Stirellus tolla (Pruthi)

Shah, Bismillah, Naveed, Hassan & Duan, Yani, 2020, Taxonomic review of the leafhopper genus Stirellus Osborn & Ball (Hemiptera Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Stenometopiini) from Pakistan with description of a new species, Zootaxa 4763 (2), pp. 189-202 : 196-197

Stirellus tolla (Pruthi) n. rec.

( Figs 6–8 )

Aconura tolla Pruthi, 1930: 39 .

Measurement. Male: 3.00– 3.50mm.

Coloration and Morphology. General color yellowish green ( Fig. 6 A–C). Crown with yellow hues. Eye dark greyish, surrounded with orange band ( Figs 6 A–C, 8A, 8C). Pronotum posterior region blackish with minute dots. Mesonotum with basal triangles orange ( Fig. 6A, 6C ). Scutellum yellowish. Forewing pale with white venation ( Fig. 6 A–B). Crown narrower than pronotum, almost as long as distance between eyes, anteriorly slightly angulate ( Figs 6A, 6C , 8A, 8D ). Eye relatively large. Ocellus next to eye slightly below anterior margin of crown. Face as long as broad, with transverse markings near eyes ( Fig. 6D ). Pronotum median length nearly as long as median length of crown ( Figs 6A, 6C , 8A, 8D ). Mesonotum and scutellum shorter than pronotum ( Fig. 6A, 6C ). Forewing macropterous ( Figs 6 A–B, 8A, 8G).

Male genitalia. Pygofer elongated, without macrosetae, apex as in Figs 7A , 8H . Subgenital plate slightly concave laterally, apically rounded, macrosetae uniseriate laterally ( Fig. 7C ). Style narrow, apophysis digitate, curved laterally ( Figs 7C , 8K ). Connective with stem slightly shorter than arms ( Figs 7D , 8L ). Aedeagal shaft long, strongly curved basally, almost parallel to aedeagal base, with preapical anterior expansion visible in lateral and posterior views, apex pointed and slightly curved anterad ( Figs 7 E–F, 8M).

Material examined. 1♂, Pakistan: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Khairabad Kund, 33°54′15.1596 N, 72°13′37.8264 E, Sweeping hand net, 20 August 2018, coll. Bismillah Shah.

Remarks. This species was not placed in the previous checklist because of unconfirmed identity. Present studies have confirmed its identity and existence in Pakistan. This species differs from most other species of the genus in the shape and size of the crown, which is shorter and bluntly angulate at the anterior margin, by the eyes surrounded with an orange band and the pronotum posterior region blackish with minute dots. This species is somewhat similar to Stirellus daii Duan, Webb & Zhang in genital characters but differs in external appearance. Its male genitalia also show similarity with Stirellus rubrolineatus Distant but differ in subgenital plates.

Figures

FIG. 6. Stirellus tolla (Pruthi) n. rec. A: habitus, dorsal view; B: habitus, lateral view; C: head and thorax; D: face

FIG. 7. Stirellus tolla (Pruthi) n. rec. A: male pygofer, lateral view; B: male pygofer, dorsal view; C: subgenital plates, valve and styles, dorsal view; D: connective, dorsal view; E: aedeagus, dorsal view; F: connective and aedeagus, lateral view; G: anal tube, lateral view.

FIG. 8. Stirellus tolla (Pruthi) n. rec. A: habitus, dorsal view; B: face; C: head and thorax, lateral view; D: head and thorax, dorsal view; E: face; F: head and thorax, lateral view; G: forewing; H: male pygofer, lateral view; I: subgenital plate, ventral view; J: valve; K: style, dorsal view; L: connective, dorsal view; M: aedeagus, lateral view.