Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang, 2018

Viraktamath, C. A. & Yeshwanth, H. M., 2023, Leafhopper subfamily Hylicinae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) in the Indian subcontinent with description of new species, Zootaxa 5319 (4), pp. 451-500 : 467

Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang

Figs. 6C–F , 9E–F , 12E , 14A–C , 15D, J, 16E–H, 20A–G, 29A

Diagnosis. Pronotum with median carina present in anterior half, anterior margin evenly rounded, carinate, carinae diverging posteriorly till midlength of pronotum, with pair of elevated carinae on either side of median line in posterior half. Hind wing costal margin with 3 stout spines in proximal half ( Fig. 14B, C ). Abdominal pleurites III–VIII evenly rounded without posterolateral spines, pleurites of pregenital segment (segment VII in female and VIII in male) lamellate with posterolateral angle produced into unforked spine. Aedeagus with shaft more or less of uniform width throughout in ventral view, dorsal surface in distal 0.5 length transversely wrinkled. Female sternite VII more or less rectangular with posterolateral angles rounded ( Fig. 15J ).

Material examined. INDIA: Karnataka: Bangalore, 1 ♁, 1 ♀, Yellow pan trap in Chilli crop, yellow pan trap 1–6.x.1980, Bidari ; 1 ♁, 18–23, ix.1980, yellow pan trap, Bidari ; 1 ♁, ix.2001; 1♁, 15.x.2005, Shobha rani; 2♁, 29.vii.2007, Girish ; 1♁, 4.viii.2011, A.N. Reddy; 1♁, 5.ix.2012, Latha ; 2♁, 9.x.2012, Girish ; 1♁, 16.x.2012, Girish ; 16 ♁, 2018. Yellow pan trap, Yeshwanth, H.M.; 1♀, Sirsi, Yana, 262m, 21.ix.2012, Vinayaka T. India : Tamil Nadu: Tiruvannvally [now Tiruvannamalai], 22.x.2000, Prathapan. India : Maharashtra: 4♁, Radhangar, Kolhapur dist. , 26.vi.1990, K.D. Ghorpade. India : Tamil Nadu: Nilgiris, Kunjapana , 29.vii.2019, Shankararaman ( UASB) .

Remarks. Tang & Zhang (2018) described this species based on specimens collected from South India and also illustrated the male and female genitalia. H. paradoxa and H. scutealba are very similar and variable in coloration and size but differ in the shape of anterior half of the pronotum, lateral margins of the abdominal segments and shape of the aedeagus as given in diagnosis of these two species and also in the key above. The female sternite VII is also quite different in the two species (compare figures 15I and 15J). H. scutealba was collected in yellow pan traps run in a chili pepper ( Capsicum annuum L., Solanaceae ) field and by sweeping on low vegetation.

Figures

FIGURES 6A–H. Species of Hylicinae, habitus, dorsal and lateral view. A–B, Hylica paradoxa Stål, female from Nepal; C–F Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang, male (CD) and female (EF); G–H, Kalasha confusa sp. nov., holotype male.

FIGURES 9A–F. Species of Hylicinae, faces. A, Hatigoria zhangi sp. nov.; B, Hemisudra indica sp. nov.; C–D, Hylica paradoxa Stål, male from Thailand (C) and female from Nepal (D); E–F, Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang, male (E) and female (F).

FIGURES 12A–L. Species of Hylicinae, male and female abdomen dorsal view. A, Hatigoria zhangi sp. nov.; B, Hemisudra indica sp. nov.; C–D, Hylica paradoxa Stål, male (C) and female (D); E, Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang, male; F, Kalasha confusa sp. nov.; G, Nacolus tuberculatus (Walker); H, Sudra manipurensis sp. nov.; I, Sudra notanda Distant, male; J, Traiguma nasuta Distant, male; K, Traiguma nielsoni Viraktamath & Webb, male; L, Traiguma verticalis Distant, male.

FIGURES 14A–O. Forewings (A, D, G, J, M), hind wings (B, E, H, K, N) and magnified view of costal margin (C, F, I, L, O) of Hylicinae. A–C, Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang; D–F, Kalasha manikya sp. nov.; G–I, Nacolus tuberculatus (Walker); J–L, Sudra manipurensis sp. nov.; M–O, Traiguma verticalis Distant.

FIGURES 15A–K. Metabasitarsomere plantar surface (A–H) and female sternite VII (I–K) of Hylicinae. A, Balala mekongia Tang & Zhang; B, Hatigoria zhangi sp. nov.; C, Hemisudra indica sp. nov.; D, Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang; E, Kalasha manikya sp. nov.; F, Nacolus tuberculatus (Walker); G, Sudra manipurensis sp. nov.; H, Traiguma verticalis Distant: I, Hylica paradoxa Stål; J, Hylica scutealba Tang & Zhang; K, Traiguma verticalis Distant.