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 .