Mejdalania longa, Gonçalves, 2021

Gonçalves, Clayton C., 2021, Mejdalania, a new genus and three new species of Neocoelidiinae from Brazil (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Zootaxa 5039 (1), pp. 109-118 : 113

Mejdalania longa sp. nov.

Figs 10−18 , 31−32

Diagnosis. Pygofer, in lateral view ( Fig. 12 ), subtriangular lateroapical process with dorsal rami robust and acute, directed caudally, ventral rami shorter and directed anteroventrally; subgenital plates, in ventral view ( Fig. 14 ), subrectangular, with lateral margins almost parallel; aedeagus ( Figs 17–18 ) with apodemal processes longer than the shaft, slender for the entire length, shaft slender and strongly sinuous, S-shaped.

Measurements (mm). Male holotype: total length 6.1. Paratype (male), 5.7−6.1 (n=3).

Coloration. Body yellow ( Figs 31–32 ), green in life. Face ( Fig. 10 ) with frons mostly orange, dorsal margin yellow. Pronotum ( Fig. 31 ) yellow with three longitudinal light orange stripes, one median and two lateral. Mesonotum ( Fig. 31 ) yellow, with orange basal angles. Forewing ( Fig. 11 ) yellow semi-hyaline with a dark yellow longitudinal strip adjacent to the anal margin. Legs ( Fig. 32 ) yellow.

External morphology. External morphological characters as in the generic description.

Male terminalia. Pygofer, in lateral view ( Fig. 12 ), subtriangular, high in the basal half and narrowing in the apical half, approximately 1.7 times longer than high; anterior margin with well-developed lobe; ventrobasal and dorsoapical margins thickened, ventral margin rectilinear, dorsal margin strongly declivous apically; lateroapical process with dorsal rami robust and acute, directed caudally, shorter ventral rami directed anteroventrally; apex rounded; apex rounded. Subgenital plates, in lateral view ( Fig. 13 ) with apical third slightly curved dorsally; in ventral view ( Fig. 14 ), subretangular, with lateral margins almost parallel. Connective ( Fig. 15 ) approximately half length of the style. Style ( Figs 15–16 ) with apophysis slightly curved dorsally. Aedeagus ( Figs 17–18 ) with apodemal processes longer than the shaft, sinuous and slender for the entire length, apex rounded; shaft strongly sinuous, S-shaped, flattened dorsoventrally, slender for the entire length with smooth lateral margins.

Female terminalia. Female unknown.

Material examined. Holotype ♂: “ Brasil, AM [Amazonas], Manaus \ ZF2, Km 14, Torre \ 2°35’21”S – 60°06’55”W \ 12-15.ix.2004, lençol c/ luz\ mista e BLB, 35m de altura” “ J.A. Rafael, C.S. Motta, F.F.\ Xavier F°, A. Silva F° & S.\ Trovisco leg.” ( INPA) . Paratypes: 2 ♂ same data as holotype, ( INPA) ; 1 ♂ same data as holotype, except “ 10-13.xii.2004; C.S. Motta, A.S. Filho S. Trovisco & M. Curtin leg.” ( DZRJ) .

Etymology. The species name alludes to the long apodemal processes of aedeagus, exceeding the length of the shaft ( Fig. 17 ).

Remarks. Mejdalania longa sp. nov. resembles M. unciformis sp. nov. in the shape of the aedeagus. However, the subtriangular shape of the pygofer ( Fig. 12 ) and the long apodemal processes of aedeagus, exceeding the apex of the shaft ( Figs 17–18 ) are characteristics that easily differentiate M. longa sp. nov. from other species of the genus.

Figures

FIGURES 10–18. Mejdalania longa gen. et sp. nov., holotype male: 10, head, frontal view; 11, forewing; 12, pygofer and anal tube, lateral view; 13, valve and subgenital plates, lateral view; 14, valve and subgenital plates, ventral view; 15, connective and style, dorsal view; 16, style, lateral view; 17, aedeagus, lateral view; 18, aedeagus, caudal view. Scale bars: 10 = 1.0 mm, 11 = 2.0 mm, 12–18 = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 29–34. Habitus, dorsal and lateral views, respectively. 29 and 30, Mejdalania bia gen. et sp. nov., holotype male. 31 and 32, M. longa gen. et sp. nov., holotype male. 33 and 34, M. unciformis gen. et sp. nov., holotype male. Scale bars: 29–34 = 2.0 mm.