A revision of the New World sharpshooter genus Xyphon Hamilton (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae)
Author
Catanach, Therese A.
Author
Dietrich, Chris H.
Author
Woolley, James B.
text
Zootaxa
2013
3741
4
490
510
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.3741.4.3
5f249637-c52d-422f-a05c-343b2f1e674c
1175-5326
221604
ADDD0FAB-506E-4380-8307-17BC5E8E3CBF
Xyphon gillettei
(Ball 1901)
(
Figs 3
C, 4C)
Draeculacephala gillettei
Ball 1901
Carneocephala gillettei
(Ball 1901)
: (Ball 1927)
Carneocephala balli
Knull 1940
—NEW SYNONYM
Xyphon gillettei
(Ball 1901)
: Hamilton 1985
Xyphon balli
(Knull 1940)
: Hamilton 1985
Diagnosis.
A large leafhopper usually with brown markings on crown. Similar to
X
.
spadice
but with macrosetal formula of hind femur 2+0. Aedeagus with dorsal process not compressed (much wider than tall).
Head. Clypellus-frontoclypeus junction in lateral view convex; frontoclypeus entirely yellow (possibly with brown muscle scars) (96%) or mottled yellow and tan (4%). Crown with anterior margin rounded; white band absent; median spot present, but poorly defined (56%) or present and well defined (44%); medioapical macula brown but poorly delimited (84%) or dark brown and well defined (16%), almost always surrounded by cream; dark markings (other than median spot) present; light brown lines concentrated medially, orange pigment absent; postocellar maculae absent or weak (96%) or large and well developed (4%); in lateral view concave. Distance from ocelli to lateral edge of head more than 2 times ocelli width and distance between ocelli at least 7.5 times ocelli width.
Thorax. Pronotum, dark green to brown circular markings absent; circular indentations present; midline variably white (72%), or concolorus with lateral areas (28%). Mesonotum, straw colored with visible parts unmarked (72%), very lightly marked (12%), with submedial spots and anterolateral triangles (8%), or anterolateral triangles only (8%); proepisternum, posterior edge, without irregular edge (92%) or with irregular edge (8%).
Forewings. Green pigment usually absent (96%) but rarely present (4%); wing majority colored straw (96%) or less commonly green (4%), anal veins white (52%) or forewing pale blue (48%). Apex with few crossveins (but more than 3).
Legs.
Hind
femur, macrosetal formula 2+0. Plantar surface of hind tarsomere, paleate setae numbering 1–3 (4%) or 4–5 (96%).
Abdomen. Sterna of male mostly red/orange (83%) or mostly yellow (17%).
Male genitalia. Pygofer with scattered and errect basolateral setae (75%) or absent (25%). Subgenital plate, macrosetae, large and forming distinct band (82%) or small and scattered (18%). Pygofers and subgenital plates with fine setae. Aedeagal shaft in lateral view with dorsal process, acute and not compressed (so wider than tall). Shaft in ventral view, narrow with basolateral expansions distinct; not compressed in dorsal view. Paraphyses, dorsal view, forming a circle, an oval; or forming a “U”. Style with single seta.
Material examined.
We coded
12 males
,
11 females
, and 1 unknown. Five additional specimens were also examined but not coded.
Host plants.
Salicornia
sp. and
Suaeda
sp.
Distribution.
Known from Colorado and Arizona.
Primary
types
.
Lectotype
at the USNM. Verbatim label for
Draeculacephala gillettei
: N. Colo
/ 3 20 ’98.
Lectotype
is a male in good condition. Although
lectotype
label under specimen notes that it was designated by P. W.
Oman
in 1946, it was actually designated as such in 1947 (
Oman
1947). Verbatim label for
Carneocephala balli
: “Holbrook, Ar. /
VII- 28-38
// D.J. and J. N. Knull Collrs.” This specimen is deposited at OSU and is a male in good condition, genitalia cleared and stored in glycerin under specimen.
Reasons for synonymy.
Consistent morphological differences were not found to separate
X. balli
from
X. gillettei
. The original description of
X. balli
states that it is smaller than
X. gillettei
, but the paper did not describe or illustrate the male genitalia. Dissection of the
holotype
of
X. balli
revealed genitalia identical to those of
X. gillettei
. While specimens identified as
X. balli
tend to be smaller, specimens of intermediate size were examined and this size variation is here interpreted as intraspecific.