Tetramelasma tanyphysis, Stiller, 2011

Stiller, M., 2011, A new leafhopper genus and four new species from the Grassland Biome of South Africa (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae), Zootaxa 2794 (1), pp. 35-51 : 49-51

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.2794.1.2

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E3291C-1C4F-9252-5C8D-FEA9C3AC57DC

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Tetramelasma tanyphysis
status

sp. nov.

Tetramelasma tanyphysis View in CoL sp. n.

( Figs 9a–g View FIGURE 9 ; 10a–k View FIGURE 10 )

Diagnosis. Dimensions generally larger (3.5–4.2 mm) than that of other species of Tetramelasma . Spine on medial surface of ventral pygofer lobe with apex bipinnate, almost symmetrical ( Fig. 9c View FIGURE 9 ). Style apophysis elongate, with ventral, median ridge and basal tooth; apex projecting beyond posterior margin of plate ( Fig. 9d View FIGURE 9 ). Aedeagal shaft in ventral or dorsal view constricted medially, apical ½ about two times wider than narrowed median section ( Fig. 9b View FIGURE 9 ). Plate with posterior margin not attaining anterior margin of ventral lobe of pygofer ( Fig. 9b View FIGURE 9 ). Female sternite 7 generally with short or reduced lateral processes ( Fig. 10b–e View FIGURE 10 ).

Etymology. Compound word in Greek, tany, long, apophysis, projection, referring to the elongate shape the posterior apodeme of the style. Gender feminine.

Colour. Male & female. Pale grayish yellow. Vertex with paired markings on apex of vertex, generally with small wedge and elliptical marking. Darker specimens with disc with brown marking and all cells of tegmina with fuscous lining. Two pairs of brownish bands on pronotum. Tegmina with pale yellowish veins, apical cells distally lined with fuscous marking. Tegmina usually extending beyond abdomen, male with tegmina much longer, female slightly longer ( Figs 9a View FIGURE 9 ; 10a View FIGURE 10 ). The exception is in specimens from Tugela where females have the tegmina extending as far as the abdomen.

Male. Tegmina & hind wing. Tegmina as in Fig. 9f View FIGURE 9 ; hind wing ½ as wide as tegmina, ¾ as long; jugal lobe reduced ( Fig. 9g View FIGURE 9 ).

Dimensions. (n=64) Length from apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.5–3.9 mm; length from apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.8–3.0 mm; median length of vertex 0.4 mm; length of vertex next to eye 0.3 mm; median length of pronotum 0.4 mm; maximum width across head 1.1 mm; width across pronotum 0.9–1.0 mm; ocellar diameter 28 µm; ocellocular distance 39–48 µm.

Genital capsule. Pygofer with ventral pygofer lobe slightly larger than posterior pygofer lobe; medial spine of ventral pygofer lobe with apex bipinnate, base narrower than apex, apex almost symmetrical ( Fig. 9c View FIGURE 9 ). Posterior pygofer lobe rounded ( Fig. 9c View FIGURE 9 ). Plate with posterior margin truncate, dorsal process digitate, base protruding slightly beyond posterior lateral margin ( Fig. 9b View FIGURE 9 ). Aedeagal shaft in lateral view narrowed subbasally, apex gradually angled dorsally ( Fig. 9e View FIGURE 9 ); in dorsal or ventral view, constricted medially ( Fig. 9b View FIGURE 9 ). Style apophysis elongate, narrowly triangular, ventral medial ridge with basal tooth ( Fig. 9d View FIGURE 9 ).

Female. Dimensions. (n=53) Length from apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.5–4.2 mm; length from apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 3.3–3.8 mm; median length of vertex 0.5 mm; length of vertex next to eye 0.3–0.4 mm; median length of pronotum 0.4 mm; maximum width across head 1.1–1.2 mm; width across pronotum 0.9–1.1 mm; ocellar diameter 28 µm; ocellocular distance 40–53 µm.

Genitalia. Sternite 7 with shallow V-shaped notch, flanked by rounded, short lobes ( Fig. 10b View FIGURE 10 , in situ; Fig. 10c View FIGURE 10 , Wildfell farm; Fig. 10d View FIGURE 10 , Naude’s Neck, lateral apices reduced; Fig. 10e View FIGURE 10 , Ben Macdhui), or lobes sometimes reduced ( Fig. 10d View FIGURE 10 ). Valvula 1 lanceolate ( Fig. 10f View FIGURE 10 ), imbricate sculpture ( Fig. 10h View FIGURE 10 ). Valvula 2 with fine serration ( Fig. 10g &i View FIGURE 10 ). Valvula 3 with fine setae ( Fig. 10j&k View FIGURE 10 ).

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, Eastern Cape Province. Naude’s Neck, near Rhodes , 30.767583S, 28.104417E, 2593 m, 27.iv.2006, M. tiller, DVac short grazed grass and forbs, also Merxmuellera sp. regrowth after fire ( SANC) GoogleMaps . Paratypes. 60♂, 46♀, 8 nymphs. Lesotho . 1♀, Mamohau , 29.142856S, 28.480925E, 2210 m, 2.x.1991, H. Geertsema; South Africa. Eastern Cape Province GoogleMaps . 1♂, 3♀, road to Ben Macdhui , 30.680717S, 27.957633E, 2540 m, 23.iv.2000, M. Stiller, Merxmuellera drakensbergensis GoogleMaps ; 3♂, 5♀, Naude’s Neck summit, 30.732S, 28.137147E, 2490 m, 25.iv.2000, Merxmuellera sp GoogleMaps .; 13♂, 6♀, Telle Falls catchment, 30.65S, 27.83333E, 2440 m, 29.iii.2005, sweeping Merxmuellera sp GoogleMaps .; 6♂, 9♀, Wildfell Farm , 30.6667S, 27.80E, 2180 m, 29.iii.2005, sweeping grazed grass GoogleMaps ; 13♂, 8♀, Ibid. holotype; 12♂, 9♀, 8 nymphs, between Barkly East and Elliot , 31.20S, 27.96667E, 1962 m, 27.iv.2006, DVac road reserve and grazed pasture, also Merxmuellera sp. present GoogleMaps .

KwaZulu-Natal Province. 3♀, Orange River catchment, 28.894556S, 29.018958E, 2880 m, 16.iv.2006, sweeping grass and forbs GoogleMaps ; 12♂, 2♀, Tugela River, summit of Drakensberg , 28.751567S, 28.89485E, 2980 m, 5.i.2007, sweeping grass and forbs; all collected by M. Stiller, except where stated otherwise ( SANC, BMNH, INHS) GoogleMaps .

Remarks. This species is recognized by the elongate apophysis of the style, that projects beyond the posterior margin of the plate ( Fig. 9b View FIGURE 9 ). In undissected specimens it could be confused with the lateral process of the plate of T. nodosatha ( Fig. 3c View FIGURE 3 ). Other distinguishing features are the medial process of the ventral lobe of the male pygofer that is almost symmetrically bifurcate ( Fig. 9c View FIGURE 9 ). It would appear that this species occurs at high altitudes, and is probably also common in Lesotho. Merxmuellera species are probably a host, with some habitats in the KwaZulu- Natal Province suggesting other hosts. No examined specimen of T. tanyphysis (17♂, 15♀ dissected) was parasitized.

SANC

Agricultural Research Council-Plant Protection Research Institute

INHS

Illinois Natural History Survey

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hemiptera

Family

Cicadellidae

Genus

Tetramelasma

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