Banus umbratus (Melichar), 2025

Banus umbratus (Melichar) comb. nov.

Figs 1G–J View FIGURES 1 , 8 View FIGURES 8 DE, 16A–H

Thamnotettix umbratus Melichar 1903: 185 .

Banus oblatus Distant 1908: 353 View in CoL , (in part)

Diagnosis. Brownish with pale and brown markings on crown surrounding pale diamond shaped median area. Aedeagus with shaft strongly curved beyond gonopore with a lateral retrorse process distally slightly enlarged arising proximad of gonopore.

Description. Brownish ochraceous. Crown with brown transverse and oblique markings enclosing pale ochraceous spots, three apical and two subapically and four in basal half ( Figs 1 View FIGURES 1 GI). Face with dorsal marginal brown band visible ventrally with lateral paler areas in ocello-ocular areas surrounded by brown. Pronotum usually with short transverse brown spots in anterior submargin. Mesoscutum with basal triangles usually brownish. Forewing pale ochraceous with darker veins, apices of claval veins and apex of clavus often with brown spot. Venter and legs brownish ochraceous.

Head slightly narrower than pronotum. Crown about 0.7× (male) to 0.9× (female) as long as interocular distance. Pronotum 1.7–2.1× as wide as long medially, 1.3–1.4× as long as median length of crown and about as long as or slightly shorter than exposed mesonotum. Female Sternite VII slightly narrowed posteriorly, posterior margin slightly convex.

Male genitalia. Pygofer about 1.5× as long as height at base in lateral view, posteriorly subconically rounded. Subgenital plate wide at base, about 2.5× as long as basal width. Connective stem longer than arms. Aedeagus strongly curved, C-shaped, gonopore arising almost at midlength and with proximal retrorse process, almost reaching base of shaft.

Mesurements. Male 4.1–4.7 mm long, 1.0– 1.1 mm wide across eyes and 1.1–1.2 mm wide across posterolateral angles of pronotum. Female 4.6–5.0 mm long, 1.1–1.2 mm wide across eyes and 1.3 mm wide across posterolateral angles of pronotum.

Material examined. SRI LANKA: HOLOTYPE ♀, “Ceylon, Peradeniya, 29.iii.[1]902, Dr. Melichar leg, Dr. Uzel ” “ Thanmnot. [ettix] umbratus M.” ( MMB) . Other material. SRI LANKA: 2♂, “Peradeniya, Ceylon, 2-05” paralectotypes of B. oblatus (BMNH) . INDIA: Karnataka: 3♀, Biligiri [Rangana] Hills, 1000m, 11.vi.1977, S. Viraktamath; 2♂, 6♀, Kodymale R.F., 28.xi.1986, S. Viraktamath; 1♂, Sirsi: Sugavi, 5.xii.2005, at light, Radhamani, T.R.; 3♂, 2♀, Shivamogga, Nagavalli, 6.ix.2015, at light, Yeshwanth, H.M.; 1♂, Sirsi, Nilkunda, 21.iii.2006, at light, Radhamani, T.R.; 1♂, 1♀, Sirsi, Navanagere, 27.iii.2006, Radhamani, T.R.; 1♂, 3♀, Sirisi, Unchalli falls , 25.v.2010, at light, Yeshwanth, H.M.; 1♀, Dakshina Kannada: Vittla, 30.ix.2011, at light, A.N. Reddy ( UASB) . Kerala: 1♂, Kerala: Peechi Dam , x.1985, C. & L. O’Brien ( BMNH) ; 1♂, Nilambur, 20.xi.2008, Murthy, S. ( UASB) . West Bengal: 1♂, 1♀, Sukna, 1.xi1981, C.A. Viraktamath ( UASB) . Maharashtra: 1♂, Helvak Koyna Valley , Sataradiet [sic], c. 2000ft, 28–30.iv.12, F.H. Gravely; 1♂ , Bombay, Bassein fort, x.09, A.M. “ Pusa coll.” ( BMNH) .

Remarks. This species was described from a single example (holotype) from “Peradeniya, am 29. März 1 Exemplar ♀ von Dr. Uzel erbentet”. In addition to Sri Lanka the species occurs in the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal. It resembles the two new species described here but can be differentiated by the strongly C-shaped aedeagus. Its identity is confirmed from the two syntype males which have similar coloration and structure to other specimens examined, including the two syntype males from Sri Lanka misidentified as B. oblatus by Distant (1908) and hence the synonymy in part.