Verdanus (Erdianus) saurosus, Guglielmino, Adalgisa & Bückle, Christoph, 2009

Guglielmino, Adalgisa & Bückle, Christoph, 2009, Northern Apennines as centre of speciation: a new Verdanus species group (Hemiptera, Cicadomorpha, Cicadellidae) from Italy and its phylogenetic relationships with V. bensoni and the V. limbatellus group, Zootaxa 2264, pp. 1-22 : 6-7

Verdanus (Erdianus) saurosus sp. nov. ( Figs. 5 E–H)

Description: As in V. tyrannus , but lateral aedeagus processes dorsally bent, lobe-shaped and shifted in median position ( Figs. 5 E-H).

Measurements: Males. Total body length (from vertex to tip of fore wings) 3.9-4.25 mm; width of head including eyes 1.27-1.28 mm; length of vertex 0.52-0.57 mm; length of pronotum 0.47-0.50 mm; width of pronotum 1.15-1.17 mm; length of genital plates 0.43-0.44 mm; length of aedeagus shaft (from basis to phallotrema) 0.32-0.35 mm. - Females. Total body length (from vertex to tip of fore wings) 4.15-4.35 mm; width of head including eyes 1.33-1.43 mm; length of vertex 0.62-0.65 mm; length of pronotum 0.5-0.55 mm; width of pronotum 1.2-1.37 mm.

Type series: Holotype Male: Italy, Toscana (Lucca); Alpi Apuane, M. Corchia, southern slope; ~ 1500m; 16/8/2008; pastures with Brachypodium , Sesleria , Poa , Festuca , Nardus ; Guglielmino & Bückle leg. (loc. 434). Paratypes: same data as holotype, 6 males, 30 females.

Type material deposited in Dipartimento di Protezione delle Piante, Università della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy (Guglielmino’s collection) (CG).

Geographic distribution: V. saurosus is so far known only from M. Corchia (southern Alpi Apuane) ( Fig. 1 : triangle), at an altitude of about 1500m.

Biology: Adults were collected in August in mountain meadows characterized by the presence of Brachypodium (perhaps one of its host plants), Festuca , Sesleria and other Poaceae ( Fig. 2 B). Probably univoltine.

Remarks: In general appearance, shape, size, proportions, degree of brachyptery, colouration and markings of body, legs, and fore wings, female and most parts of male genitalia as V. tyrannus . The diagnostic character of this species consists in the shape, direction and above all in the position of the lateral processes of the aedeagus shaft, which are shifted from a subapical to a median position and are bent dorsally ( Figs. 5 E-H). The apical aedeagus appendages are similar in form, direction and orientation to those of V. tyrannus , somewhat more bent in dorsal direction. The shaft is stouter and less curved than in V. tyrannus .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution map of new taxa. ♦ = Verdanus tyrannus sp. nov.; ˑ = Verdanus saurosus sp. nov.; ● = Verdanus rosaurus rosaurus ssp. nov.; ․ = Verdanus rosaurus rex ssp. nov ..

FIGURE 2. (A) Landscape in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines near Passo delle Radici, type locality of Verdanus tyrannus sp. nov.; (B) Southern slope of M. Corchia (Alpi Apuane), type locality of Verdanus saurosus sp. nov.; (C) Southern slopes of Alpe di Succiso, type locality of Verdanus rosaurus rosaurus ssp. nov.; (D) M. Cavalbianco, type locality of Verdanus rosaurus rex ssp. nov.; (E) Verdanus rosaurus rosaurus ssp. nov., male.

FIGURE 5. Aedeagus. Verdanus tyrannus sp. nov., male (paratype: Italy, Emilia Romagna, Passo delle Radici), (A) ventral view; (B) ventrolateral view; (C) lateral view; (D) caudal view. - Verdanus saurosus sp. nov., male (paratype: Italy, Toscana, M. Corchia), (E) ventral view; (F) ventrolateral view; (G) lateral view; (H) caudal view.