Tambocerus nilgiris, Viraktamath, 2012

Viraktamath, C. A., 2012, Seven new species of the leafhopper genus Tambocerus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 3385 (1), pp. 43-61 : 59

Tambocerus nilgiris sp. nov.

Figs 18–23 , 77–85 .

Uniformly ochraceous with greenish tinge, in some individuals anterior margin of vertex with brown transverse band and pronotum with brown maculations. Forewing without brown maculations.

Head as wide as or slightly wider than pronotum. Vertex in males 1.8–2.3 times and in females 2.2–2.7 times as wide between eyes as median length. Fore tibia with dorsal setal formula 2+5.

Male genitalia. Pygofer more or less of uniform height in lateral view in anterior half, with two macrosetae on dorsocaudal area and many hair-like setae on ventral half; caudal margin with ventral projection and serrate along dorsal margin. Subgenital plate with apical prolongation, with marginal hair-like and submarginal macrosetae. Style with apical lobe broad, apophysis slender slightly curved near apex. Connective with stem 1.5 times as long as arms. Aedeagus broad at base, shaft in lateral view of uniform width, curved dorsally, broadest at midlength then rather abruptly narrowed, distal region near apex of uniform width with serration in posterior view.

Female genitalia. Seventh sternite 1.9 times as broad as median length, median lobe posteriorly acutely produced, region between median lobe and lateral posterior angles concave ( Fig. 83 ).

Nymphs. Rather dorsoventrally depressed. Head triangular medially produced, with transverse impression across anterior corners of eye, area beyond it faintly transversely rugose. Color green or with reddish brown patches ( Figs 22–23 ). Setae on abdominal terga fuscous, last visible abdominal segment not deeply excavated.

Measurements. Male 5.9–6.0 mm long, 1.5 mm wide across eyes. Female 6.4–6.7 mm long, 1.6–1.7 mm wide across eyes.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂, INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Lovedale (nr Ootacamund), 6.vi.1980, A. R. V. Kumar ( UASB) . PARATYPES: 6 ♂, 7 ♀ data as holotype ; 7 ♀, same data except Ootacamund 2350m, 4.vi.1977, C.A. Viraktamath ; 1♂, 1♀, Naduvattam , 1829m, 6.vi.1977, S. Viraktamath ; 2 ♂, 25 ♀, Ootacamund , 2350m, 4.vi.1977, S. Viraktamath ; 51 ♂, 41 ♀, same data except C.A. Viraktamath ( BMNH, NPC, UASB) . Additional material. 36 nymphs, Ootacamund, 2350 m, 4.vi.1977 C.A. Viraktamath ( UASB) .

Remarks. This species is found only in the Nilgiri Hills (Lovedale, Ootacamund and Naduvattam) and both adults and nymphs were swept from an unidentified shrub. T. nilgiris can be easily recognized from other species of Tambocerus by the total absence of brown speckles on the forewings. It very closely resembles T. plumbeus from Sri Lanka in male genitalia structures but differs from the latter, apart from lacking brown speckles on the forewings, in having the caudal margin of the pygofer serrate and the caudoventral angle elongated (pygofer narrowed posteriorly, caudoventral angle not elongateded in T. plumbeus ) and the apical lobe of the style not as prominent as in T. plumbeus .

Etymology. The species epithet alludes to the mountain range (Nilgiris) on which it occurs.

Figures

FIGURES 13–23. Variation in coloration of species of Tambocerus. 13–17. Tambocerus krameri sp. nov.: 13&14. Dorsal and lateral views of specimens from Chikkaballapura; 15&16. Dorsal and lateral views of specimens from Kanakapura; 17. Dorsal view of specimen from Sri Lanka. 18–23. Adults and nymphs of T. nilgiris sp. nov.: 18&19. Variation in color and form, dorsal view; 20. Lateral view; 21. Face; 22&23. Color variation in nymphs.

FIGURES 77–85. Tambocerus nilgiris sp. nov.: 77. Male genital capsule, lateral view; 78. Pygofer, dorsal view; 79. Valve and subgenital plate, ventral view; 80. Style, dorsal view; 81. Connective, dorsal view; 82. Metabasitarsomere, ventral view; 83. Female seventh sternite, ventral view; 84. Aedeagus, posterior view; 85. Aedeagus, lateral view.