Exitianus apophysisiosus, Zahniser, James N., 2008

Zahniser, James N., 2008, Seven new species and new distributions of Old World Chiasmini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae), with a redescription, key to genera, and species checklist for the tribe, Zootaxa 1808, pp. 1-32 : 20-22

Exitianus apophysisiosus sp. nov.

( Figs. 69–76 )

Males more darkly pigmented than females. General form stout. General color tawny, with brown to dark brown markings. Crown broad, longer medially than next to eye, with a more or less pigmented brown parabolic band near anterior margin. Frontoclypeus darkly pigmented to tawny. Clypellus tapering apically. In darkly pigmented specimens, clypellus darkly pigmented medially, lorae darkly pigmented, and with pigment below eyes. Pronotum and mesonotum with or without pigmentation. Wing veins more or less pigmented. In darkly colored specimens, wings with light shadows near medial and lateral apices. Appendix extending around wing apex. Intercalary row of profemur long, with basal half of setae relatively long and thick. Protibia 4+4. Hind femur 2+2+1.

Male. Pygofer short, robust; ventral margin with a concavity; without anteroventral membranous cleft; caudal margin with row of very short setae; with spine on stalk originating dorsoapically and directed caudoventrally. Valve more than 2x wider than median length, rounded apically. Subgenital plates quadrate, truncate apically, with a dorsomedial ridge, without macrosetae. Connective Y-shaped, stem shorter than anterior arms. Style preapical lobe greatly elongate, digitate, papillose. Style apophysis long, slightly curved, truncate apically, papillose apically. Segment X mostly membranous dorsally except for caudal rim, sclerotized laterally.

Female. Pygofer with ~12–14 macrosetae ventroapically. Sternite VII broadly pointed medially, strongly concave on either side of medial point. First valvula ramus not strongly curved. First valvula dorsal sculpturing granulose to maculose, marginal for most of length, slightly submarginal apically. Second valvula abruptly broadened ~1/3 its length from base, with small obliquely triangular dorsal teeth on apical 2/3. Gonoplac with 3–4 macrosetae ventroapically and with several smaller setae apically.

Material examined. Male holotype, first label: MADAGASCAR: Toliara Prov. / Parc Nat. de Tsimanampetsotsa, / Mitoho Cave, 6.4 km 77° ENE / Efoetse, 17.4 km 170° S / Beheloka 18–22 March 2002. Next label: 24° 2' 50" S 43° 45' 11" E. / coll: Fisher, Griswold et al. / California Acad. of Sciences / at light in spiny forest thicket / elev 40m code: BLF6164. One female paratype, same data. One male paratype: MADAGAS- CAR: Toliara Prov. / Parc Nat. de Tsimanampetsotsa, / Forêt de Bemanateza, 20.7 km / 81° E Efoetse, 23.0 km 131° SE / Beheloka 22–26 March 2002 / 23° 59' 32" S 43° 52' 50" E. Next label: coll: Fisher, Griswold et al. / California Acad. of Sciences / at light - in spiny forest thicket / elev 90m code: BLF6253. One male paratype, first label: MADAGASCAR: Toliara / Prov, Sept Lacs, elev 70m / 23° 31' 39" S 44° 9' 16" E / 7–9 March 2002. Next label: Calif. Acad. of Sciences, / collectors: Frontier Project / malaise trap, gallery forest / collection code: MGF 024. Two male and two female paratypes, first label: MADAGASCAR: Province / Diego-Suarez, Parc National / Montagne d’Ambre, 960 m / 19 March to 5 April 2001. Next label: 12° 30’ 52” S, 49° 10’ 53” E / R. Harin’Hala collector, / malaise trap MA-01-01A-09. One male and two female paratypes, first label: MADAGASCAR: Toamasina / Province, botanic garden / near entrance to Andasibe / National Park, / 16 – 23 November 2001. Next label: 18° 55.58’ S, 48° 24.47’ E / collector: R. Harin’ Hala / California Acad. of Sciences / malaise trap - tropical forest / elev 1025 m, MA-01-08B-20. Hototype and five paratypes deposited at CAS. Five paratypes depoited at INHS.

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from other Exitianus by the form of the pygofer spine and by the shape of the style.

Etymology. The species name is an adjective and refers to the very long style apophysis. Discussion. This species belongs to the okahandia -group defined by Ross (1968) based on the short, truncate subgenital plates without macrosetae. The group was previously known from 4 described species, all from South Africa.

Figures

FIGURES 69 – 76. Exitianus apophysisiosus sp. nov. 69: dorsal habitus, female; 70: head and thorax of a male, dorsally (not to scale); 71: valve and subgenital plates, ventrally; 72: aedeagus, laterally; 73: connective, styles, and aedeagus, ventrally; 74: male pygofer, dorsally; 75: male pygofer, laterally; 76: female sternite VII.