Elginus theroni, Stiller, M., 2009

Stiller, M., 2009, Revision of Elginus Theron (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with the description of two new genera and comments on the grassland leafhopper fauna in South Africa, Zootaxa 2135 (1), pp. 1-56 : 25-26

Elginus theroni sp.n.

( Figs 35, 36 , 73 , 100 , 126 , 152 , 175 , 201 , 228 , 254 , 270 )

Diagnosis. Aedeagal shaft short with long, lateral gonopore, triangular dorsal apodeme. Style apophysis short. Plate with basal and medial margins fused, anterior margins fused to valve.

Etymology. Named for the collector.

Colour. Male & female. As in Figs 35, 36 .

Dimensions. Male (n = 40). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 2.5–2.8 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.5–2.8 mm; vertex medially 0.4 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.3 mm; pronotum medially 0.3 mm; scutellum medially 0.2–0.3 mm. Maximum widths: head 0.8–0.9 mm; pronotum 0.7–0.8 mm; scutellum 0.3–0.4 mm. Ocellus: diameter 23–31 µm; ocellocular distance 40–52 µm.

Abdominal apodemes. Male. Fig. 270 .

Genital capsule. Male. Aedeagal shaft tubular; short, 1.3 times as long as dorsal apodeme; in lateral view curved dorsally; gonopore lateral, extending from apex to one-third length of shaft; dorsal apodeme triangular ( Figs 73 , 100 ). Connective with stem about as long as arms ( Fig. 126 ). Plate apex pointed; margins fused basally, fused to valve; apex separated by about 15°; setation basal, uniseriate, variable (1–4) ( Fig. 152 ). Pygofer lobe narrowly rounded ( Figs 175 , 201 ). Style apophysis curved, acute; near base of plate; apophysis 0.5 times as long as median arm ( Fig. 228 ).

Dimensions. Female (n = 16). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 2.6–3.0 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.8–3.1 mm; vertex medially 0.4 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.3 mm; pronotum medially 0.3 mm; scutellum medially 0.3 mm. Maximum widths: head 0.9–1.0 mm; pronotum 0.7–0.8 mm; scutellum 0.4–0.5 mm. Ocellus: diameter 21–31 µm; ocellocular distance 42–56 µm.

Genital capsule. Female. Sternite VII with median rounded, bell-shaped or somewhat truncated process ( Fig. 254 ). Third valvula with 3–4 macrosetae, 24.5–29.4 µm long. Second valvula with fine denticulation.

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, Western Cape. Theewaterskloof Dam, 33°59ʹS 19°11ʹE, 327 m, 16.xii.2004, M. Stiller, DVac Merxmuellera stricta (Poaceae) , wetland at edge of dam, mountain fynbos ( SANC). Paratypes (27♂, 13♀). Gauteng. 1♂, Ezemvelo, 25°42ʹS 28°55ʹE 1402 m, 14.xii.2005, M. Stiller, sweeping Xerophyta retinervis (Velloziaceae) regrowth after fire. Western Cape. 1♂, Slagboom, 33°14ʹS 19°17ʹE, 13.xii.1931; 1♂, 2♀, Ceres, 33°22ʹS 19°18ʹE, 25.xi.1971, 6.i.1973; 1♂, Grabouw, 34°09ʹS 19°00ʹE, 6.i.1971; 1♂, Paarl, 33°46ʹS 18°58ʹE, 13.viii.1971; 1♂, Rawsonville, 33°41ʹS 19°19ʹE, 16.i.1971; 2♂, Koelenhof, 33°53ʹS 18°48ʹE, 15.xi.1974; 1♂, Klipheuwel, 33°34ʹS 18°42ʹE, 100 m, 24.xi.1974; 2♂, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, 33°58ʹS 18°55ʹE, 5.xii.1977; 1♂, Robinson’s Pass, 33°53ʹS 22°01ʹE, 700m; 2♂, Gydo Pass, 33°08ʹS 19°20ʹE, 2.ii.1981; all J.G. Theron; 6♂, 7♀, Slagboom Farm Agter Witsenberg, 33°14ʹS 19°16ʹE, 882 m, 13.xii.2004, DVac wetland grass and sedges ( Merxmuellera stricta (Poaceae) common); 3♂, Wemmershoek Dam north Franschhoek, 33°51ʹS 19°30ʹE, 201 m, 14.xii.2004, DVac Themeda triandra (Poaceae) common in cleared pine plantation, burned 2003; 7♂, 7♀, ibid. holotype; 1♀, Hawekwa Mountain Du Toit’s Kloof Pass, 33°41ʹ48ʺS 19°06ʹ36ʺE, 1500m, 28.xii.2005; all M. Stiller ( AMNH, BMNH, SANC).

Remarks. The single male from Gauteng, Ezemvelo, is probably not an incorrect record, but suggests under collecting, but also that the distribution could extend beyond the Fynbos Biome. A similar situation exists in a new species of Pravistylus where the species is common in the Fynbos biome, but is known from scattered records in the Eastern Cape and one long series from the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal. Related species with a relatively short shaft that occur in the fynbos are E. bispinus , E. furcillatus and E. saltus . A number of species with a similar ratio for shaft and dorsal apodeme lengths are also found in the Grassland Biome. Elginus bispinus and E. saltus have long style apophyses, with that of E. furcillatus almost as short as that of E. theroni . The aedeagal shaft of E. furcillatus and E. bispinus , however, has the apex modified by the presence of spines. Superficially this species is most easily confused with Vilargus pumilicans Theron and some new species of Pravistylus , but can be recognized by internal and external male and female genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 33–40. Elginus species, habitus views. Fig. 33, E. semialatus, nymph; Fig. 34, E. semialatus, female sternite VII; Fig. 35, E. theroni, male; Fig. 36, E. theroni, female; Fig. 37, E. tortuosus, male; Fig. 38, E. tubulus, male; Fig. 39, E. tubulus, female; Fig. 40, E. unispinus, male.

FIGURES 51–77. Elginus species, male, aedeagus, dorsal or ventral view. Fig. 51, E. acutus, ventral view; Fig. 52, E. bispinus, dorsal view; Fig. 53, E. cavatus, dorsal view; Fig. 54, E. contradens, dorsal view; Fig. 55, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus, dorsal view; Fig. 56, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus, dorsal view; Fig. 57, E. denticulatus, dorsal view; Fig. 58, E. dexteruncus, dorsal view; Fig. 59, E. eccentricus, dorsal view; Fig. 60, E. extrinsecus, ventral view; Fig. 61, E. falcatus, dorsal view; Fig. 62, E. furcillatus, dorsal view; Fig. 63, E. latus, dorsal view; Fig. 64, E. levilobus, ventral view; Fig. 65, E. malotiensis, dorsal view; Fig. 66, E. matarei, ventral view; Fig. 67, E. minutulus, dorsal view; Fig. 68, E. oriens, dorsal view; Fig. 69, E. recavus, dorsal view; Fig. 70, E. saltus (Naudé), dorsal view; Fig. 71, E. semialatus, with paired process, ventral view; Fig. 72, E. semialatus, single process, ventral view; Fig. 73, E. theroni, dorsal view; Fig. 74, E. tortuosus, dorsal view; Fig. 75, E. tubulus, dorsal view; Fig. 76, E. unispinus, ventral view; Fig. 77, E. vulgaris, dorsal view.

FIGURES 78–104. Elginus species, male, aedeagus, lateral view. Fig. 78, E. acutus; Fig. 79, E. bispinus; Fig. 80, E. cavatus; Fig. 81, E. contradens; Fig. 82, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 83, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 84, E. denticulatus; Fig. 85, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 86, E. eccentricus; Fig. 87, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 88, E. falcatus; Fig. 89, E. furcillatus; Fig. 90, E. latus; Fig. 91, E. levilobus; Fig. 92, E. malotiensis; Fig. 93, E. matarei; Fig. 94, E. minutulus; Fig. 95, E. oriens; Fig. 96, E. recavus; Fig. 97, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 98, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 99, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 100, E. theroni; Fig. 101, E. tortuosus; Fig. 102, E. tubulus; Fig. 103, E. unispinus; Fig. 104, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 105–130. Elginus species, male, connective, Fig. 105, E. acutus; Fig. 106, E. bispinus; Fig. 107, E. cavatus; Fig. 108, E. contradens; Fig. 109, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 110, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 111, E. denticulatus; Fig. 112, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 113, E. eccentricus; Fig. 114, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 115, E. falcatus; Fig. 116, E. furcillatus; Fig. 117, E. latus; Fig. 118, E. levilobus; Fig. 119, E. malotiensis; Fig. 120, E. matarei; Fig. 121, E. minutulus; Fig. 122, E. oriens; Fig. 123, E. recavus; Fig. 124, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 125, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 126, E. theroni; Fig. 127, E. tortuosus; Fig. 128, E. tubulus; Fig. 129, E. unispinus; Fig. 130, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 131–156. Elginus species, male, plate, Fig. 131, E. acutus; Fig. 132, E. bispinus; Fig. 133, E. cavatus; Fig. 134, E. contradens; Fig. 135, E. cultellus; Fig. 136, E. denticulatus; Fig. 137, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 138, E. eccentricus; Fig. 139, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 140, E. falcatus; Fig. 141, E. furcillatus; Fig. 142, E. latus; Fig. 143, E. levilobus; Fig. 144, E. malotiensis; Fig. 145, E. matarei; Fig. 146, E. minutulus; Fig. 147, E. oriens; Fig. 148, E. recavus; Fig. 149, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 150, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 151, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 152, E. theroni; Fig. 153, E. tortuosus; Fig. 154, E. tubulus; Fig. 155, E. unispinus; Fig. 156, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 157–179. Elginus species, male, pygofer, dorsal view. Fig. 157, E. acutus; Fig. 158, E. cavatus; Fig. 159, E. contradens; Fig. 160, E. cultellus; Fig. 161, E. denticulatus; Fig. 162, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 163, E. eccentricus; Fig. 164, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 165, E. falcatus; Fig. 166, E. furcillatus; Fig. 167, E. latus; Fig. 168, E. levilobus; Fig. 169, malotiensis; Fig. 170, E. matarei; Fig. 171, E. minutulus; Fig. 172, E. oriens; Fig. 173, E. recavus; Fig. 174, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 175, E. theroni; Fig. 176, E. tortuosus; Fig. 177, E. tubulus; Fig. 178, E. unispinus; Fig. 179, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 180–205. Elginus species, male, pygofer, lateral view. Fig. 180, E. acutus; Fig. 181, E. bispinus; Fig. 182, E. cavatus; Fig. 183, E. contradens; Fig. 184, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 185, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 186, E. denticulatus; Fig. 187, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 188, E. eccentricus; Fig. 189, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 190, E. falcatus; Fig. 191, E. furcillatus; Fig. 192, E. latus; Fig. 193, E. levilobus; Fig. 194, E. malotiensis; Fig. 195, E. matarei; Fig. 196, E. minutulus; Fig. 197, E. oriens; Fig. 198, E. recavus; Fig. 199, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 200, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 201, E. theroni; Fig. 202, E. tortuosus; Fig. 203, E. tubulus; Fig. 204, E. unispinus; Fig. 205, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 206–232. Elginus species, male, style, Fig. 206, E. acutus; Fig. 207, E. bispinus; Fig. 208, E. cavatus; Fig. 209, E. contradens; Fig. 210, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 211, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 212, E. denticulatus; Fig. 213, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 214, E. eccentricus; Fig. 215, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 216, E. falcatus; Fig. 217, E. furcillatus; Fig. 218, E. latus; Fig. 219, E. levilobus; Fig. 220, E. malotiensis; Fig. 221, E. matarei; Fig. 222, E. minutulus; Fig. 223, E. oriens; Fig. 224, E. recavus; Fig. 225, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 226, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 227, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 228, E. theroni; Fig. 229, E. tortuosus; Fig. 230, E. tubulus; Fig. 231, E. unispinus; Fig. 232, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 233–258. Elginus species, female, sternite VII. Fig. 233, E. bispinus; Fig. 234, E. cavatus; Fig. 235, E. contradens; Fig. 236, E. cultellus, associated males with curved aedeagus; Fig. 237, E. cultellus, associated males with straight aedeagus; Fig. 238, E. denticulatus; Fig. 239, E. dexteruncus variant; Fig. 240, E. dexteruncus variant; Fig. 241, E eccentricus; Fig. 242, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 243, E. falcatus; Fig. 244, E. furcillatus; Fig. 245, E. levilobus; Fig. 246, E. malotiensis; Fig. 247, E. matarei; Fig. 248, E. minutulus; Fig. 249, E. oriens; Fig. 250, E. oriens; Fig. 251, E. recavus; Fig. 252, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 253, E. semialatus; Fig. 254, E. theroni; Fig. 255, E. tortuosus; Fig. 256, E. tubulus; Fig. 257, E. unispinus; Fig. 258, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 259–273. Elginus species, male, abdominal apodemes, Fig. 259, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 260, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 261, E. denticulatus; Fig. 262, E. eccentricus; Fig. 263, E. falcatus; Fig. 264, E. furcillatus; Fig. 265, E. malotiensis; Fig. 266, E. matarei; Fig. 267, E. minutulus; Fig. 268, E. oriens; Fig. 269, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 270, E. theroni; Fig. 271, E. tortuosus; Fig. 272, E. tubulus; Fig. 273, E. vulgaris.