Loeia cetacea, Dietrich, 2025

Dietrich, Christopher H., 2025, Review of the Southeast Asian leafhopper genus Loeia Duan (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae), Zootaxa 5666 (2), pp. 195-210 : 202

Loeia cetacea sp. nov.

( Figures 1D , 3A–D , 7F )

Diagnosis. This species resembles L. brevis in having a greatly elongated pygofer but is easily recognized by the arcuate aedeagal shaft lacking paired ventral spines at the base.

Description. Body length of male 5.3–5.6 mm, female 6.5 mm. Head in dorsal view with crown slightly longer medially than next to eye, 1.4× wider at base than medial length. Male pygofer ~6.0× longer than maximum height, without ventral spine. Subgenital plate not extended to midlength of pygofer, laterally convex basal section much shorter than concave distal section. Style relatively long and slender, preapical lobe broadly convex, apex footlike with prominent mesal heel and evenly tapered lateral toe. Aedeagus without dorsal apodeme, shaft moderately robust and long, tubular, evenly arcuate, with recurved ventroapical process divided into pair of finlike branches, gonopore at apex of shaft above distal process. Female sternite VII wider than long, lateral margins tapered in posterior half, posterior margin shallowly concave with light brown median macula.

Etymology. The species name is an adjective formed from the Latin word for “whale” and refers to the distal process of the aedeagus shaped like the flukes of a whale.

Material examined. Holotype male, THAILAND Petchaburi, Kaeng Krachan NP, Panernthung/km27/water pump, 12º49.151'N 99º22.483'E 950m, Malaise trap 4–11.vii.2008

Chusak & Sirichai & Arkom leg. T4337 [ QSBG]. Paratypes: 2 males, THAILAND Petchaburi , Kaeng Krachan NP, Panernthung /km30; old lavatory, 12º49.484'N 99º21.909'E 970m, Malaise trap 27.vi-4.vii.2008 , Sirichai leg. T4339 ; 1 male, THAILAND Surat Thani , Khao Sok NP Klong Morg Unit, 8º53.725'N 98º39.025'E 87m, Malaise trap 24–31.iii.2009 , Pongphan leg. T4477 ; 1 female, THAILAND Petchaburi , Kaeng Krachan NP, Panernthung / km27/water pump, 12º49.151'N 99º22.483'E 950m, Malaise trap 11–18.vii.2008 , Sirichai & Chusak leg. T4334 [all paratypes INHS] .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Loeia new species, dorsal and lateral habitus, males. A, L. articulata; B, L. biclavata; C, L. brevis (left forewing missing); D, L. cetacea; E, L. chelata; F, L. compressa; G, L. decidua; H, L. elongata; I, L. robusta; J, L. serrata (right forewing missing); K, L. sinuata; L, L. tridentata. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Loeia male genital capsule and genitalia. A–D, L. cetacea: A–B, genital capsule, lateral and ventral view; C–D, genitalia, lateral and ventral view. E–H, L. chelata: E–F, genital capsule, lateral and ventral view (apices of pygofer lobes broken); G–H, genitalia, lateral and ventral views. I–L, L. compressa: I–J, genital capsule, lateral and ventral view; K–L, genitalia, lateral and ventral views.

FIGURE 7. A–D, Loeia serrata ovipositor: A–B, first valvula with enlargement of apex; C–D, second valvulae and gonoplac with enlargement of second valvulae apex. E–N, sternite VII: E, L. articulata; F, L. cetacea; G, L. chelata; H, L. compressa; I, L. decidua; J, L. elongata; K, L. robusta; L, L. serrata; M, L. tamtipi; N, L. tridentata. O, L. tamtipi, base of abdomen, ventral view, showing 1S and 2S apodemes; P, same showing apodemes only.