Xyphon nudum (Nottingham 1932)

Catanach, Therese A., Dietrich, Chris H. & Woolley, James B., 2013, A revision of the New World sharpshooter genus Xyphon Hamilton (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae), Zootaxa 3741 (4), pp. 490-510 : 501

Xyphon nudum (Nottingham 1932)

( Figs 3 D, 4D)

Carneocephala nuda Nottingham 1932

Xyphon nuda (Nottingham 1932) : Hamilton 1985

Diagnosis. This species is relatively small for the genus (female 4.5 mm; male 4.0 mm) with the head narrower than the pronotum. Xyphon nudum is similar to X. triguttatum , but has a completely unpatterned crown (which is often orange), pronotum, and mesonotum. The wings are dark green with yellowish-green veins.

Head. Clypellus-frontoclypeus junction in lateral view evenly convex (14%) or distinctly angular (76%); frontoclypeus mottled yellow and tan (69%), entirely yellow (sometimes with brown muscle scars) (21%), or uniformly tan (muscle scars appearing slightly darker) (10%). Crown angular (79%) or rounded (21%); white band present and complete (55%) or present but broken by face color (41%), rarely absent (3%); median spot absent; medioapical macula absent or poorly delimited (72%) or entirely yellow (possibly with brown spot) (28%); dark markings (other than median spot) absent; dark lines absent; orange pigment present (93%) or absent (7%). Crown flat in lateral view. Postocellar maculae absent or weak. Distance from ocelli to lateral edge of head no more than 2 times ocelli width and distance between ocelli no more than 7.5 times ocelli width.

Thorax. Pronotum lacking dark green to brown circular markings and indentations; midline of pronotum white (93%) or concolorous with lateral areas of pronotum (7%). Mesonotum typically green (90%) but rarely tan (10%) with visible part unmarked (90%) or with pair of submedial spots (10%); proepisternum posterior edge not irregular (72%) or irregular (28%).

Forewings. Wings mainly green (90%) or tan (10%) with anal veins white. Apex with few crossveins.

Legs. Hind femur macrosetal formula 2+1. Plantar surface of hind tarsomere, paleate setae numbering 1–3 (3%) or 4–5 (97%).

Abdomen. Abdominal sterna of male mostly yellow.

Male genitalia. Pygofer with basolateral setae scattered and erect. Subgenital plate with small scattered macrosetae. Aedeagal shaft in lateral view with dorsal process acute and compressed, taller than wide; in ventral view narrowly ovoid (without distinct angles); in dorsal view shaft not compressed. Paraphyses, dorsal view, forming a circle, oval, or U shape. Style with 1, rarely 2 setae.

Host plants. No data available.

Material examined. We coded 14 males, 15 females, and examined approximately 200 specimens.

Distribution. Southwestern United States and Mexico.

Primary type. Holotype, SEMC. Holotype is a male in good condition. Verbatim locality label on holotype: Pima Co. Ariz / July 27, 1927 / P.A. Readio

Additional notes. Although X. nudum was derived from within a clade comprising the four included specimens of X. reticulatum in the phylogenetic analyses, the former is morphologically distinct and is here retained as a valid species. More detailed studies will be needed to determine whether X. nudum is an extreme color variant of X. reticulatum (see Notes under the latter species).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Xyphon species, lateral views. A, X. flaviceps; B, X. fulgidum; C, X. gillettei; D, X. nudum; E, X. reticulatum; F, X. triguttatum; G, X. spadice sp. nov.