A new species of grape-nune leafhopper of the genus Arboridia Zakhvathin (Homoptera : Cicadellidae) from Iraq

Abstract

The present study introduces description of a new species of genus Arboridia Zakhvaticin 1946, based on a large collection of Cicadellids. External morphological characters particularly male genitalia were discussed and illustrated. The genus Arboridia Zalchvatkiia (Typhlocybinae: Erythroneurini) contains small slender, fragil and attractively coloured and patterned leafhoppers. It was erected by Zakhvatkin in 1946 (Zalchvatkin, 1946). The overall length of adults ranges from 2.5 to 3.4 mm. Members of this genus can be recognized by inner apical cell of forewing which is long with oblique base; Cu confluent with this base at a point near the middle of the length of inner apical cell; two prominent circular deep brown spots on vertex (Zalchvatkin, 1946; Young, 1952 and Lequesne & paynr, 1981). The taxonomic status of this genus in Iraq is still poorely studied, the first taxonomic work was made by Gliatui (1964), who described and illustrated Arbooridia hussaini as a new species.