Pravistylus indistinctidiscus, Stiller, 2010

Stiller, M., 2010, Revision of the Southern African leafhopper genus Pravistylus (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae) 2468, Zootaxa 2468 (1), pp. 1-81 : 21-23

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.2468.1.1
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EFD356-FFCF-FFC4-6CFF-757F8C13D269
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Pravistylus indistinctidiscus
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Pravistylus indistinctidiscus View in CoL sp. n.

( Figs 1 m View FIGURE 1 ; 2 View FIGURE 2 ag & ah; 3 af; 4 ad; 5 q; 6 ac; 7 x–aa; 8 v–x)

Diagnosis. Pygofer lobe variable, short, obtuse to acutely triangular, 0.5–0.8 times as long as width at base ( Fig. 1 m View FIGURE 1 ). Aedeagal shaft long, at least 3 times as long as dorsal apodeme; shaft arising from base of atrium ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 af). Plate apex variable: broadly to narrowly rounded or acute; lateral margin uniformly rounded, shallowly emarginate ( Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 ag & ah). Connective, in lateral view, angled medially; dorsal view, apex narrow; apex never fused with paraphysis ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 ac).

Etymology. Latin, combination of indistinctus, meaning non-descript or indistinct, and discus, plate, for the similarity of the plates of a number of species.

Male and female. Ochraceous, vertex sometimes with 2–3 pairs of fuscous markings. Tegmina sometimes with fuscous marking in inner anteapical cell ( Figs 8 v & x View FIGURE 8 , tegmina with marking; Fig. 8 w View FIGURE 8 , tegmina without marking).

Male. Dimensions. (n = 37) Length: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 2.5–2.8 mm; apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.5–2.8 mm; vertex medially 0.4–0.5 mm; vertex next to eye 0.3 mm; pronotum medially 0.3 mm. Width: head 0.8–0.9 mm; pronotum 0.8 mm. Ocellar diameter 28.0 µm; ocellocular distance 26.9– 40.4 µm.

Genital capsule. Pygofer square; ventral posterior margin bulbous, prominent; dorsal posterior margin lobate ( Fig. 1 m View FIGURE 1 ). Pygofer lobe variable, blunt or pointed, usually directed posteriad, sometimes dorsoposteriad; lobe 0.5–0.8 times as long as width at base ( Fig. 1 m View FIGURE 1 ). Plate apex variable: broadly rounded ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ag) or narrowly rounded ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ah); 5–12 macrosetae, usually uniseriate; plate 1.0–1.4 times as long as wide. Aedeagal shaft arising ventrally from atrium; preatrium reduced, in lateral view with base of shaft Cshaped, apical third straight, more than three times as long as dorsal apodeme; base of shaft sometimes with 1–2 ventral, triangular teeth, or two setae or usually without these structures; gonopore oblique, lateroventral, subapical ( Figs 3 View FIGURE 3 af, 4 ad). Style distal part far from anterior medial lobe; apophysis uniformly tapered acutely; apophysis acutely angled to preapical lobe; preapical lobe right-angled; style near base of plate ( Fig. 5 q View FIGURE 5 ). Connective, in lateral view, bent dorsally at mid-length, sometimes with ventral, rounded lobe at bend; dorsal view, stem, arms of similar width ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 ac).

Female. Dimensions. (n = 52) Length: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 2.7–2.9 mm; apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.8–3.2 mm; vertex medially 0.5 mm; vertex next to eye 0.3–0.4 mm; pronotum medially 0.3 mm. Width: head 0.9–1.0 mm; pronotum 0.8–0.9 mm. Ocellar diameter 24.1–31.4 µm; ocellocular distance 30.7–44.9 µm.

Genitalia. Sternite 7 variable: ligula triangular ( Fig. 7 y View FIGURE 7 , Kamberg specimen) lateral margins variably convex, almost as wide as base of sternite ( Fig. 7 x View FIGURE 7 , Bushman’ Neck and Bulwer, Fig. 7 z View FIGURE 7 , Cobham and Sani Pass, Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 aa, Bushman’s Neck and Sehlabathebe); ligula apex notched; ventral margin of ligula with median ridge.

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal. Swaiman’s Hut, 29°45ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1850 m, 22.iv.2002, DVac, short grass, sparse cover, next to hut, below electricity pylon ( SANC). Paratypes. 161♂, 197#, 23 nymphs. Lesotho. 6♂, Sehlabathebe Nature Reserve, 29°53ʹS, 29°04ʹE, 1.iv.1994, M. Stiller, sweeping, grass. South Africa, Eastern Cape. 1♂, Qachasnek, site 32, 30°10ʹS, 28°36ʹE, 1706 m, 29.xi.2005, MDTP survey; 1♂, 3♀, Ongeluksnek, site 37, 30°19ʹS, 28°21ʹE, 1610 m, 4.xii.2005, MDTP survey. Free State. 1♂, Golden Gate, site 4, 28°30ʹS, 28°34ʹE, 1960 m, 23.x.2005, MDTP survey, white pan trap; 1♂, Golden Gate, site 5, 28°31ʹS, 28°34ʹE, 1890 m, 23.x.2005, MDTP survey, white pan trap; 1♂, Golden Gate, site 8, 28°30ʹS, 28°39ʹS, 2065 m, 25.x.2005, MDTP survey, sweeping. KwaZulu-Natal. 1♂, 3♀, Cobham Nature Reserve, 29°43ʹS, 29°25ʹE, 6.iv.1993, M. Stiller, sweeping; 1♂, 1♀, Monk’s Cowl, Contour Path, 29°05ʹS, 29°22ʹE, 25.ii.1995, M. Stiller, sweeping; 7♂, 2♀, Highmoor Forestry Station, 29°20ʹS, 29°34ʹE, 2300 m, 19.iv.2002, DVac, grass & forbs: moribund dense, matted vegetation; 9♂, Highmoor Forestry Station, 29°20ʹS, 29°36ʹE, 2233 m, 19.iv.2002, DVac, grass & forbs next to fire break; 7♂, 7♀, Highmoor Forestry Station, 29°20ʹS, 29°36ʹE, 2233 m, 19.iv.2002, DVac, grass & forbs in fire break, common grassed Koeleria capensis , Microchloa caffra , Tristachya leucothrix (Poaceae) ; 4♂, 1♀, Sani Pass, 29°37ʹS, 29°23ʹE, 1840 m, 20.iv.2002, DVac, grass & forbs; 3♂, 7♀, Sani Pass, 29°35ʹS, 28°18ʹE, 2520 m, 20.iv.2002, DVac, grass & forbs; 3♂, 2♀, Bushman’s Neck, hikers hut, 29°49ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1900 m, 22.iv.2002, sweeping, Aristida monticola , Arundinella nepalensis , Eragrostis curvula , Festuca costata (Poaceae) in wetland next to river; 13♂, 4♀, Bushman’s Neck, hiker’s hut, 29°49ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1900 m, 22.iv.2002, DVac, shorter grass near hut, probably burned recently; 3♂, 4♀, 5 nymphs, Bushman’s Neck, hiker’s hut, 29°49ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1900 m, 22.iv.2002, DVac, longer grass near hut; 4♂, 2♀, Bushman’s Neck, hiker’s hut, 29°50ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1800 m, 22.iv.2002, sweeping, Aristida monticola , Arundinella nepalensis , Eragrostis curvula , Festuca costata (Poaceae) , in wetland next to river; 1♂, Mlambondja River, valley, 29°45ʹS, 29°13ʹE, 1916 m, 22.iv.2002, DVac, grass & forbs, common grasses Eragrostis racemosa , Trachypogon spicatus , Andropogon sp. ,? Arundinella (Poaceae) , on terrace next to river at entrance gate; 2♂, 5♀, Mlambondja River, valley, 29°45ʹS, 29°13ʹE, 1916 m, 22.iv.2002, DVac, grass & forbs on hill above terraces next to river; 3♂, Swaiman’s Hut, 29°45ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1850 m, 22.iv.2002, DVac, probably Merxmuellera sp. , Festuca sp. , regrowth after burn,? June 2001; 4♂, 4♀, Swaiman’s Hut, 29°45ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1850 m, 22.iv.2002, DVac, longer grass, moribund, above hut; 5♂, 5♀, 2 nymphs, Swaiman’s Hut, 29°45ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1850 m, 22.iv.2002, DVac, near pure stand of Eragrostis racemosa Poaceae on rocky outcrop; 19♂, 7♀, 5 nymphs, same data as holotype; 8♂, 3♀, 2 nymphs, between Dargle and Boston, 29°35ʹS, 30°01ʹE, 1730 m, 25.iv.2002, DVac, grass & forbs; all M. Stiller, E. Breytenbach; 4♂, 8♀, 1nymph, Bulwer Mountain, 29°49ʹS, 29°45ʹE, 1802 m, 25.xii.2004, sweeping, Heteropogon contortus dominant; 3♂, 2♀, 4 nymphs, Impendhle, NE, 29°34ʹS, 29°52ʹE, 1796 m, 25.xii.2004, sweeping, Heteropogon contortus and other grass regrowth after fire; 1♀, Kamberg, SE, 29°27ʹS, 29°46ʹE, 1783 m, 26.xii.2004, sweeping, heavily grazed field, mostly grass; all M. Stiller; 1♂, 1♀, Garden Castle, site 10, 29°44ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1852 m, 2.xi.2005, sweeping, also blue pan trap; 2♂, Garden Castle, site 9, 29°44ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1842 m, 2.xi.2005, white and yellow pan trap; 7♂, Kamberg, site 9, 29°44ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1842 m, 2.xi.2005, blue and white pan trap; 3♂, 1♀, Garden Castle, site 12, 29°44ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1934 m, 3.xi.2005, sweeping, and yellow pan trap; 1♂, Kamberg, site 14, 29°22ʹS, 29°37ʹE, 1818 m, 8.xi.2005, yellow pan trap; 5♂, Kamberg, site 16, 29°23ʹS, 29°39ʹE, 1796 m, 12.xi.2005, sweeping, white and blue pan trap; 2♂, 4♀, Kamberg, site 18, 29°22ʹS, 29°39ʹE, 1752 m, 14.xi.2005, sweeping, yellow pan trap; 6♂, 2♀, Kamberg, site 19, 29°22ʹS, 29°40ʹE, 1745 m, 14.xi.2005, sweeping, blue and white pan traps; 7♂, 8♀, 4 nymphs, Kamberg, site 15, 29°22ʹS, 29°40ʹE, 1750 m, 15.xi.2005, sweeping, white and yellow pan traps; 2♂, Kamberg, site 20, 29°23ʹS, 29°40ʹE, 1742 m, 15.xi.2005, white and yellow pan trap; 7♂, 9♀, Garden Castle, site 53, 29°45ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1895 m, 21.xi.2005, sweeping; 4♂, 1♀, Garden Castle, site 54, 29°45ʹS, 29°12ʹE, 1877 m, 21.xi.2005, sweeping, and blue pan traps; all MDTP survey ( BMNH, INHS, SANC).

Remarks. This species is difficult to distinguish from P. lobus sp. n., P. macropygeus sp. n. and P. micropygeus sp. n. A combination of internal and external features facilitates identification.

In P. lobus the plate shape ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ad) is almost identical to P. indistinctidiscus ( Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 ag & ah), but in P. lobus the connective has its apex fused with paired paraphyses. In specimens of P.lobus these paraphyses can sometimes be seen in undissected specimens when the genital capsule is open. This is more evident in specimens collected directly into alcohol. In P. macropygeus the plate ( Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 ae & af) is also similar to P. indistinctidiscus , but the pygofer lobe of P. macropygeus is very long and narrow and the aedeagal shaft in lateral view is twice as long as the dorsal apodeme. The aedeagus and style of P. micropygeus ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ac) is similar to that of P. indistinctidiscus , but the plate has its posterior margin more truncate, and even slightly concave. The style of P. micropygeus ( Fig. 5 u View FIGURE 5 ) has its apophysis extending into the whole plate. There is intraspecific variation in the aedeagal shaft of P. indistinctidiscus . It sometimes has 1–2 small, depressed teeth or rarely with two setae near the base and commonly without these structures. At Garden Castle in KwaZulu- Natal Province all three forms were present. The tooth on the base of the shaft is also found in specimens from Monk’s Cowl and Mlambondja. Recognition of the variation in the shape of the apex of the plate ( Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 ag & ah) requires careful observation.

In the female sternite 7 two basic shapes of the ligula are recognized. The ligula is uniformly triangular or has its lateral margins more or less convex ( Figs. 7 x View FIGURE 7 –aa). Specimens of P. micropygeus ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 av) and P. indistinctidiscus ( Fig. 7 z View FIGURE 7 ) were both found at Sani Pass, and were difficult to distinguish by the shape of the sternite 7 alone.