Akemetopon ainigma, Weglarz, Kathryn M. & Bartlett, Charles R., 2011

Weglarz, Kathryn M. & Bartlett, Charles R., 2011, Akemetopon, a new genus containing three new species of planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Delphacidae), Zootaxa 3007, pp. 50-60 : 56-58

Akemetopon ainigma sp. n.

( Figs 3 , 4 C)

Type locality. USA: AZ, Cochise Co., Huachuca Mountains, Upper Garden Canyon Picnic Area seep. Diagnosis. Shining dark brown, tegmina with a distal pale stripe. Fastigium rounded, carinae of vertex and foveae concolorous with frons.

Description. COLOR: Body ( Fig. 3 A) shiny chestnut to dark brown; head paler, light brown. Carinae of head concolorous with foveae, antennal sclerite paler, stramineous, subantennal carinae concolorous with antennal sclerite. Antennal segment I darkened distally, segment II paler, proximally brown, distally light brown. Pronotum, mesonotum and tegmina shining chestnut; tegmina with distal white stripe. Legs light brown (damaged in holotype). Pygofer dark brown, segment 10 paler.

STRUCTURE. Body. Male (n=1; female not observed) body length 1.90, width at tegula 0.71. Head: Frons length 0.44, width 0.38; vertex length 0.24, width 0.32. Head in dorsal view, slightly narrower than pronotum, vertex nearly quadrate, wider than long (L: W 0.75:1), rounded at apex; carinae faint, submedian carinae apparently converging anteriorly, meeting on vertex just before fastigium. In lateral view ( Fig. 3 B), head wedge-shaped, fastigium rounded, projecting forward 1/4th length of eye. Carinae of frons not apparent ( Fig. 3 C), lateral carinae converging ventrally and dorsally; frons widest just below eyes. Clypeus with distinct carinae.

Thorax. Median carinae of pronotum and mesonotum weak, lateral carinae of pronotum diverging, not quite reaching posterior margin. Lateral carinae of mesonotum obscure. Tegmina short, diagonally truncate, leaving abdominal segment 4 and beyond visible from above, apices rounded medially creating notch; venation weak, reticulate. Legs damaged in holotype, calcar not observed.

Abdomen. Segments of abdomen weakly dorsomedially carinate, gradually tapering caudally to enlarged, globular terminalia.

Genitalia. Pygofer ( Figs 3 D–F) in lateral view ventrally approximately 3x longer than dorsally, sinuate along ventral margin. Opening rounded in caudal view, as tall as wide; margins raised, smoothly rounded; ventrally bearing a laterally projecting dorsal process, expanded at apex, slightly asperous. Diaphragm sturdy, armature ushaped, medially mildly excavated, strongly sclerotized laterally, slightly caudally projecting; opening to the inner chamber quadrate and angulate. Parameres simple, flattened, forceps like, widest in apical fourth, basal angle weak; diverging basally, converging apically, narrowed at convergence, avicephaliform, inner angles sinuate. Aedeagus rounded in cross section with oval dorsal subapical gonopore; gradually curved ventrally, widest near base, tapering gradually over length to acutely pointed apex, laterally bearing row of approximately 8 equally spaced teeth along both sides; gonopore dorsal and subapical ( Fig. 4 C). Segment 10 twice as long as tall, armed with 2 widely separated, short, hooked projections on caudolateral margins. Segment 11 short, mostly hidden within segment 10.

Recorded hosts. Muhlenbergia sp.

Distribution. USA: AZ.

COI barcode. Molecular material not available.

Remarks. This species can be distinguished from both A. inornatum and A. politum by the rounded (not angled) fastigium. Additionally, it can be distinguished from A. inornatum by the presence of a pale distal band on the brachypterous forewings and the obscure median carina of the frons. The holotype is missing most of its legs.

Etymology. The specific name is the Greek neuter noun “ ainigma ” meaning “a riddle”.

Material examined. Holotype 3 (brachypterous) [ LBOB], “AZ., Cochise Co., / Huachuca Mts., / Upper Garden Cyn / Picnic Area, / VII–21–2009, swept / seep. C.W. O’Brien // [red paper] HOLOTYPE / Akemetopon ainigma / Weglarz & Bartlett”.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Features of Akemetopon ainigma sp. n. (holotype, scale = 0.2 mm). A. Dorsal habitus; B. Lateral habitus; C. Frons; D. Male pygofer, lateral view; E. Male pygofer, caudal view; F. Male pygofer, ventral view.

FIGURE 4. The aedeagus of Akemetopon species. A. A. inornatum sp. n.; B. A. politum sp. n.; C. A. ainigma sp. n.