Balclutha caldwelli Blocker

Zahniser, James N., Halbert, Susan E., Moore, Matthew R., Mottern, Jason L. & Beuzelin, Julien M., 2023, Balclutha jafara (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): integrative identification of a species introduced in the Western Hemisphere, and notes on other Balclutha, Zootaxa 5361 (4), pp. 526-554 : 538

Balclutha caldwelli Blocker

Blocker (1967) described B. caldwelli , a relatively widely distributed species occurring in the US (FL), Mexico through Paraguay, and the Caribbean. It was misidentified as B. virescens (Osborn) for some time. The holotype and paratypes of B. caldwelli (USNM) were examined here. C&M (1952) and Linnavuori (1959) misidentified this species as B. virescens , and figures in their publications are consistent with B. caldwelli Blocker. Blocker’s (1967) figures are somewhat simplified representations and allow for (mis)interpretation. The Linnavuori (1959) figures of the aedeagus (Lv. 1959, Figs 144C,D) and the C&M (1952) figure of the pygofer (C&M 1952, Fig. 41p 2 ) more accurately illustrate B. caldwelli . The shape of the aedeagus in lateral view, the short, sclerotized part of the phragma above the aedeagal base, and the pygofer with a prominent, slightly curved vertical bar at mid-length are distinctive for this species. Specimens of B. caldwelli from Naples, E of Ochopee, and Venice, FL were found at USNM misidentified as B. curvata Caldwell, And specimens from Miami, FL, June & July, 1944 at USNM were misidentified as B. virescens . Blocker’s (1967) key suggests that the head of B. caldwelli is narrower than the pronotum, but this was found to be variable among specimens examined here. Webb & Vilbaste (1994) commented that this species could be a synonym of B. rieki Knight ( Australia, New Zealand, SE Asia, Oceania) and B. eremica Lindberg ( Cape Verde Is., sub-Saharan Africa).

Figures

FIGURES 41–45. Balclutha flavescens (Baker). (41–44, aedeagus, lateral; 45, connective and styles, ventral; 45a, connective showing measurements made to approximate lengths of connective stem [A] and anterior arm [B]): (41) from Palm Beach Co., FL, FSCA R3A8, JNZ_AA0024; (42) from Collier Co., FL, FSCA L12222021 3444, JNZ_AA0034; (43) from Pan de Azucar, Panama, USNMENT01513493; (44–45) from Punta Gorda, Belize, USNMENT01513022.

FIGURES 1–10. Balclutha jafara habitus. (1) male, Colombia, dorsal, IMDx_1020; (2) male paratype, Seychelles, dorsal, NHMUK 013588847; (3) male, Colombia, IMDx_1019; (4) male, Zimbabwe, dorsal, USNMENT01513827; (5) female paratype, Aldabra, dorsal, NHMUK 013588848; (6) male, South Sudan, dorsal, USNMENT01513828; (7) male, Colombia, dorsal, JNZ_AA0474; (8) same, ventral; (9) male, Colombia, lateral, IMDx_1020; (10) male, Colombia, lateral, JNZ_AA0474. Figs. 7–8, 10: images taken of specimen immersed in ethanol.