Leofa (Leofa) thompsoni, 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 : 11-13

Leofa (Leofa) thompsoni sp. nov.

( Figs. 15–28 )

Entirely black. Most of integument with short fine hairs. Head slightly narrower than pronotum. Crown irregularly striate. Anterior margin of head glabrous. Frontoclypeus broad, glabrous to slightly rugose. Ocelli small, situated somewhat dorsally, and about 4x their own diameter from each eye. Clypellus broad, slightly tapering apically. Pronotum lateral carina absent. Wings brachypterous, without venation, coriaceous. Legs with numerous extra small fine hairs. Hind femur formula 2+2+1 or 2+1+1.

Male. Pygofer short, constricted preapcially, with numerous setae, with a pair of short blunt processes dorsally and caudad of constriction. Pygofer with caudoventral margins apparently infolded and forming separate plates which articulate with segment X and aedeagus. Valve triangular. Subgenital plates long, sharply pointed apically, with scattered fine setae especially near lateral margin and at apex. Connective short, Vshaped. Style preapical lobe forming a blunt right angle, with several setae near apex. Style apophysis short, apex sharply quadrate. Aedeagus dorsal shaft flanged on dorsal side of large preapical gonopore, apex with a pair of short pointed processes. Aedeagus ventral appendage with an articulation point near base, with shaft long and slightly concave ventrally and reaching tip of aedeagus. Segment X forming a short strongly sclerotized and somewhat dorsoventrally elongate, irregularly shaped semicircle, with arms of semicircle not touching ventrally.

Female. Pygofer without macrosetae, but with numerous shorter fine setae. Ovipositor extending well beyond pygofer. Sternite VII with a narrow notch apically. First valvula ramus relatively straight, dorsal sculpturing maculose to granulose and reaching dorsal margin. Second valvula abruptly broadening ~2/5 from base and remaining 3/5 of dorsal margin with distinct obliquely triangular serrated teeth.

Nymph, 5th instar female. Mostly black, with wing pads, thoracic sternites, and legs ivory to ochraceous, with caudodorsal margins of abdominal tergites IV and VII ivory, abdominal sternites black to ochraceous. Abdominal tergite III without macrosetae, IV with two lateral macrosetae, and V–VIII each with four macrosetae.

Material examined. Male holotype: RWANDA: Umutara / Pr., Gabira Dist., Rwa- / biharamba, 15-i- 2004 / V. Thompson leg. One male and one female paratype, same data. Nymph paratype: Rwanda: Rukara Dist., / Kawangire Lake Muhazi / 15.i.2004 / V. Thompson leg. One male paratype: UGANDA: / Ankole Plains, Ankole. / 38 miles from Kabale. / 4650ft. / 7.viii.1957. Next label: Coll. P.E.S. & E.M. Whalley / B.M. 1961-343. One female paratype: UGANDA: / Bulinid farm. / Bunyoro: grass and / vegetation under / Cassava. 18.vii.1957. Next label: Coll. P.E.S. & E.M. Whalley / B.M. 1961-343. One female paratype: UGANDA: / Kaberomaido / Teso. / on grass / April–May, 1956. Next label: Coll. P.E.S. & E.M. Whalley / B.M. 1961-343. Specimens from Rwanda deposited at INHS. Specimens from Uganda deposited at BMNH. Genomic DNA was extracted from the male paratype from Rwanda, and the entire cleared specimen is stored in glycerin.

Etymology. This species is named for the collector and spittlebug specialist, Vinton Thompson, to whom I am grateful for the donation of specimens.

Diagnosis. Distinguished by its entirely black color.

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 28. Leofa (Leofa) thompsoni sp. nov. 15: dorsal habitus, female; 16: lateral habitus, female; 17: dorsal habitus, nymph; 18: connective, styles and aedeagus, ventrally; 19: aedeagus and ventral appendage, laterally; 20: valve and subgenital plates, ventrally; 21: male pygofer, dorsally; 22: aedeagus, dorsally; 23: male pygofer, caudally; 24: female sternite VII; 25: first valvula; 26: detail of first valvula dorsal sculpturing; 27: second valvula; 28: detail of second valvula teeth.