Balclutha flavescens (Baker)

Zahniser, James N., Halbert, Susan E., Moore, Matthew R., Mottern, Jason L. & Beuzelin, Julien M., 2023, Balclutha jafara (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): integrative identification of a species introduced in the Western Hemisphere, and notes on other Balclutha, Zootaxa 5361 (4), pp. 526-554 : 539-542

Balclutha flavescens (Baker) , Figs. 33–45

Blocker (1967) synonymized Eugnathodus virescens Osborn under B. flavescens (Baker) , stating that he accepted Linnavuori’s interpretation of B. flavescens . However, the basis of Linnavuori’s (1959) interpretation of B. flavescens remains unclear because he did not state which specimens were examined and illustrated, the holotype was lost before his study, and the superficial description of the species given by Baker (1903) did not allow accurate identification. The holotype of Eugnathodus flavescens Baker was not found according to Blocker (1967) and its absence was also noted in Davidson & DeLong (1935): “The writers have not been able to examine the Baker types. Mr. P.W. Oman states that these are not in the Baker collection, in the U.S. National Museum, and Dr. A.M. Boyce has very kindly examined the collection at Pomona College and has been unable to find the types there.” An additional inquiry to Pomona College during this study received no response. The holotype of E. virescens Osborn is a female at USNM ( Figs. 28–32 ), and it appears generally consistent with males at USNM determined as B. flavescens by Blocker. However its definition remains uncertain with respect to the more distinctive male genitalic characters. Davidson & DeLong (1935), who studied the “male allotype and female paratypes from Cuba and in the Herbert Osborn collection”, illustrated and described B. virescens (Osborn) . Blocker (1967) did not state the basis of his interpretation of B. virescens and reasons for synonymy under B. flavescens , but presumably followed Davidson & DeLong’s (1935) description and illustration of B. virescens . Blocker’s (1967) interpretation of B. flavescens is provisionally followed here. In order to clarify their identities, male neotype specimens could be designated for E. virescens Osborn and E. flavescens Baker , although an appeal to the ICZN would be needed in the case of E. virescens Osborn. A male specimen labeled as a paratype of Eugnathodus virescens Osborn from Preston, Cuba at USNM is illustrated here ( Figs. 33–40 ). Balclutha flavescens was originally described from Managua, Nicaragua. Specimens of dissected males determined by Blocker are present at USNM from Panama, Belize, and Peru.

Balclutha flavescens is very similar to B. robusta (Caldwell) (not known from FL), but differs slightly in the shape of the aedeagus and style, as noted by Blocker (1967). Figures of specimens identified here as B. flavescens ( Figs. 41, 42 ) and by Blocker ( Figs. 43–45 ) are provided. There is a significant amount of variation in the shape of the aedeagus in B. robusta as interpreted by Blocker. The male holotype of Nesosteles robustus Caldwell and a specimen from Cerro Punta, Panama determined by Blocker (USNMENT01513115) are illustrated here ( Figs. 46–54 ) to aid in future studies.

Figures

FIGURES 33–40. Balclutha flavescens (Baker), paratype specimen of Eugnathodus virescens Osborn, USNMENT01513873. (33) dorsal habitus; (34) connective, styles, and aedeagus, ventral; (35) style, mediolateral; (36) pygofer, lateral; (37) aedeagus, lateral; (38) valve and subgenital plate, ventral; (39–40) labels.

FIGURES 41–45. Balclutha flavescens (Baker). (41–44, aedeagus, lateral; 45, connective and styles, ventral; 45a, connective showing measurements made to approximate lengths of connective stem [A] and anterior arm [B]): (41) from Palm Beach Co., FL, FSCA R3A8, JNZ_AA0024; (42) from Collier Co., FL, FSCA L12222021 3444, JNZ_AA0034; (43) from Pan de Azucar, Panama, USNMENT01513493; (44–45) from Punta Gorda, Belize, USNMENT01513022.

FIGURES 28–32. Balclutha flavescens (Baker), female holotype specimen of Eugnathodus virescens Osborn, USNMENT01513874. (28) dorsal habitus; (29) lateral habitus; (30) face; (31) labels; (32) sternite VII.

FIGURES 46–54. Balclutha robusta (Caldwell). (46–53, holotype specimen of Nesosteles robustus Caldwell, USNMENT01513872; 54, from Panama, USNMENT01513115): (46) dorsal habitus; (47) lateral habitus; (48) face; (49) labels; (50) pygofer, lateral; (51) connective, style, and subgenital plate, ventral; (52) style, mediolateral; (53) aedeagus, lateral; (54) aedeagus, lateral.