Lebaziella, Cavichioli, Rodney Ramiro, 2010

Cavichioli, Rodney Ramiro, 2010, Lebaziella gen. nov. (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini): a new sharpshooter genus with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 2566, pp. 57-63 : 58-59

Lebaziella gen. nov.

( Figs. 1–20 )

Type-species. Lebaziella renatae Cavichioli , sp. nov.

Description. Length, 3 6.3 –7.7 mm; Ƥ 7.5 – 8.0 mm.

Head. Crown ( Figs. 1 and 11 ) produced; median length from six-tenths to seven-tenths interocular width and from three-tenths to one-half transocular width; anterior margin slightly angulate in dorsal view; without median fovea and without sculpturing or setae; without carina at transition from crown to face. Epicranial suture distinct and extending to anterior margin of crown. Frontogenal suture extending onto crown and attaining ocelli. Ocelli located on imaginary line between anterior eye angles, each equidistant from adjacent eye angle and median line of crown. Antennal ledges not protuberant in dorsal view; in lateral view convex and oblique, slightly carinate. Antennae longer than the combined length of crown and pronotum. Frons convex, slightly flattened median area and finely granular; muscular impressions distinct. Epistomal suture incomplete for a short median distance. Clypeus in lateral view continuing profile of frons except apical portion more nearly horizontal; apical margin rounded; face without pubescence.

Thorax. Pronotum ( Figs. 1 and 11 ) narrower than transocular width; lateral margins parallel; median length approximately two-thirds transhumeral width; dorsopleural carina complete; posterior margin rectilinear or with slight median reentrance; disk smooth and without pubescence. Mesonotum smooth and not striate behind transverse sulcus. Forewing ( Figs. 1 and 11 ) with distal membrane; veins distinct, not elevate; with four apical cells of which base of third is more apical than base of fourth; with three closed anteapical cells, of which base of inner is more apical than other two; texture slightly coriaceous and without sculpturing; in rest position exceeding apex of ovipositor. Hindwings with vein R2+3 incomplete. Hindlegs with femoral formula 2:1:1; anterodorsal row of macrosetae with short intercalary setae (approximately three between each pair of macrosetae); first tarsomere longer than combined length of two distal tarsomeres; with two parallel rows of short setae on plantar surface.

Male genitalia. Pygofer ( Figs. 2 and 12 ) slightly to moderately produced, apex round and without processes; macrosetae distributed from basal third to apex; valve almost linear and slightly broadened. Subgenital plates ( Figs. 2, 5 , 12 and 16 ) long, extending posteriorly beyond pygofer apex, subtriangular and narrowed from basal third to apex, with few uniseriate macrosetae and with many long microsetae distributed along dorsal and ventral surfaces.. Styles ( Figs. 6 and 15 ) slender and elongate, extending posteriorly beyond apex of connective, with median lobe, curved inwards and apically truncate. Connective ( Figs. 6 and 15 ) short, Y-shaped or V-shaped. Aedeagus asymmetrical with unpaired apical process extended basolaterad. Paraphyses absent.

Female genitalia. Pygofer ( Figs. 8 and 17 ) moderately produced; posterior margin acute; macrosetae distributed on apical half. Sternite VII ( Figs. 7 and 18 ) produced; posterior margin with or without lateral lobes and medially with acute projection. Internal sternite VIII forming simple membranous plate. Second valvula of ovipositor ( Figs. 9, 10 , 19 and 20 ) with dorsal margin of expanded area slightly convex, bearing approximately 26 to 34 teeth; each tooth subtriangular or subrectangular and with denticles; ventral prominence very distinct; preapical area ( Figs. 9 and 20 ) with denticles on dorsal and ventral margins; and apex acute.

Coloration. Head, in dorsal view, yellow to greenish-yellow with black markings. Pronotum and forewing mostly green. Mesonotum and anterior portion of pronotum greenish-yellow with or without black markings.

Diagnosis. Small to medium-sized cicadellines; dorsal coloration mostly green; crown produced with anterior margin slightly angulate; pronotum narrower than transocular width and lateral margins parallel; male pygofer without process; subgenital plates extending posteriorly almost as far as pygofer apex; aedeagus with unpaired apical process extended basolaterad; paraphyses absent.

Distribution. Specimens of Lebaziella gen. nov. were collected in Northeastern (Bahia State), Southeastern (Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo States), and Southern (Paraná State) Brazil.

Remarks. Lebaziella gen. nov. is similar in color, shape, and size to species of Crossogonalia Young , Fingeriana Cavichioli , and Chlorogonalia ultima Young. They are green with the head and anterior portion of the pronotum and mesoscutellum yellow, but differ in aedeagal morphology and the presence of paraphyses ( Crossogonalia and Chlorogonalia ) of the male genitalia. The new genus is herein included in the Graphocephala Van Duzee generic group as defined by Young (1977:851), mainly based on presence of microsetae on the subgenital plates similar to some other genera that were included in this group including Borogonalia, Caldewelliola , Caribovia , Crossogonalia , Graphocephala and Hadria .

Etymology. The generic name is feminine, in honor of Izabel Cristina Fontanelli , but with “Izabel” spelled backwards with the suffix “ella”

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 10. Lebaziella renatae sp. nov.: 1, male paratype, dorsal habitus. 2 – 6, male genitalia: 2, pygofer and subgenital plates, lateral view; 3, aedeagus, lateral view; 4, aedeagus, posterior view; 5, subgenital plates, styles and connective, ventral view; 6, styles and connective, dorsal view. 7 – 10, female genitalia: 7, sternite VII, ventral view; 8, sternite VII, pygofer, and ovipositor, lateral view; 9, second valvula apex, lateral view; 10, second valvula of the ovipositor with dorsal teeth inset, lateral view.

FIGURES 11 – 20. Lebaziella viridis sp. nov.: 11, male paratype, dorsal habitus. 12 – 16, male genitalia: 12, pygofer and subgenital plates, lateral view; 13, aedeagus, lateral view; 14, aedeagus, posterior view; 15, styles and connective, dorsal view; 16, subgenital plate and style, ventral view. 17 – 20, female genitalia: 17, sternite VII, pygofer, and ovipositor, lateral view; 18, sternite VII, ventral view; 19, second valvula of the ovipositor with dorsal teeth inset, lateral view; 20, second valvula apex, lateral view.