Metidiocerus deodarae (Viraktamath & Sohi) VIRAKTAMATH & YESHWANTH, 2024

VIRAKTAMATH, C. A. & YESHWANTH, H. M., 2024, Arboreal eurymeline leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Eurymelinae) of the Indian subcontinent with description of new genera and eight new species, Zootaxa 5462 (1), pp. 1-125 : 69

Metidiocerus deodarae (Viraktamath & Sohi) comb. nov.

Figs 35A–J , 61B , 69E–H .

Idiocerus deodarae Viraktamath and Sohi 1994: 27–28 , figs 22–32.

Diagnosis. Ochraceous. Crown fore margin with small round black spots one on either side of median line closer to adjacent eye than to each other. Pronotum with brown and black spots on anterior submargin, mesonotum with basal triangles dark brown, and a median brown spot dividing posteriorly on mesoscutellum. Forewing venation dark brown interrupted by white. Male pygofer black pigmented with a hyaline spot on ventral margin at midlength. Female sternite VII convex, medially not bilobed ( Fig. 61B ); teeth on valvula II widely spaced with not more than 11 teeth ( Figs 69 GH).

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂, INDIA: Himachal Pradesh, Kufri, Simla , 2600m, 15.x.1979, ex Cedrus deodara, C.A. Viraktamath ( UASB) . Paratype ♀, data as for holotype ( UASB).

Remarks. Viraktamath & Sohi (1994) adequately described this species and illustrated the male and female genitalia. They included this species in the genus Idiocerus . Re-examination of the type specimens revealed that it belongs to Metidiocerus . This species can be recognized by a series of irregular spots on anterior submargin of pronotum. The aedeagus with dorsal apodeme well-sclerotized and distally expanded laterally. The basal abdominal apodemes are almost reaching anterior margin of the following segment.

Figures

FIGURES 35A–J. Metidiocerus deodarae (Viraktamath & Sohi) comb. nov., holotype male: A–B, habitus, dorsal and lateral views; C, face; D, Label data; E, male sternite VIII, ventral view: F, male genital capsule, lateral view; G, style, lateral view; H, connective, style and aedeagus, ventral view; I, aedeagus, dorsal view; J, style, connective and aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURES 61A–R. Idiocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female sternite VII: A, Idiocerus cedarae; B, Metidioceus deodarae; C, M. gnezdilovai; D, Idiocerus sharmai; E, Idioscopus bimaculatus; F, I. clypealis. G, I. confuscous; H, I. irenae; I, I. nagpurensis; J, I. nitidulus; K, I. pretiosus; L, I. shillongensis; M, I. virescens; N, Jogocerus freytagi; O, Keralus webbi; P, Matangia capriliana; Q, M. inidca; R, M. thapai.

FIGURES 69A–P. Idiocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female valvula I, magnified view and valvula II, magnified view:A–D, Matangia thapai; E–H, Metidocerus deodarae; I–L, M. gnezdilovai; M–P, Periacerus bidentatus.