Geelus platdraad, Stiller, 2020

Stiller, Michael, 2020, A new leafhopper genus Geelus and 12 new species (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae Deltocephalinae) from Southern Africa, Zootaxa 4786 (3), pp. 301-344 : 324-326

Geelus platdraad sp.n.

( Figs 10C, D , 12 A–O)

Diagnosis. Aedeagal shaft depressed from apex to base, uniformly curvate, right-angled to elongate dorsal apodeme, gonopore in apical third of shaft. Pygofer process apical, orientation mediad to dorsomediad. Female sternite 7 either with protruding or recessed, rounded ligula.

Etymology. Afrikaans nouns in apposition, plat, flat and draad, wire, for the somewhat flattened (depressed) shaft of the aedeagus. Gender masculine.

Male. Measurements. n=19. Length from apex of crown to apex of tegmina 4.31–4.79 mm. Crown median length 0.36–0.40 mm. Crown length next to eye 0.30–0.33 mm. Pronotum length 0.46–0.51 mm. Head width across eyes 1.19–1.29 mm. Pronotum width 1.14–1.26 mm. Ocellus diameter 39.2–50.7 μm; interocular distance 56.4– 70.4 µm. Apical angle of crown 117.2°±2.5°.

Pygofer lobe. Process orientation variable, base medial with apex curved dorsolaterally ( Fig. 12I ), or curved ventrad in specimens on Justicia orghioides ; process, smooth; origin dorsomedially near base of pygofer lobe; pygofer lobe at base about as wide as pygofer, apex broadly rounded; anterior apodeme, short, dorsolateral. Apex of pygofer lobe and apex of subgenital plate equidistant ( Fig. 12I ).

Anal tube. Square ( Fig. 12M ), incised about half way into pygofer.

Subgenital plate. Number of macrosetae; 4–5, with one seta sometimes out of line; medioposterior angle, round; length: width 1.1–1.3; position of macrosetae, distal half ( Figs 12E, 12J ); pygofer in lateral view with subgenital plate almost attaining apex of pygofer lobe ( Fig. 12I ).

Valve. Shape, obtuse triangular ( Figs 12E, 12J ).

Style. Position of lateral tooth on apophysis variable, subapical (in specimens on J. orghioides ) or subbasal; apical tooth ventral; apophysis width at base similar to width across preapical lobe; apophysis apex, round; ratio length to width of apophysis 3.3–4.0 ( Figs 12F, 12N ).

Connective. Stem length relative to arm length, one third length of arms; stem width relative to width across arms, half as wide as greatest width across arms ( Figs 12B, 12K ).

Aedeagus. Shaft thin; in dorsal or ventral view depressed, distinctly as in Figs 12C, 12D , versus width in Fig. 12A , specimens on J. orghioides , or tubular, as in Figs 12G, 12H . Apex of shaft acuminate; posterior margin membranous, minutely denticulate; shaft medially and basally smooth; shaft curvate; dorsal apodeme, in lateral view, elongate, right angled to shaft, preatrium reduced ( Figs 12A, 12G ).

Female. Measurements. n=15. Length from apex of crown to apex of tegmina 4.88–5.25 mm. Crown median length 0.41–0.44 mm. Crown length next to eye 0.32–0.37 mm. Pronotum length 0.51–0.57 mm. Head width across eyes 1.35–1.44 mm. Pronotum width 1.30–1.40 mm. Ocellus diameter 43.5–57.3 μm; interocular distance 72.2–88.3 µm. Apical angle of crown 117.5°±2.1°.

Sternite 7. Shape posterior margin with two shapes: short recessed rounded ligula ( Fig. 12O , specimens on J. orghioides ); or elongate protruding, narrow, rounded ligula ( Fig. 12L , specimens without associated plant).

Valvifer 1. Symmetrical or ventral margin produced narrowly (similar to that in Fig. 9K ).

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, Western Cape Province, CCDL08588 , Vanrhyns Pass , -31.3761, 19.0175, 19.ix.1976, J.G. Theron ( SANC) . Paratypes. 19♂, 15♀. Western Cape Province , 15♂, 15♀, ibid. holotype , 10♂, 8♀ collected on Justicia orghioides , Acanthaceae , (written by hand on underside of locality label), 5♂, 7♀, ibid. above, without plant ; 1♂, CCDL08590 , Graaf Water, -32.1581, 18.6065, x.1947, South African Museum expedition ; 3♂, 1♀, CCDL08591 , Van Rhynsdorp, -31.6075, 18.7311, 30.ix.1970, J.G. Theron ( BMNH, INHS, SANC) .

Remarks. Examined material of G. platdraad consisted of two short series of specimens from one locality, one of which was probably swept (label ambiguous) from Justicia orghioides . There were considerable differences between these series of leafhoppers, but not sufficient to make two species. Specimens on J. orghioides had a slightly thicker aedeagal shaft, style apophysis with subapical tooth, connective with shorter arms and longer stem and female sternite 7 with short ligula. Specimens without the plant, assumed at least to be swept from an unidentified plant, had the aedeagal shaft slightly thinner, style apophysis with medial tooth, connective with longer arms and shorter stem and sternite 7 with an elongate ligula. Measurement of these two series showed overlap, except males and slight overlap in female length from apex of crown to apex of tegmina, i.e. male specimens on J. orghioides 4.25–4.44 mm, and the other 4.64–4.90 mm. Color and shape of specimens as in Figs 10C and 10D , and similar to that of other species of Geelus .

Figures

FIGURE 9. Geelus nektanddraad gen.n. & sp.n., male and female genitalia, line drawings. A. Aedeagus, dorsally; B. Aedeagus, laterally; C. Style; D. Connective; E. Subgenital plate; F. Genital capsule, laterally; G. Genital capsule, dorsally; H. Sternite 7, Biesiesfontein specimen, on Zygophyllum; I. Sternite 7, Biesiesfontein specimen, on Sarcocaulon; J. Sternite 7, Biesiesfontein specimen, on Pteronia; K. Valvifer 1, laterally.

FIGURE 10. Geelus gen.n. species, adult habitus, males and females. A. Geelus stompdraad sp.n., male; B. Geelus stompdraad sp.n., female; C. Geelus platdraad sp.n., male; D. Geelus platdraad sp.n., female; E. Geelus slangdraad sp.n., male; F. Geelus drietanddraad sp.n., male; G. Geelus drietanddraad sp.n., female.

FIGURE 12. Geelus platdraad gen.n. & sp.n., male and female genitalia, line drawings. A. Aedeagus, laterally, specimen on Justicia; B. Connective, specimen on Justicia; C. Aedeagus, dorsally, specimen on Justicia; D. Aedeagus, ventrally, specimen on Justicia; E. Subgenital plate, specimen on Justicia; F. Style, specimen on Justicia; G. Aedeagus, laterally; H. Aedeagus, dorsally; I. Genital capsule, laterally; J. Subgenital plate; K. Connective; L. Sternite 7; M. Genital capsule, dorsally; N. Style, apophysis; O. Sternite 7, specimen on Justicia.