Stirellus indrus ( Distant, 1908 )

Duan, Yani, Webb, M. D. & Zhang, Yalin, 2016, Review of the leafhopper tribe Stenometopiini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from China with description of four new species, Zootaxa 4171 (1), pp. 101-138 : 116-119

Stirellus indrus ( Distant, 1908)

( Figs. 11–14 )

Typhlocyba indra Distant, 1908: 415 .

Paivanana indra, Distant, 1918: 95 , Fig. 56; Pruthi, 1934: 98, plate VII, Figs. 10 a–c, text-fig. 115. Aconura bipunctella Matsumura, 1914: 232 , syn. nov.

Paivanana centristriata Dai & Li, 2003: 31 , Figs. 1–7 , syn. nov. Stirellus indrus, Li et al, 2011 : 273, Fig. 5 –274.

Length. Male: 2.8–3.2mm; female: 3.4–3.8mm.

Color. General color usually pale grey ( Figs. 11–12 ). Vertex usually with two prominent black spots between the anterior margins of the eyes, and very slightly nearer to the eyes than each other, sometimes spots coalescing ( Figs. 11 A–H, 12A–G). Face with two black round markings on each side just below antennal sockets ( Figs. 11 I, 12I). Forewing sometimes with brown longitudinal bands and with a dull purplish or greenish tinge ( Figs. 11 A–H, 12A–H).

Body. Head nearly subequal in width to pronotum, subconical, anterior margin rounded to face, acutely angled. Vertex slightly longer than width between eyes ( Figs. 11 A–H, 12A–H). Ocellus next to eye on anterior margin ( Fig. 12 H). Eye relatively large ( Figs. 11 A–H, 12A–G). Anteclypeus tapering to apex, extending beyond normal curve of genae ( Figs. 11 I, 12I). Pronotum median length nearly as long as median length of crown. Mesonotum and scutellum shorter than pronotum ( Figs. 11 A–H, 12A–G). Forewing macropterous, usually exposing apex of abdomen in female and sometimes in male ( Figs. 11 A–H, 12A–H).

Male. Pygofer side with few macrosetae dorsally, apex nearly truncate ( Fig. 13 A–B). Subgenital plate slightly concave laterally, macrosetae uniseriate laterally ( Fig. 13 D). Style narrow, apophysis slender, digitate, slightly laterally curved ( Fig. 13 E–F). Connective stem longer than arms ( Fig. 13 G). Aedeagal shaft bent at near base, long, curving, parallel to aedeagal base, tip pointed ( Fig. 13 H–K).

Female. Hind margin of seventh sternum nearly straight ( Fig. 12 J).

Material examined. Lectotype: Ƌ, here designated, of Typhlocyba indra Distant , India, Calcutta , 4.viii.07, C. Paiva ( BMNH) . Paralectotypes: 40 (Ƌ and ♀), India, Calcutta, various dates, collected by C. Paiva or N. Annandale ( BMNH). Other material : China, Z hejiang Prov.: 5Ƌ, 4♀, Deqing County, 1479m, 21 July 2006, coll. Duan Yani ; Fujian Prov.: 2Ƌ, 5♀, Shanghang County, 13 August 2003, coll. Duan Yani ; Jiangxi Prov.: 1Ƌ, 2♀, 2 August 1985, coll. Liu Zuyao & Zheng Jianzhong ( SHEM) ; Hunan Prov.: 3Ƌ, 7♀, Chenzhou City , 18 August 1985, coll. Zhang Yalin & Chai Yonghui ; Guangxi Prov.: 1♀, Shiwandashan , 21 November 2001, coll. He Zhiqiang ; Hainan Prov.: 9Ƌ, 7♀, Mt. Bawang , 10 June 2007, coll. Duan Yani ; Shaanxi Prov.: 1Ƌ, Wugong County, 20 July 1987, coll. Zhou Jingruo, at light.

Distribution. India and widespread in China.

Remarks. This species was originally described from an unknown number of specimens (syntypes) from India with the following data: “Calcutta (Annandale & Paiva, Ind. Mus. & Coll. Dist.)”. Due to the variability in this species it is considered prudent to designate a lectotype. From the numerous syntypes present in the BMNH (see above), the specimen selected as lectotype is labelled as figured by Distant. Although this specimen is not in good condition, it is chosen in preference to most other specimens as these have a dryinid sack attached to the abdomen and may therefore be deformed internally. The lectotype is similar in appearance to Fig. 14 C. A. bipunctella Matsumura , which was described from an unknown number of specimens from Taiwan (syntypes). The synonymy is confirmed based on photographs of the types ( Fig. 14 ) showing the characteristic vertex spots. The synonymy of P. centristriatus Dai & Li is based on examination of the types and other material from China. This species was established based on the forewing with a brown longitudinal line, style with small tooth on the lateral side and apex of the male pygofer side with a ventral marginal hook (mistaken for dorsal). By examining many specimens of this species from China, we found the first and last characters are variable (see Figs. 11 A–H, 12A–H and Fig. 13 A–B, respectively) and the small tooth on the lateral side of the style is generally found in species of this tribe. There is considerable variation in the color pattern of this species even in individuals from the same locality collected at the same time.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Hodoedocus mindanaoensis. Female. A: habitus, dorsal view; B: habitus, lateral view; C: face.

FIGURE 2. Hodoedocus mindanaoensis. A: male pygofer side, lateral view; B: subgenital plate, ventral view; C: valve, ventral view; D: style, dorsal view; E: connective, dorsal view; F, G: aedeagus, dorsal and lateral view, respectively.

FIGURE 3. Stirellus breviceps. Holotype. A: habitus, dorsal view; B: habitus, lateral view; C: labels.

FIGURE 4. Stirellus capitatus. Male. A – D: habitus, dorsal view; E: face.

FIGURE 5. Stirellus capitatus. Female. A – D: habitus, dorsal view; E: habitus, lateral view; F: face; G: the end of female abdomen, ventral view.

FIGURE 6. Stirellus capitatus. A, C: male pygofer and segment X – XI, lateral and dorsal view, respectively; B: male pygofer side, lateral view; D: valve and subgenital plate, ventral view; E – F: style, dorsal view; G: connective, dorsal view; H: aedeagus, dorsal view; I: connective and aedeagus, lateral view; J: aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURE 7. Stirellus daii sp. nov. A – C: male; D – G: female. A, D: habitus, dorsal view; B, E: habitus, lateral view; C, F: face; G: the end of female abdomen, ventral view.

FIGURE 10. Stirellus grandis. A – B: male pygofer and segment X – XI, lateral view; C: male pygofer and segment X – XI, dorsal view; D: valve, subgenital plates and styles, ventral view; E – F: style, dorsal view; G: connective, dorsal view; H: aedeagus, dorsal view; I: connective and aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURE 11. Stirellus indrus. Male. A – H: habitus, dorsal view; I: face.

FIGURE 12. Stirellus indrus. Female. A – G: habitus, dorsal view; H: habitus, lateral view; I: face; J: the end of female abdomen, ventral view.

FIGURE 13. Stirellus indrus. A – B: male pygofer side, lateral view; C: male pygofer and segment X – XI, dorsal view; D: valve, subgenital plates and styles, ventral view; E – F: style, dorsal view; G: connective, dorsal view; H: aedeagus, ventral view; I – K: connective and aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURE 14. Stirellus indrus. A: syntypes of Aconura bipunctella; B: ♂ – A, habitus, dorsal view; C: ♂ – A, habitus, lateral view; D: labels.