Vilargus simulans, Stiller, 2010

Stiller, M., 2010, Revision of Vilargus Theron (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from South Africa, Zootaxa 2674 (1), pp. 1-25 : 14

Vilargus simulans sp. n.

( Figs 86–91 ).

Diagnosis. Aedeagal shaft with subbasal, ventrolateral, narrow spine. Plate rectangular.

Etymology. Latin, simulatus, imitate, copy, for the similarity of the plate to that of V. trunculicans sp. n.

Colour. Male. Ochraceous, few or no fuscous markings dorsally (all examined material collected into alcohol).

Male. Dimensions. (n=32) Length from apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 2.0– 2.2 mm, length from apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.4–2.6 mm, median length of vertex 0.4 mm, length of vertex next to eye 0.2– 0.3 mm, length of pronotum 0.3 mm, width of head 0.7–0.8 mm, width of pronotum 0.7 mm, diameter of ocellus 28 µm, ocellocular distance 37–44 µm.

Genitalia. Aedeagus ventrally, shaft arising from preatrium, spine arising ventrolaterally, subbasally on shaft, spine about half as long as shaft; dorsal apodeme produced laterally, with sclerotized concave margin; gonopore apical, posterior ( Figs 86, 87 ). Connective with arms slightly asymmetric, one arm shorter, more curved than other, straight arm; stem triangular, about as long as arms ( Fig. 88 ). Style with anterior medial arm short, not reaching much beyond base of apophysis, approximately right-angled to base; apophysis digitate, apex pointed ( Fig. 89 ). Plate generally rectangular, short, medial and posterior margins right-angled, lateral margin slightly convergent; 2–4 macrosetae ( Fig. 90 ). Pygofer about rectangular; posteroventral margin rounded ( Fig. 91 ). Pygofer lobe acutely triangular, subbasal ( Fig. 91 ).

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa. Eastern Cape Province. Qachasnek , site #31, 30°10ʹS, 28°36ʹE, 1717 m, 29.xi.2005, MDTP survey, sweeping ( SANC) . Paratypes. 24♂. Lesotho . 1♂, Sehlabathebe Nature Reserve , 29°53ʹS, 29°04ʹE, 1.iv.1994, M. Stiller, sweeping grass . South Africa. Eastern Cape Province. 3♂, Qachasnek , site #32, 30°10ʹS, 28°36ʹE, 1706 m, 29.xi.2005, MDTP survey, sweeping ; 20♂, ibid., holotype ( BMNH, INHS, SANC) .

Remarks. Vilargus simulans is very similar in external appearance and shape of the plate to that of V. trunculicans . However the male genitalia, specifically the aedeagus, are distinctly different in these two species. In V. trunculicans the aedeagal shaft in dorsal view is positioned laterad of the midline, with a process that is longer than the shaft, arising from the opposite side of the preatrium ( Figs. 104, 105 ). In V.simulans the aedeagal shaft arises on the midline, and has a process that is about half as long as the shaft, arising subbasally and ventrolaterally from the shaft ( Figs 86, 87 ). No other species of Vilargus has a process of similar length. So far V. simulans has been recorded from Qachasnek and Sehlabathebe, whereas V. trunculicans occurs further north in a number of provinces. Some male and female specimens of V. pumilicans were also recorded from Qachasnek. No significant differences in colour and shape of the sternite 7 between females from the type locality and females of V. pumilicans are recognized. Therefore a female cannot be assigned to V. simulans . No deformed specimens were examined.

Figures

FIGURES 86–91. Vilargus simulans sp. n. Male genitalia. 86, aedeagus, ventrally; 87, aedeagus, laterally; 88, connective; 89, style; 90, plate; 91, pygofer, laterally (scale = 0.1 mm).

FIGURES 104–115. Vilargus trunculicans sp. n. Male and female genitalia. 104, aedeagus, ventrally; 105, aedeagus, laterally; 106, connective; 107, style; 108, plate; 109, pygofer, dorsally; 110, pygofer, laterally; 111–115, female, sternite 7 (scale = 0.1 mm).