Corresponding author: Andrew Hicks (
Academic editor: A. Sanborn
A previously unknown species of the North American leafhopper genus
Hicks A (2015) In the shadow of a megalopolis, a new
Known colloquially as pinebarren smokegrass, Torrey’s dropseed, Torrey’s muhly, and New Jersey muhly,
A stand of
Because of the similarity of its specific epithet, it is also occasionally confused with
Thirty-five specimens (excluding juveniles) belonging to the new taxon were collected on the host plants by sweeping in two localities. Dissection, measurements, and photographs were completed with the use of a stereo microscope with a digital camera attachment. Genitalia were prepared following techniques found in
The
Length of male 3.5–3.8 mm, length of female 3.7–4.2 mm; head with length of crown ca. 1.5 times interocular width and ca. 0.68 times transocular width. Base color of dried specimens (Figs
Habitus, male, lateral aspect.
Habitus, female, dorsal aspect.
Face (Fig.
Face, ventral aspect, showing variation in amount of pigmentation.
Male genitalia. Pygofer (Fig.
Pygofer and subgenital plates, male, lateral aspect. Note heavily sclerotized caudoventral margin (arrow) and length of subgenital plates relative to pygofer.
Subgenital plates, ventral aspect, outlined for clarity.
Aedeagus, connective, lateral aspect.
Aedeagus, connective, ventral aspect.
SEMs of the aedeagal apex, from left to right, lateral, dorsal, and caudoventral aspects, the latter illustrating the position of the gonopore on the ventral unpaired process.
Female. Posterior margin of abdominal sternum VII (Fig.
Female 7th sternite. Commonly illustrated for this genus but only occasionally useful to separate species.
Female, bases of valvulae. Within
Holotype male, USA: NEW JERSEY: Atlantic Co., Mullica Twp., Batso Fireline Rd., 8.5km SE of Atsion, 27 July 2012 ALHicks, ca. 25 ft asl,
7 male and 3 female paratypes, NEW JERSEY: Burlington Co., Washington Twp., 10.1 km SE of Atsion, Batso Lk. Rd., 27 July 2012 ALHicks, ca. 20 ft asl,
Holotype and paratypes in the entomology collection of the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History (UCMC); paratypes in the collection of the United States National Museum of Natural History (USNM).
The specific epithet honors an extraordinary mentor, colleague and friend, the late Dr. Robert Whitcomb, who made, among many other accomplishments, major contributions to leafhopper taxonomy and ecology.
While
The relative abundance of
Distribution of
1 | Caudoventral margin of pygofer distinctly thickened, embrowned and terminating ventrally as a denticulate knob; on |
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– | Caudoventral margin of pygofer not particularly embrowned or thickened, ventral margin lacking process; on |
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2 | Apical portion of aedeagus with 5 processes |
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– | Apical portion of aedeagus with 6 processes |
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Dr. Gerry Moore of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Greensboro, NC kindly led me to the host plant in the field. His assistance greatly facilitated the discovery of this species. The photos of
Dedicated to my father, Robert L. Hicks 1922–2012.