Daimachus sudindicus, Viraktamath & Webb, 2019

Viraktamath, C. A. & Webb, M. D., 2019, Revision of the Ulopinae leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) of the Indian subcontinent, I. Ulopini genera: Daimachus, Radhades and Ulopsina, Zootaxa 4613 (3), pp. 557-577 : 562

Daimachus sudindicus sp. nov.

Figs 2 A–H, 3M, 4D, 5I–L, 9A–F.

Colouration and structure as in generic description. In some specimens veins marked with brown. Forewing 2.4x as long as wide. Some individuals with hind wings well-developed.

Male genitalia. Pygofer dorsal margin declivous and concave, posterior margin almost truncate, not bilobed. Subgenital plate held vertically, in lateral view broadened posteriorly with rounded apex and with basal transverse suture. Style with anterior part shorter than posterior part, with apex of apophysis broad. Connective with stem as long as arms and with narrow apex. Aedeagus with well-developed dorsal apodeme, aedeagal shaft dorsally curved near base and then strongly anteriorly recurved with two triangular projections, one on dorsal surface near base and another much larger on ventral surface subapically, gonopore apical, shaft apex widened with lateral angles produced and horn-like, held in tubular anterior projection of segment X. Sternite of segment X produced into short posterior and much longer anterior projections.

Female genitalia. Sternite VII more narrowly V-shaped compared to other species ( Fig. 4D ). Valvula II as in D. robustus ( Fig. 5L ).

Measurements. Male 3.4–3.5 mm long, 1.1–1.2 mm wide across eyes and 1.0– 1.1 mm wide across posterolateral angles of pronotum. Female 3.1–3.5 mm long, 1.1–1.2 mm wide across eyes and 0.9–1.0 mm wide across posterolateral angles of pronotum.

Material examined. Holotype ♂, INDIA: Kerala: Kasargod, Periya , 15m, 12 o 15.383’N, 0 75 o 07.035’ E, 29.ix.2011, Yeshwanth, H. M., Sweep net, ex grasses ( UASB) . Paratypes: 13 ♂, 11 ♀, data as for holotype ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as holotype except Srikanth, Sweep net ; 1 ♀ same data as holotype except A.N. Reddy ; 1 ♂, INDIA: Karnataka: Gulbarga 454m, 06.ix.1980, at light, ARV Kumar ( BMNH, NBAIR, NPC, UASB) .

Etymology. The species name refers to the area of distribution of the species as presently known, i.e., South India.

Remarks. This species occurs in two forms, one with hind wings well developed (macropterous) and another with hind wings absent (brachypterous). These forms differ morphologically as indicated in the genus description as far as the structure of the forewings and the thorax are concerned. D. sudindicus closely resembles the sympatric D. robustus but differs in being more slender and longer in addition to the characters of the male genitalia. This species is unique among the known species of Daimachus in having triangular projections on both dorsal and ventral surfaces of the aedeagal shaft.

Figures

FIGURES 2A–H. Daimachus sudindicus sp. nov., habitus and wings: A–D, brachypterous males, colour variation, dorsal and lateral view; EF, macropterous male, dorsal and lateral view; GH, forewing and hind wing of macropterous male.

FIGURES 4A–H. Female pregenital sternites and valvulae of species of Daimachus: A–D, sternites VI and VII of (A) D. exemplificatus Distant, (B) D. matheranensis sp. nov., (C) D. robustus sp. nov. and (D) D. sudindicus sp. nov.; E–H, D. exemplificatus (EF) valvulae I and (GH) valvulae II.

FIGURES 5A–L. Valvulae I and II of species of Daimachus: A–D, D. matheranensis sp. nov.; E–H, D. robustus sp. nov. I–L, D. sudindicus sp. nov.