Tishechkin D.Yu. 2024. On taxonomic identification of Handianus imperator Dlabola, 1961 and H. alatavicus Emelyanov, 1964 (Homoptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Athysanini) // Russian Entomol. J. Vol.33. No.2: 147–152 [in English].
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorobyevy Gory, Moscow 119234 Russia.
Dmitry Tishechkin macropsis@yandex.ru https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5451-3838
doi: 10.15298/rusentj.33.2.01
ABSTRACT. Illustrated redescriptions of Handianus imperator and H. alatavicus with data on the variability of the shape of the aedeagus, acoustic signals, biology, and distribution are presented. These species distinctly differ in morphology, although the length and shape of processes of the aedeagus in H. alatavicus are variable, and some authors misidentified its variation with long processes as H. imperator. Despite similar ecological preferences and host specializations, these species are allopatric. H. imperator occurs in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, while H. alatavicus was found only in one location in northern Kyrgyzstan and is widespread throughout southern and southeastern Kazakhstan. The male calling signals of these species are identical, but due to allopatry they apparently do not come into acoustic contact with each other, so the similarity of signals does not prevent successful intraspecific communication. A similar situation was recently described in two other species of Handianus, which are also well distinguished by morphology, live on the same host, do not differ in environmental preferences, produce similar calling signals, but were never found in the same locality.
KEY WORDS: leafhoppers, morphology, variability, vibrational signals, distribution, Kazakhstan, Central Asia.