Xyphon triguttatum (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 : 505

Xyphon triguttatum (Nottingham 1932)

( Figs 3 F, 4G, 4H)

Carneocephala triguttata Nottingham 1932

Xyphon triguttata (Nottingham 1932) : Hamilton 1985

Diagnosis. This is a large (female 5.4 mm; male 4.2 mm) leafhopper. It is similar in appearance to X. nudum but can be identified by the presence of a conspicuous dark spot (brown or black) on a lightly colored crown.

Head. Clypellus-frontoclypeus junction in lateral view, evenly convex; color pattern of frontoclypeus entirely yellow (possibly with brown muscle scars) (55%) or mottled yellow and tan (45%). Crown, anterior margin, angular (90%) or rounded (10%); white band present but broken by face color (41%), absent (41%), or complete (17%); median spot present and well defined (93%) or present, but poorly defined (7%). Dark markings (other than median spot) on crown absent; orange pigment typically present (93%) or rarely absent (3%). Lateral view crown flat (97%) or rarely concave (3%). 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; circular indentations typically absent (97%) or rarely present (3%); midline of pronotum, white (76%) or concolorus with lateral areas of pronotum (24%). Mesonotum, green with visible parts unmarked; proepisternum, posterior edge, irregular (52%) or not irregular (48%).

Forewings. Green pigments present (97%) or rarely absent (3%); main color green (86%) or gray (7%) or black/brown (7%). Apex with few crossveins. Anal veins white (69%) or pale blue (31%).

Legs. Hind femur with macrosetal formula 2+1 (93%) or rarely 2+0 (3%). Plantar surface of hind tarsomere with paleate setae numbering 1–3 (46%) or 4–5 (54%).

Abdomen. Abdominal sterna of male mostly yellow.

Male Genitalia. Pygofer, erect basolateral setae, absent (71%) or small and scattered (21%). Subgenital plate, macrosetae, absent (36%) or small and scattered (64%). Aedeagal shaft in lateral view with dorsal process, acute, compressed, and taller than wide. Shaft in ventral view, arrow shaped with distinct basolateral angles. Shaft in dorsal view not compressed. Paraphrases in lateral view almost forming a circle, an oval, or forming a U. Style with single seta.

Material examined. We coded 17 males, 12 females and examined approximately 300 specimens.

Host data. Alfalfa ( Medicago sp.), sideoats grama ( Bouteloua curtipendula ), prickly Russian thistle ( Salsola tragus ), bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon ), desert peperweed ( Lepidium fremontii ), sickle saltbush ( Atriplex falcata )and saltgrass ( Distichlis spicata )

Distribution. Southwestern United States.

Primary types. Holotype and 32 paratypes, SEMC. Holotype is a male in good condition. Verbatim locality label: Coachella Calif / 7-15-30 / David G. Hall.

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.