Grammacephalus albatus, Gnezdilov, 2021

Gnezdilov, Vladimir M., 2021, A new species of the genus Grammacephalus Haupt (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from the United Arab Emirates, with a key to species of the genus known from the Arabian Peninsula, Zootaxa 4995 (2), pp. 396-400 : 397-399

Grammacephalus albatus sp. nov.

( Figs 1–11 )

Description. Crown flat and relatively short, 1.3 times as long medially as wide between the eyes, with acutely angulate (at nearly right angle) anterior margin.Crown extending beyond anterior eye margins by less than half of its length (in dorsal view) ( Fig. 1 ). Frontoclypeus uniformly weakly convex. Antennal flagellum with a seta basally. Rostrum short, reaching middle coxae; apical segment narrowing apically. Pronotum slightly shorter than crown, with widely concave posterior margin. Forewing macropterous, with narrow appendix. Hind femur with 2 + 2 + 1 macrosetae apically. First metatarsomere as long as second and third ones together, with eight macrosetae ventrally arranged in two longitudinal rows (4 + 4). First and second metatarsomeres with five and four apical platellae respectively.

Coloration ( Figs 1–3 ). Generally whitish, with a slight greenish-yellow tint. Crown with brown irregular spots. Rostrum with black apex. Pronotum with vague light yellow spots along its anterior margin. Mesonotum with large yellow spot in each anterior angle. Forewing with light yellow radius, with R 1, R 2+3, and R 4 + 5 dark brown to black. Hind wing whitish, with brown longitudinal veins. Leg claws and spines on platella sockets of metatarsomeres brown. Female 3 rd sternite with a large semicircular black spot occupying almost all its area except posterior margin and angles.

Male genitalia ( Figs 4–9 ). Anal tube large, longer than pygofer lobe (in lateral view) ( Fig. 4 ). Each pygofer lobe with very long and narrow, apically pointed, arcuate process rising from its lower margin and directed upwards ( Fig. 4 ). Sclerotized part of each pygofer lobe with nine marginal macrosetae; membrane part of pygofer lobe with several small thick setae. Genital valve wide, with strongly pointed apex ( Fig. 5 ). Subgenital plate elongate, triangular, with narrowly rounded apex, with 12–14 marginal macrosetae. Style with clavate and striate apical part, with four setae below ( Fig. 9 ). Aedeagus long and narrow, with strongly curved, S-shaped shaft, with its apex drawn back (in lateral view), bearing median keel dentate subapically; gonopore subapical ( Figs 6, 7 ). Connective long ( Fig. 8 ).

Female genitalia ( Figs 10, 11 ). Ovipositor short, slightly surpassing pygofer margins. Hind margin of sternite VII convex, with weak median notch and pair of small teeth on both sides.

Total length (from the apex of vertex to the apices of forewings). Male—4.0 mm. Females— 4.5–4.8 mm.

Etymology. The species name refers to the whitish general coloration of the species which is peculiar within the genus.

Type material. Holotype: male, UAE, Fujairah, Wadi Wurayah National Park , 170 m, N25°23´46.5´´ E56°16´10.2´´, 26.III.2017, on light in night, V. M. Gnezdilov leg.

Paratypes: UAE, Fujairah: 1 female, Wadi Wurayah National Park , 170 m, N25°23´46.5´´ E56°16´10.2´´, 23.III.2017, V. M. Gnezdilov leg. ; 1 female, near Dadna , N25°24.018´E56°17.475´, 27.III.2017, on light in night, V. M. Gnezdilov leg.

Note. The species was collected at light before midnight in Wadi Wurayah and Dadna as well as swept from herbs during the day in Wadi Wurayah.

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Grammacephalus albatus sp. nov., holotype. 1—dorsal view; 2—lateral view; 3—face. Total length of the specimen—4.0 mm.

FIGURES 4–11. Grammacephalus albatus sp. nov., 4–9—holotype, male genitalia, 10, 11—female paratype, sternite VII, ventral view. 4—anal tube and pygofer, lateral view; 5—genital valve and subgenital plates, ventral view; 6—aedeagus and connective, lateral view; 7—same, ventral view; 8—connective, dorsal view; 9—style, ventral view; 10—specimen from Dadna; 11—specimen from Wadi Wurayah.