Scaphoideus assamensis Distant

Scaphoideus assamensis Distant

Figs 1–9.

Scaphoideus assamensis Distant, 1918: 67; Rao, 1990: 93 –95. LECTOTYPE Ψ, INDIA [BMNH, examined].

Coloration as described by Distant (1918). Four median spindle­shaped markings on vertex broad and complete, lateralmost one on either side narrower and sometimes incomplete, not reaching hind margin. Scutellum yellow with a faint orange brown stripe on either side of median line, basal triangles dark brown.

Male genitalia: Pygophore lobe unarmed, ventrally expanded near anterior 0.25. Subgenital plate broad in basal 0.6 then narrowed, with three stout setae in an oblique row. Style with well­developed preapical lobe, apophysis laterally curved, distally tapering. Connective with stem almost as long as arms, paraphyses convergent in basal 0.33 then divergent, in apical 0.33 to 0.20 serrated on their lateral margin, apex tapered. Aedeagus with well­developed dorsal apodeme having lateral triangular projection at base, preatrium well­developed, shaft slender, straight, directed caudally, with a subapical gonopore on ventral margin and an apical pair of anteriorly directed short processes.

Female genitalia: Hind margin of seventh sternum concave with a median bilobed protuberance.

Measurements: Male 5.80 mm long and 1.35 mm wide across eyes. Female 5.80 mm long and 1.45 mm wide across eyes.

Material examined: INDIA: Lectotype Ψ, “ Scaphoideus assamensis Dist. type ” (hand written label) “Assam” (hand written label) “Distant Coll. 1911­383” (printed label) here designated(BMNH). Other material: INDIA: 1ɗ, Sikkim: Gopaldhara, Rungbong Valley, 14.vi.1918, H. Stevens; 2Ψ, West Bengal: Darjeeling, Gopaldhara, BW, 4720 ft (1430 m), 2.ix.1917 and 14.x.1918, H. Stevens (BMNH).

Remarks: Both S. assamensis and S. stigmaticus Distant resemble each other externally. However, they can be differentiated by the shorter spindle­shaped markings in assamensis and the different colour pattern on the scutellum, in addition to differences in the male genitalia and hind margin of female seventh sternum. Neither species has the central carina on the pronotum, which was erroneously mentioned by Distant (1918) and Rao (1990).