Neoaliturus grandidentis Gnezdilov, 2022

Sinaiko, Guy & Dietrich, Christopher H., 2023, First record of the leafhopper Neoaliturus grandidentis Gnezdilov (Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) in Israel, Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 52 (6), pp. 67-73 : 68-70

Neoaliturus grandidentis Gnezdilov, 2022

( Figs 1–3)

Neoaliturus grandidentis Gnezdilov, 2022: 752 , figs 11–17.

Description: Color. In Israeli population, some males lightly colored ( Fig. 1A); others as in original description ( Fig. 1B). Females lightly colored ( Fig. 2A), otherwise display the same color pattern as males.

Size and shape. Body length of Males 3.18–2.58 MM (N=30, x̄ =3.33±0.09), of feMales 3.34–3.8 MM (N=30, x̄ =3.59±0.1). General habitUs of feMale elongated and more robust than male’s. In lateral view, female face more inflated than in male.

Female genitalia. Sternite 7 rectangular, its posterior margin with 3 shallow triangular emarginations, with 2 dark blotches above mesal emargination ( Figs 2B, D). Sculpture of first valvula granulose and submarginal preapically, imbricate near dorsal margin apically ( Fig. 2G). Teeth of second valvula non-scalene, obtusely triangular, unevenly spaced ( Fig. 2H). Third valvula with large blotch dorsally ( Fig. 2F).

Material examined: Israel: Southern Negev : 2♂ Nahal Shitta, 30.144°N 35.129°E, 30.iv.2022, G. Sinaiko; 15♀ Nahal Shitta, 30.144°N 35.129°E, 8.v.2022, G. Sinaiko; ‘ Arava Valley : 28♂ Yotvata, 29.912°N 35.064°E, 23.v.2020, G. Sinaiko; 16♀ Yotvata, 29.912°N 35.064°E, 25.iv.2022, G. Sinaiko.

Biology: Neoaliturus grandidentis was present in the field from April until July ( Fig. 3B). NyMphs of N. grandidentis were seen on Lycium sp. ( Solanaceae ), possible host plant of this species. Some of the specimens were parasitized by Dryinidae , as was evident by the presence of a typical thylacium on the leafhopper’s body.

Vocal communication: We recorded the male call (term as used by Tishechkin 2021) oscillogram and spectrogram of the Neoaliturus grandidentis ( Fig. 3A, S 1) in the field ( Fig. 3B, S 2).

Each syllable of the Male call is 13.6–47.6-second-long (X̄ =28.8±11.3, N=2, n=10): 18.32, 33.106, 21.614, 42.277, 47.565, 32.213, 15.741, 13.621 (SMNHTAU- I.435471); 32.281, 30.836 (SMNHTAU-I.435472). It comprises three distinct sections (1–3, Fig. 3A). Section 1 is a frequency modulated siren (term as used by Bluemel et al. 2014) or indistinguishable pulses (term as used by Tishechkin 2021) with increasing amplitude, which bears harmonics. Peak amplitude is reached near the last third of section A1. Section 2 also has harmonics and is of about the same amplitude as A1, however the peaks are more spaced and this section is shorter in terms of time. Section 3 is a very dense siren, and includes a low frequency section which does not exist in the former sections. It has a broadband frequency without harmonics, and terminates without a decrease in amplitude.