Busonia distanti, VIRAKTAMATH & YESHWANTH, 2024

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 : 96-100

Busonia distanti sp. nov.

Fig. 53A–L , 60E , 62K , 72I–L .

Diagnosis. B. distanti sp. nov. resembles B. scutellaris Maldonado-Capriles in coloration but differs in the curvature of the aedeagus. Aedeagus in lateral view is not as sharply pointed at apex as in B. scutellaris and also the shaft in basal half is almost straight compared to the latter species. In ventral view, the aedeagus is much shorter and atrium ventral projection much longer compared to those in B. scutellaris .

Description. Uniformly ochraceous. Ocelli dark brown. Apex of clypellus paler than rest of clypellus. Basal triangles of mesonotum dark brown, Forewing transparent, with basal half of costal margin with dark brown stripe narrowed near apex and obliquely continued on vein R, apical areas of apical cells 3 and and apices of apical cells 3 and 4 dark brown ( Fig. 60E ). Abdominal tergites dull orange brown.

Crown medially slightly longer than next to yes, 3.6–4.1× as wide between eyes as medially long. Mesonotum longer than combined length of pronotum and crown. Pronotum 3× as wide as long. Face about as wide as long or slightly wider. Female sternite VII about 2.5× as wide as long medially, with posterior median area angularly produced ( Figs 53G , 62L ). Ovipositor is basally concealed by the overlapping mesal margins of pygofer medially in basal 0.33 ( Fig. 53G ); sternite VII 1.5× as wide at base as long medially, almost rectangular in basal 0.7 region then posterior margin narrowed and produced medially ( Fig. 62K ).

Male genitalia. Pygofer about 5× as wide dorsally as ventrally, dorsal margin almost straight. posterior margin convex, posterodorsal angle rounded, lobe-like. Subgenital plates shorter than length of pygofer. Connective Tsphed with stem much longer than arms, Style in dorsal view with prominent sharp tooth near base of apophysis, apex tapering with a few slender but long setae on dorsal margin. Aedeagus with ventral wall of atrium prolonged ventrally and about half as long as dorsolateral margin of atrium, latter almost straight in lateral view, shaft in basal half almost straight, of uniform width then curved dorsally and narrowed, with a few serrations at base of shaft laterally. Gonopore apical.

Female genitalia. Valvula I almost straight, broadest at midlength then tapered distally, with dorsal sculpturing reticulate and occupying distal 0.46 length, ventral sculptured area restricted preapically to a distance of about 0.23 length ( Figs 72 IJ). Valvula II more or less straight, abruptly expanded at basal 0.3 attaining maximum width at about 0.5 length and then tapering to pointed apex; dorsal marginal teeth very small almost like serration, visible in distal region only ( Figs 72 KL).

Measurements. Male 3.6–3.9 mm long, 1.2–1.3 mm wide across eyes. Female 4.0– 4.1 mm long, 1.4 mm wide across eyes.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂, NEPAL: (Kokhi, Tokha ), 28.x.-14.xi.1978, V.K. Thapa ( UASB). Paratypes. 1 ♂ 7 ♀, same data as holotype; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, NEPAL: Tokha, 12.ix-14.x.1978, V.K. Thapa [handwritten label] ( UASB, NBAIR).

Etymology. The species is named after Mr. W.L. Distant who contributed considerably to the world Hemiptera and also wrote seven volumes of the Fauna of British India series dealing with Hemiptera (Rhynchota) .

Figures

FIGURES 53A–L. Busonia distanti sp. nov.: A–C, holotype male habitus, dorsal, lateral views and face; D–G, female paratype face (D), habitus, dorsal, lateral views and female apical abdominal segments (G); H–I, male genital capsule, lateral view; J, anal collar processes, dorsoposterior view; K, styles, connective and aedeagus, dorsal view; L, connective and aedeagus, lateral view.

FIGURES 60A–O. Idiocerini and Megipocerini of the Indian subcontinent, forewings (A–F) and female sternite VII (G– O). A, Matangia indica; B, Metidiocerus deodarae; C, Periacerus lalithae; D, Ulavius anasuyae; E, Busonia distanti; F, B. manipurensis; G, Balocha astuta; H, B. fuscolinea; I, Amritodus atkinsoni; J, A. brevis; K, A. quinquepunctatus; L, A. saeedi; M, Bellacerus bellus; N, Busoniomimus manjunathi; O, B. mudigerensis.

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 72A–P. Idiocerini and Megipocerini of the Indian subcontinent, female valvula I, magnified view and valvula II, magnified view: A–D, U. poornachandrai; E–H, Ulavius spectabilis, I–L, Busonia distanti; M–P, B. manipurensis.