Stirellus madagascarensis, Duan & Zhang & Dietrich, 2019

Duan, Yani, Zhang, Yating & Dietrich, Christopher H., 2019, Six new species of Stenometopiini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with redescription of additional species and new distributional records, Zootaxa 4603 (2), pp. 201-240 : 231-236

Stirellus madagascarensis sp. nov.

( Figs 29–30 )

Description. Length. Male: 4.7–4.8mm; female: 4.9–5.1mm.

Coloration. General color light brown with darker brown and orange-red marks ( Fig. 29 A–E). Crown, with pair of orange-red medial spots variably developed ( Fig. 29 A–F). Frontoclypeus uniformly light brown with dorsal pair of orange-red marks ( Fig. 29E, F ). Forewing translucent infused with dark brown ( Fig. 29 A–E). Femora and tibiae usually without dark brown markings ( Fig. 29E ). Abdominal sternites dark, variably infused with white ( Fig. 29G ).

Morphology. Head narrower than pronotum, subconical, anterior margin rounded to face, angled ( Fig. 29 A–E). Vertex nearly as long as 1.5x width between eyes ( Fig. 29 A–D). Apex of anteclypeus widened, extending slightly beyond normal curve of genae ( Fig. 29F ). Pronotum median length longer than median length of crown. Mesonotum and scutellum together nearly as long as pronotum ( Fig. 29 A–D). Forewing macropterous, usually exposing apex of abdomen in female ( Fig. 29 A–D).

Male genitalia. Pygofer side without macrosetae, long, dorsal margin deeply concave, posterior margin rounded ( Fig. 30A ). Subgenital plate subquadrate, macrosetae arranged in irregular band and well separated from lateral margin ( Fig. 30C, D ). Style preapical angle indistinct, apophysis robust, digitate, laterallylaterally curvedcurved ( Fig. 30E ). Con-Con-Connective H-shaped, stem broadened distally and nearly as long as arms ( Fig. 30F ). Aedeagal shaft broadly curved dorsad in lateral view divergent from aedeagal base, slightly sinuate, apex attenuate, dorsal view slender with apex abruptly tapered to acute point, with subapical membranous area ( Fig. 30G, H ).

Female. Hind margin of seventh sternum shallowly concave ( Fig. 29G ).

Material examined. Holotype: Ƌ, Madagascar: Province Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana Belle Vue at Talatakely , elev 1020m, 14–23 iv 2002, 21° 15′ 99" S 47° 25′ 21" E, collector R. Harin‘Hala California Acad of Sciences malaise, secondary tropical forest, MA-02-09C-25 ( CAS) . Paratypes: 3ƋƋ, 3♀♀, the same with holotype ; 1Ƌ, 2♀♀, Madagascar: Province d’Antanananarivo, 3km 41°NE Andranomay, 11.5km 147° SS, elev 1300m, 5–13 xii 2000, 18° 28′ 24" S 47° 57′ 36" E, BLF2375, collector Fisher, Griswold et al. Calif. Acad. Sci. Collection ( CAS) ; 1Ƌ, 1♀, Madagascar: Province d’Antsiranana:, parc National Montagne d’Ambre, 12.2km 211° SSW Joffreville, elev 1300m, 2–7 ii 2001, 12° 35′ 47" S 49° 9′ 34" E, BLF2853, collector Fisher, Griswold et al. ( CAS, INHS) ; 2ƋƋ, 1♀, Madagascar: Province Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana Vohiparara at broken bridge, elev 1110m, 22 xi–8 xii 2001, 21° 13′ 57" S 47° 22′ 19" E, collector R. Harin‘Hala California Acad of Sciences malaise trap in high altitude rainforest, MA-02-09A-05( INHS) ; 3ƋƋ, 8♀♀, Madagascar: Province Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana radio tower at forest edge, elev 1130m, 21 xii 2001 – 4 vi 2002, 21° 15′ 05" S 47° 24′ 43" E, collector R. Harin‘Hala California Acad. of Sciences malaise mixed tropical forest ( CAS, INHS).

Etymology. The species epithet is based on the type locality.

Distribution. Madagascar.

Remarks. This species can be distinguished from other species of Stirellus by the following combination of characters: general color brown without extensive markings ( Fig. 29 A–E); subgenital plate distinctly convex laterally, macrosetae not uniseriate ( Fig. 30 C–D); aedeagal shaft with subapical membranous area ( Fig. 30G, H ). Only one other species of Stenometopiini has been recorded from Madagascar so far: Stirellus minimus (Evans) . It differs from S. madagascarensis sp. nov. in its less elongated body, less reflexed costal crossveins, rounded subgenital plate, and strongly acute angle between the aedeagal atrium and shaft. Malagasiella was treated as a junior synonym of Doratulina by Zahniser & Nielson (2012). The latter genus was considered a junior synonym of Stirellus by Duan et al. (2016).

Figures

FIGURE 29. Stirellus madagascarensis sp. nov. A–D: habitus, dorsal view; E: habitus, lateral view; F: face; G: the end of female abdomen, ventral view.A–C, F: paratype, male; D, E, G: paratype, female.

FIGURE 30. Stirellus madagascarensis sp. nov. A, B: male pygofer and segments X and XI, lateral and dorsal view, respectively; C: valve and subgenital plate, ventral view; D: subgenital plate, ventral view; E: style, dorsal view; F: connective, dorsal view; G: aedeagus, dorsal view; H: connective and aedeagus, lateral view. A–H: holotype, male.