Xyphon gillettei (Ball 1901)

Catanach, Therese A., Dietrich, Chris H. & Woolley, James B., 2013, A revision of the New World sharpshooter genus Xyphon Hamilton (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae), Zootaxa 3741 (4), pp. 490-510 : 500

Xyphon gillettei (Ball 1901)

( Figs 3 C, 4C)

Draeculacephala gillettei Ball 1901

Carneocephala gillettei (Ball 1901) : (Ball 1927) Carneocephala balli Knull 1940 —NEW SYNONYM Xyphon gillettei (Ball 1901) : Hamilton 1985 Xyphon balli (Knull 1940) : Hamilton 1985

Diagnosis. A large leafhopper usually with brown markings on crown. Similar to X. spadice but with macrosetal formula of hind femur 2+0. Aedeagus with dorsal process not compressed (much wider than tall).

Head. Clypellus-frontoclypeus junction in lateral view convex; frontoclypeus entirely yellow (possibly with brown muscle scars) (96%) or mottled yellow and tan (4%). Crown with anterior margin rounded; white band absent; median spot present, but poorly defined (56%) or present and well defined (44%); medioapical macula brown but poorly delimited (84%) or dark brown and well defined (16%), almost always surrounded by cream; dark markings (other than median spot) present; light brown lines concentrated medially, orange pigment absent; postocellar maculae absent or weak (96%) or large and well developed (4%); in lateral view concave. Distance from ocelli to lateral edge of head more than 2 times ocelli width and distance between ocelli at least 7.5 times ocelli width.

Thorax. Pronotum, dark green to brown circular markings absent; circular indentations present; midline variably white (72%), or concolorus with lateral areas (28%). Mesonotum, straw colored with visible parts unmarked (72%), very lightly marked (12%), with submedial spots and anterolateral triangles (8%), or anterolateral triangles only (8%); proepisternum, posterior edge, without irregular edge (92%) or with irregular edge (8%).

Forewings. Green pigment usually absent (96%) but rarely present (4%); wing majority colored straw (96%) or less commonly green (4%), anal veins white (52%) or forewing pale blue (48%). Apex with few crossveins (but more than 3).

Legs. Hind femur, macrosetal formula 2+0. Plantar surface of hind tarsomere, paleate setae numbering 1–3 (4%) or 4–5 (96%).

Abdomen. Sterna of male mostly red/orange (83%) or mostly yellow (17%).

Male genitalia. Pygofer with scattered and errect basolateral setae (75%) or absent (25%). Subgenital plate, macrosetae, large and forming distinct band (82%) or small and scattered (18%). Pygofers and subgenital plates with fine setae. Aedeagal shaft in lateral view with dorsal process, acute and not compressed (so wider than tall). Shaft in ventral view, narrow with basolateral expansions distinct; not compressed in dorsal view. Paraphyses, dorsal view, forming a circle, an oval; or forming a “U”. Style with single seta.

Material examined. We coded 12 males, 11 females, and 1 unknown. Five additional specimens were also examined but not coded.

Host plants. Salicornia sp. and Suaeda sp.

Distribution. Known from Colorado and Arizona.

Primary types. Lectotype at the USNM. Verbatim label for Draeculacephala gillettei: N. Colo / 3 20 ’98. Lectotype is a male in good condition. Although lectotype label under specimen notes that it was designated by P. W. Oman in 1946, it was actually designated as such in 1947 ( Oman 1947). Verbatim label for Carneocephala balli : “Holbrook, Ar. / VII- 28-38 // D.J. and J. N. Knull Collrs.” This specimen is deposited at OSU and is a male in good condition, genitalia cleared and stored in glycerin under specimen.

Reasons for synonymy. Consistent morphological differences were not found to separate X. balli from X. gillettei . The original description of X. balli states that it is smaller than X. gillettei , but the paper did not describe or illustrate the male genitalia. Dissection of the holotype of X. balli revealed genitalia identical to those of X. gillettei . While specimens identified as X. balli tend to be smaller, specimens of intermediate size were examined and this size variation is here interpreted as intraspecific.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Xyphon species, lateral views. A, X. flaviceps; B, X. fulgidum; C, X. gillettei; D, X. nudum; E, X. reticulatum; F, X. triguttatum; G, X. spadice sp. nov.