Xyphon reticulatum (Signoret 1854)

Catanach, Therese A., Dietrich, Chris H. & Woolley, James B., 2013, A revision of the New World sharpshooter genus Xyphon Hamilton (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae), Zootaxa 3741 (4), pp. 490-510 : 501-503

Xyphon reticulatum (Signoret 1854)

( Figs 3 E, 4E, 4F)

Tettigonia reticulata Signoret 1854

Tettigonia (Diedrocephala) sagittifera Uhler 1895 —NEW SYNONYM Tettigonia diducta Fowler 1900 - NEW SYNONYM Draeculacephala reticulata (Signoret 1854) : Ball 1901 Draeculacephala sagittifera (Uhler 1895) : Olsen 1918 Tettigonia dyeri Gibson 1919 —NEW SYNONYM

Carneocephala sagittifera (Uhler 1895) : Ball 1927 Carneocephala dyeri (Gibson 1919) : Nottingham 1932 Carneocephala diducta (Fowler 1900) : Young 1977 Xyphon diducta (Fowler 1900) : Hamilton 1985

Xyphon dyeri (Gibson 1919) : Hamilton 1985

Xyphon reticulata (Signoret 1854) : Hamilton 1985 Xyphon sagittifera (Uhler 1895) : Hamilton 1985

Diagnosis. This species has a highly variable coloration with wings ranging from green to almost black. It is similar to X. triguttatum but with variable markings on the crown and pronotum. The head and crown can be solid colored (often tan, but never orange like X. nudum ) or marked with dark brown on a creamy background.

Head. Clypellus-frontoclypeus junction in lateral view distinctly angular; color pattern of frontoclypeus mottled yellow and tan (16%) or mottled dark brown and yellow (84%). Crown, anterior margin, angular (97%) or rounded (3%); with white band along edge of face complete (49%), present but broken by face color (46%), or absent (5%); median spot well defined (51%), poorly defined (24%), or absent (24%); medioapical macula, absent or poorly delimited (35%), entirely yellow (possibly with brown spot) (5%), tan with darker markings (or uniformly tan) (5%) or dark brown (54%); medial spot, completely surrounded by cream pigment (53%), lacking medial spot (26%), or not surrounded by cream pigment (21%); dark markings (other than median spot) absent (68%) or present (32%); dark lines, mostly brown with light patches (43%), absent (24%), irregular brown spots (22%), medioapical macula only (8%), or light brown lines (concentrated in middle of the crown) (3%), orange pigment absent (95%) or present (5%). Postocellar maculae, absent or weak (59%) or part of a broader pattern (41%); in lateral view crown convex. Distance from ocelli to lateral edge of head no more than 2 times ocelli width and distance between ocelli no more than 7.5 times ocelli width.

Thorax. Pronotum with dark green to brown circular marking present (78%) or absent (22%) circular indentations absent (95%) or present (5%); midline white (92%) or concolorous with lateral areas of pronotum (7%). Mesonotum green with submedial spots and anterolateral triangles (53%), very lightly marked (42%), unmarked (3%), or with pair of submedial spots (3%). Transpleural macula often incomplete and poorly delimited (84%) but in some specimens absent (16%). Proepistermum, posterior edge not irregular (89%) or irregular (11%). Thoracic sterna of male yellow (80%) or meosternum with brown longitudinal macula (20%).

Forewings. Green pigment absent (89%) or present (11%). Wing overall color black/brown (47%), gray (39%), green (11%), or straw (5%). Anal veins green (92%), or white (8%). Apex with few crossveins.

Legs. Hind femur, macrosetal formula, 2+1. Plantar surface of hind tarsomere, paleate setae, typically 4–5 (97%) but rarely absent (3%).

Abdomen. Abdominal sterna of male mostly yellow.

Male Genitalia. Pygofer, erect basolateal setae scattered (97%) or absent (3%). Subgenital plate, macrosetae scattered (91%) or in a distinct band (9%). Aedeagal shaft in lateral view dorsal process acute, compressed (taller than wide) (96%) or wider than tall (4%). Shaft in ventral view arrow-shaped; dorsal view not compressed. Paraphyses in dorsal view, form oval (61%), “U” (26%), or circle (13%). Style with 1 (97%) or 2 (3%) setae.

Material examined. We coded 36 males and 6 females. Additionally, we examined approximately 5,000 specimens.

Host data. Collected from bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon ).

Distribution. This species is widespread ranging from the southern tier of states in the US south through Central America to Brazil. It also is found in the Caribbean. This species has been accidentally introduced in a number of countries including the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guam, the Philippines, and other Pacific Islands.

Primary type. A holotype (which was not available for this revision) is located at the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien ( Austria) according to Nottingham (1927).

Cotypes of Tettigonia (Diedrocephala) sagittifera at the USNM. Verbatim locality label: St. Vincent / W.I / H.H. Smith / 17 // Co-Type/ No. 10212/ U.S. N.M. To fix the identity of the taxon, we are here designating one of these specimens, a male, as the lectotype.

Lectotype of Tettigonia diducta at the BMNH. Verbatim locality label: Amula / Guerreio 6000 ft / Aug. H. H. Smith // Biol. Centr. Am., Homop.

Holotype of Tettigonia dyeri deposited in USNM verbatim locality label: Honduras / Tegucigulpa // June / 29 78 // FJDyer / Coll // 71612 / 42620 // Type number: 22114

Reasons for synonymy. Study of large numbers of specimens identified as X. reticulatum and the taxa here treated as synonyms revealed a morphocline in which individuals collected farther from the equator tend to be lighter in color. Tropical specimens often have black wings, dark heads, and large dark markings on the mesonotum. Specimens collected from the southeastern United States have green wings and have much lighter markings on the head and mesonotum. It is conceivable that a desert dwelling population equivalent to the concept of X. nudum would be completely lacking dark markings on the head or mesonotum, but the latter species is retained pending further study.

Examination of Xyphon specimens representing populations established in areas outside their native range provided further evidence in support of the proposed synonymies. Color variation among specimens from West Africa and Guam, representing adventive populations, was similar to the variation observed among specimens identified as the 4 species here treated as synonyms. The proposed synonymy was also supported by molecular data, with parsimony and Bayesian Analysis grouping specimens representing 3 of the 4 color forms into a single clade, and individual color forms did not segregate as distinct clades.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Xyphon species, lateral views. A, X. flaviceps; B, X. fulgidum; C, X. gillettei; D, X. nudum; E, X. reticulatum; F, X. triguttatum; G, X. spadice sp. nov.