Tetramelasma nodosatha, Stiller, 2011

Stiller, M., 2011, A new leafhopper genus and four new species from the Grassland Biome of South Africa (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae), Zootaxa 2794 (1), pp. 35-51 : 41-46

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.2794.1.2
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E3291C-1C47-9249-5C8D-FE53C2D95065
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Tetramelasma nodosatha
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Tetramelasma nodosatha View in CoL sp. n.

( Figs 3a–d View FIGURE 3 ; 4a–e View FIGURE 4 ; 5a–f View FIGURE 5 ; 6a–l View FIGURE 6 )

Diagnosis. Spine on medial surface of bulbous male pygofer lobe widened subapically with subapical tooth ( Fig. 3c&d View FIGURE 3 ) or acuminate ( Fig. 4a&b View FIGURE 4 ). Style apophysis caudally concave, row of numerous teeth (about 5) of similar size ( Fig. 4c View FIGURE 4 ) or medial margin with two prominent teeth ( Fig. 4d View FIGURE 4 ). Plate variable in shape and position relative to pygofer: either sinuous posterior margin and anteriad of ventral lobe ( Fig. 3c&d View FIGURE 3 ), or truncate posterior margin and close to ventral lobe ( Fig. 4a&b View FIGURE 4 ).

Etymology. Compound word in Greek, nodos, toothless, and sathe, penis, referring to the smooth shape of the aedeagus. Gender feminine.

Colour. Male & female. Pale greyish yellow, with paired markings on apex of vertex. Markings generally small, wedge more elongate and longer than diameter of circular marking, marking in specimens from Mauchsberg very small, sometimes reduced. Two pairs of brownish, longitudinal bands on pronotum. Tegmina with pale yellowish veins, apical cells distally lined with fuscous marking ( Figs 3a View FIGURE 3 ; 5a View FIGURE 5 ; 6a&b View FIGURE 6 ).

Male. Hind wing. Similar to that of T. scolosatha ( Fig. 7h&i View FIGURE 7 ).

Dimensions. (n=115) Length from apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 2.4–3.4 mm; length from apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.2–3.3 mm; median length of vertex 0.3–0.5 mm; length of vertex next to eye 0.2–0.4 mm; median length of pronotum 0.3–0.4 mm; maximum width across head 0.8–1.1 mm; width across pronotum 0.7–0.8 mm; ocellar diameter 23–32 µm; ocellocular distance 31–48 µm.

Genital capsule. Pygofer with spine medially on ventral lobe either uniformly acuminate ( Fig. 4a&b View FIGURE 4 ) or widened apically with abrupt point and subapical tooth ( Fig. 3c View FIGURE 3 ). Posterior pygofer lobe triangular ( Figs 3c View FIGURE 3 , 4b View FIGURE 4 ). Plate very short, with posterior margin variable:

a. Caudal margin sinuous; dorsal process rounded, protruding prominently; caudal margin anteriad of ventral lobe ( Fig. 3c&d View FIGURE 3 ).

b. Caudal margin truncate, dorsal sclerotization acute, apex attaining margin; caudal margin contiguous with ventral lobe ( Fig. 4a&b View FIGURE 4 ).

Macrosetae on plate, submarginal, lateroposteriad, 2–6, commonly 4. Apex of style sometimes protruding beyond caudal margin op plate. Aedeagus with shaft tubular, in lateral view, apical ½ angled dorsally ( Fig. 4e View FIGURE 4 ). Style apophysis excavated, viewed posteriorly, with variable denticulation:

a. Rarely 5–6 uniformly spaced, triangular teeth on medial margin ( Fig. 4c View FIGURE 4 ).

b. Commonly with distad, single, rounded or triangular, sclerotized protrusion, separated by smooth region from proximad, wide, sclerotized, rounded region bearing 2–4 minute denticles ( Fig. 4d View FIGURE 4 ).

Female. Dimensions. (n=187) Length from apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 2.8–3.1 mm; length from apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.7–3.2 mm; median length of vertex 0.4–0.5 mm; length of vertex next to eye 0.3

mm; median length of pronotum 0.3 mm; maximum width across head 1.0 mm; width across pronotum 0.8–0.9 mm; ocellar diameter 27–29 µm; ocellocular distance 35–46 µm.

Genitalia. Sternite 7 with posterior margin variable ( Figs 5d–f View FIGURE 5 , 6c–g View FIGURE 6 ). Either with notch appearing narrow and shallow, laterally with wide or narrow process ( Fig. 5b&c View FIGURE 5 ), but always contiguous with base of sternite ( Fig. 6c View FIGURE 6 , Wildfell farm; Fig. 6d View FIGURE 6 , Tugela River, summit of Drakensberg; Fig. 6e View FIGURE 6 , Balloch Peak, near Lundin’s Neck; Fig. 6f View FIGURE 6 , road to Ben Macdhui; Fig. 6g View FIGURE 6 , Dangers Hoek, south-facing valley); or notch appearing wider and deeper, with lateral process short, narrow, arising dorsad of base of sternite 7 ( Fig. 5d View FIGURE 5 , Tugela River; Fig. 5e View FIGURE 5 , Dangers Hoek; Fig. 5f View FIGURE 5 , Balloch peak). Valvula 1 lanceolate ( Fig. 6h View FIGURE 6 ), sculpture imbricate ( Fig. 6i View FIGURE 6 ). Valvula 2 serration fine, as in Fig. 6j View FIGURE 6 . Valvula 3 as in Fig. 6k View FIGURE 6 ; setation as in Fig. 6l View FIGURE 6 .

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, Eastern Cape Province. Dangers Hoek, south-facing valley, 30.651389S, 27.848333E, 2700 m, 29.iii.2005, sweeping grass, M. Stiller ( SANC). Paratypes. 168♂, 266♀, 12 nymphs. Lesotho. 1♂, 2♀, Mamohau, 29.14286S, 28.48093E, 25.iii1991, H. Geertsema; 16♂, 18♀, Sehlabathebe Nature Reserve, 29.88333S, 29.06667E, 1.iv.1994, sweeping grass; 1♂, 1♀, Drakensberg escarpment north west of Sentinel Peak 28.771624S, 28.830006E, 3109 m, 6.iv.2007, sweeping clumps of Merxmuellera sp. in water course; 6♂, 11♀, Eland’s River valley on summit of Drakensberg, 28.757594S, 28.816039E, 3040 m, 7.iv.2007, sweeping grass and forbs; 8♂, 17♀, long river valley near summit of Drakensberg escarpment, 28.726122S, 28.798358E, 1941 m, 7.iv.2007, sweeping grass and forbs; 1♂, 2♀, Sani Pass Hotel vicinity, 29.58333S, 29.28333E, 2860 m, 20.iv.2002, M. Stiller, E. Breytenbach, DVac heavily grazed grass, forbs & sedges, two specimens on Eumorphia sericea (Asteraceae) , but probably on grass growing inside this shrub. South Africa, Eastern Cape Province. 6♀, Mountain Zebra National Park, 25.75S, 32.41667E, 19.i.1984, J.G. Theron; 11♂, 13♀, 1 nymph, road to Ben Macdhui, 30.680717S, 27.957633E, 2540 m, 23.iv.2000, sweeping grass; 1♂, summit of Naude’s Neck Pass, 30.732S, 28.137147E, 2490 m, 25.iv.2000, sweeping grass; 10♂, 10♀, 3 nymphs, Balloch Peak, near Lundin’s Neck, 30.6667S, 27.70E, 2580 m, 28.iii.2005, sweeping grass; 8♂, 20♀, catchment above Telle Falls, 30.65S, 27.8333E, 2440 m, 29.iii.2005, Merxmuellera sp. ; 19♂, 40♀, 1 nymph, Ibid. holotype; 3♂, 6♀, 3nymphs, Wildfell farm, 30.6667S, 27.80E, 2180 m, 29.iii.2005, sweeping grazed grass; 5♂, 12♀, Ben Macdhui Mountain, 30.668889S, 27.893333E, 2700 m, 31.iii.2005, sweeping short grass; 2♂, Halseton Krans farm, 30.70S, 27.78333E, 2200 m, 1.iv.2005, sweeping grazed pasture; 2♂, 5♀, Devil’s Bellows Neck, 32.411950S, 26.6233E, 1750 m, 19.iv.2006, sweeping Festuca sp. ; 17♂, 26♀, Penhoek, between Aliwal North and Queenstown, 31.434800S, 26.689333E, 1854 m, 19.iv.2006, sweeping grazed pasture; 1♂, Hougham, Port Elizabeth, 33.758317S, 25.694783E, 45 m, 21.iv.2006, sweeping dry grass near road construction site; 1♂, 2♀, between Rhodes and Naude’s Neck, 30.731717S, 28.112783E, 2390 m, 27.iv.2006, sweeping Merxmuellera sp. , regrowth after fire; 3♂, 3♀, between Elliot and Rhodes, 31.101383S, 27.861550E, 1884 m, 27.iv.2006; 3♂, 4♀, Naude’s Neck, near Rhodes, 30.767583S, 28.104417E, 2593 m, 27.iv.2006, sweeping short grazed grass and forbs. 3♂, 1♀, Swaershoek pass near Pearston junction, 32.41474S, 25.44396E, 1144 m, 26.i.2011, DVac, road side grassland, Merxmuellera sp. dominant; 4♂, 4♀, Swaershoek pass near summit, 32.29132S, 25.51171E, 1599 m, 27.i.2011, DVac, grazed pasture, Merxmuellera sp. dominant. Free State Province. 1♂, Platberg mountain, near Harrismith, eastern side, near masts, 28.265117S, 29.208661E, 2362 m, 11.i.2007, sweeping moribund grassland, Themeda triandra and Tristachya leucothrix (Poaceae) common; 2♀, Platberg mountain, near Harrismith, western side, 28.173433S, 29.203775E, 2319 m, 11.i.2007, sweeping moribund grassland, Themeda triandra and Tristachya leucothrix common. KwaZulu-Natal Province. 1♂, Bushman’s Neck Nature Reserve, 29.88333S, 29.03333E, 4.vi.1994, sweeping grass; 3♀, Rockeries Pass, Central Drakensberg, 28.91667S, 29.06667E, 11.iii.1995; 1♀, road to Meander Hut, wetland, 29.266667S, 29.55E, 2066 m, 18.iv.2002, M. Stiller, E. Breytenbach, DVac Eleocharis dregeana , Scirpus ficinioides (Cyperaceae) ; 1♂, 2♀, road to Meander Hut, wetland, 29.266667S, 29.55E, 2066 m, 18.iv.2002, M. Stiller, E. Breytenbach, DVac Carex sp. (Cyperaceae) in wetland; 1♀, road to Meander Hut, wetland, 29.266667S, 29.55E, 2066 m, 20.iv.2002, M. Stiller, E. Breytenbach, DVac wetland, Arundinella nepalensis (Poaceae) common; 3♂, 6♀, between iThonyelana and Rockeries Passes, Central Drakensberg, 28.91667S, 29.06667E, 3000 m, 15.xii.1991, sweeping grass; 4♀, Orange River catchment, 28.894556S, 29.018958E, 2880 m, 16.iv.2005, sweeping grass and forbs; 1♀, Garden Castle, site 10, 29.74617S, 29.20408E, 1852 m, 2.xi.2005, sweeping, MDTP survey; 1♂, 1♀, Sentinel Hiking Trail, below summit, 28.747719S, 28.880033E, 5.i.2007, sweeping grass and forbs; 16♂, 28♀, 4 nymphs, Tugela River, summit of Drakensberg, 28.751567S, 28.89485E, 2980 m, 5.i.2007, sweeping grass and forbs; 1♂, Ntinginono Eco Center, Vryheid Hill Nature Reserve, 27.473861S, 30.756333E, 1259 m, 31.i.2007, sweeping grass and forbs; 1♂, Sani Pass, 29.603389S, 29.291278E, 3000 m, ix.2007, B.J. van Rensburg & M.P. Robertson, pitfall trap in Alti Mountain Grassland; 2♂, 6♀, Loteni Nature Reserve, on escarpment, 29.42456S, 29.43566E, 2920 m, 1.iv.2010, sweeping grass and forbs; 1♂, 1♀, Loteni Nature Reserve, contour path below Redi Peak, 29.44144S, 29.43665E, 2330 m, 3.iv.2010, sweeping grass along contour path; 1♀, Loteni Nature Reserve, tarns below Redi Peak, 29.42867S, 29.45620E, 2350 m, 3.iv.2010, sweeping dryland grass and forbs. Mpumalanga Province. 16♂, 9♀, Mauchsberg Pass, near summit, 25.135000S, 30.600833E, 2150 m, 06.iii.2003, DVac moribund grass; 1♂, 1♀, valley opposite Longtom Pass summit, 25.118967S, 30.62325E, 2101 m, 13.xi.2005, sweeping moribund grass, including Festuca sp. (Poaceae) ; all collected by M. Stiller, except where stated otherwise ( SANC, BMNH, INHS).

Remarks. This species includes two variations in male and female genitalia. No differences in external morphology and dimensions in males and females are recognized. The variation in genitalia is as follows:

The hollowed style apophysis in male genitalia is as follows:

a. Numerous teeth (about 5) on the medial margin ( Fig. 4c View FIGURE 4 ).

b. Two teeth on the medial margin ( Fig. 4d View FIGURE 4 ).

The spine medially on the ventral pygofer lobe is as follows:

a. Apex with subapical tooth ( Fig. 3c View FIGURE 3 ).

b. Apex acuminate ( Fig. 4a&b View FIGURE 4 ).

The medial pygofer spine is consistently acuminate, but the serration of the style apophysis is more difficult to interpret and the state with two teeth tends more often to have additional smaller teeth on the proximal ridge. The distal tooth is triangular. The gap between these two teeth is smooth. Both of these states were often present in the males from the same series from a specific locality.

Females depict more subtle differences as follows:

a. Sternite transverse width relatively long, medial length short, with V-shaped notch; lateral processes arising dorsally from the sternite, relatively narrow and short ( Fig. 5b–f View FIGURE 5 ). In ventral view with lateral margins appearing folded under sternite.

b. Sternite transverse width relatively short, medial length long, with shallow or rounded V-shaped notch; lateral process arising from same plane as the base of the sternite, relatively wide, short ( Fig. 6c–g View FIGURE 6 ). In ventral view with lateral margins contiguous with sternite.

The latter form is clearer in some undissected specimens where the lateral pleurite does not obscure this process. Further variation in the shape of the lateral process was noticed, such as width and bifurcation, and its loss due to breakage ( Fig. 6c&g View FIGURE 6 ).

These variations in males and females are regarded as interspecific differences. For instance males with two teeth on the style apophysis and the acuminate pygofer process were found in 66 specimens. Specimens with five teeth on the style apophysis and the pygofer process with a subapical tooth were found in 20 dissections. Specimens from three localities depicted one or the other form. Mauchsberg specimens had the female sternite 7 with contiguous lateral margins and the male style with five teeth. Sehlabathebe and Wildfell specimens had the contiguous female sternite 7 lateral margins and male style with two teeth. Both forms were found at Balloch Peak, Ben Macdhui, Dangers Hoek, Eland’s River, Naude’s Neck, Rockeries and the Tugela River. Coincidentally, specimens from Ben Macdhui collected in the year 2000 have the style with two protrusions and those collected in 2005 with five teeth. Specimens from the Drakensberg of Mpumalanga Province (Mauchsberg), is probably an isolated population with the majority of localities on the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal Province and possibly further west into the mountainous regions of the Eastern Cape Province.

Three males out of 89 dissections of T. nodosatha depicted the Y-shaped arms of the connective, probably as a result of parasitism by Strepsiptera or Dryinidae . One of these specimens has the style without any teeth and the median pygofer spine shorter and right-angled medially. The other two have two teeth on the style and an acuminate spine of the pygofer. Only one specimen has a small strepsipteran larva still present in the genital capsule. The abdomen of a fourth specimen contains a number of eggs and vestigial valvulae, but also displays male features such as plates, although somewhat deformed, reduced pygofer ventral and posterior lobes, and without an aedeagus, style and connective.