Smilidarnis duocornus, McKamey, 2023

McKamey, Stuart H., 2023, Three new species of the Neotropical genus Smilidarnis Andrade (Hemiptera, Membracidae), ZooKeys 1174, pp. 85-95 : 85

Smilidarnis duocornus sp. nov.

Figs 2-7

Diagnosis.

Pronotum with pair of suprahumeral spines; pronotum broader across suprahumeral spines than across posterior spines.

Description of female.

Dimensions (mm). Length of pronotum 7.5; length including wings in repose 9.5; width across suprahumeral spine apices 4.5; width across posterolateral spine apices 3.0; height in anterior view 4.3. Head (Fig. 3 ). Ocelli circular, below imaginary midline between eyes; distance to eye 1.2 × distance between ocelli; vertex with depression ventrolaterally adjacent to ocelli, pair of narrow diagonal depressions dorsally, with distinct sutures and frontoclypeus extending ventrally beyond vertex ventrolateral margins. Pronotum (Figs 2-4 ) with pair of stout suprahumeral spines; pronotum distinctly broader across suprahumeral spines than across posterior spines; weakly elevated immediately behind suprahumeral spines, this portion roughly trapezoidal in lateral view, abruptly narrowed laterally and expanding again to apical portion that bears pair of widely separated, stout lateral spines directed posteriorly and slender middle spine. Forewing (as in Fig. 1 ) R and M not confluent for short distance near apex. Leg chaetotaxy. Femora lacking cucullate setae and spines; metathoracic tibia row I lacking cucullate setae, row II cucullate setae sparse in single line, row III cucullate setae dense, single row basally, double row distally. Abdominal terga without pits, fossae, or digitate processes. Color. Head pale brown except darker in depressions and along sutures of frontoclypeus; pronotum pale brown throughout except dark brown mottling in anterior half, at bases of suprahumeral spines, and posteriorly across lateral spines.

Female terminalia.

Sternite VII broadly emarginate medially (as in Fig. 17 ); valvula I (Fig. 5 ) long, apex subacute; valvula II (Fig. 6 ) in lateral view with dorsal margin linear in basal 2/3, then minutely sinuate, apex rounded; valvula III (Fig. 7 ) long, apex rounded, bearing macrosetae along entire ventral margin.

Male.

Unknown.

Material examined.

Holotype ♀ (INPA) with labels " BRAZIL: Rondonia. 62 | km SW Ariquemes, nr | Fzda. Rancho Grande | 5-17-X-1993 JE Eger | MV & Black Lights" and a red " HOLOTYPE | Smilidarnis | Smilidarnis duocornus | S.H. McKamey ".

Etymology.

The species is a Latin adjective derived from “duo” for two, and “cornu” for horn, referring to the pair of stout suprahumeral spines.

Notes.

The pronota of S. duocornus and S. robustus , which are both only known from a female holotype, closely resemble each other and have similar coloration. In some treehoppers, such as Quinquespinosa septamacula McKamey (2023), color and surprahumeral spine length is variable, so these differences alone might not suffice for species recognition. Nevertheless, these are considered separate species for several reasons: S. sobustus is almost 3 mm larger; its posterior portion is more elevated, and the apical lateral spines are directed more laterally. Futhermore, the setation of valvifer III is distinct; bearing macrosetae along ventral margin in S. Smilidarnis duocornus (Fig. 7 ), in contrast to that of S. robustus , which bears fine hairlike setae on entire ventral half (Fig. 20 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Smilidarnis robustus sp. nov., forewing and hind wing.

Figures 2 - 7. Smilidarnis duocornus sp. nov. 2 - 4 habitus in dorsal, anterior, and lateral views, respectively 5 - 7 valvifers 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

Figures 14 - 20. Smilidarnis robustus sp. nov. 14 - 16 habitus in dorsal, lateral, and anterior views, respectively 17 abdominal segment VII, ventral view 18 - 20 valvifers 1, 2, and 3, respectively.