Draconirvana, Dietrich, 2011

Dietrich, C. H., 2011, A remarkable new genus of Nirvanini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae) from Southeast Asia, Zootaxa 2970 (1), pp. 63-67 : 64-65

Draconirvana , gen. n.

( Figs. 1–18 )

Type species: D. siamensis sp. n.

Diagnosis. This genus differs from all other known genera of Nirvanini in having the frontoclypeus strongly convex and the crown strongly concave with a pair of dorsally angulate longitudinal keels mesad of the eyes.

Description. Small leafhoppers (4.6 – 5.5 mm long) with dorsal coloration yellow to orange, heavily marked with black. Head ( Figs. 1–5 ) with crown declivous, in dorsal view nearly two times longer and three times wider than eye, parallel sided, apex parabolic; lateral margins parallel through most of length, strongly keeled mesad of eyes, keel angulate above eye in lateral view, continuing as submarginal carina to crown apex; median carina complete but weakly elevated; surface between median and lateral carinae concave, glabrous. Ocelli small, submarginal, well anterad of eyes. Rostrum short, scarcely surpassing front trochanters. Anteclypeus weakly convex, tapered in distal two thirds; apex truncate, even with genal margin. Lorum small, narrow, well separated from lateral margin of gena, extended to midlength of anteclypeus, basal fourth of clypeo-loral suture bordering frontoclypeus. Frontoclypeus shagreen, strongly convex, bluntly angulate in profile, median carina extended from dorsal margin to apex of median gibbosity, portion below gibbosity horizontal. Gena broad, rounded, completely concealing proepisternum. Antennal pit near anterodorsal corner of eye, shallow, ledge absent. Antenna slightly longer than twice crown width. Pronotum much shorter and broader than head; surface with fine transverse striations medially and sparse punctures laterally; lateral margins strongly convergent anterad; lateral carina well developed, far below posterior angle of eye; posterior margin weakly emarginate. Mesonotum and scutellum combined subequal in length to pronotum. Forewing ( Fig. 7 ) semiopaque in basal three fourths, venation visible but somewhat obscure basally; vein R three branched, branches not reflexed distally; crossveins s and r-m1 absent; crossvein mcu1 present, m-cu2 absent; vein CuA connecting to wing margin at apex of clavus; apical cells 1-3 parallel-sided and subequal in width; apical cell 4 widened distally; appendix absent. Hind wing ( Fig. 8 ) with R2+3 complete (four apical cells present), m-cu crossvein near midlength of wing. Front femur ( Fig. 6 ) with setae AM1 and AV1 enlarged; intercalary row with 9-11 setae with more distal setae progressively larger; row AV with two enlarged basal setae and ca. 10 shorter setae more distad; PV setae absent; tibia with dorsal surface rounded, with two dorsoapical setae and row AV with 14-15 macrosetae. Middle femur with few fine setae in PV, PV1 enlarged; tibia row PD with 4 widely spaced macrosetae, other rows undeveloped. Hind femur macrosetal formula 2+1+1; tibia with ca. 23, 15, 8, and 33 setae in rows PD, AD, AV, and PV, respectively; tarsus elongate, tarsomere I longer than II and III combined, with pair of dorsoapical setae and single longitudinal row of plantar setae; pecten of tarsomeres I and II each with three tapered setae, platellae absent.

Male abdomen with 3S apodemes quadrate, extended to posterior margin of sternite III. Pygofer ( Fig. 9 ) with tergum IX long, well sclerotized, with median lobe; lateral lobe without dorsal process, with 3–6 dorsoapical macrosetae and oblique preapical band of small rigid setae; pygofer spine (ventral appendage) well developed, elongate, arising on inner side of ventral margin. Anal tube massive, well sclerotized, with paired basolateral lobes. Subgenital plate ( Figs. 9–10 ) weakly subsegmented at base, subparallel through most of length with single median longitudinal row of macrosetae extended from near base to apex; numerous long, fine setae sparsely distributed over surface laterad of macrosetae. Connective ( Figs. 11–12 ) Y-shaped with arms short and widely divergent, stem long and arched in lateral view. Style ( Fig. 11 ) with apodeme and apophysis colinear and subequal in length; lateral lobe weak, apex expanded and cheliform. Aedeagus ( Figs. 12–13 ) with pair of long processes arising from atrium and extended dorsolaterad; preatrium absent; shaft long, nearly straight through most of length with pair of apical spines, pair of smaller anterodorsal spines near midlength and smaller dorsal spine near base; gonopore apical on posterior surface. Female with sternite VII ( Fig. 14 ) produced medially; first valvula in lateral view ( Figs. 15–16 ) broadened from base to ca. ¼ distance from apex, apical fourth tapered, with oblique concatenate sculpturing basally, transitioning to strigate sculpturing and extended from dorsal to ventral margins distally, ventral preapical sculpturing imbricate; second valvula ( Fig. 18 ) with toothed distal blade broadened, less than half total length of valvula, with numerous close-set, rounded teeth; third valvula ( Fig. 18 ) with few stout ventral submarginal setae preapically.

Etymology. The genus name, a combination of draco, meaning dragon, and Nirvana , the type genus of the tribe in which the new genus is placed, refers to the dragonlike appearance of these insects and is treated as a feminine noun.

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Draconirvana siamensis: 1–2 dorsal habitus of male holotype and female paratype, respectively; 3, lateral habitus of male holotype; 4, head, pronotum, and mesonotum, dorsal view; 5, head, anteroventral view; 6, prothoracic femur, anterior view; 7–8, fore and hind wing; 9–10, male genital capsule, lateral and ventral views.

FIGURES 11–18. Draconirvana siamensis: 11, male styles and connective, ventral view; 12, style, connective, and aedeagus, lateral view; 13, aedeagus, posterior view 14, female sternite VII; 15, first valvula; 16, apex of first valvula; 17, second valvula; 18, second valvifer and third valvula.