Sangeeta viraktamathi Zhang

Zhang, Bin, 2014, A new species of Sangeeta Viraktamath from China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Megophthalminae), Zootaxa 3765 (1) : -

Sangeeta viraktamathi Zhang sp. nov.

( Figs 1 –12 )

Measurements. Male 4.10–4.15 mm long, head 1.04–1.12 mm wide across eyes, pronotum 0.85–0.87 mm wide.

Holotype description. Head and thorax (color). Ground color yellowish brown with numerous dark to black markings. Vertex ( Fig. 1 ) with two large maculae nearly median line; Face ( Figs. 3, 4 ) yellowish brown with several maculae: one inverted Y-shaped macula between ocelli; pair of maculae around ocelli; frontoclypeus black except basal half; anteclypeus, lorae and genae black. Pronotum ( Figs 1, 2 ) with four dark brown maculae: one small macula on anterior margin, three ones on median portion, and another pair on lateral margin. Mesonotum ( Fig. 1 ) brown with basal triangles, dark. Scutellum ( Fig. 1 ) with dark macula on basal region. Forewings ( Figs 1, 2 ) dark brown to black, claval veins yellowish brown, corial veins dark brown. Hind femoral macrosetal formula 2+1; hind tibial chaetotaxy PD 9, AD 8, AV 8. Hind basitarsus with two platellae on distal transverse row.

Male genitalia. Pygofer ( Fig. 5 ), in lateral view, broad at base, posterior margin elongate, caudally pointed at middle, dorsally with three macrosetae, ventral margin covered with short and stout setae. Subgenital plate ( Figs 5, 6 ), in ventral view, elongate triangular, with two large stout setae, row of short sparse setae along 2/3 ventral surface. Style forked ( Figs 8, 9 ), inner arm longer than outer arm; in ventral view, apically expanded with two lateral acute teeth. Connective ( Fig. 7 ) slightly longer than wide; in lateral view, laminate. Aedeagus ( Figs 10, 11 ) with well developed apodeme bearing one acute tooth; aedeagal shaft dorsally curved bearing pair of elongate laminated laterally processes at midlength, subapically with small laminated laterally processes directed posteriorly; gonopore subapical. Anal tube, in lateral view, with segment X well developed, with U-shaped apex ( Fig. 12 ).

Material examined. Holotype: male, CHINA, Yunnan Prov., Yingjiang County, 1 June 2011, Zhang Bin. Paratype: 1 male, same data as holotype.

Host plant. Unidentified ferns.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Remarks. Sangeeta viraktamathi resembles S. dentata as both share the lateral projection of aedeagal shaft at mid length, but differs from S. dentata in having the vertex with five spots in dorsal view, subgenital plates with three macrosetae and segment X with apex L-shaped. It also resembles S. quadriloba, but differs from the latter in lacking an acute tooth on the aedeagal preatrium and having two lobelike projections near the apex of the aedeagal shaft.

Etymology. The new species is named in honor of Prof. C. A. Viraktamath (University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore), in recognition of his contributions to cicadellid systematic and agalline taxonomy.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 12. Sangeeta viraktamathi sp. nov. Male holotype. (1) Habitus, dorsal view; (2) Habitus, lateral view; (3, 4) Face; (5) Genital capsule, lateral view; (6) Subgenital plate, ventral view (7) Connective, ventral view; (8) Style, dorsal view; (9) Apex of style, ventral view; (10) Aedeagus, lateral view; (11) Aedeagus, ventral view. (12) Process of segment X, lateral view; Scale bars (figs 1 – 4): 1 mm.