Elginus vulgaris, 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 : 29-30

Elginus vulgaris sp.n.

( Figs 44 , 77 , 104 , 130 , 156 , 179 , 205 , 232 , 258 , 273 )

Diagnosis. Aedeagal shaft with narrow apex, deflected to one side. Plate with medial margins widely separated.

Etymology. Latin, found everywhere, for the wide distribution of this species.

Dimensions. Male (n = 105). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.4–3.8 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 3.0– 3.4 mm; vertex medially 0.5–0.6 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 0.8–0.9 mm; scutellum 0.4–0.5 mm. Ocellus: diameter 26–30 µm; ocellocular distance 45–62 µm.

Colour. Male. Fig. 44 .

Abdominal apodemes. Male. Fig. 273 .

Genital capsule. Male. Aedeagal shaft tubular, almost straight, apical third less than half width of shaft, deflected exclusively left; short, 1.5 times as long as dorsal apodeme; gonopore lateral, right side ( Figs 77 , 104 ). Connective as in Fig. 130 . Plate apex pointed; medial margins separated by about 60°; dorsally with medial sclerotization; setation usually uniseriate, variable (3–6) ( Fig. 156 ). Pygofer lobe broadly rounded ( Figs 179 , 205 ). Style apophysis straight, sometimes protruding beyond medial margin of plate; apophysis 0.5 times as long as median arm ( Fig. 232 ).

Dimensions. Female (n = 59). Lengths: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 3.4–3.8 mm, apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 3.5–3.8 mm; vertex medially 0.6 mm; vertex laterally next to eye 0.4 mm; pronotum medially 0.4 mm; scutellum medially 0.3–0.4 mm. Maximum widths: head 1.0– 1.1 mm; pronotum 0.9–1.0 mm; scutellum 0.5–0.6 mm. Ocellus: diameter 28 µm; ocellocular distance 47–64 µm.

Genital capsule. Female. Sternite VII with variably deep notch, sometimes with 4 circular sclerotized areas, laterally always with fine pubescence ( Fig. 258 ). Third valvula with 2 longer macrosetae. Second valvula smooth.

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, Free State. Wonderwater Strip Mine Sasolburg, 26°46ʹS 27°48ʹE, 1460 m, DVac, 11.xii.1997, M. Stiller, wetland near Wonderfontein spring, natural moist grassland recently disturbed, perched water table (common: Arundinella nepalensis , Pennisetum thunbergii , Aristida junciformis subsp. junciformis , Leersia hexandra ( Poaceae )) ( SANC). Paratypes (118♂, 92♀, 4 nymphs). Free State. 2♂, 1♀, Ficksburg, 28°53ʹS 27°53ʹE, 30.i.1981; 4♂, 6♀, Fouriesburg, 28°37ʹS 28°13ʹE, 30.i.1981; 3♂, 3♀, Warden, 27°56ʹS 29°00ʹE, 30.i.1981; all J.G. Theron; 11♂, 7♀, ibid. holotype; 4♂, 10♀, ibid. holotype, but 11.ii.1998; mine entrance garden, translocated rehabilitation, seasonally wet marshland; natural moist grassland, perched water table; old game park, seasonally wet marshland; 3♀, ibid. holotype, but 5.v.1998; near west berm, seeded rehabilitation, Eragrostis curvula (Poaceae) common; 3♂, 3♀, ibid. holotype, but 11.xi.1998; entrance garden, translocated rehabilitation; natural grassland; 8♂, 4♀, ibid. holotype, but 17.xii.1998; entrance garden, translocated rehabilitation, seasonally wet marshland; old game park, marshland grassland; natural grassland; 6♂, 4♀, ibid. holotype, but 12.v.1999; near Wonderfontein spring, permanently moist area; old game park, marshland grassland; traffic island at entrance to mine, translocated rehabilitation clayey soil; west berm, seeded rehabilitation; 4♂, 1♀, ibid. holotype, but 23.xi.1999: east berm, E aspect, reseeded repair of eroded area of seeded rehabilitation; old game park; marshland grassland, near Wonderfontein spring, permanently moist area; 4♂, 7♀, ibid. holotype, but 10.iv.2000; entrance garden, translocated rehabilitation, seasonally wet marshland, natural moist grassland, perched water table; 2♂, 3♀, Koloniesplaas Memel, 27°42ʹS 28°36ʹE, 1850 m, 14.xi.2003; 1♀, Woudsicht road 14 km S Vrede, 27°34ʹS 29°00ʹE, 1800 m, 4.i.2004, sweeping grass in road reserve; 1♂, 2♀, eastern part of Platberg near Harrismith, 28°15ʹS 29°12ʹE, 2362 m, 11.i.2007, sweeping, common grass species: Themeda triandra , Tristachya leucothrix (Poaceae) 1♂, 13 km west Memel on Route 34, 27°39ʹ53.35ʺS 29°27ʹ05.37ʺE 1910 m 25.xii.2008, sweeping grass & forbs; 1♂, Muller’s Pass near summit, 27°51ʹ39.68ʺS 29°41ʹ10.15ʺE 1878 m 25.xii.2008, sweeping grass & forbs; all M. Stiller. Gauteng. 1♀, Bronkhorstspruit, 25°46ʹS 28°44ʹE, 6.iv.1985, J.G. Theron; 3♂, Zimvelo Game Park Bronkhorstspruit, 25°40ʹS 25°59ʹE, 26–27.x.1991, sweeping grass; 1♂, 2♀, Aeolians Sailing Club Vaal Dam, 26°49ʹ22.08ʺS 28°10ʹ40.97ʺE, 1500 m, 20.iii.2006, sweeping grass in wetland, Setaria sp. (Poaceae) dominant. KwaZulu-Natal. 1♂, Witsieshoek Mountain Resort, 29°39ʹS 28°52ʹE, 1840 m, 16.iv.2002, M. Stiller & E. Breytenbach, sweeping grass and forbs; 1♂, 3♀, Kamberg, SE 29°26ʹ47.67ʺS 29°46ʹ26.58ʺE, 1783 m, 26.xii.2004, sweeping grazed grass; 2♂, 1♀, Little Switzerland Hotel ridge NE, 28°34ʹS 29°03ʹE, 1650 m, 8.v.2007, M. Stiller, sweeping Aristida monticola (Poaceae) growing amongst trees and shrubs. Limpopo. 14♂, 8♀, 7 nymphs, Strydpoortberg S Polokwane, 24°04ʹ30ʹ S 29°48ʹ15ʹ E, 1700 m, 13.xii.2003, sweeping grass on sandstone outcrop, S-slope, 1♂, 1♀, 1 nymph, Sekororo Kloof north east of Burgersfort, 24°23ʹS 30°27ʹE, 1430 m, 19.iii.2005, M. Stiller, sweeping grass and forbs. Mpumalanga. 1♂, Ermelo, 26°32ʹS 29°59ʹE, 24.xi.1971, R. Kluge; 3♀, Dullstroom, 25°24ʹS 30°04ʹE, 2100 m, 17.xii.2000, sweeping short grass & forbs; 3♂, Long Tom Pass near Lydenburg, 25°06ʹS 30°34ʹE, 18.xii.2000, sweeping short grass & forbs; 1♂, Suikerbosfontein Farm, 25°56ʹS 30°19ʹE, 3–4.ii.2001, sweeping grass & forbs in damp soil; all M. Stiller; 3♂, 5♀, 1 nymph, Sterkspruit Nature Reserve, 25°09ʹS 30°32ʹE, 1590 m, 8.iii.2002, DVac tall ungrazed grass; 2♂, 2♀, Carolina 7 km SE, 26°09ʹS 30°08ʹE, 1650 m, 8.iii.2002, sweeping grass & forbs in moist soil; all M. Stiller & J. du Plessis; 3♂, Belfast 1 km W, 25°41ʹS 29°58ʹE, 1900 m, 17.ii.2005, M. Stiller, DVac grass & forbs in grazed pasture; 5♂, Blyde River Nature Reserve, 24°41ʹS 30°52ʹE, 1464 m, 14.xi.2005, M. Stiller, DVac moribund grass & Festuca spp (Poaceae) ; 4♂, 2♀, Longtom rail siding, 25°32ʹ46.44ʺS 30°03ʹ40.32ʺE, 1957 m, 16.xi.2005, DVac moribund grass Themeda triandra (Poaceae) dominant. North-West. 1♀, Grootkloof Magaliesberg near Buffelspoort, 25°51ʹS 27°24ʹE, 30.ix.1990, M. Stiller, sweeping grass; 4♂, 3♀, Fernkloof, 25°51ʹS 27°17ʹE, 7.iv.1991, sweeping grass; 1♀, Eureka Dome, 25°51ʹS 27°17ʹE, 7.vii.1991; 1♀, Waterberg NE of Thabazimbi, 24°27ʹS 27°40ʹE, 1–3.v.1992 sweeping grass; 4♂, 2♀, Hamerkopkloof Magaliesberg, 25°50ʹ37ʺS 27°25ʹ04ʺE, 1454 m, 30.x.2005, sweeping grass in seepage area & stream margin; all M. Stiller ( AMNH, BMNH, SANC).

Remarks. The widely separated plates are a useful feature to distinguish this species. The plate of E. extrinsecus is also separated, but to a lesser degree, the medial margin is curved and the plate is shorter than in E. vulgaris . The aedeagus is similar to that of a number of species. The lateral pubescence of the female sternite VII is known only from this species.

Figures

FIGURES 41–46. Elginus species and Micropedeticus, habitus views. Fig. 41, E. unispinus, female; Fig. 42, E. unispinus, dark nymph; Fig. 43, E. unispinus, pale nymph; Fig. 44, E. vulgaris, male; Fig. 45, M. ochrus, male; Fig. 46, M. ochrus, female.

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.