Balclutha sujawalensis Ahmed

Zahniser, James N., Halbert, Susan E., Moore, Matthew R., Mottern, Jason L. & Beuzelin, Julien M., 2023, Balclutha jafara (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): integrative identification of a species introduced in the Western Hemisphere, and notes on other Balclutha, Zootaxa 5361 (4), pp. 526-554 : 544-546

Balclutha sujawalensis Ahmed

Figs. 66–76

Diagnosis. Balclutha sujawalensis can be identified by the head much narrower than the pronotum, face comparatively long and narrow, clypellus extending beyond normal curve of genae, female sternite VII with distinct medial notch, male pygofer constricted medially on ventral side, connective stem 2.2x to 2.5x length of anterior arms, style preapical lobe triangular, style apophysis sharply pointed at apex and with distinct preapical tooth, aedeagus ventral margin angularly curved at base, and overall shape of the aedeagus.

Material examined. KENYA [Kenya, new country record]: 1♀, Laikipia, Mpala Research Centre, 0.293°N 36.899°E, 1650m, 21.XII. 2014, Margaret Kinnaird, Malaise Trap, BIOUG: KENYA 2 [BIOUG25768-H03]; 1♀, same data [ BIOUG25769 -E12]; 1 ♁, same data except collection date 11.I.2015 [ BIOUG25950 -A04]; 1 ♁, same data except collection date 25.I.2015 [ BIOUG26046 -A12]; PAKISTAN: 1♀, Islamabad , Islamabad, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, 33.6863°N 73.0763°E, 527m, 3.X.2012, M.Rafique & Q. Abbas, Malaise Trap, BIOUG:RAWAL [ BIOUG15390 -G03]

Remarks. Among the unidentified specimens sent from BOLD were five specimens from Kenya and Pakistan in BIN# BOLD:AAY6763 that were identified here as B. sujawalensis based on comparison to figures in Webb & Vilbaste (1994), Rama Subba Rao & Ramakrishnan (1990), and Ahmed (1986). Additional specimens in the same BIN are recorded in BOLD from Tanzania. The species was previously known only from Delhi, India and Karachi, Pakistan. Its finding in Kenya and Tanzania here likely represents a broader natural distribution than was previously known, but a recent range expansion or introduction cannot be ruled out. This species has a very long stem of the connective, similar to that of B. jafara .

Figures

FIGURES 66–76. Balclutha sujawalensis Ahmed. (66–67, 69, 71: female from Kenya, BIOUG25769-E12; 68, 72–76: male from Kenya, BIOUG25950-A04; 70: female from Pakistan, BIOUG15390-G03): (66) dorsal habitus; (67) lateral habitus; (68) head to mesonotum, dorsal; (69) face; (70–71) sternite VII; (72) pygofer, lateral; (73) style apophysis, dorsolateral; (74) valve, subgenital plates, connective, and styles, ventral; (75) connective, ventral; (76) connective, aedeagus, and style (part), lateral.