Elginus oriens, 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 : 21-22

Elginus oriens sp.n.

( Figs 27, 28 , 68 , 95 , 122 , 147 , 172 , 197 , 223 , 249, 250 , 268 )

Diagnosis. Aedeagal shaft short. Style apophysis protruding beyond plate. Plate with dorsal tooth.

Etymology. Latin, oriens , eastern, for distribution of species, that is coastal and inland regions of Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Colour. Male & female. As in Fig. 27, 28 .

Dimensions. Male (n = 42). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.3–3.6 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.8–3.1 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 mm. Maximum widths: head 1.0 mm; pronotum 0.8–0.9 mm; scutellum 0.4–0.5 mm. Ocellus: diameter 26–32 µm; ocellocular distance 39–54 µm.

Abdominal apodemes. Male. Fig. 268 .

Genital capsule. Male. Aedeagal shaft curved right, or almost straight; shaft short, 1.6 times as long as dorsal apodeme ( Figs 68 , 95 ). Connective as in Fig. 122 . Plate short, apex truncate, right angled; medially with dorsal tooth; 5–8 uniseriate macrosetae ( Fig. 147 ). Pygofer lobe broadly rounded ( Figs 172 , 197 ). Style apophysis curved, tapering; projecting beyond plate apex; apophysis 0.6 times as long as median arm ( Fig. 223 ).

Dimensions. Female (n = 51). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.3–3.7 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 3.3–3.6 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 0.4–0.5 mm. Ocellus: diameter 26–32 µm; ocellocular distance 44–61 µm.

Genital capsule. Female. Sternite VII ( Figs 249, 250 ) with wide truncate lip, sometimes notched or more widely indented; pillars sometimes visible in weakly sclerotized specimens; sternite VIII projecting at corners. Third valvula with subapical macrosetae 28.4–37.7 µm long, other setae shorter (≤11.8 µm).

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal. Nkandhla Forest Reserve, 28°44ʹS 31°09ʹE, 23–25.x.1992, M. Stiller ( SANC). Paratypes (47♂, 49♀, 7 nymphs). Eastern Cape. 7♂, 6♀, Mdlandkomo administrative area on road between Umtata and Port St John’s, 31°30ʹ54.78ʺS 28°56ʹ13.86ʺE, 1022 m, DVac short grazed grass; 11♂, 4♀, Port St John’s 30 km west, 31°37ʹS 29°23ʹE, 234 m, 28.iv.2006, DVac Aristida sp. (Poaceae) on road reserve; 12♂, 2♀, Port St John’s landing strip, 31°36ʹS 29°31ʹE, 381 m, 29.iv.2006, DVac wetland and dryland grazed grassland; 1♂, 3♀, Dwesa Nature Reserve 32°17ʹ23.54ʺS 28°51ʹ24.50ʺE 50 m 30.xii.2008, sweeping grass & forbs on coastal dunes; all M. Stiller. KwaZulu-Natal. 1♀, Eshowe, 28°53ʹS 31°28ʹE, 15.vii.1926; 1♀, Van Reenen, 28°22ʹS 29°24ʹE, 15.xi.1926; all R.E. Turner; 1♂, Pinetown, 29°50ʹS 30°53ʹE, 9.vii.1975, G.D. van Rensburg; 7♂, 3♀, Karkloof near Howick, 29°24ʹS 30°16ʹE, 12.xii.1978, J.G. Theron; 3♂, Eshowe, 28°53ʹS 31°28ʹE, 14.xii.1974, J.G. Theron; 1♂, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, 30°17ʹS 30°37ʹE, 443 m, 25.iii.1985, M.W. Mansell; 7♂, 14♀, ibid. holotype; 5♂, 5♀, 5 nymphs, Beacon Hill Howick, 29°28ʹS 30°12ʹE, 1140 m, 24.iv.2002, DVac Aristida junciformis subsp. galpinii ; DVac Themeda triandra (Poaceae) ; 1♂, 2♀, road between Dargle and Boston, 29°35ʹS 30°01ʹE, 1730 m, 25.iv.2002; 3♂, 1♀, Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, 30°43ʹS 30°16ʹE, 440 m, 24.iv.2002, all M. Stiller, E. Breytenbach, DVac, common grass species: Aristida junciformis subsp. galpinii , Hyparrhenia sp. , Loudetia simplex (Poaceae) ; 8♂, 9♀, 2 nymphs, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, 30°17ʹS 30°37ʹE, 443 m, 2.vii.2002, sweeping grass & forbs, at dam 17h00, moribund grass, 17h00; 1♂, Ashburton, 29°39ʹ34.62ʺS 30°25ʹ58.68ʺE, 699 m, 1.v.2006, DVac ungrazed, disturbed grassland; all M. Stiller ( AMNH, BMNH, SANC).

Remarks. The aedeagus is similar to that of E. saltus and E. vulgaris , although the configuration of plate and style that projects beyond its margin is found only in E. malotiensis and E. oriens . Elginus malotiensis has a much longer and thinner aedeagal shaft than E. oriens , has the plate more elongate, and without a tooth. Distributed mainly in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, and occurring further south in the Eastern Cape Province. Some of these habitats were not in climax grassland, but were short from grazing, burning or mowing to prevent tree encroachment.

Figures

FIGURES 25–32. Elginus species, habitus views. Fig. 25, E. matarei, male; Fig. 26, E. minutulus, male; Fig. 27, E. oriens, male; Fig. 28, E. oriens, female; Fig. 29, E. saltus (Naudé), male; Fig. 30, E. saltus (Naudé), female; Fig. 31, E. semialatus, male; Fig. 32, E. semialatus, nymph.

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.

FIGURES 259–273. Elginus species, male, abdominal apodemes, Fig. 259, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 260, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 261, E. denticulatus; Fig. 262, E. eccentricus; Fig. 263, E. falcatus; Fig. 264, E. furcillatus; Fig. 265, E. malotiensis; Fig. 266, E. matarei; Fig. 267, E. minutulus; Fig. 268, E. oriens; Fig. 269, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 270, E. theroni; Fig. 271, E. tortuosus; Fig. 272, E. tubulus; Fig. 273, E. vulgaris.