Aka balma, 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 : 208-209

Aka balma sp. nov

( Figs 2 A–C, 8)

Zoobank Registration: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5A0967D9-98A4-4087-B197-BF3D8924DA17

Types. Holotype, ♂, AUSTRALIA, Tas: Big Sassy Creek, pyrethrum knockdown, Sassafras, 12.v.1989 (D. Rounsevell) (ASCU ASCT00179976). Paratypes, Tas: 1 ♂, same as holotype except for site 2 (P. Greenslade & D. Rounsevell) (ASCU); 6 ♂, Big Sassy Creek, u.v.l., 10.iv.1991 (T. Semmens) (TAIC).

Etymology. The term „ balma “ means „fork“ in Gooniyandi, an Aboriginal language spoken in Western Australia ( Thieberger & McGregor 1994). Named after the forked spine on the phallotheca.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other Australian Aka by the presence of a bifurcate spine left laterally on the phallotheca.

Colour. Vertex mid brown, carinae paler, with a whitish spot where subapical carinae meet lateral borders of vertex. Face light to mid brown, sometimes with a few darker areas; with a whitish spot at each lateral end of frontoclypeal suture. Pro- and mesonotum brown with slightly paler carinae; lateral parts of pro- and mesonotum usually darker. Forewings light brown to whitish, mottled with darker marks; tubercles and veins concolorous with cells; costa with 3 or more mid to dark brown bands; pterostigma whitish. Abdominal sternites mid to dark brown. Legs light brown with a few darker marks.

Morphology. Body length: ♂ 4.6–4.9 mm.

Head: Vertex 1.2–1.3 x wider than long; median carina of vertex covering ½ to almost full length of basal compartment of vertex. Frons 1.1–1.2 x longer than wide; maximum width no more than 2x apical width; position of maximum width moderately to distinctly dorsad of centre of frontoclypeal suture; median carina forked in basal (near frontoclypeal suture) third to half of frons. Median ocellus absent or present (distinct or indistinct). Anteclypeus lacking median carina. Subapical segment of rostrum 1.6–1.7 x longer than apical segment.

Thorax: Mesonotum with distinct sublateral carinae. Forewing 2.9–3.4 x longer than wide; costal margin with a few indistinct tubercles; tubercles never within cells; tubercles very small, concolorous with veins; tubercles not bearing setae; Sc+R+M near basal cell fused, forming a minute 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 between apical 1/16 and 1/8 of forewing or M unforked; icu 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 apical teeth and 4 fine setae.

Male genitalia: Anal tube ( Figs 8 C,D) in dorsal view rounded, straight or very slightly excavated, starting to form two separate lobes; lobes in lateral view produced into rounded hooks. Pygofer and genital styles as in Figs 8 E–G. Aedeagus ( Figs 8 A,B): Phallotheca left laterally with a forked spine (a); right laterally with a very long spine (b), reaching down as far as flagellum and a much shorter spine (c). Flagellum unarmed.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Aka balma: A habitus; B, C head. Aka dobsonensis: D, E head; F habitus. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURE 8. Aka balma: A aedeagus ventral; B aedeagus right lateral; C – D anal tube; E pygofer; F – G genital styles.