Melanastera moquiniastri, Serbina & Malenovský & Queiroz & Burckhardt, 2025

Serbina, Liliya Š., Malenovský, Igor, Queiroz, Dalva L. & Burckhardt, Daniel, 2025, Jumping plant-lice of the tribe Paurocephalini (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Liviidae) in Brazil, Zootaxa 5585 (1), pp. 1-164 : 41-43

6 Melanastera moquiniastri sp. nov.

( Figs 5C , 7B , 8F , 14F , 22G–L , 36J , 39C–F )

Type material. Holotype ♂: Brazil: SANTA CATARINA: Urubici, Pousada Kiriri-Eté , S27.9183, W49.5700, 1180 m, 1.v.2013, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #120(3) ( UFPR; dry).

Paratypes. Brazil: MINAS GERAIS: 1 ♀, Barroso, Mata do Baú , S21.1833 /2000, W43.9167 /9667, 940– 1140 m, 13–14.vi.2010, Cerrado semideciduous forest, along forest edge (D. Burckhardt) #7(0) ( NHMB; dry; NMB-PSYLL0008584) ; 2♀, Lavras , S21.2672, W 44.9353,900m, 1–6.vi.2010,edgeofAtlanticforestaroundcoffeeplantation mixed with pastures (D. Burckhardt) #1(0) ( NHMB; dry; NMB-PSYLL0008581) ; 1 ♂, 4 ♀, Lavras, Universidade Federal de Lavras , UFLA, S21.2308, W44.9914, 900 m, 20.vi.2010, degraded forest margin (D. Burckhardt) #11(0) ( NHMB; dry, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007513, NMB-PSYLL0008582, NMB-PSYLL0008583) .— PARANÁ: 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Araucária, Chácara do Paulo , S2.8921, W59.9537, 870 m, 5.iv.2014 (D. L. Queiroz) #619 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007555) ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, 3 immatures, 2 skins, Castro, Parque Caxambu, S24.6775, W50.0142, 1010 m, 11.vii.2013, Atlantic forest (D. L. Queiroz) #535 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007552) ; 7 ♂, 14 ♀, 12 immatures, Colombo, Embrapa campus, S25.3200 /3350, W49.1566 / 1683, 920 m, 21.ix.2017 ( J. T. Cremonese) #1 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007556) ; 3 ♂, 4 ♀, 1 immature, same but S25.3226, W49.15686, 930 m, 6.v.2014, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #135(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007523) ; 4 ♂, 9 ♀, 2 immatures, same but 30.v.2023, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D.L. Queiroz) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0003249) ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, same but S25.3196 /3353, W49.1562 / 1677, 920 m, 6.i.2012 (D. Burckhardt & D. L. Queiroz) #30 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007514) ; 5 ♂, 8 ♀, 6 immatures, 1 skin, same but 1.v.2019, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #339(14) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008534) ; 1 ♂, 4 ♀, 3 immatures, 5 skins, same but 1–5.iv.2013, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #96(5) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007520) ; 12 ♂, 18 ♀, 113 immatures, 8 skins, same but 28.ix.2017, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (I. Malenovský) ( MMBC; 70% ethanol) ; 1 ♂, 4 immatures, same but 21.ix.2017 ( L. Serbina) ( MMBC; 70% ethanol) ; 7 ♂, 12 ♀, 4 immatures, Curitiba, Jardim Botânico , S25.4417, W49.2394, 920 m, 12.iii.2013 (D. L. Queiroz) #462 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007550, NMB-PSYLL0007512) ; 2 ♂, same but S25.4416 /4433, W49.2366 / 2383, 930 m, 15.ii.2013, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #94 A (1) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007518) ; 2 ♀, 1 immature, same but Parque Passaúna , S25.4750, W49.3783, 930 m, 8.ii.2016, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #195(12) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007547) ; 17 ♂, 14 ♀, 5 immatures, same but S25.4750, W49.3783, 930 m, 27–30.xi.2012, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #78(9) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007516) ; 7 ♂, 9 ♀, 18 immatures, same but Parque Tingui , S25.3950, W49.3052, 870 m, 26.xi.2012, Moquiniastrum polymorphum subsp. floccosum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #77(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007515) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 immatures, same but S25.3950, W49.3066, 890 m, 31.iii.2013, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #95(8) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007519) ; 4 ♂, 6 ♀, 2 immatures, same but Centro Politécnico , UFPR, S25.4474 /4485, W49.2312 /2383, 890– 920 m, 3–7.xii.2012, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #84(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007517) ; 2 ♂, 2 ♀, 14 immatures, 2 skins, Ibaiti, Fazendinha Nova Esperança , road BR-153, S23.9116, W50.2400, 635 m, 18.ix.2014, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #148(4) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007524) ; 3 ♂, 7 ♀, Jaguariaíva, Parque Estadual do Cerrado , S24.1685 /1833, W49.6603 /6670, 780– 820 m, 15–16.ii.2016, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #197(13) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007548) ; 5 ♂, 4 ♀, Ponta Grossa, Parque Estadual de Vila Velha , S25.23078 /2484, W 49.9925 / 50.0298, 860‒900 m, 17‒18.ii.2016, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #198(12) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007546) ; 1 ♂, 4 ♀, 4 immatures, same but S25.22384 /24645, W 49.99272 / 50.03994, 750‒870 m, 12‒14.vii.2017, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #246(14) ( MMBC, NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007549) ; 23 immatures, same but ( L. Serbina) ( MMBC; 70% ethanol) ; 1 ♀, same but S25.2458, W50.0200, 968 m, 12.vii.2013, Cerrado vegetation (D. L. Queiroz) #539 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007553) ; 1 ♀, same but S25.3183, W49.1517, 970 m, 12.vii.2013, Cerrado vegetation (D. L. Queiroz) #540 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007554) ; 1 immature, 1 skin, Tibagi, Parque Estadual Guartelá , S24.5623 /5666, W50.2589, 920–950 m, 23–25. vi.2015, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #171(18) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007545) .— SANTA CATARINA: 15 ♂, 18 ♀, 19 immatures, same as holotype but ( BMNH, MMBC, MHNG, NHMB, UFPR, USNM; dry, slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007521, NMB-PSYLL0007540, NMB-PSYLL0007541, NMB-PSYLL0007542, NMB-PSYLL0007598, NMB-PSYLL0007543, NMB-PSYLL0007544, NMB-PSYLL0008285, NMB-PSYLL0007561, NMB-PSYLL0007562, NMB-PSYLL0007563, NMB-PSYLL0007564, NMB-PSYLL0007565, NMB-PSYLL0007566, NMB-PSYLL0007567 [LSMelmoq-1]) ; 2 ♂, 4 ♀, 1 immature, Urubici , S27.9416 /9566, W49.5750 /9560, 920– 1140 m, 2.v.2013, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #121(4) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007522) .— SÃO PAULO: 1 ♀, Campinas , 28.xi.1966, ex water trap ( C. L. Costa) #12/67 ( BMNH; slide) .

Description. Adult. Coloration. Body ( Fig. 7B ) pale to brownish yellow. Antenna pale yellow, segment 3 brownish at apex, segments 4–8 with dark brown apices, segments 9–10 entirely dark brown. Forewing ( Fig. 14F ) with pale yellow to brownish veins and clear membrane with distinct brownish scattered dots in the middle of cell c+sc and in apical two thirds of the wing; apices of pterostigma and veins Rs, M 1+2, M 3+4, Cu 1a and Cu 1b brown at wing margin. Legs pale yellow; apical tarsal segments greyish brown.

Structure. Setae on thorax long. Forewing ( Fig. 14F ) broadly and unevenly rounded apically; C+Sc evenly curved; pterostigma short and narrow, narrower in the middle than r 1 cell; Rs almost straight, weakly curved to costal margin apically; M slightly longer than M 1+2 and M 3+4; Cu 1a curved in apical third, ending more or less at the same level with M fork; cell cu 1 narrow; surface spinules present in all cells, leaving narrow spinule-free stripes along veins, forming indistinct hexagons of a single or double row of spinules, spinules absent from basal half of cell c+sc. Hindwing with 11 ungrouped costal setae. Metatibia bearing 5–8 apical spurs, arranged as 2–4 + 3+5, anteriorly separated by 5–7 bristles.

Terminalia ( Fig. 22G–L ). Male. Proctiger broad, posterior margin broadly convex; densely covered with long setae in apical two thirds. Subgenital plate irregularly ovoid, in lateral view; dorsal margin curved in proximal third, almost straight in apical two thirds, posterior margin slightly sinuate; with moderately long setae in apical half. Paramere distinctly shorter than proctiger; in lateral view, lamellar, with subparallel margins, except for apical fifth which is narrowing to apex; paramere apex, in lateral view, blunt, directed inwards and slightly caudad, in dorsal view, apex blunt, directed upwards and slightly inwards, lacking sclerotised tooth; outer face with sparse, moderately long setae mostly posteriorly; inner face with dense, moderately long setae; posterior margin with long setae. Proximal segment of aedeagus with apical part moderately subdivided. Distal segment of aedeagus almost straight in basal half with dorsal margin distinctly sinuate; apical dilation, in lateral view, oblong with subparallel margins, with lateral groove on each side forming lateral lobes, rounded apically; in dorsal view, apical dilation broad, with wing-like lateral lobes, obovate, broadest in apical third; sclerotised end tube, in lateral view, short and weakly curved.—Female terminalia cuneate, long; densely covered with setae. Dorsal margin of proctiger, in lateral view, regularly concave distal to circumanal ring, apex upturned, pointed; in dorsal view, apex pointed; circumanal ring, in dorsal view, cruciform. Subgenital plate shorter than proctiger; in lateral view, gradually narrowing towards apex, pointed apically; in ventral view, apex blunt.

Fifth instar immature. Coloration. Pale yellow ( Figs 39E, F ); antenna pale yellow, segments 6–8 with brown apices, segment 9 entirely brown; base of wing pads and caudal plate brownish.

Structure. Eye with one long ocular seta dorsally. Antennal segments with following numbers of pointed sectasetae: 1(0), 2(1), 3(2), 4(0), 5(2), 6(1), 7(1), 8(0), 9(0); first segment with several long simple setae. Forewing pad with at least 20 marginal and ca. 40 dorsal lanceolate setae and pointed sectasetae densely spread over entire surface; hindwing pad with two marginal and ca. 10 dorsal pointed sectasetae and lanceolate setae. Metatibiotarsus, lacking pointed sectasetae; tarsal arolium broadly fan-shaped apically, about 1.2 times as long as claws. Abdomen with transverse rows of densely spaced pointed sectasetae and lanceolate setae on each sclerite dorsally. Caudal plate ( Fig. 36J ) with anterior margin close to anterior margin of extra pore fields; with many (ca. 75) pointed sectasetae and lanceolate setae arranged in several groups dorsally. Extra pore fields forming continuous outer and inner bands, consisting of several large oval patches; outer band long medially, end pointing outwards. Circumanal ring with anterior margin strongly concave medially ( Fig. 5C ).

Host plant and biology. Moquiniastrum polymorphum (Less.) G. Sancho ( Asteraceae ), including M. polymorphum subsp. floccosum (Cabrera) G. Sancho. Immatures develop on the adaxial surface of young leaves or abaxial surface of older leaves ( Fig. 39C–F ) where they secrete long, white filamentous wax threads. Immatures producing large amounts of honeydew were observed to be attended by two ant species, Camponotus sp. and Crematogaster crinosa (Mayr) ( Hymenoptera , Formicidae ) (I. Malenovský, pers. obs.).

Distribution. Brazil (MG, PR, SC, SP).

Derivation of name. Named after its host, Moquiniastrum .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Morphology and measurements of immatures of Melanastera spp.A, B, M. eremanthi sp. nov.; C, M. moquiniastri sp. nov.; D, M. trematos sp. nov. A, caudal plate, dorsal (left) and ventral (right) views; B, tarsal arolium with claws, ventral view; C, D, circumanal ring, ventral view. For abbreviations see Table 1. The width of circumanal ring (RW) is indicated only for the ventral side.

FIGURE 7. Habitus of adult Paurocephalini. A, Klyveria crassiflagellata (Burckhardt); B, Melanastera moquiniastri sp. nov.; C, M. olgae sp. nov.; D, M. xylopiae sp. nov.; E, M. virolae sp. nov.; F, M. melanocephala sp. nov.; G, M. sellowianae sp. nov.; H, M. smithi (Burckhardt, Morais & Picanço). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 8. Klyveria and Melanastera spp., head, dorsal view.A, K. flaviae sp. nov.; B, K. crassiflagellata (Burckhardt); C, K. setinervis (Burckhardt); D, M. curtisetosa sp. nov.; E, M. eremanthi sp. nov.; F, M. moquiniastri sp. nov.; G, M. notia sp. nov.; H, M. olgae sp. nov.; I, M. mazzardoae sp. nov.; J, M. variegata sp. nov.

FIGURE 14. Klyveria and Melanastera spp., forewing. A, K. flaviae sp. nov.; B, K. crassiflagellata (Burckhardt); C, K. setinervis (Burckhardt); D, M. curtisetosa sp. nov.; E, M. eremanthi sp. nov.; F, M. moquiniastri sp. nov.; G, M. notia sp. nov.; H, M. olgae sp. nov.; I, M. mazzardoae sp. nov., ♂; J, M. mazzardoae sp. nov., ♀. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 22. Melanastera eremanthi sp. nov. A, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; B, paramere, inner face, lateral view; C, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; D, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; E, paramere, dorsal view; F, ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—M. moquiniastri sp. nov. G, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; H, paramere, inner face, lateral view; I, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; J, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; K, paramere, dorsal view; L, ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—M. notia sp. nov. M, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; N, paramere, inner face, lateral view; O, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; P, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; Q, paramere, dorsal view; R, ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—M. olgae sp. nov. S, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; T, paramere, inner face, lateral view; U, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; V, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; W, paramere, dorsal view; X, ♀ terminalia, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 36. Melanastera smithi (Burckhardt, Morais & Picanço). A, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; B, paramere, inner face, lateral view; C, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; D, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; E, paramere, dorsal view; F, ♀ terminalia, lateral view. G,—M. granulosi sp. nov., ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—H, M. sebiferae sp. nov., ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—Caudal plate, dorsal (left) and ventral (right) views, of fifth instar immature of Klyveria and Melanastera spp. I, K. classiflagellata (Burckhardt); J, M. moquiniastri sp. nov.; K, M. eremanthi sp. nov.; L, M. notia sp. nov. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 39. Melanastera spp. on Asteraceae. A, leaf deformations induced by M. eremanthi sp. nov. on Eremanthus erythropappus; B, same but abaxial aspect with open roll gall showing immatures; C–F, adult and immature M. moquiniastri sp. nov. on leaves of Moquiniastrum polymorphum.