Austroagallia Evans

Khatri, Imran, 2010, The leafhopper tribe Agalliini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Megophthalminae) in Pakistan, Zootaxa 2614, pp. 33-45 : 35-36

Austroagallia Evans

Austroagallia Evans, 1935: 70 . Type species: Austroagallia torrida Evans (South Australia).

Description. Pale ochraceous with two dark brown round spots on vertex, another pair much larger on posterior half of pronotum. Hind margin of vertex sinuate behind eyes. Ocelli on face, closer to each other than to adjacent eye. Pronotum with short lateral margin. Male pygofer usually with mesal rounded lobe caudally. Anal collar process variably developed. Aedeagus strongly asymmetrical, with well developed dorsal apodeme, gonopore apical.

Remarks. Among the three agalliine genera reported from Pakistan, this genus can be recognized by the sinuate hind margin of head behind the eyes, the male aedeagus strongly asymmetrical and the well developed anal collar processes. The following three species of this genus are recorded from Pakistan.

Austroagallia sinuata (Mulsant & Rey) (Plate 1a, Fig. 1 ).

Measurements (mm). Male total length 3.48, forewing length 2.93, crown length at middle 0.10, crown width across eyes 1.04, pronotum width 0.99, pronotum length 0.47, mesonotum length 0.18, scutellum length 0.26.

Material examined. Pakistan: Sindh Prov., 2 3, 2 Ƥ, Tandojam, 18.v.2007, I. Khatri, grass (IKC); NWFP Prov., 13, Abbotabad, 12.vi.1964, Ahmed, M ( ZMUK).

Distribution. Africa, Asia, Europe.

Remarks. A. sinuata differs from A. robusta in the shape of the male anal collar process and in lacking reticulate venation of the forewing. Pruthi (1936) recorded A. sinuata from Lyallpur (now Faisalabad, Pakistan). There is considerable variation in the development of triangular processes of the aedeagus within this species from different localities. Bergevin (1934), Vilbaste (1961) and Dlabola (1962) gave subspecific names to some of these variants.

Austroagallia robusta Sawai Singh & Gill (Plate 1b, Fig. 2 ) New record.

Measurements (mm). Male total length 4.0, forewing length 3.45, crown length at middle 0.10, crown width across eyes 1.26, pronotum width 1.11, pronotum length 0.47, mesonotum length 0.30, scutellum length 0.26. Material examined. Pakistan: Sindh Prov., 6 3, 32 Ƥ, Tandojam, 10.xi.07, I. Khatri (IKC). Distribution. India, Pakistan.

Remarks. This species can easily be recognized by the reticulate venation found in the subapical cells of the forewing. This species is similar to A. sinuata but differs in the structure of the male anal collar process and wing venation as discussed under the latter species. The spots on head and pronotum are also much smaller as compared to those in A. sinuata (compare Figs 1 a to 2a).

Austroagallia sarobica (Dlabola) (Plate 1c, Fig. 3 ) New record.

Measurements (mm). Male total length 2.95, forewing length 2.46, crown length at middle 0.10, crown width across eyes 0.95, pronotum width 0.86, pronotum length 0.46, mesonotum length 0.14, scutellum length 0.22.

Material examined. Pakistan: Sindh Prov., 2 3, 4 Ƥ, Tandojam, 27.xi.07, I. Khatri, light trap; 6 3, 11 Ƥ, Tharparkar, 12.xi.07, I. Khatri (IKC).

Distribution. Afghanistan, India, Pakistan.

Remarks. This species can be distinguished from other species of Austroagallia by tridentate male anal collar ( Fig 3 d) and the basal process of the aedeagal shaft which makes the aedeagus strongly asymmetrical ( Fig 3 i).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Austroagallia sinuata (Mulsant & Rey). (a – i) Male: a, head and thorax, dorsal view; b, forewing; c, pygofer, lateral view; d, anal hook, lateral view; e, subgenital plate, dorsal view; f, connective, dorsal view; g, style, dorsal view; h, i, aedeagus, lateral view and caudal view respectively.

FIGURE 2. Austroagallia robusta Sawai Singh & Gill. (a – j) Male: a, head and thorax, dorsal view; b, forewing; c, pygofer, lateral view; d, anal hook, lateral view; e, subgenital plate, dorsal view; f, connective, dorsal view; g, style, ventral view; h, i, aedeagus, lateral view and caudal view respectively; j, aedeagus apex posterior view.

FIGURE 3. Austroagallia sarobica (Dlabola). (a – i) Male: a, head and thorax, dorsal view; b, forewing; c, pygofer, lateral view; d, anal hook, lateral view; e, subgenital plate, dorsal view; f, connective, dorsal view; g, style, dorsal view; h, i, aedeagus, anterior view and lateral view respectively.