Kalasha manikya, Viraktamath & Yeshwanth, 2023

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 : 470-471

Kalasha manikya sp. nov.

Figs. 7A, B , 10B , 14D–F , 15E, 22A–G

Diagnosis. Similar in coloration to K confusa but larger (10 mm long compared to 6.3 mm in K. confusa ) with branches of ventral pygofer process curved (see also Remarks).

Description. Coloration similar to that in K. confusa except that the reddish brown areas on head and thorax more extensive, labium, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs brown and wing venation especially in distal half pale yellowish.

Crown medially almost as long as interocular distance but shorter than width of head including eyes, disc depressed with median longitudinal sulcus visible. Face including eyes longer than wide, clypellus as long as frontoclypeus, surface punctate. Pronotum rugose-punctate, punctae in transverse rows, medially longer than median length of crown but shorter than mesonotum, 1.4× as wide across posterolateral angels as wide across eyes, 1.5× as wide posteriorly as anterior margin, posterior margin concave medially. Mesonotum punctate, punctae slightly smaller than those on pronotum. Forewing punctate in basal 0.75, venation especially in distal half clearly visible.

Male genitalia. Pygofer with vertical membranous cleft in basal 0.25, about 1.8× as long as wide in lateral view, ventral process reaching 0.75 length of pygofer in lateral view, with its dorsal fork short, and curved dorsoventrally, ventral fork longer and straight in basal 0.66 and slightly directed dorsad. Subgenital plates broader at base but widest in basal 0.25 then slightly narrowed, apex conically rounded, about 1.5× as long as wide and almost reaching posterior margin of pygofer in lateral view. Aedeagus with atrium as long as shaft, dorsal apodeme shorter than atrial length in lateral view, shaft narrow at basal 0.33 and slightly widened distally in lateral view, dorsal surface weakly transversely wrinkled in mid region.

Measurements. Male 10.0 mm long, 2.4 mm wide across eyes and 3.3 mm wide across posterolateral angles of pronotum.

Material examined. INDIA: HOLOTYPE ♁, Tripura: Agartala , 13.vi.2002, Pit fall trap in maize field ( UASB).

Etymology. This species is named after the Manikya dynasty who ruled Tripura state for several centuries.

Remarks. This species closely resembles K. minuta in size, body proportions and gross structure of male genitalia but can be differentiated by the following features: a) crown lateral margins in front of eyes straight (slightly concave in K. minuta ); b) male pygofer in lateral view about 1.8× as long as wide (more than 2× as long as wide in K. minuta ); c) male pygofer ventral process extending to more than 0.75 length in lateral view and longer fork is dorsally directed in distal 0.66 (reaching just 0.5 length and longer fork is almost straight in K. minuta ); d) distal margin of connective much wider than in K. minuta ; e) aedeagus with shaft 1.1× longer than atrium in lateral view (about 1.7× longer than atrium in K. minuta ) and angle between dorsal apodeme and shaft is obtuse compared to acute angle in K. minuta . K. manikya is more or less the same length as K. brachyala Tang & Zhang and both species have been collected in pitfall traps, but they differ in the shape of the male pygofer ventral process (branches of male pygofer process unequal in K. manikya , with the slightly smaller fork curved and the longer fork bent at its distal 0.33 compared to almost subequal branches and the slightly longer branch slightly curved and the smaller branch almost straight in K. brachyala ); and the aedeagal shaft in K. manikya is widened from base to subapex whereas it is of uniform width through entire length in K. brachyala ).

Figures

FIGURES 7A–J. Species of Hylicinae, habitus, dorsal and lateral view. A–B, Kalasha manikya sp. nov., holotype male; C–D, Sudra manipurensis sp. nov., holotype male; E–F, Sudra notanda male from Thailand, G–J Traiguma nasuta Distant, males from Naduvattam (GH) and Thai shola (IJ).

FIGURES 10A–G. Species of Hylicinae, faces. A, Kalasha confusa sp. nov.; B, Kalasha manikya sp. nov.; C, Sudra manipurensis sp. nov.; D–E, Traiguma nasuta Distant, male from Naduvattam (D) and Thai shola (E); F–G, Traiguma nielsoni Viraktamath & Webb, male (F) and female (G).

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.