and Traiguma. A–D, Hylica paradoxa Stål, valvula I (AB) and valvula II (CD); E–H, Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang, valvula I (EF) and valvula II (GH); I–L, Traiguma verticalis Distant, valvula I (IJ) and valvula II(KL).