Elginus cavatus, Stiller, M., 2009

Stiller, M., 2009, Revision of Elginus Theron (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with the description of two new genera and comments on the grassland leafhopper fauna in South Africa, Zootaxa 2135 (1), pp. 1-56 : 8-9

Elginus cavatus sp.n.

( Figs 2–4 , 53 , 80 , 107 , 133 , 158 , 182 , 208 , 234 )

Diagnosis. Aedeagal shaft flattened dorsoventrally with wide base, subbasally produced into lateral, posteriad process and plate apex truncated.

Etymology. Latin, referring to the cavitous or hollowed-out appearance of aedeagal shaft.

Colour. Male, female & nymph. As in Figs 2–4 .

Dimensions. Male (n = 31). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.3–3.5 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.9–3.2 mm; vertex medially 0.4–0.5 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.3 mm; pronotum medially 0.3–0.4 mm; scutellum medially 0.3–0.4 mm. Maximum widths: head 1.0 mm; pronotum 0.8–0.9 mm; scutellum 0.5 mm. Ocellus: diameter 28 µm; ocellocular distance 40–53 µm.

Genital capsule. Male. Aedeagal shaft flattened dorso-ventrally; in dorsal view widened from base to midlength, with lateral, posteriad process; shaft very long, 3.0 times as long as dorsal apodeme; gonopore apical ( Figs 53 , 80 ). Connective as in Fig. 107 . Plate short, apex truncate ( Fig. 133 ). Pygofer lobe apex broadly rounded ( Figs 158 , 182 ). Style apophysis 0.6 times as long as anterior lateral lobe; apophysis with wide base, preapical lobe obscure; apophysis almost extending to apex of plate ( Fig. 208 ).

Dimensions. Female (n = 32). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.3–3.8 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 3.4–3.8 mm; vertex medially 0.5–0.6 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.3–0.4 mm; pronotum medially 0.4 mm; scutellum medially 0.3–0.4 mm. Maximum widths: head 1.0– 1.1 mm; pronotum 0.8–0.9 mm; scutellum 0.5–0.6 mm. Ocellus: diameter 25–31 µm; ocellocular distance 46–60 µm.

Genital capsule. Female. Sternite VII apical margin with wide rounded notch flanked by rounded triangular processes ( Fig. 234 ).

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, Eastern Cape. Devil’s Bellows Neck, 32°24ʹ56.04ʺS 26°40ʹ6.24ʺE, 1646 m, 19.iv.2006, M. Stiller, DVac grazed pasture ( SANC). Paratypes (59♂, 38♀). Eastern Cape. 1♂, 2♀, Balloch Peak, 30°40ʹ16ʺS 27°42ʹ8ʺE, 2100 m, 28.iii.2005, sweeping broad-leaved grass, no flower; 1♂, Wildfell Farm, 30°40ʹ6ʺS 27°48ʹ30ʺE, 2180 m, 29.iii.2005, sweeping grass; 4♂, 2♀, Halseton Krans, 30°42ʹ39ʺS 27°47ʹ39ʺE, 2200 m, 1.iv.2005, sweeping grazed grass; 10♂, 6♀, ibid. holotype; 4♂, 4♀, Groendal near Dordrecht, 31°9ʹ7.08ʺS 27°6ʹ17.76ʺE, 1804 m, 26.iv.2006, DVac road reserve; 1♂, road between Barkly East and Elliot, 31°11ʹ44.76ʺS 27°48ʹ30.78ʺE, 1962 m, 27.iv.2006, DVac road reserve and grazed pasture; 1♂, 2♀, road between Elliot and Rhodes, 31°6ʹ4.98ʺS 27°51ʹ41.58ʺE, 1884 m, 27.iv.2006, DVac road reserve, common grass species: Themeda triandra , Miscanthus capensis , Eragrostis spp. ; 2♂, 7♀, road between Maclear and Rhodes, 30°52ʹ8.4ʺS 28°11ʹ19.14ʺE, 1739 m, 27.iv.2006, DVac short grass, fire break around pine plantation; 5♂, 4♀, road between Naude’s Neck and Maclear, 30°44ʹ38.82ʺS 28°8ʹ37.92ʺE, 2279 m, 27.iv.2006, DVac Aristida sp. ; 20♂, 1♀, Rhodes, 30°50ʹ42.48ʺS 27°53ʹ35.4ʺE, 1965 m, 27.iv.2006, DVac roadside short grass and forbs, grazed, Eragrostis sp. dominant; 4♂, 3♀, Prentjiesberg, 31°6ʹ50.52ʺS 28°10ʹ27.12ʺE, 1428 m, 29.iv.2006, DVac moribund grass, common: Diheteropogon ?amplectens, Heteropogon contortus , and flush in fire break, common: Monocymbium ceresiiforme , Aristida sp. , Eragrostis sp. (Poaceae) . KwaZulu-Natal. 5♂, 7♀, Geluk Farm NE Vryheid, 27°39ʹ35.2ʺS 30°48ʹ46.1ʺE, 1527 m, 31.i.2007, DVac grass & forbs in grazed pasture; all M. Stiller ( AMNH, BMNH, SANC, USIC).

Remarks. This species appears to occur commonly in the Eastern Cape in three vegetation units within the Drakensberg Grassland Bioregion of the Grassland Biome. According to Mucina and Rutherford (2006) the locality in KwaZulu-Natal appears to bear little similarity in grass composition to the other vegetation units where this leafhopper is found. The leafhoppers from these disjunct populations only differ in the shape of the basal process of the aedeagus. In the KwaZulu-Natal specimens it is narrow and its posterior margin is rounded. In the Eastern Cape specimens it is wide and its posterior margin is invaginated, with a lateral spinelike extension ( Fig. 53 ). The plate, style and sternite VII of the female of both populations show no significant differences. The distribution of E. cavatus is similar to that of E. semialatus , but the latter can readily be distinguished by male and female genitalia. The sternite VII in the female of E. semialatus is notched and much wider and shallower than that of E. cavatus . External male genitalia are also a reliable means of species recognition. The plates are truncate in E. cavatus and elongate and rounded in E. semialatus .

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Elginus species, habitus views. Fig. 1, E. bispinus, male; Fig. 2, E. cavatus, male; Fig. 3, E. cavatus, female; Fig. 4, E. cavatus, nymph; Fig. 5, E. contradens, male; Fig. 6, E. contradens, female; Fig. 7, E. cultellus, male; Fig. 8, E. cultellus, female.

FIGURES 51–77. Elginus species, male, aedeagus, dorsal or ventral view. Fig. 51, E. acutus, ventral view; Fig. 52, E. bispinus, dorsal view; Fig. 53, E. cavatus, dorsal view; Fig. 54, E. contradens, dorsal view; Fig. 55, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus, dorsal view; Fig. 56, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus, dorsal view; Fig. 57, E. denticulatus, dorsal view; Fig. 58, E. dexteruncus, dorsal view; Fig. 59, E. eccentricus, dorsal view; Fig. 60, E. extrinsecus, ventral view; Fig. 61, E. falcatus, dorsal view; Fig. 62, E. furcillatus, dorsal view; Fig. 63, E. latus, dorsal view; Fig. 64, E. levilobus, ventral view; Fig. 65, E. malotiensis, dorsal view; Fig. 66, E. matarei, ventral view; Fig. 67, E. minutulus, dorsal view; Fig. 68, E. oriens, dorsal view; Fig. 69, E. recavus, dorsal view; Fig. 70, E. saltus (Naudé), dorsal view; Fig. 71, E. semialatus, with paired process, ventral view; Fig. 72, E. semialatus, single process, ventral view; Fig. 73, E. theroni, dorsal view; Fig. 74, E. tortuosus, dorsal view; Fig. 75, E. tubulus, dorsal view; Fig. 76, E. unispinus, ventral view; Fig. 77, E. vulgaris, dorsal view.

FIGURES 78–104. Elginus species, male, aedeagus, lateral view. Fig. 78, E. acutus; Fig. 79, E. bispinus; Fig. 80, E. cavatus; Fig. 81, E. contradens; Fig. 82, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 83, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 84, E. denticulatus; Fig. 85, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 86, E. eccentricus; Fig. 87, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 88, E. falcatus; Fig. 89, E. furcillatus; Fig. 90, E. latus; Fig. 91, E. levilobus; Fig. 92, E. malotiensis; Fig. 93, E. matarei; Fig. 94, E. minutulus; Fig. 95, E. oriens; Fig. 96, E. recavus; Fig. 97, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 98, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 99, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 100, E. theroni; Fig. 101, E. tortuosus; Fig. 102, E. tubulus; Fig. 103, E. unispinus; Fig. 104, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 105–130. Elginus species, male, connective, Fig. 105, E. acutus; Fig. 106, E. bispinus; Fig. 107, E. cavatus; Fig. 108, E. contradens; Fig. 109, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 110, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 111, E. denticulatus; Fig. 112, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 113, E. eccentricus; Fig. 114, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 115, E. falcatus; Fig. 116, E. furcillatus; Fig. 117, E. latus; Fig. 118, E. levilobus; Fig. 119, E. malotiensis; Fig. 120, E. matarei; Fig. 121, E. minutulus; Fig. 122, E. oriens; Fig. 123, E. recavus; Fig. 124, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 125, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 126, E. theroni; Fig. 127, E. tortuosus; Fig. 128, E. tubulus; Fig. 129, E. unispinus; Fig. 130, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 131–156. Elginus species, male, plate, Fig. 131, E. acutus; Fig. 132, E. bispinus; Fig. 133, E. cavatus; Fig. 134, E. contradens; Fig. 135, E. cultellus; Fig. 136, E. denticulatus; Fig. 137, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 138, E. eccentricus; Fig. 139, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 140, E. falcatus; Fig. 141, E. furcillatus; Fig. 142, E. latus; Fig. 143, E. levilobus; Fig. 144, E. malotiensis; Fig. 145, E. matarei; Fig. 146, E. minutulus; Fig. 147, E. oriens; Fig. 148, E. recavus; Fig. 149, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 150, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 151, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 152, E. theroni; Fig. 153, E. tortuosus; Fig. 154, E. tubulus; Fig. 155, E. unispinus; Fig. 156, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 157–179. Elginus species, male, pygofer, dorsal view. Fig. 157, E. acutus; Fig. 158, E. cavatus; Fig. 159, E. contradens; Fig. 160, E. cultellus; Fig. 161, E. denticulatus; Fig. 162, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 163, E. eccentricus; Fig. 164, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 165, E. falcatus; Fig. 166, E. furcillatus; Fig. 167, E. latus; Fig. 168, E. levilobus; Fig. 169, malotiensis; Fig. 170, E. matarei; Fig. 171, E. minutulus; Fig. 172, E. oriens; Fig. 173, E. recavus; Fig. 174, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 175, E. theroni; Fig. 176, E. tortuosus; Fig. 177, E. tubulus; Fig. 178, E. unispinus; Fig. 179, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 180–205. Elginus species, male, pygofer, lateral view. Fig. 180, E. acutus; Fig. 181, E. bispinus; Fig. 182, E. cavatus; Fig. 183, E. contradens; Fig. 184, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 185, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 186, E. denticulatus; Fig. 187, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 188, E. eccentricus; Fig. 189, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 190, E. falcatus; Fig. 191, E. furcillatus; Fig. 192, E. latus; Fig. 193, E. levilobus; Fig. 194, E. malotiensis; Fig. 195, E. matarei; Fig. 196, E. minutulus; Fig. 197, E. oriens; Fig. 198, E. recavus; Fig. 199, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 200, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 201, E. theroni; Fig. 202, E. tortuosus; Fig. 203, E. tubulus; Fig. 204, E. unispinus; Fig. 205, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 206–232. Elginus species, male, style, Fig. 206, E. acutus; Fig. 207, E. bispinus; Fig. 208, E. cavatus; Fig. 209, E. contradens; Fig. 210, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 211, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 212, E. denticulatus; Fig. 213, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 214, E. eccentricus; Fig. 215, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 216, E. falcatus; Fig. 217, E. furcillatus; Fig. 218, E. latus; Fig. 219, E. levilobus; Fig. 220, E. malotiensis; Fig. 221, E. matarei; Fig. 222, E. minutulus; Fig. 223, E. oriens; Fig. 224, E. recavus; Fig. 225, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 226, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 227, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 228, E. theroni; Fig. 229, E. tortuosus; Fig. 230, E. tubulus; Fig. 231, E. unispinus; Fig. 232, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 233–258. Elginus species, female, sternite VII. Fig. 233, E. bispinus; Fig. 234, E. cavatus; Fig. 235, E. contradens; Fig. 236, E. cultellus, associated males with curved aedeagus; Fig. 237, E. cultellus, associated males with straight aedeagus; Fig. 238, E. denticulatus; Fig. 239, E. dexteruncus variant; Fig. 240, E. dexteruncus variant; Fig. 241, E eccentricus; Fig. 242, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 243, E. falcatus; Fig. 244, E. furcillatus; Fig. 245, E. levilobus; Fig. 246, E. malotiensis; Fig. 247, E. matarei; Fig. 248, E. minutulus; Fig. 249, E. oriens; Fig. 250, E. oriens; Fig. 251, E. recavus; Fig. 252, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 253, E. semialatus; Fig. 254, E. theroni; Fig. 255, E. tortuosus; Fig. 256, E. tubulus; Fig. 257, E. unispinus; Fig. 258, E. vulgaris.