Pythamus montanus, Viraktamath & Webb, 2007

Viraktamath, C. A. & Webb, M. D., 2007, Review of the leafhopper genus Pythamus Melichar (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae) in the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 1546 (1), pp. 51-61 : 57

Pythamus montanus sp. nov.

Figs 12, 15 , 23–26 , 41 .

Dussana quaerenda Melichar : Pruthi 1934: 85–86, text fig. 104 a–c, Plate 7, figs 2, 2a, misidentification; Datta 1972:107–108, Plate 5, A–D (in part), misidentification; Datta 1988: 52, Figs 91–94, (in part), misidentification.

Colouration similar to D. bispinosus but hyaline spot on forewing much narrower, not exceeding subcostal cell and scutellum more broadly whitish near apex. In some females apices of outer claval veins, clavus and irregular area between claval apex and apex of hyaline costal triangle, brownish. Abdominal pleura yellow, sterna brown, genital segments brown.

Male genitalia: Process of the ventro-cephalic angle of tenth segment short. Pygophore rounded caudally, ventral process rather S-shaped, distal 0.33 with wavy ridge. Stem of connective three times as long as arms. Aedeagus constricted at base, with a pair of short processes near base, their length not exceeding minimum width of shaft in lateral view.

Female genitalia: Seventh sternum three times as wide as long, hind margin slightly broadly produced and bilobed in middle.

Measurements: Male 5.9–6.4 mm long, 1.1–1.2 mm wide across eyes and 1.3–1.4 mm wide across hind margin of pronotum. Female 6.8–7.3 mm long, 1.3 mm wide across eyes and 1.4–1.5 mm wide across hind margin of pronotum.

Material examined: Holotype ♂, INDIA: Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal , 1800 m, 18.viii.1979, S. Viraktamath ( UASB) . Paratypes: INDIA: Tamil Nadu: 1 ♂, 2 ♀, data as for holotype . 2 ♂, Kodaikanal , 2250 m, 18.viii.1979, S. Viraktamath ; 1 ♀, Kodaikanal , 2133 m, 9.vi.1980, A.R.V. Kumar ; 3♂, 1♀, Shambaganur , 1800 m, 18.viii.1979, I. Dworakowska (2 ♂, 1♀), S. A. Viraktamath (1 ♂), 8.vi.1980, A.R.V. Kumar (1 ♀) ( BMNH, NPC, UASB, USNM, ZSI) .

Remarks: P. montanus is known only from the Palni Hills. Illustrations provided by both Pruthi (1934) and Datta (1972, 1988) clearly show that the male specimens illustrated are of this species where as the females are of P. bispinosus . It can be easily distinguished from other species of Pythamus by its short basal processes of the aedeagal shaft.

Figures

FIGURES 10–16. Species of Pythamus. heads (10–12) and forewings (13–16). 10, 13. Pythamus biramosus sp. nov.; 11, 14. P. bispinosus sp. nov.; 12, 15. P. montanus sp. nov.; 16. P. dealbatus Melichar.

FIGURES 23–32. Species of Pythamus. 23–26. P. montanus sp. nov.: 23. Head and thorax, profile; 24. Male pygophore, lateral view; 25. Aedeagus, lateral view; 26. Same, caudal view; 27–32. P. biramosus sp. nov. 27. Head and thorax, profile; 28. Male pygophore, lateral view; 29. Male style, lateral view; 30. Connective; 31. Aedeagus, lateral view; 32. same, caudal view.

FIGURES 33–42. Pythamus species. 33–39. Female P. biramosus sp. nov.: 33. Seventh sternite; 34. First gonapophysis; 35, 36, 37. Magnified view of first gonapophysis at a, b and c on fig. 34; 38, 39. Second gonapophysis. 40. Female seventh sternite of P. bispinosus; 41. Female seventh sternite of P. montanus; 42. Left fore femur of male P. montanus, anterior view.