Maiestas portica (Melichar)

Webb, Michael D. & Viraktamath, Chandra A., 2009, 2163, Zootaxa 2163, pp. 1-64 : 41

Maiestas portica (Melichar) . Comb. nov. ( Figs 25–31)

Deltocephalus porticus Melichar, 1903: 204 , plate VI, figs 9a–d, Sri Lanka; S. Viraktamath, 1989, 24–26, figs 1–8. Deltocephalus intermedius Melichar 1903: 205 . Sri Lanka; Dash & Viraktamath, 1998: 18, Figs 107–114. Syn. nov. Paivanana durga Distant, 1918: 96 . India. Syn. nov.

Cicadula fletcheri Pruthi, 1930: 60–61 , figs 82a,b, Plate V, fig. 4, India. Syn. nov.

Deltocephalus fletcheri (Pruthi) , Ghauri, 1962: 562.

Deltocephalus (Recilia) porticus (Melichar) , Dash & Viraktamath, 1998: 18, figs 96–106.114.

Deltocephalus (Recilia) fletcheri (Melichar) , Dash & Viraktamath, 1998: 20, figs 122–128.

Type material examined. Syntypes Deltocephalus porticus Melichar : 4♂, 2♀, Sri Lanka, Peradeniya ( MMB) . Syntypes Deltocephalus intermedius Melichar : 1♂, Sri Lanka, Peradeniya , 1f, Henaratgod ( MMB) . Syntypes, Paivana durga Distant : 2♂, “S. India, Kodai Kanal, T.V. Campbell ”, “S. India, E.A. Butler, 1915-60” ( BMNH) . Syntypes Cicadula fletcheri Pruthi : 1♂, 1♀, Kodai Kanal, Palnis, 7000ft, Sept. 1921, Fletcher Coll. ( ZSI) .

Additional material. India: 2♂, 4♀ (on same mount) and 4♀ (on same mount), “K K 5.17” (handwritten under the specimen mount) and a recent label for Kodai Kanal (see “ Material and Methods - T.V. Campbell material”) ( BMNH) . The latter specimens also with “Pulney Hills”, May 1917, 1928-503” ( BMNH register entry for 1928-503 reads: “S. India, T.V. Campbell, coll. by donor”) (see Remarks). Several males and females from India: Mudigree, Yercaud, Silchar and Hyderabad ( UASB) .

Remarks. There is variation in the brown marking in this species but as all specimens have similar male genitalia they are regarded as the same species. Types of porticus and durga and specimens from Hyderabad, Bangalore, Bannerghatta, Jog Falls, Thekkadi, Yercaud and Nagarahole have a brown spot on the head ( Fig. 28a). This spot is fainter in specimens from Munnar ( Fig. 25a) and Nongpoh and is absent in the types of intermedius and specimens from Mudigere, Sukna, Jog Falls, Nandi Hills, Trichur and Silchar ( Fig. 30a). Specimens from Valparai are both with and without markings and the type series of durga and the additional BMNH material from Kodai Kanal have additional brown marking on the head and pronotum ( Fig. 26a) and forewings.