Melanastera falcata, 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 : 53-55

15 Melanastera falcata sp. nov.

( Figs 9E , 15G, H , 24N–S )

Type material. Holotype ♂: Brazil: MINAS GERAIS: Coromandel, Fazenda Laje , S18.5748, W46.8881, 1050 m, 5.iii.2014 (D. L. Queiroz) #605(7) ( UFPR; dry).

Paratypes. Brazil: GOIÁS: 1 ♂, 3 ♀, Mossâmedes, 7 km NE Mossâmedes, Fazenda Ribeirão Bonito , S16.1150, W50.1972, 640 m, 20.ii.2018, Virola sebifera (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #274(4) ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007590, NMB-PSYLL0007583 [LSMelfal-18-4], NMB-PSYLL0008623 [LSMelfal-18- 4]) ; 4 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 immature, 5 skins, Rio Verde , ca. 40 km E Jatai, BR-060, S17.8316, W51.3716, 820 m, 31.x.2012, Miconia rubiginosa (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #52(2) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008558) .— MATO GROSSO: 6 ♂, 2 ♀, Chapada dos Guimarães, S12.4736, W55.7693, 800 m, 14.iv.2016 ( L. A. Pezzini) #582 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005737, NMB-PSYLL0005716) ; 3 ♂, same but road MT-251, Casa do mel, S15.2246, W55.5033, 520 m, 25.viii.2018, Virola sebifera (D.L. Queiroz) #884(2) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007597) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Nova Mutum , S13.7991, W56.0955, 440 m, 13.vi.2016 ( L. A. Pezzini) #824 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005785) ; 1 ♂, Sorriso , S12.4022, W55.8323, 390 m, 15.viii.2013 ( L. A. Pezzini) #178 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005622) ; 2 ♂, 4 ♀, same but S12.4022, W55.8323, 390 m, 15.viii.2013 ( L. A. Pezzini) #179 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005638) ; 2 ♂, 4 ♀, same but S12.4648, W55.7856, 340 m, 25.vii.2014 ( L. A. Pezzini) #374 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005704) ; 2 ♂, 1 ♀, same but S12.4284, W55.7963, 340 m, 26.vii.2014 ( L. A. Pezzini) #381 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005692) ; 2 ♀, same but S12.4235, W55.8502, 400 m, 26.vii.2014 ( L. A. Pezzini) #389 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005683) ; 13 ♂, same but S12.4261, W55.7856, 340 m, 27.ii.2015 ( L. A. Pezzini) #480 ( MMBC, NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005687) ; 3 ♂, 4 ♀, 1 immature, same but S12.4261, W55.7944, 340 m, 27.ii.2015 ( L. A. Pezzini) #485 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005712) ; 6 ♂, 2 ♀, same but S12.4251, W55.8550, 400 m, 27.ii.2015 ( L. A. Pezzini) #487 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005610) ; 1 ♂, 6 ♀, 1 immature, same but S12.4259, W55.8507, 400 m, 27.ii.2015 ( L. A. Pezzini) #488 ( MMBC, NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005613) ; 3 ♂, 4 ♀, 2 immatures, same but S12.4222, W55.8507, 390 m, 27.ii.2015 ( L. A. Pezzini) #489 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007589) ; 2 ♂, 8 ♀, 10 immatures, same but Fazenda Mazzardo II, S11.8714, W55.5957, 390 m, 26.ii.2015 (D. L. Queiroz) #678(2) ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007571, NMB-PSYLL0007572, NMB-PSYLL0007574 [LSMelfal-18-3], NMB-PSYLL0007594, NMB-PSYLL0007595, NMB-PSYLL0007596) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same but S11.8714, W55.5957, 350 m, 26.ii.2015 (D. L. Queiroz) #679 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0006043) .— MATO GROSSO DO SUL: 3 ♂, 2 ♀, 9 immatures, Bataguassu, MS-395, near Rio Pardo , S21.6751, W52.4017, 300 m, 23.x.2021, riverine vegetation, Virola sebifera (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #485(2) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008538) .— MINAS GERAIS: 36 ♂, 33 ♀, 4 immatures, 3 skins, same as holotype but ( MHNG, MMBC, NHMB, UFPR, USNM; dry, slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007559, NMB-PSYLL0007602– NMB-PSYLL0007607, NMB-PSYLL0007581 [LSMelfal-18-1], NMB-PSYLL0007591, NMB-PSYLL0008207) ; 3 ♂, 6 ♀, same but S18.5677, W46.9034, 1060 m, 5.iii.2014 (D. L. Queiroz) #606 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007568) ; 2 ♂, 4 ♀, Patos de Minas, Fazenda Barreiro , S18.6303, W46.6211, 880 m, 5.iii.2014 (D. L. Queiroz) #610(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007570) ; 2 ♂, 5 ♀, 4 immatures, 2 skins, Uberlândia, Panga , S19.1837, W48.3961, 790 m, 8.ii.2018, Virola sebifera (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #261(1) ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007573, NMB-PSYLL0007586 [voucher 63-3], NMB-PSYLL0007587 [voucher 63-2], NMB-PSYLL0007588 [voucher #261(1)]) ; 3 ♂, 3 ♀, 5 immatures, Vargem Bonita, Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra, Cachoeira Casca d’Anta , around park entrance, S24.8541 /8573, W48.6982 /7121, 850– 860 m, 4– 8.ix.2014, Guatteria ferruginea (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #141(11) ( NHMB; dry, slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL00003109, NMB-PSYLL0007579 [LSMelfal-18-69], NMB-PSYLL0007580 [LSMelfal-18-69], NMB-PSYLL00003112, NMB-PSYLL00003111) ; 1 ♀, same but near waterfall, S20.3090, W46.5231, 860 m, 5.ix.2014, Miconia calvescens (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #143(8) ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007577 [LSMelfal-18-71], NMB-PSYLL0007557) .— PARÁ: 74 ♂, 60 ♀, 42 immatures, 1 skin, Belém, Jardim Botânico Bosque Rodrigues Alves , S1.4300, W48.4533, 30 m, 14.iv.2013, Virola sebifera (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #103(3) ( NHMB; dry, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008543, NMB-PSYLL0008544, NMB-PSYLL0008482, NMB-PSYLL0008483, NMB-PSYLL0008577–NMB-PSYLL0008579) ; 6 ♂, 5 ♀, 9 immatures, 3 skins, same but Guatteria schomburgkiana (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #103(4) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008496, NMB-PSYLL0008497) ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, 1 immature, Belém, Embrapa Campus , S1.4150 /4433, W48.4216 /4433, 20 m, 8–15.iv.2013 (D. Burckhardt & D. L. Queiroz) #99 ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007558, NMB-PSYLL0007584 [voucher 28-1], NMB-PSYLL0007585 [voucher #99]) .

Material not included in type series. Brazil: MINAS GERAIS : 2 ♀, Vazante, Fazenda Bocaina, S17.8913 /8925, W46.9108 /9112, 670– 690 m, 22.ix.2011 (D. Burckhardt & D. L. Queiroz ) #17 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007557) ; 2 ♀, Coromandel, Fazenda Laje, S18.6303, W46.6211, 1066 m, 6.iii.2014, Miconia sp. (D. L. Queiroz) #609(6) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007569).— MATO GROSSO : 2 ♀, Nobres, Bom Jardim, S14.5504, W55.8366, 230 m, 13.iv.2016 ( L. A. Pezzini ) #568 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005735) ; 1 ♀,same but S14.5502, W55.8366, 240 m, 13.iv.2016 ( L. A. Pezzini ) #569 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005714) ; 4 ♂, 5 ♀, Sinop, Embrapa Campus, S25.2346, W49.1059, 360 m, 27.ii.2015 (D. L. Queiroz) #680(4) ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008624, NMB-PSYLL0007582 [LSMelfal-18-2], NMB-PSYLL0007592, NMB-PSYLL0007593) ; 2 ♀, Sorriso, S12.4235, W55.8502, 400 m, 26.vii.2014 ( L. A. Pezzini ) #389 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005683) ; 1 ♀, same but Fazenda Mazzardo II, S12.4217, W55.8433, 15.viii.2013 ( T. Mazzardo ) ( NHMB; slide; NMB-PSYLL0007576 [voucher M1-3 ]).— RORAIMA : 1 ♂, Amajari,

Tepequém, outside village, N3.76000, W61.7183, 720 m, 3.iv.2015 (D. Burckhardt & D. L. Queiroz) #155 ( NHMB; slide; NMB-PSYLL0007575 [voucher 45-2 A]) .

Description. Adult. Coloration. Ochreous. Vertex ( Fig. 9E ) with dark brown dots. Antenna ochreous, scape and pedicel brown ventrally, segments 3–8 with dark brown apices, segments 9–10 entirely dark brown. Thorax ochreous with dark irregular dots; pronotum orange anteriorly, with each a submedian large and sublateral small white patch on either side which are linked with a white line; mesopraescutum with two orange brown patches along fore margin; mesoscutum with four broad orange brown longitudinal stripes margined by dark brown dots, medially a longitudinal row of irregularly spaced dark dots; meso- and metascutellum whitish with dark brown dots; metapostnotum with whitish keel. Forewing ( Fig. 15G, H ) almost colourless, slightly whitish or greyish with relatively large brown dots sparsely to moderately densely scattered over entire surface; with each a conspicuous dark brown dot at the base and apex of pterostigma, and at the apices of veins Rs, M 1+2, M 3+4, Cu 1a and Cu 1b as well as the apex of clavus. Large dark brown dots on femora and a dark subbasal ring on pro- and mesotibiae.Abdominal sclerites brown. Younger specimens with less expanded dark colour.

Structure. Head, in lateral view, inclined at> 45° from longitudinal body axis. Vertex ( Fig. 9E ) trapezoidal, with distinct imbricate microsculpture and microscopical setae. Thorax distinctly arched, with microscopical setae. Forewing ( Fig. 15G, H ) oviform, widest distal of the middle, broadly rounded apically; wing apex situated in the middle of the margin of cell r 2; C+Sc weakly curved in apical third; pterostigma slightly narrower than cell r 1, widest in apical third; Rs weakly curved, slightly less in the middle than basally and apically; M longer than M 1+2 and M 3+4; Cu 1a moderately curved, ending at M fork; cell cu 1 wide; surface spinules present in all cells, spinules absent or sparse in basal half of cell c+sc, leaving broad spinule-free stripes along the veins, forming hexagons of a single row of spinules. Hindwing with 3–5 + 3–5 grouped costal setae. Metatibia bearing 8–9 grouped apical spurs, arranged as 4 + 4–5, anteriorly separated by 2 bristles.

Terminalia ( Fig. 24N–S ). Male. Proctiger weakly curved posteriorly; densely covered with long setae in apical half. Subgenital plate subglobular, in lateral view, with dorsal margin strongly curved, posterior margin almost straight; with moderately long setae. Paramere, in lateral view, narrowly lanceolate; paramere apex, in lateral as well as dorsal views, blunt, directed upwards and slightly inwards, lacking a sclerotised tooth; both outer and inner faces with dense, short to moderately long setae; posterior margin with long setae. Proximal segment of aedeagus with apical part moderately subdivided. Distal segment of aedeagus straight in basal portion, with dorsal margin weakly sinuate, distinctly longer than apical dilation; ventral process absent; apical dilation, in lateral view, relatively narrow, sickle-shaped, with a minute membranous lobe basally at dorsal margin, in dorsal view, apical dilation oblong-oval with subparallel margins, rounded apically; sclerotised end tube short, weakly curved.—Female terminalia cuneate; densely covered with setae. Dorsal margin of proctiger, in lateral view, weakly concave posterior to circumanal ring, apex slender, pointed; in dorsal view, apex blunt; circumanal ring, in dorsal view, vaguely cruciform. Subgenital plate, in lateral view, abruptly narrowing to apex in apical half, forming long apical process, apex pointed; in ventral view, apex blunt.

Fifth instar immature. Coloration. Light; cephalothoracic sclerite, antenna, wing pads, legs and caudal plate pale to dark brown.

Structure. Eye with one tiny ocular seta dorsally. Antennal segments with following numbers of pointed sectasetae: 1(0), 2(1), 3(0), 4(2), 5(0), 6(2), 7(1), 8(1), 9(0), 10(0). Forewing pad with 6 marginal and 4–5 dorsal pointed sectasetae; hindwing pad with 3 marginal and 1–2 dorsal pointed sectasetae. Metatibiotarsus relatively long, with 3 + 4 sectasetae in two rows on outer side; tarsal arolium broadly fan-shaped apically, 1.5 times as long as claws. Abdomen with four lateral pointed sectasetae on each side anterior to caudal plate. Caudal plate with anterior margin relatively close to anterior margin of extra pore fields; with five pointed sectasetae on either side laterally, one sectaseta in the middle on inner side of each extra pore field dorsally (absent in the sample #605(7)), and three pointed subapical sectasetae near circumanal ring on either side dorsally. Extra pore fields forming continuous outer and inner bands, consisting of small oval patches; outer band long medially, end pointing outwards. Circumanal ring small.

Host plant. Virola sebifera Aubl. ( Myristicaceae ).

Distribution. Brazil (GO, MG, MS, MT, PA, RR).

Derivation of name. From the Latin adjective falcatus = hooked, sickle-shaped, referring to the characteristic shape of the apical aedeagal dilation.

Comments. The specimens referred here to M. falcata sp. nov. are morphologically homogeneous but there are relatively large differences between some samples in the DNA sequences. Therefore, some samples are not included in the type series. The uncorrected p-distance between samples DLQ#605(7) (type material) and DLQ#680(4) (non-type material) is 7.13% for COI and 10% for cytb and between samples DLQ#605(7) and DLQ#678(5) (non-type material) 10% for cytb. The uncorrected p-distance between the samples DB-DLQ#141(11), DB-DLQ#143(8) from Minas Gerais, DB-DLQ#274(4) from Goiás and DLQ#680(4) (non-type material) is 7.40% for COI and 9.7–10% for cytb; between the samples DB-DLQ#141(11), DB-DLQ#143(8), DB-DLQ#274(4) and DLQ#678(5) (non-type material) it is 9.7–10% for cytb. This would suggest that M. falcata represents a complex of cryptic species.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Melanastera spp., head, dorsal view. A, M. parva sp. nov.; B, M. guatteriae sp. nov.; C, M. macaireae sp. nov.; D, M. tijuca sp. nov.; E, M. falcata sp. nov.; F, M. spinosa sp. nov.; G, M. amazonica sp. nov.; H, M. cacantis sp. nov.; I, M. xylopiae sp. nov.; J, M. francisi sp. nov.

FIGURE 15. Melanastera spp., forewing. A, M. variegata sp. nov., ♂; B, M. variegata sp. nov., ♀; C, M. parva sp. nov.; D, M. guatteriae sp. nov.; E, M. macaireae sp. nov.; F, M. tijuca sp. nov.; G, M. falcata sp. nov., ♂; H, M. falcata sp. nov., ♀; I, M. spinosa sp. nov.; J, M. amazonica sp. nov. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 24. Melanastera macaireae sp. nov. A, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; B, paramere, inner face, lateral view; C, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; D–E, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; F, paramere, dorsal view; G, ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—M. tijuca sp. nov. H, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; I, paramere, inner face, lateral view; J, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; K, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; L, paramere, dorsal view; M, ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—M. falcata sp. nov. N, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; O, paramere, inner face, lateral view; P, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; Q, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; R, paramere, dorsal view; S, ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—M. spinosa sp. nov. T, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; U, paramere, inner face, lateral view; V, paramere, posterior view; W, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; X, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; Y, paramere, dorsal view; Z, ♀ terminalia, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.