Aka pirri, Löcker, Birgit, 2015

Löcker, Birgit, 2015, Revision of the Australian species of Aka White, 1879 (Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae) with the description of a new genus, Zootaxa 3956 (2), pp. 199-223 : 215-216

Aka pirri sp. nov.

( Figs 5 A–C, 14)

Zoobank Registration: http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C49B3E32-8B15-4555-876A-8BB85B7D665A

Types. Holotype, ♂, AUSTRALIA, Tas: Thumbs Parallel Gullies, inner closed forest, pyrethrum knockdown, Sassafras, 1 ix.1989 (R.Coy) (ASCU ASCTHE016784). Paratypes, Tas: 2 ♂, same data as holotype; 1 ♂, Warra LTER site, site 254, 7.xi.1997 (R. Bashford) (ASCU); 1 ♂, same data except for site 663, ex ethanol.

Etymology. The term „ pirri “ means „hook“ in Kaurna, an Aboriginal language spoken in the Adelaide Plains ( Thieberger & McGregor 1994). Named after the apical lobes of the anal tube which are produced into hooks in lateral view.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other Australian Aka by the following combination of characters: first tarsomere with 7 and second tarsomere with 7–8 apical teeth; lobes of male anal tube in lateral view produced into hooks; aedeagus right lateral with a very long spine (about as long as flagellum) with its tip directed towards the base of the aedeagus; absence of a bifurcate spine on the aedeagus.

Colour. Vertex light to mid brown, carinae paler, with a whitish spot where subapical carinae meet lateral borders of vertex. Face light brown, rarely with a few darker marks; with a whitish spot at each lateral end of frontoclypeal suture. Pro- and mesonotum brown with slightly paler carinae; pronotum caudad to lateral carinae paler than mesonotum. Forewings light brown, mottled with darker spots; tubercles concolorous with cells; veins sometimes slightly darker than cells; pterostigma whitish. Abdominal sternites light brown. Legs light brown sometimes with a few darker marks.

Morphology. Body length: ♂ 4.4–5.6 mm.

Head: Vertex 1.1–1.4 x wider than long; median carina of vertex covering 1/2–3/4 of basal compartment of vertex. Frons 1.1–1.3 x longer than wide; maximum width no more than 2x apical width; position of maximum width distinctly dorsad of centre of frontoclypeal suture; median carina forked in basal (near frontoclypeal suture) fourth of frons. Median ocellus absent or present (distinct or indistinct). Anteclypeus lacking median carina. Subapical segment of rostrum 1.5–1.8 x longer than apical segment.

Thorax: Mesonotum with distinct or indistinct sublateral carinae. Forewing 3.2–3.6 x longer than wide; costal margin with a few indistinct tubercles; tubercles never within cells; tubercles very small, concolorous with veins; some tubercles bearing very short setae; Sc+R+M near basal cell fused, forming a minute or small common stem Sc+R+M; fork of ScRA+ RP distinctly basad of fork CuA1+CuA2; distance tegula to ScR+M fork longer than distance between this fork and ScRA+ RP fork; position of r-m distinctly basad of fork MA+MP; fork MA+MP situated around apical 1/16 of forewing or M unforked; icu slightly or distinctly distad of apex of clavus; RP apically unforked; MA unforked, MP unforked or sometimes M not forked into MA and MP; nodus of y-vein distinctly distad of centre of clavus; y-vein with A1 slightly elevated; 4–5 apical cells. Hind leg: 1st tarsomere with 7 apical teeth; 2nd tarsomere with 7–8 (rarely 6) apical teeth and 3–5 fine setae.

Male genitalia: Anal tube ( Figs 14 C,D) in dorsal view slightly excavated, starting to form two separate lobes; lobes in lateral view produced into hooks. Pygofer and genital styles as in Figs 14 E–G. Aedeagus ( Figs 14 A,B): Phallotheca with 3 almost straight spines, slightly curved at their tips; spine (a) inserting left lateral, spines (b and c) inserting right lateral; spine (b) very long (about as long as flagellum); spine (c) half as long. Flagellum unarmed.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Aka pirri: A habitus; B, C head. Aka sorellensis: D, E head; F habitus. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURE 14. Aka pirri: A aedeagus ventral; B aedeagus right lateral; C – D anal tube; E pygofer; F – G genital styles.