Pravistylus oxyphysis, Stiller, 2010

Stiller, M., 2010, Revision of the Southern African leafhopper genus Pravistylus (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae) 2468, Zootaxa 2468 (1), pp. 1-81 : 38-41

Pravistylus oxyphysis sp. n.

( Figs 1 z ; 2 o & p ; 3 ac; 4 aa; 5 y & z; 7 bm–bo; 8 au–ax)

Diagnosis. Plate apex narrowly rounded, sclerotized; medial margins of plate usually straight and slightly divergent; lateral margin sinuous subapically and medially ( Figs 2 o & p ); 1.4–1.6 times as long as wide. Style distal part far from base; apophysis with apex elongate, acutely triangular; 7–10 teeth medioventrally ( Figs 5 y & z ). Pygofer lobe triangular ( Fig. 1 z ).

Etymology. Greek, compound word for pointed (oxys) and process (apophysis), which describes the acutely triangular style apophysis.

Male and female. Ochraceous ( Figs 8 au–ax). Sometimes with light brown markings on vertex, 2 pairs of wide, longitudinal lines on pronotum. Tegmina sometimes with brown maculation in posterior discal and inner anteapical cells. Hind wing reduced. Nymph as in Fig. 8 ax, with nymph of Naudeus sp. of similar appearance ( Fig. 8 ay).

Male. Dimensions. (n = 54) Length: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 2.1–2.4 mm; apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.4–2.8 mm; vertex medially 0.4 mm; vertex next to eye 0.3 mm; pronotum medially 0.3 mm. Width: head 0.7–0.8 mm; pronotum 0.7 mm. Ocellar diameter 25.8–29.7 µm; ocellocular distance 37.6– 47.4 µm.

Genital capsule. Pygofer, in lateral view, with posterior ventral margin slightly bulbous; dorsal posterior margin lobate ( Fig. 1 z ). Pygofer lobe equidistantly triangular, base about one third as wide as width of pygofer ( Fig. 1 z ). Plate apex narrow, rounded, sclerotized, rarely acutely rounded, medial margins usually slightly divergent, but always more or less straight; lateral margin subapically and medially sinuous; 2–7 macrosetae subbasally ( Figs 2 o & p ); plate 1.4–1.6 times as long as wide. Aedeagus, in lateral view, with shaft arising medially from atrium; preatrium rounded; shaft C-shaped basally, apex straight; gonopore ventral, along most of straight section ( Figs 3 ac, 4 aa). Style distal part far from anterior medial lobe; apophysis elongate, acutely angled; preapical angle acute; preapical lobe acute; numerous teeth (7–10) medioventrally ( Figs 5 y & z ). Connective, in lateral view, straight or with apex curved slightly dorsally; in dorsal view with stem Y-shaped, about one third as long length of base.

Female. Dimensions. (n = 30) Length: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 2.2–2.5 mm; apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.8–3.1 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 0.7–0.8 mm. Ocellar diameter 28.0 µm; ocellocular distance 39.4–44.6 µm.

Genitalia. Sternite 7 base rectangular; hind margin ligula triangular, apical notch; ligula shorter than width of base of sternite 7 ( Fig. 7 bm, Aliwal North specimen; Fig. 7 bn, Ficksburg specimen, Fig. 7 bo, Bathurst specimen).

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, Gauteng. Elandsvlakte, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, 26°31ʹS, 28°15ʹE, 1620 m, 22.iii.2005, M. Stiller, DVac, SE slope 09h00 ( SANC). Paratypes. 315♂, 207♀, 4 nymphs. Eastern Cape. 14♂, 7♀, Gonubie, East London, 32°57'ʹS, 28°07'ʹE, 15.xii.1974, sweeping; 1♂, Misgund, 33°45ʹS, 23°30ʹE, 3.ii.1977, sweeping; 2♂, 2♀, Port Alfred, 33°40ʹS, 26°47ʹE, 27.ix.1979, sweeping; 1♂, Port Elizabeth, 24°42ʹS, 26°32ʹE, 27.ix.1979, sweeping; 1♂, 1♀, Queenstown, 31°54ʹS, 26°53ʹE, 20.i.1984, sweeping; 1♂, 2♀, King William’s Town, 32°50ʹS, 27°26ʹE, 21.i.1984, sweeping; 3♂, 1♀, Aliwal North, 30°45ʹS, 26°45ʹE, 12.i.1986, sweeping; 1♂, 1♀, Lady Grey, 30°40ʹS, 27°15ʹE, 12.i.1986, sweeping; all J.G. Theron; 6♂, 4♀, 1nymph, Vlakfontein Farm, south Queenstown, 31°57ʹS, 26°47ʹE, 19.iv.2006, DVac; 3♂, 1♀, Loodsberg Pass, base, 31°49ʹS, 24°51ʹE, 1690 m, 20.iv.2006, DVac, Merxmuellera sp. (Poaceae) , 5♂, Loodsberg Pass, summit, 31°50ʹS, 24°51ʹE, 1791 m, 20.iv.2006, DVac, Themeda triandra , M erxmuellera sp. and other grass species common; 4♂, 1♀, Hougham, Port Elizabeth, 33°45ʹS, 25°41ʹE, 45 m, 21.iv.2006, DVac, dry grass near construction area; 2♂, 1♀, Glazenwood Farm, Bathurst, 33°32ʹS, 26°50ʹE, 116 m, 22.iv.2006, DVac; 5♂, 7♀, Stone Hill Grahamstown, 33°20ʹS, 26°33ʹE, 698 m, 23.iv.2006, DVac, grass regrowth after fire; 2♂, 1♀, Goshen Station, between Cathcart and Whittlesea, 32°15ʹS, 27°07ʹE, 1101 m, 24.iv.2006, DVac, Digitaria eriantha , Eragrostis ? obtusa , Eragrostis chloromelas or E. curvula or E. plana (Poaceae) ; 2♂, 1♀, Morgan Bay, 32°42ʹS, 28°18ʹE, 115 m, 25.iv.2006, DVac, grazed pasture, short grass; 3♂, 1♀, Groendal, Dordrecht, 31°09ʹS, 27°06ʹE, 1804 m, 26.iv.2006, DVac; 2♂, 2♀, Zwelitcha near Tsolo, 31°10ʹS, 28°34ʹE, 1335 m, 29.iv.2006, DVac; 5♂, 1♀, Tsitsa Falls access road, 31°15ʹ11.37ʺS, 28°56ʹ24.44ʺE, 905 m, 5.i.2009, sweeping grazed grass and forbs; all M. Stiller. Free State. 6♂, 3♀, Trompsburg, 30°01ʹS, 25°46ʹE, 20.xii.1978, sweeping; 10♂, 7♀, Ficksburg, 28°53ʹS, 27°53ʹE, 30.i.1981; 13♀, Reddersburg, 29°38ʹS, 26°07ʹE, 23.i.1983, sweeping; 1♂, Thaba Nchu, 29°13ʹS, 26°50ʹE, 7.i.1986, sweeping; all J.G. Theron; 17♂, 9♀, Zastron, 1 km N, 30°15ʹS, 27°04ʹE, 1550 m, 5.iii.2002, M. Stiller, J. du Plessis, DVac, dry embankment on roadside verge, dominant grass Themeda triandra ; 3♂, 1♀, road between Viljoenskroon and Vredefort, 27°06ʹS, 27°03ʹE, 1345 m, 9.iii.2005, DVac; 1♂, Vredefort Dome, 10 km W, 27°03ʹS, 27°16ʹE, 1507 m, 9.iii.2005, sweeping; 2♂, between Rouxville and Zastron, 30°20ʹS, 26°58ʹE, 1800 m, 2.i.2006, sweeping; 4♂, 1♀, Witfonten Farm, Bloemfontein, 28°56ʹS, 26°25ʹE, 1307 m, 18.iv.2006, DVac; all M. Stiller. Gauteng. 1♂, Suikerbosrand, 26°31ʹS, 28°14ʹE, 23.i.1975, J.G. Theron; 1♂, Pretoria, 25°45ʹS, 28°12ʹE, 15.v.1975, B. Buys, sweeping; 1♀, Moreleta Park, 25°48ʹS, 28°18ʹE, 1490 m, 3.iv.1985, J.G. Theron; 3♂, 4♀, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, 26°31ʹS, 28°14ʹE, 21.ii.1995, DVac meadow; 6♂, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Blesbok Plateau, 26°29ʹS, 28°11ʹE, 1680 m, 22.iii.2005, DVac, Themeda triandra dominated grassland; 14♂, 11♀, same data as holotype; 1♂, 1♀, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Kareekloof Resort, 26°30ʹS, 28°11ʹE, 199 m, 22.iii.2005, sweeping, grass and forbs in forest understory; 5♂, Toringkop, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, 26°30ʹS, 28°13ʹE, 1900 m, 22.iii.2005, DVac, Eragrostis sp. , 2♂, 2♀, Ezemvelo, 25°42ʹS, 28°56ʹE, 1336 m, 14.xii.2005, DVac; 1♀, Ezemvelo, 25°39ʹS, 28°57ʹE, 1336 m, 14.xii.2005, DVac, on rocky outcrop, near hikers hut; 4♂, Vaal Dam near Aeolians Sailing Club, 26°49ʹS, 28°10ʹE, 1500 m, 20.iii.2006, sweeping, grass in overgrazed meadow; 15♂, 4♀, 3 nymphs, Cullinan, west, 25°41ʹS, 28°31ʹE, 1480 m, 4.iv.2006, DVac, slope and summit of hill/ridge; 5♂, 2♀, Ezemvelo, family huts, 25°39ʹS, 28°57ʹE, 1345 m, 4.iv.2006, DVac, on rocky outcrop; 5♂, 4♀, Ezemvelo, outcrop, 25°42ʹS, 28°56ʹE, 1402 m, 4.iv.2006, DVac, on rocky outcrop; 6♂, 3♀, Hennops River, on R511, 25°47ʹS, 27°58ʹE, 1372 m, 8.iii.2007, DVac; 3♂, 3♀, Tweefontein Farm, SW Kromdraai Conservancy, 25°54ʹS, 27°47ʹE, 1459 m, 8.iii.2007, DVac; 1♂, Swawelpoort, east, 25°50ʹS, 28°22ʹE, 1525 m, 13.iii.2007, sweeping; 7♂, 9♀, Hennops Pride near Vodacom tower 25º50ʹ18.03ʺS, 27º58ʹ02.33ʺE 1298 m 30.i.2010, DVac moribund grass; all M. Stiller. KwaZulu-Natal. 1♂, Dundee, 28°10ʹS, 30°14ʹE, 18.xii.1978, J.G. Theron, sweeping; 1♀, Mike’s Pass, 28°58ʹS, 29°14ʹE, 1900 m, 8.xi.1999, M. Stiller, sweeping grass regrowth after burn; 1♀, Mike’s Pass, Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve, 28°58ʹS, 29°14ʹE, 1900 m, 16.iv.2002, M. Stiller, E. Breytenbach, DVac; 1♀, Mike’s Pass, Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve, 28°59ʹS, 29°15ʹE, 2100 m, 16.iv.2002, M. Stiller, E. Breytenbach, DVac; 1♂, Oliviershoek Pass, summit, 28°33ʹS, 29°05ʹE, 1741 m, 17.xii.2004, M. Stiller, sweeping, Themeda triandra dominated grassland, regrowth after fire. Limpopo. 2♂, 6♀, Happy Rest Nature Reserve, 22°59ʹS, 29°46ʹE, 10.iii.1990, sweeping grass; 1♂, 1♀, Buzzard Mountain Retreat, 23°00ʹS, 29°46ʹE, 27.xii.1998, sweeping short grass near summit of mountain; 2♂, Thabaphaswa, 24°03ʹS, 29°02ʹE, 21.ii.2001, sweeping, grass on summit of mountain; 6♂, 6♀, Blinkwater Farm, N Munnik railway siding, 23°37ʹS, 29°54ʹE, 1241 m, 6.xi.2005, DVac; 6♂, 7♀, Makapansgat, road to towers, 25º08ʹ50.98ʺS, 29º12ʹ20.36ʺE, 1672 m, DVac grass and forbs; all M. Stiller. Mpumalanga. 5♀, Ossewakop, Wakkerstroom, 27°23ʹS, 30°09ʹE, 2160 m, 7.iii.2002, M. Stiller, J. du Plessis, DVac, short grass on rocky outcrop, and long, lush grass growing in deeper soil; 1♂, Steenkampsberg Pass, near summit, 25°14ʹS, 30°09ʹE, 2100 m, 9.iii.2002, M. Stiller, J. du Plessis, DVac, common grass: Andropogon schirensis , Eragrostis racemosa , Microchloa caffra , Monocymbium ceresiiforme , Sporobolus sp. , Themeda triandra ; 1♀, river valley in Sterkspruit Nature Reserve, Lydenburg, 25°11ʹS, 30°33ʹE, 1800 m, 6.iii.2003; 1♂, Waterval Boven, 8 km SE, 25°43ʹS, 30°22ʹE, 1900 m, 20.ii.2005, DVac; 3♂, 1♀, Mooiplaas, 24°55ʹS, 30°29ʹE, 1453 m, 15.xi.2005, DVac; 1♂, Mooiplaas, 24°55ʹS, 30°27ʹE, 1434 m, 16.xi.2005, DVac; all M. Stiller. North West. 1♂, Hartbeeshoek, W Broederstroom, 25°53ʹS, 27°41ʹE, 1400 m, 11.i.1996, DVac grass, 8♂, 7♀, Vredefort Dome, near Parys, 26°48ʹS, 27°22ʹE, 26.xii.2000, sweeping grass & forbs and Eragrostis superba ; 1♂, 6♀, Castle Gorge, 25°48ʹS, 27°34ʹE, 9.xi.2003, sweeping, grass in forest clearing ( Setaria sphacelata var. sericea ) on southern slope of mountain; 4♂, 3♀, same data as above, 30.xi.2003; 4♂, 4♀, Hartbeeshoek road, S Skeerpoort, 25°49ʹS, 27°49ʹE, 1303 m, 4.iii.2005, DVac; 14♂, 5♀, Goedgevonden, NW Ventersdorp, 26°10ʹS, 26°45ʹE, 1536 m, 5.iii.2005, DVac; 7♂, 7♀, Lichtenburg, 10 km W on route R52, 26°08ʹS, 26°02ʹE, 1509 m, 5.iii.2005, DVac; 1♂, 3♀, Vredefort Dome, summit of foothill, 26°52ʹS, 27°19ʹE, 1437 m, 10.iii.2005, DVac, grass and forbs on summit of hill; 7♂, 5♀, Suikerbos Farm, Potchefstroom District, Vredefort Dome, 26º53ʹ19ʺS, 27º14ʹ4ʺE, 1470 m, 10.x.2009, sweeping grazed grass; all M. Stiller. Northern Cape. 1♂, between Kuruman and Reivilo, 27°35ʹS, 23°50ʹE, 1502 m, 8.iii.2005, M. Stiller, DVac; Western Cape. 2♂, Heidelberg, 34°05ʹS, 20°29ʹE, 10.i.1972, sweeping; 2♂, Bontebok National Park, Swellendam, 34°04ʹS, 20°28ʹE, 11.xii.1973, sweeping; 1♂, Viljoen’s Pass, 34°05ʹS, 19°04ʹE, 5.xii.1974, sweeping; 1♂, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Bredasdorp, 34°31ʹS, 20°21ʹE, 6.i.1978; all J.G. Theron; 6♂, Arniston, 34°39ʹS, 20°13ʹE, 40 m, 11.xii.2004, DVac, grass in depression, Ehrharta calycina var. calycina common; 4♂, 3♀, De Hoop Nature Reserve, 34°27ʹS, 20°25ʹE, 40 m, 11.xii.2002, DVac, unidentified dicotyledon; 5♂, 6♀, De Hoop Nature Reserve, 34°27ʹS, 20°25ʹE, 40 m, 11.xii.2004, DVac; Themeda triandra , 3♂, 1♀, De Hoop Nature Reserve, 34°27ʹS, 20°26ʹE, 40 m, 11.xii.2004; DVac, in wetland, Cynodon dactylon , 7♀, De Hoop Nature Reserve, 34°23ʹS, 20°25ʹE, 177 m, 11.xii.2004, DVac, Cynodon dactylon , Sporobolus africanus ; 12♂, Leipzig Farm, E Worcester, 33°39ʹS, 19°38ʹE, 314 m, 12.xii.2004; 4♂, 6♀, Robertson, SE, 33°53ʹS, 20°02ʹE, 198 m, 12.xii.2004, DVac, Eragrostis curvula , Tribolium hispidum , Ehrharta calycina ; all M. Stiller ( BMNH, INHS, SANC).

Remarks. This species is widely distributed in the Grassland and Fynbos Biomes and occurs in some Savanna habitats as well. Very little variation is evident in males and females, unlike that recognized in P. mutilidiscus . The plate of P. brachyphysis is most similar, but with an acutely pointed apex ( Fig. 2 q ), a rectangular apex of the style apophysis ( Fig. 5 l ) and a large, broadly rounded pygofer lobe ( Fig. 1 b ). The aedeagus of P. brachyphysis ( Fig. 3 l ) is intermediate between that of P. mutilidiscus ( Figs 3 i–k ) and P. oxyphysis ( Fig. 3 ac). The apex of the plate of P. oxyphysis is never as pointed and merged more gradually with the lateral medial margin ( Figs 2 o & p ) than in P. brachyphysis ( Fig. 2 q ). The female sternite 7 of some specimens from East London and King William’s Town had the ligula margin damaged or with its margins appearing frayed, or even with ligula not recognizable, and represented only by a rounded, but frayed or jagged protrusion. A parasitized specimen from Zastron has a Y-shaped connective, uniformly triangular plates, that are entirely fused with the valve.

Figures

FIGURE 1 a–l. Pravistylus species. Pygofer, laterally. a, P. bidentidiscus sp. n.; b, P. brachyphysis sp. n.; c, P. brachyplacus sp. n.; d, P. caenophallus sp. n.; e, P. deltoplacus sp. n.; f–g, P. dentidiscus sp. n.; h, P. digitidiscus sp. n.; i–k, P.eductus(Naudé); l, P. exquadratus (Naudé).

FIGURE 2 a–i. Pravistylus species. Plate, part or whole structure. a, P. varicudiscus sp. n.; b, P. mecistoplacus sp. n.; c, P. digitidiscus sp. n.; d, P. tanyoplacus sp. n.; e–g, P.eductus(Naudé); h–i, P. exquadratus (Naudé).

FIGURE 3 a–t. Pravistylus species. Aedeagus, laterally. a–b, P.lobus sp. n.; c, P. deltoplacussp. n.; d, P. mecophysis sp. n.; e, P. bidentidiscus sp. n.; f, P. brachyplacus sp. n.; g, P. mollidiscus sp. n.; h, P. mecistoplacus sp. n.; i–k, P. mutilidiscus sp. n.; l, P. brachyphysis sp. n.; m, P. odontiophallus sp. n.; n–o, P.eductus (Naudé); p–q, P. exquadratus (Naudé); r, P. tanyoplacus sp. n.; s, P. macropygeus sp. n.; t, P. pollediscus sp. n.

FIGURE 5 a–p. Pravistylus species. Style, dorsally or ventrally. a–b, P. eductus (Naudé), ventral; c–d, P. exquadratus (Naudé), ventral; e, P. longitrunculus sp. n., ventral; f, P. mecistoplacus sp. n., ventral; g, P. mollidiscus sp. n., dorsal; h, P. scolopygeus sp. n., dorsal; i, P. serratus sp. n., dorsal; j, P. trunculidiscus sp. n., dorsal; k, P. bidentidiscus sp. n., dorsal; l, P. brachyphysis sp. n., dorsal; m, P. brachyplacus sp. n., dorsal; n, P. deltoplacus sp. n., ventral; o–p, P. dentidiscus sp. n., ventral.

FIGURE 7 a–af. Pravistylus species. Sternite 7 of female, whole structure, or posterior margin. a–b, P. bidentidiscus sp. n.; c, P. brachyphysis sp. n.; d, P. brachyplacus sp. n.; e–f, P. caenophallus sp. n.; g–i, P. deltoplacus sp. n.; j–l, P. dentidiscus sp. n.; m–n, P. digitidiscus sp. n.; o–t, P. eductus (Naudé); u–w, P. exquadratus (Naudé); x–aa, P. indistinctidiscus sp. n.; ab–af, P. interdiscus sp. n.

FIGURE 8 a–h. Pravistylus species. Habitus. a–b, P. bidentidiscus sp. n., a, male; b, female; c–d, P. brachyplacus sp. n., c, male; d, female; e, P. caenophallus sp. n., male; f–g, P. deltoplacus sp. n., male; h, P. dentidiscus sp. n., male.