Libengaia (Libengaia) longistylus, 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 : 113

Libengaia (Libengaia) longistylus sp. nov.

Figs 1 EL, 4E–G

Diagnosis. Externally similar to L. (L.) brevistylus but can be distinguished by the long style apophysis about 0.66 as long as total length of style, with apex slightly broadened and poorly developed preapical lobe and aedeagus with branches of ventral process in ventral view convergent and near apex divergent.

Description. Male 4.4 mm long. Externally similar to L. (L.) brevistylus but with slightly reduced dark brown mottling. Crown with one small submedian pair of dark brown spots and a more lateral smaller spot dark brown, pair of larger spots occupying entire lateral area of crown mottled with dark brown ( Fig. 1E ). Face mottled with dark brown, antennal pits, one median spot on clypellus and sutures, dark brown ( Fig 1L ). Pronotum, mesonotum and forewings sparingly mottled with dark brown.

Male genitalia. Pygofer similar to that in L. (L.) immaculata . Style with poorly developed preapical lobe, apophysis slender, 0.66× as long as total length, curved laterally, slightly widened near apex. Aedeagus in lateral view, with aedeagal shaft slightly curved dorsally, shorter than ventral process, preatrium thin, long about as long as shaft, without dorsal process, ventral process forked once, with forks convergent distally in ventral view and divergent near apex.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂, CAMEROON: Nkoemvon , vii–viii.1979, D. Jackson, ( BMNH) . Paratype. 1 ♂, same data as holotype except vii.1979 ( BMNH) .

Etymology. The species name refers to the unusually long apophysis of the style. Noun in apposition.

Remarks. Among the species of Libengaia (Libengaia) , L. (L.) deemingi sp. nov. and L. (L.) trifida sp. nov. (see below) have the style with a well-developed angular preapical lobe whereas the remaining species have the preapical lobe poorly developed, which Linnavuori (1969) called rounded. Among the latter group of species, L. (L.) vermiculata , L. (L.) narcissa , L. (L.) helias , L. (L.) nicias , and L. (L.) milionia have a fairly long apophysis of the style but not as long as in the new species.

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.