Oceatra scandens, Gnezdilov & Malenovský, 2023

Gnezdilov, Vladimir M. & Malenovský, Igor, 2023, First record of the planthopper tribe Adenissini (Hemiptera: Caliscelidae) from Socotra Island, with description of a new genus and two new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 888 (1), pp. 46-63 : 52-56

Oceatra scandens gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1A305662-5F2E-4191-BE76-45A01CC1B2F3

Figs 3 , 5D–E , 8

Diagnosis

See the identification key to species of Oceatra gen. nov. above.

Etymology

Derived from the present participle of the Latin verb ‘ scandō ’ (= ‘to climb’, ‘ascend’, ‘mount’), referring to the type locality of the new species close to the top of the highest peak of Socotra Island, Mt Scand.

Type material

Holotype YEMEN • ♂; Socotra Island, Hagher Mountains, Mt Scand env. ; 12°34.6′ N, 54°01.5′ E; 1450 m a.s.l.; 16–18 Jun. 2012; I. Malenovský, P. Kment, J. Bezděk, J. Hájek, V. Hula, J. Niedobová and L. Purchart leg.; sweeping and suction sampling in montane evergreen woodland; MMBC.

Description

MEASUREMENTS. Total body length: male – 3.8 mm.

COLORATION ( Fig. 3 ). General coloration dark brown. Metope, genae and postclypeus dark brown to black, with light ochreous transverse band above metopoclypeal suture and light ochreous dots and pustules (traces of larval sensory pits) between lateral margins and sublateral carinae, genae with light ochreous spot above each pedicel; median carina light ochreous, sublateral carinae brown ( Fig. 3C ). Anteclypeus dark brown to black including median carina. Rostrum dark brown, black apically. Scapus and pedicel black. Preocular fields dark brown to black, each with two light ochreous spots at anterior angles ( Fig. 3B ). Coryphe and pronotum with paranotal lobes dark brown, with light ochreous dots ( Fig. 3A ). Mesonotum dark brown, with light ochreous dots and carinae. Scutellum and tegulae light ochreous. Forewings brown to dark brown, each with three large light areas: basally, around basal cell and basal portions of main veins; a band in the middle across of corium; a subapical patch in apical fourth of wing at wing margin ( Fig. 3A–B ). Veins and hypocostal plate light brownish. Episternae and epimerae black. Fore and middle coxae light ochreous, with brown areas. Legs largely dark brown to black, with light ochreous bands. Abdominal tergites black, with ochreous spots and stripe along midline. Laterotergites black. Abdominal sternites dark brown to black, with light ochreous hind margins; sternites III–VI each with pair of large brown ochreous lateral patches. Fore and middle legs with second tarsomeres light ochreous dorsally; third tarsomeres and claws black. First metatarsomere black basally and apically, light ochreous medially; third metatarsomere light ochreous basally and black apically. Apices of spines on legs black. Anal tube light ochreous. Pygofer dark brown to black, except light ochreous near anal tube and ventral edge. Styles dark brown to black, with large light yellow patch on the plate.

EXTERNAL STRUCTURE. Generally similar to O. litoralis gen. et sp. nov. Metope 0.8 times as long as wide at midline below the eyes ( Figs 3C , 5E ). Coryphe 2.5 times as wide as long medially ( Figs 3A , 5D ). Pronotum depressed in the middle, with very short median carina at hind margin ( Fig. 5D ). Forewing reaching middle of tergite VI. First metatarsomere with two latero-apical and six intermediate spines arranged in arc. Claws, in dorsal view, 0.3 times as long as arolium of pretarsus. Arolium of pretarsus, in dorsal view, with straight hind margin. Dorso-lateral plates of pretarsus narrow.

MALE TERMINALIA ( Fig. 8 ). In general as described for O. litoralis gen. et sp. nov. Anal tube, in dorsal view, 0.8 times as wide as long medially, parallel-sided, anterior margin rounded ( Fig. 8B ). Style with hind margin convex, caudal angle obtuse ( Fig. 8E ); in dorsal view, style with distinct pointed lateral tooth ( Fig. 8F , lt). Phallobase with dorso-lateral lobes fused dorsally in one lobe with notched margin ( Fig. 8D ). Aedeagus with each apical process with two long spiny teeth ( Fig. 8A , aep).

Distribution and ecology

So far only known from the highest elevations of the Hagher mountains in the central part of the Socotra Island ( Fig. 9 ). The holotype was collected by sweeping on low shrubs in quite open, montane evergreen woodland ( Fig. 10B ). The local low shrub plant community was dominated by Hypericum scopulorum Balf.f. (Hypericaceae) , Leucas hagghierensis Al-Gifri & Cortés-Burns (Lamiaceae) , and Euryops arabicus Steud. ex Jaub. & Spach. (Asteraceae) . Oceatra scandens gen. et sp. nov. was found syntopic with the flatid planthoppers Socoflata aurolineata Stroiński, Malenovský & Świerczewski, 2018 , S. histrionica Stroiński, Malenovský & Świerczewski, 2018 , and Kirkamflata socotrana Świerczewski, Malenovský & Stroiński, 2014 (see Świerczewski et al. 2014 and Stroiński et al. 2018 for more details including a more explicit description of the habitat).

Figures

Fig. 3. Oceatra scandens gen. et sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (MMBC). A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. Frontal view.

Fig. 5. A–C. Oceatra litoralis gen. et sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (MMBC). D–E. Oceatra scandens gen. et sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (MMBC). A, D. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. B, E. Head, frontal view. C. Rostrum, lateral view. Not to scale.

Fig. 8. Oceatra scandens gen. et sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (MMBC), terminalia. A. Genital block, lateral view. B. Anal tube, dorsal view. C. Penis, ventral view. D. Apex of penis, dorsal view. E. Style, lateral view. F. Style, dorsal view. Abbreviations: aep = apical aedeagal process; lt = lateral tooth; mot = mushroom-shaped outgrowth of phallobase; vh = ventral aedeagal hooks; vl = ventral phallobase lobe. Not to scale.

Fig. 9. Distribution of Oceatra spp. in Socotra Island.

Fig. 10. Habitats of Oceatra spp. in Socotra Island. A. Type locality of O. litoralis gen. et sp. nov., coastal sand dunes and salt marshes near Shuab (photograph by I. Malenovský, 20 Jun. 2012). B. Type locality of O. scandens gen. et sp. nov., open montane woodland and low shrub communities on slopes of Mt Scand in the Hagher Mountains (photograph by L. Purchart, 1 Feb. 2010).