Helioptera, Andrew Hamilton, K. G., 2016

Andrew Hamilton, K. G., 2016, Neotropical spittlebugs related to Neaenini (Hemiptera, Cercopidae) and the origins of subfamily Cercopinae, Zootaxa 4169 (2), pp. 201-250 : 218-219

Helioptera gen.nov.

Type-species: Helioptera gilvum sp.nov.

Etymology. helio- sun; pteron (n) wing.

Distribution. Mountains of Bolivia and Peru.

Diagnosis. Pale yellow, tegmina brown with contrasting yellow veins ( Fig. 4 A).

Description. Eyes black; dorsum yellow, boldly patterned with black ( Fig. 4 A) as follows: 5 spots in circle on crown (posterior pair circling ocelli) and 5 in row across front of pronotum, small streak at tip of frons and broader streak across disc of pronotum. Head distinctly narrower than pronotum; crown weakly impressed transversely, anterior margin not carinate; frons inflated, lora linear; eye round, as wide or wider than lateral margins of pronotum. Tegminal venation contrastingly pale, without costal crossveins, outer and inner anteapical cells large, tip with small, irregular preapical cells radiating 4–7 veins to margin, the latter sometimes furcate ( Fig. 4 A); costal margin of hind wing with 5 hooks that are erect, strongly curved (as in Fig. 1 D). Hind leg 2nd tarsomere with 10 close-set, black-tipped spines. Male tenth abdominal segment membranous; pygofers with sharp proces on posterior margin ( Fig. 49 A–B); subgenital plates separated by V-shaped notch to base, tapered to sharp, curved points; styles robust, armed with long setae and short, slender process; theca slender, weakly curved and tapered cephalad, armed with low, pointed crest on anterior edge, paired retrorse processes appressed to shaft, extending to midlength, with 3 apical hooks, 1 turned forwards, the other backwards.

Remarks. The shape and color pattern on the head and thorax are similar to that of darkly marked specimens of Hyboasca teres Jacobi ( Carvalho & Webb 2005, fig. 282) but the face is strongly inflated, the lora are as narrow as in Microsargane Fowler , and the wing pattern and male genitalia are distinctive.

Two species: H. tigrina ( Paladini & Cryan, 2012: Zuata ), comb.nov. from Bolivia and one new species described below from Peru.

Helioptera gilvum sp. nov.

Etymology. gilvum (adj.), pale yellow.

Diagnosis. Face with black streaks descending vertically from antennal pits nearly to midline of frons ( Fig. 4 C).

Description. Clypellus, upper part and disc of each mesopleuron black; hind mesopleuron with brown area; pronotum with discal brown, mustache-shaped mark; hind margins of pronotum and scutellum edged with brown. Male pygofer with process directed dorsad ( Fig. 49 A–B), ventral articulated rods connected to phallobase ( Fig. 49 D); subgenital plates flat, tapered to decurved points; styles short, clubbed, armed with long setae and short, pointed process ( Fig. 49 A–B); theca as in H. tigrina but with 3 tiny apical hooks shorter than those of H. tigrina . Length: male 7.5 mm, female 7.0 mm.

Types. Holotype male, PERU: Chancha Mayo , 21 July 1960 (J. Salazar) on Leguminosae; in NMNH from NCSU . Paratypes: 2 females, PERU: Junin ─ 12 km NW San Ramón , 950 m, 11o3'15"S 75o24'34"W, 19 Oct. 2002 (C.H. Dietrich) sweeping 02-22-1, in CNCI and ILNHS .

Remarks. The black vertical streaks on the face below the antennal pits ( Fig. 4 C), smaller size, vertical pygofer spine and horizontal rather than vertical subgenital plates separate this species from H. tigrina .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Examples of Microsarganini (1 – 3), Neaenini (4 – 5) and genera related to Phymatostetha (6 – 8) in dorsolateral aspect (A), dorsal aspect (B), lateral or ventrolateral aspect of head and thorax (C) and hind wing characters including detail of costal margin (D): 1, Microsargane sp.; 2, Microclimax luteosignatus; 3, Microlaqueus isolatus; 4, Helioptera gilvum; 5, Tomaspisinella lucifer sp. nov.; 6, Olcotomaspis laterinotata (Fowler), comb. nov.; 7, Hyalotomaspis clarissa (Jacobi); 8, Tomaspisina frontalis (Walker).

FIGURES 46 – 54. Male genitalia of nominate genus of Neaenini (46 – 49) and nominate subgenus of Microsarganini (50 – 54): 46, Neaenus natrix; 47, N. hystricosus; 48, N. (Neaniskus) gilli; 49, Helioptera gilvum; 50, Microsargane vittata; 51, M. apicata; 52, M. ornatipennis; 53, M. mutans; 54, M. cristata. A, lateral aspect of genital capsule and style; B, same, of theca; C, same in caudal aspect (with detail in Microsargane showing tips of processes in widest aspect); D, ventral aspect of subgenital plates, smaller scale; E, style, dorsal aspect.