Tasnimocerus Ghauri

VIRAKTAMATH, C. A. & YESHWANTH, H. M., 2024, Arboreal eurymeline leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Eurymelinae) of the Indian subcontinent with description of new genera and eight new species, Zootaxa 5462 (1), pp. 1-125 : 77-80

Genus Tasnimocerus Ghauri

Tasnimocerus Ghauri 1975 c: 287 . Type species: Tasnimocerus clypeatus Ghauri , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Among the Idiocerines of the Old world with rugose pronotum, this genus can be recognized by the clypellus wide at base, forewing with three closed subapical cells, outer cell (fourth subapical cell?) also closed and confluent with costal margin. Male pygofer dorsoposterior angle with spine-like process, pygofer ventral process absent. Genera Jogocerus and Nilgiriscopus also have pronotum rugose, The former has the clypellus narrow at base and forewing with two subapical cells of which inner one is open. Nilgiriscopus has more or less parallel sided clypellus, forewing with two closed subapical cells.

Description. Female. Valvula I stout, curved dorsally slightly, narrowed distally, apex acute, with sculptured area occupying nearly 0.75 distal length, sculpture strigate ( Figs 70 EF). Valvula II stout, slightly curved dorsally, with toothed area occupying distal 0.7 length, without basal tooth or hyaline area, teeth close to each other but separated from each other, each tooth small ( Figs 70 GH).

Remarks. Ghauri (1975) described the genus adequately. The genus contains two species, T. clypeatus Ghauri from Simla ( India) and T. sindhensis Khatri & Webb from Tandojam ( Pakistan).

Key to species of Tasnimocerus Ghauri

1. Aedeagus with shaft apex strongly hooked ( Khatri & Webb 2014: fig. 1l), processes of aedeagus arising more dorsally with bases close together ( Khatri & Webb 2014: fig. 1n); pygofer distal lobe longer than wide, anal collar process short, not exceeding ventral margin of pygofer ( Khatri & Webb 2014: fig. 1f); female sternite VII medially deeply excavated ( Fig. 43G ).................................................................................... .. T. sindhensis Khatri & Webb

2. Aedeagus with shaft apex not strongly hooked ( Ghauri 1975: fig. 13), processes of aedeagus lateral with bases wide apart ( Ghauri 1975: fig. 12); pygofer distal lobe wider than long, anal collar process long exceeding ventral margin of pygofer ( Ghauri 1975: fig. 5); female sternite VII strongly narrowed in distal half and entire ( Fig. 62C ).......... T. clypeatus Ghauri

Figures

FIGURES 43A–I. Tasnimocerus sindhensis Khatri & Webb: A–B, holotype male, habitus, dorsal view and label data; C–E, paratype male, dorsal habitus, face and label data; F, female paratype, habitus; G, female abdomen ventral view; H–I, fore and hind wing, paratype male.

FIGURES 62A–L. Idiocerini and Megipocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female sternite VII: A, Periacerus bidentatus; B, P. lalithae; C, Tasnimocerus clypeatus D, Ulavius anasuyae; E, U. decoratus; F, U. dworakowskae; G, U. jayashriae; H, U. parvathiae; I, U. poornachandrai; J, U. spectabilis; K, Busonia distanti; L, B. manipurensis.

FIGURES 70A–P. Idiocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female valvula I, magnified view and valvula II, magnified view:A–D, Periacerus lalithae; E–H, Tasnimocerus clypeatus; I–L, Ulavius anasuyae; M–P, U. decoratus.