Myerslopia whakatipuensis, Szwedo, 2004

Szwedo, Jacek, 2004, A new genus and six new species of ground-dwelling leafhoppers from Chile and New Zealand (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Myerslopiidae), Zootaxa 424 (1), pp. 1-20 : 13-14

Myerslopia whakatipuensis sp. n.

( Figs. 22–27 )

DIAGNOSIS: In general appearance similar to M. magna , but differing by 6 conical projections on discal area of tegmen and smaller size. Subapical portion of genital style broader than in M. magna , endotheca long, reaching almost apex of theca, and apical portion of theca slightly widened (endotheca short and theca not widened in M. magna ).

DESCRIPTION: Total length 5.47 mm (male). General colour tawny, with coronal disc brownish, pronotum brown, brown marking at base of tegmen between vein R and claval suture, ivory triangular marking in half of tegmina, face brown with upper portion of frontoclypeus yellowish, anteclypeus tawny. Body covered with setiferous bullae.

Head slightly narrower than pronotum with paranotal lobes, anterior margin produced, foliaceous, sinuate. Vertex triangular with medial length about 0.7 times width between eyes, with triradial impression, posterolateral tubercles distinct.

Frontoclypeus about as wide as high in mid line, with lower pair of protuberances tumid, upper pair conical, anteclypeus about half of frontoclypeus height, with two callused medial prominences, one near base and the other contiguous with apex.

Pronotum narrow, collarlike, with paranotal lobes distinct, triangular, anterior margin almost straight, posterior margin concave, median ridges widely separated, indistinct, postocular protuberances distinct. Mesonotum wide at base, as long as pronotum in mid line, scutellum convex.

Tegmina ( Fig. 22 ) about 3.61 mm long, 2 mm wide, irregularly oval with tapered apex, coriaceous, punctate, each puncture with setiferous bulla. Costal margin ridge like, thickened in basal portion, forming two distinct ridges, external and internal slightly bent under tegmen. Oval indistinct protuberance at base of common vein R+M, vein R with one conical tubercle beyond half of tegmen length and another in about 1 / 3 distance from apex. Vein M with one conical tubercle in about half of tegmen length and another conical tubercle at the level of joined commissure protuberance; vein Cu with small conical tubercle before half of tegmen length and bigger one in about 1 / 3 distance from apex. Claval suture in form of ridge from base up to about 1 / 3 of tegmen length and one conical tubercle before half of tegmen length. Claval vein with tubercle in distal portion of vein; joined commissure protuberance very distinct, triangular.

Hind wings absent.

Fore legs covered with setae, tibia with row AV with three longer, stiff setae in half length. Mid legs slightly longer, tibia covered with setae; hind legs more slender, femur with two apical setae, with tibia about 2.04 mm long, rows PD and AD with five stout macrosetae, row AV with four stout macrosetae in distal half, row PV with two stout macrosetae in apical part, apex of hind tibia on ventral surface with proximal row of 7 spurs of spiniform plate and seta, and distal row of 7 spurs of base and seta. Tarsomeres with numerous irregularly arranged setae, basitarsomere about as long as combined length of mid and apical tarsomeres, external plantar margin with row of 7 thicker setae, a few similar setae also on plantar surface, mid and apical tarsomere subequal in length, covered with setae, claws distinct, arolium bilobate.

Pygofer ( Fig. 23 ) wider than long, genital plates fused basally with valve, elongate, turned medially at apex with latter club­like, slightly tapering, dorsal surface with sclerotized, curved ridge, extending along caudal margin, with a few long setae, caudal margin with microsetae along its length. Aedeagus ( Figs. 24 & 25 ) complex, phallobase hemitubular, subquadrate basally, slender and long endotheca directed anteriad, then arched dorsocaudad, reaching almost to apex of theca, theca transparent, forming tube­like sheath, tapered to apex in lateral view, slightly widened in dorsal view. Genital style ( Figs 26 & 27 ) with apical half strongly turned dorsad, wide, with apex narrow and acute, directed ventrad, medial ridge and caudal margin covered with a few long setae.

Female unknown.

ETYMOLOGY: From Maori name of Hollyford River—Whakatipu Ka Tuka.

MATERIAL STUDIED: Holotype, male; MHNG; Labelled: [ NEW ZEALAND: S IS., FD / Fiordland NP, Lake / Marian Track, Hollyford / Valley, 300m, 12.II.1992 / D. Burckhardt #46]; [handwritten Myerslopia / det D. Burckhardt / 94]; red label [ HOLOTYPE]; [ Myerslopia / whakatipuensis Szw. ♂ / det. J. Szwedo; 2002].

Figures

FIGURES 22–27. Fig. 22. Myerslopia whakatipuensis sp. nov. left tegmen in lateral view (scale bar 1 mm); Fig. 23. Myerslopia whakatipuensis sp. nov. pygofer in ventral view (scale bar 1 mm); Fig. 24. Myerslopia whakatipuensis sp. nov. aedeagus in dorsal view (scale bar 0.1 mm); Fig. 25. Myerslopia whakatipuensis sp. nov. aedagus in left lateral view (scale bar 0.1 mm); Fig. 26. Myerslopia whakatipuensis sp. nov. left genital style in lateral view (scale bar 0.1 mm); Fig. 27. Myerslopia whakatipuensis sp. nov. left genital style in dorsal view (scale bar 0.1 mm); Fig. 28. Myerslopia tawhai sp. nov. right tegmen (scale bar 1 mm); Fig. 29. Myerslopia tawhai sp. nov. sclerotization of female genital vestibulum.