Salka trimaculata, Ohara, Naomichi, 2012

Ohara, Naomichi, 2012, Taxonomic study of the Japanese species of the genus Salka Dworakowska (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae), Zootaxa 3281, pp. 22-40 : 38-39

Salka trimaculata sp. nov.

( Figs. 8 , 16 , 103–112 , 121 )

Body infuscated, brown in some paratypes. Vertex pale yellow, bearing pentagonal black spot posteriorly and pair of small black fasciae anteriorly; face pale yellow; lorum brownish. Pronotum pale yellow anteriorly; mesonotum pale brown, with basal triangles darkened; fore wing more darkened anteriad and clavus. Abdomen infuscated; female 7th sternite murky white in caudal half.

Head as wide as pronotum; vertex 2.2 times as wide as median length. Pronotum weakly concave posteriad, 2.0 times as wide as long, as long as mesonotum. Male abdominal sternal apodemes oblong, extending beyond posterior margin of 3rd sternite. Female 7th abdominal sternite trapezoidal, sinuate laterally, with posterior margin emarginated at middle. Ovipositor (3rd valvulae) obviously extending beyond pygofer.

Body length (mean): 3, 2.3–2.6 mm (2.4 mm); Ƥ, 2.3–2.6 mm (2.4 mm).

Male genitalia ( Figs. 104–112 ). Pygofer with lobe roundly quadrate, bearing 2 macrosetae on dorsal margin, tuft of short macrosetae at lower basal angle and numerous short setae scattered, with dorsal process bifurcated apically; dorsal process tapering, curved ventrad, reaching caudal margin of pygofer. Subgenital plate widened in basal 1/3, bearing 3 macrosetae and numerous short stout setae on apical and outer lateral margins. Style widened at apical 1/3; apophysis long, 0.2–0.3 times as long as style, with apical extension long, longer than subapical one. Connective Y-shaped, with central lobe distinct; arms almost as long as stem. Aedeagus straight and elongate caudally, with pair of atrial processes; atrial process tapering, reaching subapex of shaft; shaft weakly concave at apical 1/5 of ventral margin; preatrium long, extending ventrally and curved cephalad at basal half; gonopore apex on ventral surface.

Type series. Holotype: 3, Mt. Omoto-dake, Ishigaki Is., Ryukyus, Japan, 23. II. 2010, M. Hayashi et al. Paratypes: [Ishigaki Is.] 93 39Ƥ, same data as holotype except 29. VI. 1997; 123 23Ƥ, same data as holotype; 13, same data except N. Ohara leg. ( ELKU); 13, same data except 10. III. 2010; 23, same data except 12. II. 2011, M. Hayashi et al.; 13, Mt. Yarabu-dake, 26. VI. 2000 (light Trap), M. Hayashi et al.; 1Ƥ, Maesato For. Rd., 1. VII. 2008, M. Hayashi et al.; 1Ƥ, Kainan, 27. VI. 1997, M. Hayashi et al; 1Ƥ, Omoto/Takeda, 26. VI. 1997, M. Hayashi et al.; [Iriomote Is.] 1Ƥ, Aira, 30. VI. 2000, M. Hayashi et al.; 23, same data except 13. IV. 2005; 2Ƥ, Shirahama Pass, 29. VI. 2009, M. Hayashi et al. The holotype is deposited in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan.

Distribution. Japan (Ryukyus: Ishigaki Is., Iriomote Is.).

Remarks. This new leafhopper can be distinguished from other Japanese congeners by features of the male genitalia: pygofer without ventral process, and aedeagus bearing a pair of atrial processes laterally. This species resembles S. dentata Dworakowska, 2006 described from Brunei (Ulu Temburong), and S. musica Sohi et Mann, 1994 from southern Taiwan (Chiayi: Alishan), but differs from them in the following configuration of male genitalia: dorsal pygofer process bent ventrad and bifurcated apically; apophysis of style 1/4 times as long as style, provided with apical part longer than subapical part.

Bionomics. This leafhopper is frequently found along woodland paths of subtropical forests, and the host plant must be sedges ( Carex , Cyperaceae ). Adults are very abundant in February and June as the probable peak periods.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the three black markings of the vertex.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Dorsal habitus. 1, Salka denticulata sp. nov. (Paratype ♀, body length, 3.1 mm); 2, S. circumflexa sp. nov. (Paratype ♀, 3.8 mm); 3, S. okinawana sp. nov. (Paratype ♀, 3.7 mm); 4, S. diversa sp. nov. (Paratype 3, 3.2 mm); 5, S. dimorpha sp. nov. (Paratype 3, 2.7 mm); 6, S. maesatoensis sp. nov. (Paratype 3, 3.0 mm); 7, S. nusukuensis sp. nov. (Paratype 3, 3.3 mm); 8, S. trimaculata sp. nov. (Paratype 3, 2.3 mm).

FIGURES 9 – 16. Face. 9, Salka denticulata sp. nov.; 10, S. circumflexa sp. nov.; 11, S. okinawana sp. nov.; 12, S. diversa sp. nov.; 13 S. dimorpha sp. nov.; 14, S. maesatoensis sp. nov.; 15, S. nusukuensis sp. nov.; 16, S. trimaculata sp. nov.

FIGURES 103 – 112. Salka trimaculata sp. nov. Male abdominal sternal apodemes (103) and 3 genitalia (104 – 112). — 104, Pygofer in lateral view; 105, dorsal pygofer process in lateral view; 106, subgenital plate in ventral view; 107 – 108, style in lateral (107) and ventral (108) views; 109, apex of style in lateral view; 110, connective in ventral view; 111 – 112, aedeagus in lateral (111) and caudal (112) views. Scales: 0.05 mm (105, 109 – 112), 0.1 mm (106 – 108) and 0.2 mm (103 – 104).

FIGURES 113 – 121. Female 7 th abdominal sternites. — 113, Salka denticulata sp. nov.; 114, S. circumflexa sp. nov.; 115, S. okinawana sp. nov.; 116, S. diversa sp. nov.; 117 – 118, large (117) and small (118) individuals of S. dimorpha sp. nov.; 119, S. maesatoensis sp. nov.; 120, S. nusukuensis sp. nov.; 121, S. trimaculata sp. nov. Scales: 0.2 mm.