Eleazara viraktamathi Huang & Zhang, 2018

Huang, Weijian & Zhang, Yalin, 2018, First record of the genus Eleazara Distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae, Ledrinae) in Malaysia, with description of a new species, Zootaxa 4532 (3), pp. 434-440 : 436-438

Eleazara viraktamathi Huang & Zhang sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–4 , 9–15)

Description. Size rather large. Body length (incl. forewing) 17.3 mm, head width (incl. eyes) 4.1mm, pronotum width 5.2mm, scutellum width 3.3mm. Coloration rusty. Dorsum strongly granulose ( Figs. 1–6 ).

Crown not rugose, transverse camber curved in anterior view ( Figs. 5, 6 ). Median longitudinal carina present. Eyes slate-colored, kidney-shaped. Ocelli dusky; protuberance laterad of ocelli present ( Fig. 6 ). Facial setae numerous throughout. Dark facial pigmentation absent ( Figs. 3, 5 ). Clypeal suture distinct. Frontoclypeus long, narrow and convex, broadened medially, without median longitudinal carina and groove; frontoclypeus base with lateral perpendicular ridges; frontoclypeus apical extension well defined. Anteclypeus small, parallel-sided and extended beyond gena. Lora and genae flattish ( Fig. 3 ). Antennae longer than length of eye, apex extending beyond margin of face; antennal ledges distinct ( Fig. 3 ). Proepisternum large and collar-like ( Fig. 3 ). Pronotum flat anteriorly and abruptly declivous posteriorly, with setae ventrally ( Fig. 2–5 ); pronotal tubercules present ( Fig. 4 ). Scutellum with central elevated crest-like process and pair of lateral crestlike processes ( Figs. 1, 2 ). Forewing punctate, granulose, venation coriaceous in basal two-thirds, highly reticulate and hyaline in apically; appendix vanishing ( Figs. 1, 2 ). Pro- and mesothoracic leg chaetotaxy reduced, with fine setae. Hind tibiae extremely dilated, with 5 stout and enlarged setae anterodorsally (AD). Metathoracic tarsomere I columnar, more robust compared with other tarsomeres, in ventral view longer in length with remaining tarsomeres combined ( Fig. 3 ).

Male pygofer narrow, without terminal process, with medial short and fine setae ( Figs. 8 , 12, 14). Male 8th sternite nearly longer than 7th sternite, with posterior margin concave (Fig. 15). Pygofer side in lateral aspect tapering posteriorly with posterior long hook-like process, beyond pygofer (Fig. 14). Style slim, widest medially, acuminate apically, curved ventrally at apex, with 4 setae on the tortuous area (Figs. 9, 10). Aedeagus curved dorsally, shaft slightly lamellate with a pair of lamellate processes medially ( Figs. 7, 8 ). Connective flat, short and wide, trapeziform (Figs. 9–11).

Material examined. Holotype: male, Malaysia, Sabah, 20 August 2016, Yisheng Zhao ( NWAFU).

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. The new species is named in honor of Chandra A Viraktamath (University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Bengalur) and his great contributions to leafhopper taxonomy.

Diagnosis. This species resembles E. yangi Cai & He but differs in having a rusty body, a slightly lamellate aedeagal shaft, a slender style and pygofer side in lateral aspect tapering posteriorly with posterior long hook-like process.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Eleazara viraktamathi sp. nov. Holotype: 1. habitus, dorsal view; 2. habitus, lateral view; 3. habitus, ventral view; 4. pronotum, dorsal view; 5. face, anterior view; 6. head, dorsal view. Scale bars = 1mm.

FIGURES 7–8. Eleazara viraktamathi sp. nov. 7. male genital capsule, dorsal view; 8. male genital capsule, lateral view. Scale bars = 0.5mm.