Lethierium cedricolum ( Dlabola, 1989 )

Gnezdilov, Vladimir M., 2022, Revision of the genus Lethierium Dlabola, 1980 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha Issidae), with description of two new species from Central Morocco, Zootaxa 5155 (4), pp. 517-538 : 524-526

Lethierium cedricolum ( Dlabola, 1989)

( Figs 9–11 , 39–46 , 64, 65 , 76, 77 )

Hysteropterum cedricolum Dlabola, 1989: 28 .

Lethierium cedricolum —Gnezdilov, 2004: 80.

Diagnosis. Metope with very weak (traces) median and sublateral carinae. Forewing radius and media running parallel or diverging from the basal cell at acute angle. Hind tibia with two lateral spines. Lateral margins of male anal tube without processes (in lateral view). Lobe-shaped processes of phallobase basement narrowing apically. Aedeagus with strongly curved ventral hooks, thicker in their middle parts. Style with deeply concave hind margin; capitulum on long neck. Forewings with dark brown dots sometimes fused in dark brown to black wide median band; apical cells with large dark brown spots. Total length: males—3.7–4.0 mm, females—4.0–4.9 mm.

Supplementary description. Metope wide (usually weakly visible from above), enlarged below eyes, with very weak median and sublateral carinae; upper margin weakly concave ( Figs 11 , 39 ). Coryphe transverse, 3–4 times as wide as long at midline, margins keel-shaped; anterior margin weakly convex; posterior margin deeply concave ( Figs 9 , 40 ). Pronotum 1.3–1.5 times as long as coryphe medially, without carinae, but with a median groove. Mesonotum 1.3 times as long as pronotum, with weak lateral carinae. Forewings with distinct knee prominences and relief veins, with many transverse veins in its apical halves. Forewing vein sequence ( Fig. 10 ): R 3 (R 1 not reaching wing margin), firstly furcating at basal third of wing; M 4–5, firstly furcating at wing middle, M 1 and M 2 furcating in apical third of wing; CuA1. Radius and media running parallel or diverging from the basal cell at acute angle. Hind tibiae with two lateral spines and 7–10 apical spines. First metatarsomere with 6–7 intermediate spines.

Coloration. General coloration yellowish light brown. Metope light brown, with yellowish median carina and with two pairs of elongate yellowish spots—medially besides of the carina and above clypeus; traces of larval sensory pits dark brown to black. Metopoclypeal suture black. Coryphe dark brown, with light brown yellowish median line. Rostrum dark brown to black. Scapus black. Pedicel dark brown. Pro- and mesonotum light brown yellowish, with black traces of larval sensory pits. Forewings light brown, with dark brown dots and spots sometimes fused in dark brown to black wide median band. Apical cells of forewings with large dark brown to black spots. Membrane veins light yellow. Legs brown yellowish to dark brown. Apices of leg spines and of 3 rd metatarsomeres dark brown to black. Abdominal tergites black. Abdominal sternites light brown to dark brown, except female sternite III dark brown medially. Gonoplacs dark brown to black, each with light yellow lateral spot.

Male genitalia ( Figs 41–46 ). Anal tube enlarged medially, twice as long as wide medially, apex widely rounded (in dorsal view) ( Fig. 42 ), lateral margins without processes (in lateral view) ( Fig. 41 ). Anal column short, ¹⁄ of anal tube. Lobe-shaped processes of phallobase basement wide, narrowing apically ( Fig. 46 ). Ventral phallobase lobe with a small apical notch ( Fig. 45 ). Apical aedeagal processes long and wide, narrowing apically. Aedeagus with strongly curved ventral hooks, thicker in its middle parts, arising below its middle. Style with deeply concave hind margin; caudo-dorsal angle widely rounded ( Fig. 43 ); capitulum on long neck, not narrowing apically (in dorsal view) ( Fig. 44 ).

Female genitalia ( Figs 64, 65 , 76, 77 ). Hind margin of sternite VII with large semicircular labial process medially ( Fig. 64 ). Ovipositor structure generally as in L. juniperi . Anal tube convex (in lateral view), long, 3.5 times as long as wide medially, narrowing apically, with rounded apex (in dorsal view). Anterior connective lamina of gonapophysis VIII with three teeth in lateral group.

Type material examined. 1♂, 1♀, paratypes, “ Morocco, Middle Atlas , nr. Ifrane 6500 ft., Mouyougou, 1209, Cedar forest, 17.V.1961, P.N. Lawrence ” ( BMNH) .

Other material examined. Morocco: 1♀, “ Taghgeft / Maroc / Coll. Thery ” ( MNHN) ; 2♀, “ Azrou / A. Thery ” ( MNHN) ; 2♂, 5♀, “ Ras el ma // M.Alt / Maroc / Coll.Thery ” ( MNHN and ZIN) ; 1♂, 1♀, “ Timhadit // Bekrit // M.Atl. / Maroc / Coll.Thery ” ( MNHN) ; 1♀, “ Ifrane / 1 e quinz. aoiit 1938 / J.M. Mimeur coll.” ( MNHN) ; 1♀, “ Ifrane / A. Thery ” ( MNHN) .

Notes. The type series was collected in Cedrus forest of Middle Atlas Mountains at 2080 m. a.s.l. ( Dlabola 1989).

Figures

FIGURES 9–11. Lethierium cedricolum (Dlabola, 1989), male, Timhadit. 9—dorsal view; 10—lateral view; 11—frontal view. Scale bar—1 mm.

FIGURES 39–40. Lethierium cedricolum (Dlabola, 1989), male, Timhadit. 39—face; 40—head and pronotum, dorsal view. Out of scale.

FIGURES 41–46. Lethierium cedricolum (Dlabola, 1989), Timhadit, male genitalia. 41—anal tube and pygofer, lateral view; 42—anal tube, dorsal view; 43—style, lateral view; 44—style, dorsal view; 45—penis, ventral view; 46—penis and connective, lateral view. Out of scale.

FIGURES 64–70. Lethierium spp., female. 64—L. cedricolum (Dlabola, 1989), Ras el ma, sternite VII, dorsal view; 65—same, ventral view; 66—L. reiberi (Lethierry, 1878), Mékalis, sternite VII, dorsal view; 67—L. juniperi (Bergevin, 1915), Aïn Kerma, sternite VII, dorsal view; 68—same, ventral view; 69—L. carinatum sp. nov., paratype, Bou Naceur, anal tube, dorsal view; 70—L. carinatum sp. nov., paratype, Bou Naceur, sternite VII, dorsal view.

FIGURES 71–77. Lethierium spp., ovipositor structure, 71–75—L. juniperi (Bergevin, 1915), Aïn Kerma, 76–77—L. cedricolum (Dlabola, 1989), Ras el ma. 71—anal tube and gonoplac, dorsal view; 72, 76—gonapophyses IX and gonospiculum bridge, lateral view; 73—same, ventral view; 74—gonapophysis VIII; 75—apex of endogonocoxal lobe; 77—basement of gonapophyses IX and gonospiculum bridge, caudal view. Out of scale.