Elginus furcillatus, Stiller, M., 2009

Stiller, M., 2009, Revision of Elginus Theron (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with the description of two new genera and comments on the grassland leafhopper fauna in South Africa, Zootaxa 2135 (1), pp. 1-56 : 16-17

Elginus furcillatus sp.n.

( Figs 22–24 , 62 , 89 , 116 , 141 , 166 , 191 , 217 , 244 , 264 )

Diagnosis. Aedeagal shaft C-shaped with subapical process at base of gonopore.

Etymology. Latin, diminutive for forked, for the apical structure of the aedeagal shaft.

Colour. Male, female & nymph. Two paired spots on the vertex, without additional markings ( Figs 22, 23 ). Nymph as in Fig. 24 .

Dimensions. Male (n = 19). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.1–3.2 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.5–2.7 mm; vertex medially 0.3–0.4 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.2–0.3 mm; pronotum medially 0.3–0.4 mm; scutellum medially 0.2–0.3 mm. Maximum widths: head 0.9–1.0 mm; pronotum 0.7–0.8 mm; scutellum 0.4–0.5 mm. Ocellus: diameter 28 µm; ocellocular distance 39–49 µm.

Abdominal apodemes. Male. Fig. 264 .

Genital capsule. Male. Aedeagal shaft tubular, tapering, C-shaped in lateral view; with short, dorsal process at base of subapical gonopore, process angled away from shaft; shaft short, 1.9 times as long as dorsal apodeme; dorsal apodeme rounded, with shallow posterior notch ( Figs 62 , 89 ). Connective as in Fig. 116 . Plate apex pointed; median margin sub-parallel; 5–10 macrosetae, regular row ( Fig. 141 ). Pygofer lobe narrowly rounded ( Figs 166 , 191 ). Style apophysis short curved, wide base, apex blunt; apophysis 0.3 times as long as median arm; near base of plate, ( Fig. 217 ).

Dimensions. Female (n = 13). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3. 5–3.8 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 3.6–3.8 mm; vertex medially 0.5 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.3–0.4 mm; pronotum medially 0.4 mm; scutellum medially 0.3–0.4 mm. Maximum widths: head 1.0– 1.1 mm; pronotum 0.9 mm; scutellum 0.5–0.6 mm. Ocellus: diameter 25–35 µm; ocellocular distance 47–59 µm.

Genital capsule. Female. Sternite VII with shallow, wide indentation, 2 pillars ( Fig. 244 ). Third valvula with 1–2 pairs macrosetae apically (21.9x3.9 µm, 24.5x1.9 µm, 21.9x3.4 µm, 30.9x5.8 µm), about 20 setae along entire length. Second valvula smooth.

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, Western Cape. Vishoek, 34°08ʹ17.46ʺS 18°25ʹ5.46ʺE, 85 m, 9.xii.2004, M. Stiller, DVac grassland dominated by Cymbopogon marginatus , Stipagrostis zeyheri subsp. zeyheri and Tribolium hispidum (Poaceae) in firebreak ( SANC). Paratypes (16♂, 14♀, 3 nymphs). Eastern Cape. 1♂, Gonubie East London, 32°28ʹS 28°00ʹE, 15.xii.1974, sweeping; 1♂, Port Elizabeth, 24°42ʹS 26°32ʹE, 1.iv.1975. Western Cape. 1♀, Jonkershoek, 33°56ʹS 18°52ʹE, 15.x.1971; 1♀, Oudekraal, 33°59ʹS 18°22ʹE, 21.xi.1974; all J.G. Theron; 1♀, road between Elim and Bredasdorp, 34°32ʹS 19°47ʹE, 100 m, 1.iv.2002; 4♂, 3♀, 3 nymphs, road between Stanford and Gansbaai, 34°30ʹS 19°26ʹE, 150 m, 2.iv.2002, sweeping S. zeyheri subsp. z eyheri, regrowth after fire; 9♂, 7♀, ibid. holotype; 1♀, Goudini Weg Station NW Worcester, 33°36ʹ7.74ʺS 19°19ʹ59.88ʺE, 258 m, 13.xii.2004, DVac Ehrharta calyana and Tribolium uniolae (Poaceae) , Ficinia bulbosa (Cyperaceae) , regrowth after fire; 1♂, Voëlvlei Dam, Gouda, 33°20ʹ46.08ʺS 19°03ʹ23.34ʺE, 90 m, 14.xii.2004, DVac S. zeyheri subsp. zeyheri ; all M. Stiller ( AMNH, BMNH, SANC, USIC).

Remarks. The marking on the vertex ( Figs 22, 23 ) is unique to this species of Elginus . It bears some internal morphological resemblance with E. theroni from the Fynbos Biome where the apophyses of the styles of both species are relatively short. Elginus tubulus also has a style with a short apophysis, but its aedeagal shaft is very long. There is less resemblance with E. saltus that has a very long apophysis of the style. Elginus saltus , E. theroni and E. furcillatus all have a similar C-shaped aedeagal shaft, with the subapical spine on the shaft that distinguishes E. furcillatus from the other two species. Specimens from Stanford were found on the regrowth of S. zeyheri subsp. zeyheri after recent fire. This grass is an endemic in the Western Cape. The specimen from Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape Province) has a slightly larger genital capsule, the plate apex is blunt and the aedeagal shaft has the dorsal process shorter than in specimens from the Western Cape. Also the vector length of the shaft is 2.2 times as long as the dorsal apodeme that is arbitrarily categorized as long. Additionally, the markings on the vertex of E. furcillatus are similar to an undescribed genus and species from the Eastern Cape Province that will be described later.

Figures

FIGURES 17–24. Elginus species, habitus views. Fig. 17, E. extrinsecus, male; Fig. 18, E. extrinsecus, female; Fig. 19, E. extrinsecus, nymph; Fig. 20, E. extrinsecus, female sternite VII; Fig. 21, E. falcatus, male; Fig. 22, E. furcillatus, male; Fig. 23, E. furcillatus, female; Fig. 24, E. furcillatus, nymph.

FIGURES 51–77. Elginus species, male, aedeagus, dorsal or ventral view. Fig. 51, E. acutus, ventral view; Fig. 52, E. bispinus, dorsal view; Fig. 53, E. cavatus, dorsal view; Fig. 54, E. contradens, dorsal view; Fig. 55, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus, dorsal view; Fig. 56, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus, dorsal view; Fig. 57, E. denticulatus, dorsal view; Fig. 58, E. dexteruncus, dorsal view; Fig. 59, E. eccentricus, dorsal view; Fig. 60, E. extrinsecus, ventral view; Fig. 61, E. falcatus, dorsal view; Fig. 62, E. furcillatus, dorsal view; Fig. 63, E. latus, dorsal view; Fig. 64, E. levilobus, ventral view; Fig. 65, E. malotiensis, dorsal view; Fig. 66, E. matarei, ventral view; Fig. 67, E. minutulus, dorsal view; Fig. 68, E. oriens, dorsal view; Fig. 69, E. recavus, dorsal view; Fig. 70, E. saltus (Naudé), dorsal view; Fig. 71, E. semialatus, with paired process, ventral view; Fig. 72, E. semialatus, single process, ventral view; Fig. 73, E. theroni, dorsal view; Fig. 74, E. tortuosus, dorsal view; Fig. 75, E. tubulus, dorsal view; Fig. 76, E. unispinus, ventral view; Fig. 77, E. vulgaris, dorsal view.

FIGURES 78–104. Elginus species, male, aedeagus, lateral view. Fig. 78, E. acutus; Fig. 79, E. bispinus; Fig. 80, E. cavatus; Fig. 81, E. contradens; Fig. 82, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 83, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 84, E. denticulatus; Fig. 85, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 86, E. eccentricus; Fig. 87, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 88, E. falcatus; Fig. 89, E. furcillatus; Fig. 90, E. latus; Fig. 91, E. levilobus; Fig. 92, E. malotiensis; Fig. 93, E. matarei; Fig. 94, E. minutulus; Fig. 95, E. oriens; Fig. 96, E. recavus; Fig. 97, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 98, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 99, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 100, E. theroni; Fig. 101, E. tortuosus; Fig. 102, E. tubulus; Fig. 103, E. unispinus; Fig. 104, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 105–130. Elginus species, male, connective, Fig. 105, E. acutus; Fig. 106, E. bispinus; Fig. 107, E. cavatus; Fig. 108, E. contradens; Fig. 109, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 110, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 111, E. denticulatus; Fig. 112, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 113, E. eccentricus; Fig. 114, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 115, E. falcatus; Fig. 116, E. furcillatus; Fig. 117, E. latus; Fig. 118, E. levilobus; Fig. 119, E. malotiensis; Fig. 120, E. matarei; Fig. 121, E. minutulus; Fig. 122, E. oriens; Fig. 123, E. recavus; Fig. 124, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 125, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 126, E. theroni; Fig. 127, E. tortuosus; Fig. 128, E. tubulus; Fig. 129, E. unispinus; Fig. 130, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 131–156. Elginus species, male, plate, Fig. 131, E. acutus; Fig. 132, E. bispinus; Fig. 133, E. cavatus; Fig. 134, E. contradens; Fig. 135, E. cultellus; Fig. 136, E. denticulatus; Fig. 137, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 138, E. eccentricus; Fig. 139, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 140, E. falcatus; Fig. 141, E. furcillatus; Fig. 142, E. latus; Fig. 143, E. levilobus; Fig. 144, E. malotiensis; Fig. 145, E. matarei; Fig. 146, E. minutulus; Fig. 147, E. oriens; Fig. 148, E. recavus; Fig. 149, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 150, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 151, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 152, E. theroni; Fig. 153, E. tortuosus; Fig. 154, E. tubulus; Fig. 155, E. unispinus; Fig. 156, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 157–179. Elginus species, male, pygofer, dorsal view. Fig. 157, E. acutus; Fig. 158, E. cavatus; Fig. 159, E. contradens; Fig. 160, E. cultellus; Fig. 161, E. denticulatus; Fig. 162, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 163, E. eccentricus; Fig. 164, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 165, E. falcatus; Fig. 166, E. furcillatus; Fig. 167, E. latus; Fig. 168, E. levilobus; Fig. 169, malotiensis; Fig. 170, E. matarei; Fig. 171, E. minutulus; Fig. 172, E. oriens; Fig. 173, E. recavus; Fig. 174, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 175, E. theroni; Fig. 176, E. tortuosus; Fig. 177, E. tubulus; Fig. 178, E. unispinus; Fig. 179, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 180–205. Elginus species, male, pygofer, lateral view. Fig. 180, E. acutus; Fig. 181, E. bispinus; Fig. 182, E. cavatus; Fig. 183, E. contradens; Fig. 184, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 185, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 186, E. denticulatus; Fig. 187, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 188, E. eccentricus; Fig. 189, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 190, E. falcatus; Fig. 191, E. furcillatus; Fig. 192, E. latus; Fig. 193, E. levilobus; Fig. 194, E. malotiensis; Fig. 195, E. matarei; Fig. 196, E. minutulus; Fig. 197, E. oriens; Fig. 198, E. recavus; Fig. 199, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 200, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 201, E. theroni; Fig. 202, E. tortuosus; Fig. 203, E. tubulus; Fig. 204, E. unispinus; Fig. 205, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 206–232. Elginus species, male, style, Fig. 206, E. acutus; Fig. 207, E. bispinus; Fig. 208, E. cavatus; Fig. 209, E. contradens; Fig. 210, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 211, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 212, E. denticulatus; Fig. 213, E. dexteruncus; Fig. 214, E. eccentricus; Fig. 215, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 216, E. falcatus; Fig. 217, E. furcillatus; Fig. 218, E. latus; Fig. 219, E. levilobus; Fig. 220, E. malotiensis; Fig. 221, E. matarei; Fig. 222, E. minutulus; Fig. 223, E. oriens; Fig. 224, E. recavus; Fig. 225, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 226, E. semialatus, with paired process; Fig. 227, E. semialatus, single process; Fig. 228, E. theroni; Fig. 229, E. tortuosus; Fig. 230, E. tubulus; Fig. 231, E. unispinus; Fig. 232, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 233–258. Elginus species, female, sternite VII. Fig. 233, E. bispinus; Fig. 234, E. cavatus; Fig. 235, E. contradens; Fig. 236, E. cultellus, associated males with curved aedeagus; Fig. 237, E. cultellus, associated males with straight aedeagus; Fig. 238, E. denticulatus; Fig. 239, E. dexteruncus variant; Fig. 240, E. dexteruncus variant; Fig. 241, E eccentricus; Fig. 242, E. extrinsecus; Fig. 243, E. falcatus; Fig. 244, E. furcillatus; Fig. 245, E. levilobus; Fig. 246, E. malotiensis; Fig. 247, E. matarei; Fig. 248, E. minutulus; Fig. 249, E. oriens; Fig. 250, E. oriens; Fig. 251, E. recavus; Fig. 252, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 253, E. semialatus; Fig. 254, E. theroni; Fig. 255, E. tortuosus; Fig. 256, E. tubulus; Fig. 257, E. unispinus; Fig. 258, E. vulgaris.

FIGURES 259–273. Elginus species, male, abdominal apodemes, Fig. 259, E. cultellus, curved aedeagus; Fig. 260, E. cultellus, straight aedeagus; Fig. 261, E. denticulatus; Fig. 262, E. eccentricus; Fig. 263, E. falcatus; Fig. 264, E. furcillatus; Fig. 265, E. malotiensis; Fig. 266, E. matarei; Fig. 267, E. minutulus; Fig. 268, E. oriens; Fig. 269, E. saltus (Naudé); Fig. 270, E. theroni; Fig. 271, E. tortuosus; Fig. 272, E. tubulus; Fig. 273, E. vulgaris.