Macropsis abdullaevi Dubovskiy, 1966

Tishechkin, Dmitri Yu., 2013, Taxonomic study of Central Asian species of the genus Macropsis Lewis, 1836 (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Macropsinae). I: Redescriptions of willow-dwelling species from West Tien Shan Mountains, Zootaxa 3722 (4), pp. 581-595 : 583-587

Macropsis abdullaevi Dubovskiy, 1966

Figs. 2–11 , 14–50

Macropsis arslanbobica Dlabola, 1967: 31 . Syn. n.

Description. Body green, forewings usually more or less darkened, especially in apical part, in males darker than in females ( Figs. 2–7 ). In darkest males, forewings almost black with widely lightened costal margin ( Fig. 2 ). In light-coloured specimens forewings entirely translucent with green veins ( Figs. 4, 7 ). Proportion of specimens with dark forewings varies greatly between different localities.

Apodemes of 2nd abdominal sternite of males more or less triangular, with distinct projections at base on inner margins (Figs. 14, 20–24). Tergal apodemes rather short and rounded (Figs. 18–19).

Pygofer processes almost straight, with tips slightly bent forward (Figs. 15, 25–26). Penis in side view comparatively short and broad (Figs. 16, 27–29). Style tips pointed and somewhat bent inwards (Figs. 17, 30–33). 2nd valvulae of ovipositor with 3–5 preapical teeth (Figs. 34–36).

Body length (including tegmina): ♂, 3.4–3.9 mm; ♀, 4.1–4.5 mm.

Nymph either entirely black ( Fig. 8 ) or bright green ( Fig. 9 ); nymphs with intermediate coloration (as in adult specimens, Figs. 3, 6 ) were not found.

Differs from M. ibragimovi and M. asiatica by well-developed projections at base of apodemes of 2nd abdominal sternite in male and, usually, by presence of males with very dark forewings in populations. Very similar to M. tarbagataica , but can be distinguished from latter one by broader penis and somewhat smaller body size.

Host. Salix niedzwieckii (section Helix ).

Calling signal. Signal consists of repeated phrases following one after another without gaps ( Figs. 37–50 ). Each phrase begins with trill sounding like monotonous buzz, followed by succession of pulses; pulses at end of succession sometimes merge together. Durations of each part as well as of whole phrase vary greatly. Males usually sing unceasingly for several minutes.

Material examined. 1—Chatkal Mtn. Range, Sary-Chelekskiy Biosphere Nature Reserve, the ravine of Khodzha-Ata River in the environs of Arkyt Village, 18. VII. 2008, 2 nymphs, 16. VII. 2009, 8 ♂, 6 ♀, 1 nymph, 29. VI. 2011, 15 ♂, 12 ♀, 12 nymphs, 18. VII. 2011, 7 ♂, 7 ♀, 1 nymph. 2—foothills of Chatkal Mtn. Range, ca. 5 km north of Karajigach, 9. VII. 2009, 11 ♂, 7 ♀, calling signals of 4 ♂ are recorded on disk at the temperature FIGURES 14 – 36. Macropsis abdullaevi Dubovskiy. 14, 20–24―male abdominal apodemes of the 2nd sternite; 18–19― the 2nd tergite; 15, 25–26―pygofer process, lateral view; 16, 27–29―penis, lateral view; 17, 30–33―end of style; 34–36―2nd valvulae of ovipositor. 14–17― holotype of M. arslanbobica Dlabola ; 18–36―specimens from different localities in West Tien Shan Mts.

21–22o C. 4—Kurpsay Ravine on the right bank of Lower Naryn River Valley, ca. 30 km downstream from Kara- Kul’, 7. VII. 2011, 2 ♂, calling signals of both males are recorded on disk at the temperature 22–23o C. 6— Ferghana Mtn. Range, Arslanbob Town (type locality), 10, 14. VII. 2009, 15 ♂, 12 ♀, calling signals of 3 ♂ are recorded on disk at the temperature 21–22o C, 13. VII. 2011, 9 ♂, 3 ♀, 6 nymphs. 7—foothills of Ferghana Mtn. Range, Kara-Unkyur River Valley in the environs of Kyrghyz-Gava Village, 10. VII. 2009, 6 ♂, 21 ♀, 5 nymphs, calling signals of 2 ♂ recorded on disk at the temperature 20–22o C.

Holotype of M. arslanbobica with the labels: “ Kazachstan [sic!] Dubovskij Arslanbob 10. VII. 60 ” ( Fig. 10 ), “ Macrosteles [sic!] arslanbobica n. sp. TYPUS det. Dlabola” ( Fig. 11 ), “Museum Paris collection Dlabola” and “Museum Paris MNHN (EH) 7493”.

Distribution. West Tien Shan Mts.: foothills and midlands of Chatkal and Ferghana Mtn. Ranges ( Kyrgyzstan). The range of host plant includes West and Central Tien Shan Mts. and also Alai and Transalai Ranges of the Pamir-Alai Mts. System.

Remarks. Identification of M. abdullaevi is based on the original description and investigation of specimens from several localities in the West Tien Shan Mts. including the type locality, Arslanbob Town on the Ferghana Mtn. Range. Two key characters mentioned in the original description (Dubovskiy, 1966) are an aid in properly identifying this species. These are the unusually dark forewings and the host plant, so-called “small-leaved willow” (Dubovskiy, 1966): S. niedzwieckii actually differs from all other willows from this region by its small leaves about 25–50 mm in length.

Identification of M. arslanbobica is based on reinvestigation of the holotype collected at the same locality as M. abdullaevi . This is a male specimen 3.9 mm in length with underdeveloped 2nd abdominal apodemes (Figs. 14– 17). The distinct projection at the base of the left sternal apodeme (Fig. 14) in combination with the rather short and wide penis (Fig. 16) is evidence that it is conspecific with M. abdullaevi . The labels under the holotype contain two errors. First, Arslanbob Town is located on the territory of Kyrgyzstan, not in Kazakhstan. Second, the name “ Macropsis arslanbobica ” is erroneously written as “ Macrosteles arslanbobica ”.

The original description of M. arslanbobica was also somewhat inaccurate (Dlabola, 1967). According to the first line of the description, the male body length is 3.6–4.05 mm, whereas the female was unknown. However, as indicated below, the type material includes only one male (holotype), but seven females.

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 13. Macropsis abdullaevi Dubovskiy: 2 – 4 ― male lateral view; 5 – 7 ― female; 8 – 9 ― nymph; M. arslanbobica Dlabola: 10 – 11 ― holotype labels; M. tarbagataica Mitjaev: 12 ― male lateral view; 13 ― female.

FIGURES 37 – 50. Macropsis abdullaevi Dubovskiy, oscillograms of calling signals of males from different localities. 37 – 38, 45 – 46 ― Arslanbob (type locality), No. 6 on the map, 37 – 38 ― two parts of the same signal following immediately one after another; 39, 47 ― Kara-Unkyur River Valley near Kyrgyz-Gava Village, No. 7 on the map; 40 – 42, 48 – 49 ― ca. 5 km North of Karajigach Village, No. 2 on the map, 41 – 42 ― two parts of the same signal following immediately one after another; 43 – 44, 50 ― Lower Naryn River Valley, Kurpsay Ravine, No. 4 on the map, 43 – 44 ― two parts of the same signal following immediately one after another. Faster oscillograms of the parts of signals indicated as “ 45 – 50 ” are given under the same numbers.