Zuata Fennah, 1968

Andrew Hamilton, K. G., 2016, Neotropical spittlebugs related to Neaenini (Hemiptera, Cercopidae) and the origins of subfamily Cercopinae, Zootaxa 4169 (2), pp. 201-250 : 227-228

Zuata Fennah, 1968

Type-species: Tomaspisinella araguana Fennah, 1951 .

Distribution. Colombia south to Bolivia.

Diagnosis. Frons bulbous and shiny ( Fig. 12 ) usually with barely perceptible facial projections characteristic of Hyboscartina.

Description. Pronotum intermediate between those of Neaenus and Monecphora Amyot & Serville , with lateral margins longer than the eye but less than twice as long, fore margin transverse but width across humeral angles not as much as 50% wider than head (the sole exception to this is described below). Antennae as in Neaenus but with peglike sensillum ( Fig. 18 B). Tips of male styles slender, transparent; subgenital plates vertical, narrowly divided and tipped with a hooked or pointed process ( Figs 36–45 A–B); thecal processes and/or spines usually paired, 4–10 in number and usually retrorse ( Carvalho & Webb 2005, figs 9–24).

Included species. More than 25 distinctively coloured species of various sizes and shapes have been reported, but only 8 were previously known from both sexes. Eight species were described from females alone and males without females have been reported for another 9 species: Z. araguana (Fennah) , Z. fusca (Lallemand) , Z. includens (Walker) , Z. luteomaculata (Lallemand) , Z. marginata (Lallemand) , Z. ochraceorosea (Lallemand) , Z. ohausi (Jacobi) , Z. pseudoripuaris (Lallemand) and Z. ravidella (Lallemand) . This raises the distinct possibility that color exhibits considerable sexual dimorphism in this genus. Several probable cases are reported below, including the first descriptions of males for 3 species previously known only from females. Another 8 distinctive new species are described. Five others (based on unassociated females) are tentatively synonymized, leaving 31 species. There are now only 2 clearly differentiated species with unknown males, marked with an asterisk (*) in the following key.

Remarks. The species of this genus are probably distasteful to predators. Zuata ephippiata (Breddin) serves as the “model” for an aphrophorine Batesian mimic ( Hamilton and Thompson 2007) and the bright patterns of other species are probably also warning coloration.

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 13. Zuata Fennah, head of Z. pica (Jacobi) (12) and others in dorsolateral aspect (13): A, Z. scapula sp. nov.; B, Z. zebra sp. nov.; C, Z. segui (Lallemand); D, Z. obrienorum sp. nov.; E, Z. ligatura sp. nov.; F, Z. hysginon sp. nov.; G, Z. ephipiata (Breddin); H, Z. oneraria (Jacobi), male; J, Z. infecta sp. nov.; K, Z. machadoa sp. nov.; L, Z. pictilis sp. nov.

FIGURES 17 – 19. Antennal characters of apomorphic new-world Cercopinae: Olcotomaspis (Phymatostethini, 17), Zuata (Neaenini, 18) and Tomaspisella (Neaenini, 19): 17 A, Olcotomaspis versicolor (Lallemand); 17 B, same, from another angle, showing paired basiconic sensillae on inner side; 17 C, O. laterinotata (Fowler); 17 D, O. (= Hyalotomaspis) clarissa; 18 A, Zuata infecta sp. nov.; 18 B, same, detail (note peglike seta surrounded by large socket and tiny secondary seta behind it); 19 A, Tomaspisella parva Lallemand, male; 19 B, same, female; 19 C, same, detail of pits.

FIGURES 36 – 45. Neaenini, male genitalia of Zuata: A, genital capsule, lateral aspect; B, same, theca and phallobase; C, theca, caudal aspect; D, genital capsule, ventral aspect. 36, Z. oneraria; 374, Z. pictilis; 38, Z. machadoa; 39, Z. hysginon; 40, Z. scapula (with enlarged detail of thecal tip; pygofer and subgenital plates as in Fig. 36, phallobase as in Fig. 44); 41, Z. ligatura; 42, Z. infecta; 43, Z. obrienorum (phallobase as in Fig. 38, styles as in Fig. 44); 44, Z. zebra; 45, Z. tettigoniella. All illustrations to same scale except 41 D and 42 D, to smaller scale as indicated.