Metidiocerus Ossiannilsson

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 : 66

Genus Metidiocerus Ossiannilsson

Medidiocerus Ossiannilsson 1981: 318. Type species: Idiocerus crassipes Sahlberg , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Anufriev & Emeljanov (1988) diagnosed the genus as follows. Head anteriorly rounded; lateral margins of genae convex, sometimes at anteclypeus sharply concave or more or less straight; vertex usually convex. Forewings with 3 subapical cells, outer cell long. Male antennae with apical disc, their third segment with 3 short basal setae. Middle femora comparatively wide, sometimes strongly swollen. Posterodorsal angle of pygofer strongly stretched. Valve with deep excision on posterior margin. Style with 2 (rarely with 1) large, long bristles near apical region. Aedeagus with shaft apex flattened dorsoventrally.

Meta femur with 2+0 macrosetae. Meta tibia with setal row AD 7, PD 9 and AV 13 setae. Metabasitarsomere with distal transverse row of 3 platellae flanked by one seta on either side ( Fig. 17E ). Female genitalia similar to that in the genus Idiocerus .

Remarks. Ossiannilsson (1981) described the genus and included four species earlier placed in the genus Idiocerus in addition to the type species. Kwon (1986) treated it as a subgenus of Idiocerus . However, Anufriev & Emeljanov (1988) treated this as a genus distinct from Idiocerus which is followed here. Two species from the Indian subcontinent are included in this Palaearctic genus including one new species.

Key to species of Metidiocerus Ossiannilsson from the Indian subcontinent

1. Male crown similar to that in female; female sternite VII convex, medially not bilobed ( Fig. 61B ); teeth on valvula II widely spaced, with not more than 11 teeth ( Figs 69 GH)................................. M. deodarae (Viraktamath & Sohi)

- Male crown with median short tubercle ( Fig. 36A ) not found in female ( Fig. 36C ); female sternite VII convex and medially bilobed ( Figs 61C ); teeth on valvula II closely spaced with more than 12 teeth ( Figs 69 KL)…....... M. gnezdilovi s p. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 17A–J. Idiocerus cedarae Viraktamath & Sohi, holotype male: A–B, habitus, dorsal and lateral views; C, face; D, label data; E, metabasitarsomere, ventral view; F, male sternite VIII, ventral view; G, male genital capsule, lateral view; H, style lateral view; I, connective, style and aedeagus, dorsal view; J, aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURES 36A–K. Metidiocerus gnezdilovi sp. nov., holotype male:A–B, habitus male, dorsal and lateral views; E, face, male; C–D, F, female paratype: D–E, habitus, dorsal and lateral view; F, face; G, male sternite VIII, ventral view: H, male genital capsule, lateral view; I, styles, connective and aedeagus, ventral view; J, apex of aedeagus and style, dorsal view; K, 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.