Geelus kinkeldraad, Stiller, 2020

Stiller, Michael, 2020, A new leafhopper genus Geelus and 12 new species (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae Deltocephalinae) from Southern Africa, Zootaxa 4786 (3), pp. 301-344 : 314-317

Geelus kinkeldraad sp.n.

( Figs 5 A–H, 6A–M)

Diagnosis. Aedeagal shaft medially with short, sharp right-angled bend, apex with expanded rim and apical, paired tooth, compressed sclerotized longitudinal ridge subapically, dorsally anteriad of rim. Pygofer lobe triangular, apex rounded; process sublinear, orientation posteroventrad, dorsomedially denticulate. Female sternite 7 with narrow notch, about as deep as wide.

Etymology. Afrikaans nouns in apposition, kinkel, kink, hitch or knot and draad, wire to describe the shape of the sharp bend in the aedeagal shaft. Gender masculine.

Male. Measurements. n=75. Length from apex of crown to apex of tegmina 4.55–4.85 mm. Crown median length 0.39–0.42 mm. Crown length next to eye 0.32–0.34 mm. Pronotum length 0.47–0.50 mm. Head width across eyes 1.33–1.40 mm. Pronotum width 1.26–1.33 mm. Ocellus diameter 39.2–46.4 μm; interocular distance 65.6– 76.6 µm. Apical angle of crown 118.2°±1.8°.

Pygofer lobe. Process orientation posteroventrad, curvate, origin mediodorsally at base of pygofer lobe, process with denticulate area dorsomedially in basal half ( Figs 6G, 6H ); pygofer lobe at base about three quarters width of pygofer, broadly triangular, apex rounded; anterior apodeme, elongate, lateral, rarely short. Apex of pygofer lobe extended beyond apex of subgenital plate.

Anal tube. Tubular ( Fig. 6G ).

Subgenital plate. Number of macrosetae 3–5; medioposterior angle round or right-angle; length: width 0.9– 1.1; position of macrosetae on subgenital plate distal half ( Fig. 6F ); apex relative to pygofer lobe apex plate shorter than pygofer lobe ( Fig. 6H ).

Valve. Shape crescentic ( Fig. 6F ).

Style. Apophysis with subapical, lateroventral tooth and apical ventral tooth; apophysis width relative to width across preapical lobe preapical lobe narrow; ratio length to width of apophysis 4.3–5.0 ( Fig. 6D ).

Connective. Stem length relative to arm length half as long as arms; stem width relative to width across arms of similar width ( Fig. 6C ).

Aedeagus. Shaft thick; rim of apex of shaftwith ventral medial, paired teeth; denticulation of shaft, single dorsal, subapical keel-like tooth; curvature of shaft, short, sharp right-angled bend medially; dorsal apodeme, in lateral view reduced; preatrium angled at 180° ( Figs 6A, 6B, 6E ).

Female. Measurements. n=55. Length from apex of crown to apex of tegmina 4.73–4.98 mm. Crown median length 0.41–0.44 mm. Crown length next to eye 0.32–0.35 mm. Pronotum length 0.48–0.51 mm. Head width across eyes 1.39–1.46 mm. Pronotum width 1.30–1.38 mm. Ocellus diameter 39.0–45.5 μm; interocular distance 64.7–83.9 µm. Apical angle of crown 118.9°±1.9°.

Sternite 7. Shape of posterior margin with narrow, shallow notch ( Figs 6I, 6J ).

Valvifer 1. Asymmetrical with dorsal margin short, sublinear, ventral margin twice as long as dorsal margin, curvate, posterior margin concave ( Fig. 6M ); in dorsal view valvifers fused ( Fig. 6K ), ventrally in Fig. 6L .

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, Northern Cape Province. CCDL18865, Biesiesfontein Farm S Springbok, -29.75, 17.9333, 29.ix.–3.x.2002, M. Stiller, sweeping Antizoma miersiana , Menispermiaceae ( SANC). Paratypes. 84♂, 67♀, 68 nymphs. Northern Cape Province, records below all this locality: Biesiesfontein Farm S Springbok, -29.75, 17.9333, 29.ix.–3.x.2002, M. Stiller, sweeping. 2♂, 3♀, 10 nymphs, CCDL 18869, Montinia caryophyllacea , Montiniaceae ; 9♂, 6♀, 5 nymphs, CCDL 18872, Zygophyllum morgsana , Zygophyllaceae ; 2♂, 2♀, CCDL 18870, Eriocephalus punctulatus , Asteraceae , Pentzia incana Asteraceae and Suaeda fruticosa Aizoaceae ; 13♂, 8♀, 13 nymphs, CCDL 18868, Salsola sp. Aizoaceae , Pteronia divariculata , Asteraceae ; 1♂, 5♀, CCDL 18867, Calobota sericea , Fabaceae ; 3♂, 2 nymphs, CCDL 18866, Diospyros ramulosa , Ebenaceae ; 20♂, 17♀, 7 nymphs, ibid. holotype; 1♂, 1♀, CCDL 18864, Berkheya canescens , Asteraceae ; 8♂, 4♀, 18 nymphs, CCDL 18863, sweeping Sarcocaulon l’heriteri, Geraniaceae ; 3♂, 1♀, CCDL 18871, at night near light trap, Zygophyllum retofractrum , Zygophyllaceae ; 9♂, 6♀, 9 nymphs, CCDL 18873, Searsia undulata , Anacardiaceae ; 2♂, 2♀, CCDL 26929, Galenia africana , Aizoaceae ; 5♂, 8♀, 2 nymphs, CCDL 26927, indeterminable plant near Gnidia , Thymelaeaceae ; 6♂, 4♀, 2 nymphs, CCDL 26926, light trap ( BMNH, INHS, SANC).

Remarks. Features such as dimensions and coloration ( Figs 5 A–H) make this species a member of Geelus , despite the atypical aedeagus, which lacks a dorsal apodeme, is thick and with a sharp right-angled median bend. Thick shafts occur in G. drietanddraad , G. haakdraad , G. lemdraad , G. nektanddraad , G. stompdraad , and G. viertanddraad . Correspondence in the pygofer process curvature is in G. nektanddraad , G. stompdraad , G. drietanddraad and G. slangdraad . However, G. kinkeldraad has the dorsomedial surface of the pygofer process denticulate, whereas the former all have the smooth process.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Geelus kinkeldraad gen.n. & sp.n., adult and nymph from Biesiesfontein, habitus, dorsally. A. Male, on Zygophyllum; B. Nymph, on Pteronia, early instar; C. Nymph, on Pteronia, early instar; D. Nymph, on Pteronia, late instar; E. Female, on Pteronia; F. Nymph, on Zygophyllum, late instar; G. Nymph, on Zygophyllum, late instar; H. Nymph, on Antizoma, late instar.

FIGURE 6. Geelus kinkeldraad gen.n. & sp.n., male and female genitalia, line drawings. A. Aedeagus, laterally; B. Aedeagus, dorsally; C. Connective; D. Style; E.Aedeagus, apex; F. Subgenital plate; G. Genital capsule, dorsally; H. Genital capsule, laterally; I. Sternite 7, Biesiesfontein specimen, on Zygophyllum; J. Sternite 7, Biesiesfontein specimen, on Antizoma; K. Valvifer 1, dorsally; L. Valvifer 1, ventrally; M. Valvifer 1, laterally.