Leofa (Edmundiana) pedunculata, Zahniser, James N., 2008

Zahniser, James N., 2008, Seven new species and new distributions of Old World Chiasmini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae), with a redescription, key to genera, and species checklist for the tribe, Zootaxa 1808, pp. 1-32 : 14-16

Leofa (Edmundiana) pedunculata sp. nov.

( Figs. 37–44 )

General color fuscous to ochraceous with brown and black markings. Head narrower than pronotum. Crown transversely depressed medially, more brightly colored anteriad of depression and with large dark markings further anteriad. Ocelli situated somewhat dorsally, ~ 1x their own diameter from eye. Frontoclypeus shagreen to slightly rugose, marked with dark brown and fuscous and with muscle scars. Clypellus very broad and tapering apically, tumid, colored dark brown. Genae dark brown beneath eyes and fuscous ventrally. Pronotum short, ochraceous, dark brown medially at posterior margin, carinate posterolaterally but not anteriorly. Mesonotum with a dark brown median longitudinal band. Wings brachypterous, lightly colored and with some brown spots, vestigial venation lightly apparent. Legs dark brown and fuscous. Profemur intercalary row with ~7 setae, the basal 3 of which are very long, relatively thick, and sparsely spaced. Protibia formula 3+4. Profemur row AM with several macrosetae basad of AM1. Hind femur 2+2+1.

Male. Pygofer rounded apically, with numerous thick macrosetae near apex and with a dense complement of shorter setae. Valve large, triangular, with scattered fine setae. Subgenital plates truncate, very short, without macrosetae and with scattered fine setae. Connective V-shaped, stem very short, anterior arms long. Style preapical lobe not pronounced, apophysis expanded, truncate, pointed laterally, and with scale-like sculpturing. Aedeagus situated on a tall stalk, very broad and with pair of laterally flattened falcate processes arising posterolaterally and each with smaller tooth posteriorly. Gonopore large, situated caudoventrally. Segment X strongly sclerotized dorsally and forming an oblong ring around anus, with lateroventral knobs.

Material examined. Male holotype: B. CONGO: / Munowe, Park / Upemba / I-19-58, 1300m. Next label: E.S. Ross & / R.E. Leech / collectors. Holotype deposited at CAS.

Etymology. The species name is the feminine adjective of pedunculus, and refers to the stalk at the base of the aedeagus.

Diagnosis. Somewhat similar to Leofa kumasamba , but distinguished by the truncate subgenital plates and the form of the aedeagus.

Discussion. I interpret the label as indicating that specimen was collected in Upemba National Park (established 1939) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Searches for “Munowe” yielded no results.

Figures

FIGURES 37 – 44. Leofa (Edmundiana) pedunculata sp. nov. 37: dorsal habitus, male; 38: lateral habitus, male; 39: male pygofer, caudodorsally; 40: male pygofer, caudally; 41: male pygofer, laterally; 42: connective, styles, and aedeagus, ventrally; 43: aedeagus, laterally; 44: valve and subgenital plates, ventrally.