Elginus unispinus, 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 : 28

Elginus unispinus sp.n.

( Figs 40–43 , 76 , 103 , 129 , 155 , 178 , 204 , 231 , 257 )

Diagnosis. Aedeagus with single, tapered tooth arising from preatrium, shaft flattened antero-posteriad, straight, directed dorsad, with asymmetric triangular apex. Style apophysis with basal medial heel-like structure and pointed apex. Sternite VII of female with rectangular median ligula, with rounded shallow median notch on posterior margin.

Etymology. Latin, uni, single and spinus, spine, for single, posteriad spine arising basally from aedeagal preatrium.

Colour. Male, female & nymph. Vertex pale ochraceous margin around coronal suture, rest brown. Pronotum pale ochraceous with 2 paired narrow brown lines. Scutellum with pair of narrow brown lines near basal corners. Tegmina with pale veins, some cells fuscous ( Figs 40–43 ).

Dimensions. Male (n = 16). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.0– 3.4 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 3.2–3.4 mm; vertex medially 0.5 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.3–0.4 mm; pronotum medially 0.3–0.4 mm; scutellum medially 0.3–0.4 mm. Maximum widths: head 1.0 mm; pronotum 0.80–0.9 mm; scutellum 0.4–0.5 mm. Ocellus: diameter 28 µm; ocellocular distance 39–52 µm.

Genital capsule. Male. Aedeagus compact; preatrium produced into pointed process, directed posteriad; shaft straight, flattened anteroposteriorly, directed dorsad, apex asymmetric, triangular, apex directed left or right; gonopore subapical, posterior; dorsal apodeme large, plate-like; shaft very short, 1.1 times as long as dorsal apodeme ( Figs 76 , 103 ). Connective as in Fig. 129 . Plate apex broadly rounded; reaching apex of pygofer lobe; 4–5 macrosetae ( Fig. 155 ). Pygofer lobe rounded ( Figs 178 , 204 ). Style apophysis with base diverging, midway with ventral step, apex tapered; extending one-third from apex of plate; apophysis 0.9 times as long as median arm ( Fig. 231 ).

Dimensions. Female (n = 9). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.1–3.3 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 3.4–3.8 mm; vertex medially 0.5–0.6 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.3–0.4 mm; pronotum medially 0.4 mm; scutellum medially 0.3–0.4 mm. Maximum widths: head 1.0– 1.1 mm; pronotum 0.9–1.0 mm; scutellum 0.5 mm. Ocellus: diameter 25–33 µm; ocellocular distance 41–60 µm.

Genital capsule. Female. Sternite VII with median heavily sclerotized, right-angled ligula, apex of ligula with shallow rounded notch. Ligula width about half that of base, and about as long as base ( Fig. 257 ). Third valvula with 1–3 macrosetae, 19.6 µm–29.5 µm long. Second valvula denticulate.

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, Eastern Cape. Doon Farm, Thomas River, Cathcart , 32°27ʹ45.42ʺS 27°16ʹ41.22ʺE, 1115 m, 24.iv.2006, grass on ridge with aloes ( SANC) . Paratypes (17♂, 17♀).

Eastern Cape. 2♂, 1♀, Cathcart, 32°18ʹS 27°12ʹE, 20.i.1984, J.G. Theron; 1♂, Rhodes, 30°48ʹS 27°58ʹE, 23–27.iv.2000, sweeping grass; 5♂, 3♀, road between Molteno and Queenstown, 31°23ʹ5.1ʺS 26°40ʹ23.16ʺE, 1788 m, 19.iv.2006, road verge; 1♂, Loodsberg Pass, base, 31°49ʹ6.96ʺS 24°51ʹ38.1ʺE, 1690 m, 20.iv.2006, Merxmuellera sp. (Poaceae) ; 1♂, Steynsburg 20 km east, 31°15ʹ12.78ʺS 25°58ʹ44.76E, 1646 m, 20.iv.2006, Merxmuellera sp. ; 4♂, 2♀, Loodsberg Pass, summit, 31°50ʹ10.26ʺS 24°51ʹ31.56ʺE, 1791 m, 20.iv.2006, Themeda triandra , Merxmuellera sp. & other grass; 2♂, 9♀, ibid. holotype; 2♀, Rhodes, 30°50ʹ42.48ʺS 27°53ʹ35.4ʺE, 1965 m, 27.iv.2006, road side short grass & forbs, grazed, Eragrostis sp. common; all other DVac; all M. Stiller ( AMNH, BMNH, SANC).

Remarks. This is the only species with a substantial spine on the aedeagus, that arises from a wide base and tapering to a distinct point. Also the asymmetry is less pronounced, depicted in the shaft apex, and the shaft and the dorsal apodeme are of similar length. No other species of Elginus have a similar combination of features of the aedeagus. Other species with a basal spine that is very long and thin are E. cultellus and E. falcatus . In E. eccentricus the entire aedeagus is asymmetric with the basal process not pointed, but rightangled. The process in E. matarei arises from the shaft and has an expanded apex. The sternite VII of the female can readily be distinguished from that of other species. In E. theroni the ligula apex is rounded or truncate, but never sclerotized. In E. oriens the ligula is very wide (about two-thirds the width of the sternite) and protruding slightly.

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 41–46. Elginus species and Micropedeticus, habitus views. Fig. 41, E. unispinus, female; Fig. 42, E. unispinus, dark nymph; Fig. 43, E. unispinus, pale nymph; Fig. 44, E. vulgaris, male; Fig. 45, M. ochrus, male; Fig. 46, M. ochrus, female.

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.