Colistra acapitatus Stiller & Webb 2022
Creators: name: Stiller, Michael
name: Webb, Michael D.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Cicadellidae
Colistra
Colistra acapitatus

description: Colistra acapitatus sp. n.
(Figs 3F–Q, S–V, 13A–R, 14A–N, 31D)
Material examined.
Type locality. Holotype male, South Africa, Western Cape province; Seekoevlei Farm, near Clanwilliam; - 32.16, 18.75; 1 Aug. 1996; R.G. Oberprieler, R. Stals, M. Stiller leg.; yellow pan trap in five year old plantation of Rooibos tea Aspalathus linearis Fabaceae; CCDL08555; SANC.
Type specimen. Holotype male, glued to triangle card, pinned, with genitalia in a separate microvial. Original label: “ South Africa: / Wcape / Seekoevlei / (farm) near / Clanwilliam / 32°09.3ʹS / 18°45.1ʹE 360 m / 01.viii.1996 / Oberprieler / Stals Stiller” “Collected with / yellow pan traps / in 5 year old / plantation of / rooibos tea / Aspalathus / linearis / (Fabaceae)” “ SANC Pretoria / Dbase# CCDL / 08555”.
Paratypes. 102♂♂, 78♀♀, 16 nymphs (n=196)
South Africa, Western Cape province:
1♀; Herold; -33.84, 22.44; 15 Jul. 1971; R. Mutare leg.; CCDL 28213; SANC.
3♂♂, 6♀♀; Vanrhynsdorp; -31.61, 18.73; 15 Sep. 1976; J.G. Theron leg.; CCDL 27832; SANC.
1♂; Cedarberg near Clanwilliam; -32.35, 18.98; 21 Dec. 1976; J.G. Theron leg.; CCDL 28214; SANC.
8♂♂, 8♀♀, 1 nymph; Groenkol Farm; -32.10, 18.70; 1 Aug. 1996; O.C. Neser, R.G. Oberprieler, M. Stiller leg.; sweeping in one year old, two year old, topped and three year old plantation of Aspalathus linearis Fabaceae; CCDL 08557; SANC.
26♂♂, 6♀♀, 2 nymphs; ibid holotype; BMNH, INHC, SANC.
1♂; Uitsig Farm; -31.97, 19.11; 5 Aug. 1996; R.G. Oberprieler, R. Stals, M. Stiller leg.; sweeping 4 year old plantation of Aspalathus linearis Fabaceae; CCDL 08552; SANC.
14♂♂, 6♀♀, 11 nymphs; Uitsig Farm; -31.97, 19.11; 5 Aug. 1996; R. Stals, M. Stiller, R.G. Oberprieler leg.; sweeping 2–3 year old plantation of Aspalathus linearis Fabaceae; CCDL 08553; SANC.
8♂♂, 11♀♀, 1 nymph; Aggenbagskraal Farm; -32.28, 18.88; 26 Nov. 1996; O.C. Neser, R.G. Oberprieler, M. Stiller leg.; DVac 3 year old and 5–6 year of plantations of Aspalathus linearis Fabaceae; CCDL 08560; SANC.
17♂♂, 13♀♀, 1 nymph; Seekoevlei Farm; -32.16, 18.75; 27 Nov. 1996; O.C. Neser, M. Stiller, R.G. Oberprieler leg.; DVac 5 year old plantation of Aspalathus linearis Fabaceae; CCDL 08556; BMNH, INHC, SANC.
2♂♂, 2♀♀; Uitsig Farm; -31.97, 19.11; 28 Nov. 1996; O.C. Neser, R.G. Oberprieler, M. Stiller leg.; DVac 2 year old plantation of Aspalathus linearis Fabaceae; CCDL 08554; SANC.
3♂♂, 5♀♀; Seekoevlei Farm; -32.16, 18.75; 15 Apr. 1997; O.C. Neser, R.G. Oberprieler, M. Stiller leg.; on 5 year old plantation of Aspalathus linearis Fabaceae; CCDL 08559; SANC.
1♀; Wiedouw Farm base of Gifberg Pass; -31.73, 18.77; 3 Oct. 2002; M. Stiller leg.; sweeping low vegetation in area cleared of bush; CCDL 18286; SANC.
1♂; Gifberg Pass Summit Vanrhynsdorp; -31.77, 18.76; 9 Oct. 2002; M. Stiller leg.; sweeping low grass, forbs and Restio at tower; CCDL 18287; SANC.2♂♂, 4♀♀; Dwarsrivier Farm Cedarberg SE Citrusdal; -32.45, 19.20; 10 Oct. 2002; M. Stiller leg.; sweeping
Metalasia fastigiata Asteraceae; CCDL18288; SANC.
1♀; Jonkiespoort Farm Bokkeveld Mountains; -32.82, 19.45; 12 Oct. 2002; M. Stiller leg.; sweeping; CCDL18285; SANC.
1♂; Arniston; -34.65, 20.22; 11 Dec. 2004; M. Stiller leg.; DVac grasses in depression, Ehrharta sp. Poaceae, and other Poaceae; CCDL18972; SANC.
1♂, 1♀; De Hoop Nature Reserve; 34.45, 20.42; 11 Dec. 2004; M. Stiller leg.; DVac grass and shrubs; CCDL18512; SANC.
2♂♂; De Hoop Nature Reserve; 34.45, 20.42; 11 Dec. 2004; M. Stiller leg.; DVac Themeda triandra Poaceae; CCDL18516; SANC.
1♂, 1♀; Sanddrift farm; -32.47, 19.22; 5 May 2011; M. Stiller leg.; sweeping, beating and DVac Restio, Cliffortia and Phylica; CCDL28212; SANC.
1♂, 1♀; Klondyke farm; -33.31, 19.59; 29 Nov. 2019; M. Stiller leg.; sweeping Restio, Dicerothamnus, other shrubs and grass; CCDL27892; SANC.
4♂♂, 4♀♀; Kleinkliphuis farm, Clanwilliam; -32.133, 18.947; 4 Feb. 2022; M. Stiller leg.; sweeping all shrubs, forbs, restios etc.; CCDL28609; SANC.
5♂♂, 5♀♀;De Pakhuys farm,Clanwilliam; -32.118, 19.068; 6Feb.2022;M.Stiller; leg.;sweeping Anthospermum sp. Rubiaceae; CCDL28603; SANC.
1♂, 2♀♀; Grootwinterhoek Nature Reserve, Porterville; -32.997, 19.059; 8 Feb. 2022; M.Stiller leg.; sweeping Agathosma capensis Rubiaceae; CCDL28604; SANC.
South Africa, Northern Cape province:
1♀; Doltuin Oorlogskloof; -31.48, 19.08; 19 Dec.2016; M.Stiller leg.;sweeping Phylica plumigera Rhamnaceae; CCDL26708; SANC.
Diagnosis. Aedeagus with width at apex 1.1–1.8 times wider than medial width of shaft; dorsal apodeme reduced; single or paired teeth on shaft variable in position, size and orientation; preatrium about as long as shaft.
Etymology. Named for the small-headed aedeagus, Latin, prefix a -, not, without, capitatus, head. Gender masculine.
Description.
Male, female and nymph.
Color.
Head. Marking similar to that of C. bucapitatus, C. acapitatus in Fig. 3F, G, J, L–Q, or absent (Fig. 3K) or small (Fig. 3H, I, M).
Pronotum. Dorsally 2–4 pairs of brown marks, variable, separate or partially or entirely merged (Fig. 3F–Q).
Nymph. Mottled with brown (Fig. 3S, T, V) or pale (Fig. 3U) with deltate brown marking on head distinct in Fig. 3T.
Tegmina. Costa yellow, other veins light to dark brown; cells translucent, except discal, brachial and jugal cells, whitish opaque, brown marking in inner and outer discal cells, apical cell 3 and between claval vein 1 and 2 (males in Fig. 3F–L); females often more markings, including reticulation in claval cells (Fig. 3M–Q).
Morphology.
Tegmina. Veins in male in Fig. 13Q, female in Fig. 14N.
Hind wing. Length/width=2.26–2.46, triangular, costal margin slightly convex, veins in male, Fig. 13R, female, Fig. 14M.
Measurements.
Male (n=85). Apex of crown to apex of tegmina 2.85–3.29 mm, apex of crown to apex of abdomen 3.16–3.67 mm; crown length 0.50–0.55 mm; crown length next to eyes 0.35–0.39 mm; pronotum length 0.38–0.43 mm; head width 1.05–1.22 mm; pronotum width 0.92–1.14 mm; ocellus diameter 26–31 µm; interocular distance 53–66 µm; crown angle 90–97°; crown length/crown length next to eye=1.35–1.45; head width/pronotum width=1.02–1.11; ocellus diameter/interocular distance=0.42–0.55; crown length/pronotum length=1.26–1.35; pronotum length/ pronotum width=0.36–0.41.
Female (n=57). Apex of crown to apex of tegmina 2.99–3.45 mm, apex of crown to apex of abdomen 3.78–4.29 mm; crown length 0.54–0.59 mm; crown length next to eyes 0.38–0.43 mm; pronotum length 0.41–0.45 mm; head width 1.13–1.27 mm; pronotum width 1.04–1.18 mm; ocellus diameter 26–31 µm; interocular distance 54–69 µm; crown angle 90–96°; crown length/crown length next to eye=1.34–1.45; head width/pronotum width=1.06–1.10; ocellus diameter/interocular distance=0.38–0.54; crown length/pronotum length=1.27–1.37; pronotum length/ pronotum width=0.37–0.41.
Terminalia.
Male.
Segment 10. Lateral margin convergent, sublinear, in dorsal view length/width=0.92–1.10 (n=6).
Pygofer lobe. 3–6 macrosetae, rarely seven, 74–156 µm in length (similar to that of C. bucapitatus sp. n.).
Subgenital plate. Greatest length/greatest width=1.15–1.49. Apex of apophysis extended three quarters into plate (similar in C. bucapitatus sp. n.).
Style. Greatest length/greatest width=3.58–4.22, length apophysis/greatest length=0.20–0.24; apophysis angle 39–57° (Fig. 13L).
Connective. Greatest width across arms/width of apex of stem=1.70–2.02, length arms/length stem=0.84–1.84; angle of arms 73–88°; greatest length/greatest width=0.52–0.66 (Fig. 13O, P).
Aedeagus. Narrow apex, 1.1–1.8 times wider than medial width of shaft (Fig. 13A–F). Anterior margin variable with apical (Fig. 13C, D, F) to subapical (Fig. 13A, B, E) tooth-like projection or paired, sclerotized teeth or tooth fused entirely or with apex free; posterior margin with distinct apical and subbasal paired teeth or apical teeth reduced or absent and subbasal teeth damaged in some specimens, variable in orientation and length, i.e., transverse or longitudinal, orientation, laterad or posteriad (Fig. 13A–K, M, N). Dorsal apodeme reduced, pygofer membrane attached at junction between shaft and preatrium. Preatrium elongate, variably angled to shaft (i.e., acute (Fig. 13F), right angle (Fig. 13B–E) or obtuse (Fig. 13A)).
Female.
Sternite 7. Rectangular to trapezoid (distal width/basal width=0.74–0.83, greatest length/greatest width=0.41– 0.45), lateral margins convergent, straight or curved, posterior margin with shallow V-shaped notch (Fig. 14A–C) or without notch (Fig. 14D, E, specimens from Uitsig), basal length at notch/greatest length laterally=0.72–0.85 (based on measurements from drawings and in situ).
Valvula 1. Parallel-sided, apex acuminate (Fig. 14F), sculpture pattern commonly reticulate, striate towards base, similar to pattern in other species of Colistra.
Valvula 2. As in Fig. 14J; narrow, short teeth with trough finely serrate, similar pattern in other species of Colistra.
Valvula 3. 8–21 marginal to submarginal macrosetae at apex, 26–43 µm long.
Valvifer 1. About as long as wide, dorsal margin right-angled, ventral margin shallowly rounded, anterior and posterior apices acute. Length/width=1.35–1.77 (Fig. 14K, L).
Valvifer 2. Whole part in Fig. 14G, length/width=2.81–3.15; sculpture pattern with submarginal circular porelike structure (Fig. 14H, Groenkol specimen); Seekoevlei specimen with circular pore-like structure and triangular denticles (Fig. 14I). Sculpture in 20 examined valvifers without setae out of 27 dissected ovipositors.
Remarks. This species has the narrow apex of the aedeagal shaft, reduced dorsal apodeme and elongated preatrium.The dorsal apodeme is considered reduced with the point of attachment to the pygofer phragma recognized at the junction of the base of the shaft and apex of the preatrium. The denticulation of the apex of the shaft is variable. In 11 dissected males from Uitsig, the anterior tooth is usually paired and close-set, but in two specimens, the base is fused. The position of this tooth is subapical to medial, whereas in 22 dissected males from other localities the anterior tooth is apical, and smaller than in the males from Uitsig. The large, single, median anterior tooth in Fig. 13E is found in two specimens from two localities in close proximity, i.e., Dwarsrivier and Sanddrift. This large, single tooth on the anterior margin of the shaft in lateral view resembles that of P. piketensis but that are paired in the latter and with paired apical teeth on the posterior margin (Fig. 16C). All species of Proekoides however, have the crown more acute and with a median longitudinal brown marking (Fig. 15A–L). Posterior teeth on the aedeagus in C. acapitatus are rarely absent, obscure in lateral view, but visible in lateroventral or laterodorsal or caudal view, and variable in position and orientation. The connective stem and arm length is variable due to variable width of the membrane at the base of the stem and arms. In females the sternite 7 appear to have a shallow notch, except in specimens from Uitsig with a near rounded posterior margin, as in C. parvulus (Figs 1G, 8A) and C. semialius (Fig. 10A, B). Distribution and potential natural distribution model in Fig. 31D.
description: Published as part of Stiller, Michael & Webb, Michael D., 2022, Leafhoppers of the Fynbos Biome of South Africa: Colistra, Proekes, Proekoides and a new genus (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae, Bonaspeiini), pp. 1-79 in Zootaxa 5199 (1) on pages 29-33, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5199.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7251761